RE-MAKES... HERESY or HOMAGE ???

[Haylar Garcia]

I have been approached about a property that was a fairly large, though not very well made film in the 80's.
I have done a little research about it on the net and the recent talks of a remake has got people split right down the middle. Many people seem to hate the idea that Hollywood is constantly remaking films, the general chatter is "Why can;t they come up with original ideas". I for one am often one of those people. The problem is, remakes seem to make a hell of a lot of cash despite the opinions that they are cheap in some artistic way.

Any opinions? What do I do... go for the paycheck? Walk away out of honor for the original film?

This is not Citizen Cane we are talking about, the original film is a classic are most originals are hailed, but it is by no means an amazing film... The original source material is amazing, so is it cheap to consider that the remake could actually be better?

I would love opinions on this.

-Haylar 08

[Katharyn Grant (Kayti)]

I think it's a good opportunity, because, as you say the original film was not amazing, but the original source material was. So if you think of it as another take on the original source material rather than a remake of the less-than-stellar film version of it, I think you could not only stomach this idea, but perhaps even fly with it. :)

[Anne Maurer]

Ok.... you pose a good question. When are modern day film makers over stepping their bounds of artistic vision by stealing what was already done in years past. My response to this: There are plenty of story lines out there to film, most of them repeat in some way shape or form. Every film maker actually mimics and repeats other film makers... which yes that point could be disputed by some out there so feel free. It is difficult, after so many years of being creative - to yet still be a true original. I'd say if you have stellar source material that could be worked with a few different angles and visions that maybe only you can re-create vs. the original film GO FOR IT! That fact that the original wasn't incredible means you are not simply remaking the film, which most do. You are taking a different approach - ie to be better than the first approach, with the source material on a film that is modern day and will most likely show different results. I'm curious to see what you do with it and where you take it. Good luck!

[Haylar Garcia]

Good points Anne.
you know what else is odd, when you mentioned that some filmmakers are stealing.
In many cases the original filmmakers/writers or both (despite their comments about the films after they are released)
Have no problem taking the paycheck when the remake is proposed, remember in many cases the original filmmakers get paid for the right to do a remake.

Of course sometimes the IP is owned by a studio and the original filmmaker has no say.
In this case, I would be working with the original writer/director, he would be acting as an exec producer and would have some creative control.

[Zee]

From the 80s...hmmm...there are some 70s and 80s flicks that could stand to get remade if the source material was from an earlier time and not specific to that time frame.

[Haylar Garcia]

oddly enough, I think Hollywood views remakes as a safe bet, if it has a following or did well the first time, then their bets are a little more hedged.
I do not think the overall idea is to do it better, but to relive the formula that allowed it to make money the first time.
That being said, doing any type of remake with the grand idea of topping the original could be nipped by the studio for budget reasons. That is why so may remakes sport the cape of a better movie, but when you get right down to it, they just don't deliver.

But of course I am just the writer, so much (after me) depends on how the film looks and feels in the end.
maybe i should be thinking of it more as a career move than an artistic. Maybe I should just be honored that they thought of me.

-Haylar 08

[Haylar Garcia]

Duffy, you are correct 100% about highlander,, and of course rocky horror goes without saying. There is actually an online petition for Rock horror called "Save the Lips" where you can sign up to ask MTV to stand down.

[Haylar Garcia]

It is from a very famous fantasy/horror writer, who is also an accomplished screenwriter/director.
Series of 2 books I believe they were published in the 80's as well, there were two sequels also planned back in the 80's to this film, but they were never made.

[Todd Bradley]

First off, what does this have to do with "(303) to (310) with HAYLAR"? I thought this corner was specifically for discussions regarding moving from the Denver film scene into the Hollywood film scene. And it seems to me that this sort of topic would be great for the more general "Filmmaking Discussions" area.

But to your questions... I can't tell you whether or not to just "go for the paycheck" because I don't know how badly you need the money. However, consider this: Remakes are popular in Hollywood because investors like to be able to piggy-back on the success of a previous film. A remake gets free name recognition. When you remake a film with very positive name recognition, that's a good thing. When you remake a film with very negative name recognition, that's a bad thing. Which of the following make-believe remakes of 1987 films would you take your date to Friday night: Ishtar 2 or Princess Bride 2?

What remakes of other "not very well made" films do people love? I'm having a hard time thinking of even one.

[Haylar Garcia]

First off, Darcy does not allow me to date any more, but if she did, I would consider taking my date to see the upcoming remake of Hellraiser, which is super-iconic and had great results with a lot of good aftermath, but rent it and watch it, the original kind of sucks in that common 80's way. (the property i am talking about is much more related to a film like Hellraiser than the Princess Bride. ( I love that you know Ishtar though.. kick ass)

Also Todd, this corner has specifically to do with differences, trials and my adventures working both in 303 and 310.It is not about physically moving from here to there. I brought it up here, because the situation has to do with a 303 writer in a 310 situation.

[Todd Bradley]

I'm not normally one to give relationship advice, but you could consider taking Darcy to a movie! :-)

And I had no idea there was a remake of Hellraiser. I saw the original when I was in college and I remember being disturbed by it, but I can't remember if I was scared or if I just thought it was crappy.

[Haylar Garcia]

Todd, well your relationship advice is in full swing.
Darcy and i will going out tonight to see a film together, and in the truest spirit of this conversation, we will be
seeing "The Day the Earth Stood Still"

irony strikes

-H

[Zee]

I guess something to think about is what you'd not be doing if you wrote the remake, or if you really want to do it. Personally, I'd rather keep my day job than write someone else's story, but that's just me. I don't want to write on contract like that, especially.