Introduce Yourself : "Filmmaking With a Calculator" - from Line Producer/UPM on the "Taken" series (all three!) with Liam Neeson by Michael Mandaville

Michael Mandaville

"Filmmaking With a Calculator" - from Line Producer/UPM on the "Taken" series (all three!) with Liam Neeson

Hello everybody!

Michael Mandaville here. I'm a Producer-Line Producer (PGA) and UPM (DGA).

Here's my philosophy and outlook: In today's media landscape, feature films have come under more and more Price Compression. Practical filmmaking to actually get a film made requires a creative, financial and logistical focus. I am working in a very practical world. Not the hazy world of "If you can only get $10 million, then I'm sure MY film will make $100 million!!!" Filmmaking is hard but incredibly rewarding work. If you actually want to make films happen, then working with budgets and value of the script and talent in relation to that budget can make the film happen.

You need to have a Schedule and Budget to know how much it will cost. A realistic idea on talent - putting Scarlet Johansen and Bradley Cooper on your talent list means that you'd better have a $60 Million Proof of Funds to get their attention.

I will be writing more here on Stage 32 for sure.

Jeannette Kremer

Hi Michael,

Nice to meet you! The "Taken" series is one of my favorites, together with the "Die Hard" series.

"Assassination Nation" sold for $10 million at Sundance. I think folks behind the "Avengers:Infinity" bought the film.

Will be interesting to see what its domestic box office will be.

Look forward to your posts!

Michael Mandaville

Jeannette. Thanks for responding. Funny, but I mention the "Taken" script (the original) along with the first "Die Hard" script as amongst the fastest script reads that I've ever had. I will look at "Assassination Nation" too. thanks for mentioning that. M

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