Question about film adaptation of "A Good Marriage"

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Rrty

Well-Known Member
Jun 4, 2007
1,394
4,588
Ms. Mod,

I checked out the interview and promotional site you linked on the front page of Mr. King's website. This leads me to a question.

The article states that "A Good Marriage" will be available in theaters and on VOD on October 3. Assuming that is accurate -- i.e., a day-and-date release -- can you speak a bit about the business model behind this project?

I was wondering if this is an experiment King is doing to see if there are alternative ways for him to expose his work to the celluloid industry. I'm not an expert, but from what I've read about the topic, I assume this is a very low-budget film that focuses on story and that, because it might not appeal to a mass audience, the VOD component may allow the film to maximize its return on investment. I almost get the impression that, if this succeeds, King may try to do more of this type of thing, maybe open up his own production company. Perhaps this is a way for King to keep more of the cash flow generated by the film, as well.

If you have any more information -- budget, King's profit-participation structure, how the film was financed, etc. -- please pass that along. Or, if you catch any articles on this subject, please link them. I'm sure I'm not the only one to notice this.

I hope it works out, because King's statement in the article rings true -- works that aren't too short or long do tend, for almost obvious reasons, to best suit themselves for translation to screen. Would love to see King adapt more of his stuff with such a model, and to perhaps write original stuff as well. I think, in particular, he should attempt to compete with the low-budget films of nowadays, the "Last Exorcisms," "Paranormal Activities," the "Dark Skies," etc. He would do well in that arena.

Maybe even a King expert like Bev Vincent might want to look into this...
 

Bev Vincent

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
4,351
11,651
Texas
www.bevvincent.com
This is a relatively new model being tested out by some "smaller" films. One of the major expenses in releasing a film is distribution, even in the digital age. There was some discussion about this recently when the (excellent, I might add) Korean film Snowpiercer came out this way. Some people believed that it harmed the film's chances of becoming a blockbuster because it was never in enough theaters to catch fire. I know I certainly appreciated the opportunity to watch it from the comfort of my living room and was willing to pay a premium charge to do so. I think it made more from VOD than from theatrical appearances, with much lower overhead.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
king05goodA.gif
 

Moderator

Ms. Mod
Administrator
Jul 10, 2006
52,243
157,324
Maine
Ms. Mod,

I checked out the interview and promotional site you linked on the front page of Mr. King's website. This leads me to a question.

The article states that "A Good Marriage" will be available in theaters and on VOD on October 3. Assuming that is accurate -- i.e., a day-and-date release -- can you speak a bit about the business model behind this project?

I was wondering if this is an experiment King is doing to see if there are alternative ways for him to expose his work to the celluloid industry. I'm not an expert, but from what I've read about the topic, I assume this is a very low-budget film that focuses on story and that, because it might not appeal to a mass audience, the VOD component may allow the film to maximize its return on investment. I almost get the impression that, if this succeeds, King may try to do more of this type of thing, maybe open up his own production company. Perhaps this is a way for King to keep more of the cash flow generated by the film, as well.

If you have any more information -- budget, King's profit-participation structure, how the film was financed, etc. -- please pass that along. Or, if you catch any articles on this subject, please link them. I'm sure I'm not the only one to notice this.

I hope it works out, because King's statement in the article rings true -- works that aren't too short or long do tend, for almost obvious reasons, to best suit themselves for translation to screen. Would love to see King adapt more of his stuff with such a model, and to perhaps write original stuff as well. I think, in particular, he should attempt to compete with the low-budget films of nowadays, the "Last Exorcisms," "Paranormal Activities," the "Dark Skies," etc. He would do well in that arena.

Maybe even a King expert like Bev Vincent might want to look into this...

A lot of what you're asking isn't something I would discuss publicly even if I had the details, i.e. the financial arrangements for making the film, as it is not just Stephen that is involved. I think it's okay to say that this way of distributing the film wasn't the first choice when they made the film but is what they ultimately decided would be the best way to get it out to the public. If the model proves to be a success, then it may be looked at for future projects as the first choice for distribution. It's very unlikely Stephen will open up his own production company, though. He prefers doing the creative part and leaving that sort of business end to those who know it best--a lot fewer headaches, too.
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
92,168
USA
This is a relatively new model being tested out by some "smaller" films. One of the major expenses in releasing a film is distribution, even in the digital age. There was some discussion about this recently when the (excellent, I might add) Korean film Snowpiercer came out this way. Some people believed that it harmed the film's chances of becoming a blockbuster because it was never in enough theaters to catch fire. I know I certainly appreciated the opportunity to watch it from the comfort of my living room and was willing to pay a premium charge to do so. I think it made more from VOD than from theatrical appearances, with much lower overhead.

Well said, Bev. I've seen this quite a bit with indies (I tend to prefer those to blockbusters). I live in a very conservative market with only a couple of 'art house' theaters in the whole state, so there are a number of films I wouldn't get to see until (OR IF) they're released on DVD if it wasn't for that model. I've enjoyed it a lot.

It actually makes me anticipate this film more that I originally did, because to me it means that they chose NOT to make the story gorier than it was in the book. A Good Marriage probably affected me more than any other of Mr. King's short stories or novellas, so I'm looking forward to seeing it done right.
 

hossenpepper

Don't worry. I have a permit!!!
Feb 5, 2010
12,897
32,897
Wonderland Avenue
Ok, so question then Mod. It says "in theaters" too. Does that mean only a limited market release (NYC, LA, Chicago) or more areas? I know the AMC theaters here often show limited release films for short engagements of a week or so that normally would only be in major market limited releases. Any chance I can see this in the theater anywhere in the Tampa Bay area? Anywhere I could find that info if you don't know?
 

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
195,461
Atlanta GA
Ok, so question then Mod. It says "in theaters" too. Does that mean only a limited market release (NYC, LA, Chicago) or more areas? I know the AMC theaters here often show limited release films for short engagements of a week or so that normally would only be in major market limited releases. Any chance I can see this in the theater anywhere in the Tampa Bay area? Anywhere I could find that info if you don't know?
Screen Media Films is releasing it. I've sent an email asking which cities. I'll post their answer if I get one.
 

Moderator

Ms. Mod
Administrator
Jul 10, 2006
52,243
157,324
Maine
Ok, so question then Mod. It says "in theaters" too. Does that mean only a limited market release (NYC, LA, Chicago) or more areas? I know the AMC theaters here often show limited release films for short engagements of a week or so that normally would only be in major market limited releases. Any chance I can see this in the theater anywhere in the Tampa Bay area? Anywhere I could find that info if you don't know?
I've sent an email to the person I've been in contact with who is in charge of domestic distribution to see if they have a listing of the markets that I can pass along.
 

Rrty

Well-Known Member
Jun 4, 2007
1,394
4,588
Ms. Mod and Bev, thanks for the replies. And it is understandable you cannot give out any information on this.

I've been doing a little digging into the film. I don't know a lot about this Hollywood stuff, but it seems as if King and his partners decided to go way outside the studio system for this one. I'm going to check out the trailer, as I want to see if the results justified this approach (I have a feeling they will).

One day, King should explore the notion of using one of those fundraiser sites to acquire capital to make a project. Imagine, say, raising a few million dollars to do another "Creepshow"-like anthology film.

We definitely live in interesting times...capital comes from the oddest places, and content has been transformed forever by zeros and ones. As far as the story goes, I read it, enjoyed it, but will say this...it would have maybe been cooler to see "Fair Extension" adapted under this model, as that was my favorite tale from the collection.
 

Moderator

Ms. Mod
Administrator
Jul 10, 2006
52,243
157,324
Maine
Screen Media Films is releasing it. I've sent an email asking which cities. I'll post their answer if I get one.
Ok, so question then Mod. It says "in theaters" too. Does that mean only a limited market release (NYC, LA, Chicago) or more areas? I know the AMC theaters here often show limited release films for short engagements of a week or so that normally would only be in major market limited releases. Any chance I can see this in the theater anywhere in the Tampa Bay area? Anywhere I could find that info if you don't know?

I've been told more are being added but this is what they have lined up so far:

NYC AMC Empire
LA Laemmle NoHo
SF AMC VanNess
Dallas AMC Grapevine
Seattle AMC Pacific Place
Denver AMC Cherry Creek
Tampa AMC Veterans
Phoenix Harkins Valley Art
Detroit Cinema Detroit
Sarasota AMC Sarasota 12
Columbus Gateway Film Center
Portland Clinton Street
 

hossenpepper

Don't worry. I have a permit!!!
Feb 5, 2010
12,897
32,897
Wonderland Avenue
I've been told more are being added but this is what they have lined up so far:

NYC AMC Empire
LA Laemmle NoHo
SF AMC VanNess
Dallas AMC Grapevine
Seattle AMC Pacific Place
Denver AMC Cherry Creek
Tampa AMC Veterans
Phoenix Harkins Valley Art
Detroit Cinema Detroit
Sarasota AMC Sarasota 12
Columbus Gateway Film Center
Portland Clinton Street
:jammin:WOOO HOOOOOOO!!!! AMC Veterans is about 20 minutes from me!!! :jammin:
 

fushingfeef

Finally Uber!
Aug 14, 2009
10,194
21,965
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
A large advantage of the internet is in distribution, cutting out the middlemen. So much of the cost of Hollywood films is money that is not going directly into the production quality of the film. Of course, my first preference would be to see it theatrically, but I'm glad I'll get to see this through VOD sooner instead of waiting for a DVD.