Archive through July 15, 2003
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TV ClubHouse: Archive: Project Greenlight: Archive through July 15, 2003

Texannie

Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 08:33 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Did anyone watch?? Love that they picked Shaker Heights..felt sorry for the girl director that was so passionate about it. The guy that wrote Prisoner was just plain scary and I hated how he talked to his girlfriend!

Laura11103

Monday, June 23, 2003 - 11:07 am EditMoveDeleteIP
never heard of it. when and what is it on? also, what's it about?

Texannie

Monday, June 23, 2003 - 11:20 am EditMoveDeleteIP
It started last year. It is a project/contest that Ben Afleck and Matt Damon do to help young writer/directors get started.
http://www.hbo.com/greenlight/

Laura11103

Monday, June 23, 2003 - 11:30 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Oh that's right, now I remember... I started to watch it back then but found it boring... so you say it's good? Maybe I need to give it another try.

thanks for the info!

Texannie

Monday, June 23, 2003 - 11:35 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I enjoyed it last night.

Kitt

Monday, June 23, 2003 - 03:18 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I missed last season, but am quite keen to see this one. I was thinking the same about the Prisoner writer, he seemed like he'd be terrible to work with, regardless of how good his script was. I was amazed to see how good the directors were, what they did with those few lines of text was quite something. There's a lot of talent there, it could be very interesting to see how things go.

Texannie

Monday, June 23, 2003 - 03:40 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Wasn't that amazing how they each interreputed those few lines??!!!!

Sanfranjoshfan

Saturday, June 28, 2003 - 04:02 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I just noticed that "Stolen Summer" was on Starz today. That was the actual movie that last year's "Project Greenlight" resulted in. I didn't watch it all, just a few minutes here and there....it seemed a bit slow for my taste, even though I found the "Project Greenlight" HBO series to be pretty good.

I assume it will re-air at some time on HBO. It seems that movies often air on Starz before they make it to HBO or Showtime.

Warrenn

Monday, June 30, 2003 - 08:32 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I like watching "Project Greenlight", but I think they are setting themselves up for failure.

In the first series they picked "Stolen Summer" even though they knew it would be a hard movie to make. Either Matt or Ben even said so explicitly. Then they had a short production cycle. So you have a novice writer/unproven director (Pete) making a difficult movie with a short cycle. Hmm... not a recipe for success.

I feel they are making a lot of mistakes in this season as well. These directors might have made some good films, but it seems they want to have all the control and do everything themselves. And they don't express anything about what they want. And that one producer is so petty. Asking for a car during a production meeting?!? Telling the DP he interrupts to much? Also the production cycle is very short. All the producers have been saying this over and over. So even if you had a great, proven director it would be difficult to get the movie done well. This movie has trainwreck written all over it. The have once again set themselves up for failure. Unfortunately that makes for a bad movie, but a good "Project Greenlight" series.

Realmom

Monday, June 30, 2003 - 10:21 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Nice to see someone else is watching this. I watched it last year, and I find the filmmaking process fascinating. I've also seen the movie "Stolen Summer" and enjoyed it. It wasn't Oscar caliber, but it was decent entertainment.

This show is edited to make it look like things are going badly. I've seen Pete (last year's winner) interviewed, and he said it wasn't half as bad as they made it look.

For the show's sake, I hope this year's show is just being edited to make it look like the directors are dolts, so that it will be amazing when it all comes out good in the end. The choice of directors does seem to have been a big mistake. They are cyphers--I'm sure they have opinions (at least one of them), but they have to speak up. Directing is not the career for the passive. The writer isn't much better, but I think she has a bit more spunk. The production end of it just really isn't her focus.

I think it is funny that Chris keeps getting his jabs in at Pete from last year, but I think he is going to have more trouble with these "experienced" guys.

Hummingbird

Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 03:45 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I think this show is a major bore! I watched the first episode and wanted the girl director to win. She really wanted it and her piece using the dialog at a party was clever. They lost my attention in the second episode. Amazing how such mediocre celebs as Sharon Lawrence have such high opinions of themselves. She'll discuss the part but won't read? What was that all about? She's hardly a household word, ya know.

Bracken

Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 04:50 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I watched last year and will watch this year unless something ridiculous happens, which it may. It sure seems like the director duo will have problems with staff since they are accustomed to doing it all themselves. This change in the way they do business should be interesting, at least I hope it is.

Notice how the messages regarding how keen the directors were on the actor for the main character (who subsequently turned it down) were relayed to Ben and Matt. So much for open and honest communication. I'm kinda glad that this kid didn't take the job. It will be nice if an unknown gets the part to go along with the unknown directors and writer.

I think an offshoot of Green Light would be to give 10 or so talented directors a short absurd script like the one used for the film submissions and about $100,000 each to make a short film and combine them into a shorts movie. Based on what we saw from the finalist directors, I would definitely pay to see a how different directors interpret the same script.

Caroline

Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 09:46 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I'm watching again this year and, TexAnnie, I agree about the writer of Prisoner -- very scary and way into self...but didn't Ben say last night that most of the writers he knows are wierd or something like that?

And, Bracken, I like your idea of the short film...the entry interpretations were very, very smart.

I will, however, tune out when I see Chris chewing on anyone...I don't buy not having a lot of time as justification to kick butt -- there are more sucessful ways to oversee projects, and, yes, help novices learn. Project/budget deadlines can be met without resorting to bullish behavior. Sorry for the rant...

Texannie

Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 08:44 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Who exactly is Chris? Thought it was very good last night..those directors seem a little over confident. The poor writer looks like a deer in headlights!

Caroline

Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 09:12 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Tex,

Chris is one of the Exec Producers who oversees this gig after it kicks off or at least in he did in PG1...Ben and Matt and he are all involved in the first stages (selecting the property/writer and the director(s)and some of the other initial pre-production stuff) then it seems Ben and Matt drop off and Chris 'assumes the position'. I realize they edit this for ratings but he rather comes off as jerky young turk -- kinda detracts from how bright he might really be...lol

Texannie

Thursday, July 03, 2003 - 07:14 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I know what his role is in the show, I guess I wasn't very clear..wondered what he did before the show..where did he come from??
I think he's been editing very fairly..those passive directors would drive me insane! Loved how all the stars kept passing, and what a bizarre interview with Sharon Lawrence.

Caroline

Thursday, July 03, 2003 - 10:02 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Don't know his lineage. Went over to Project Greenlight's website and found nothing on his background -- did see a few folks on the message board who feel similarly though. Just know that last time he was just a bit too much for me...and I guess if the editing is fair, he might really be a jerk. Maybe the stars don't want a 'movie' made of the the movie they're making -- you know, no real down time...

Ric_Munoz

Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 01:08 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Chris Moore is the major reason I watch the show. His cold-blooded and sometimes vicious candor is fun to watch; it's also a true reflection of how things are in the film business. Compared with other production executives (many of whom can be indescribably cruel), and based on how he tries to modify his behavior to spare Erica/Kyle/Efram's feelings, he's probably one of the nicest guys around--imagine what the truly bad guys must be like! Moore met Matt Damon at Harvard University and have been pals ever since. Moore produced or co-produced "Good Will Hunting," the three "American Pie" movies, "Joy Ride," and "Reindeer Games" among many others.

Regarding the Sharon Lawrence audition, in the subsequent scenes they explained that it is standard procedure for actors, some with even less stature than Lawrence, to be exempt from reading. Experienced actors with a large enough body of work have earned the right to reject requests for readings. On the other hand, there are situations where even heavily experienced actors will OFFER to read for a part if they are coveting a role--this is especially true if the actor senses the director is inclined to use a different actor.

Texannie

Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 01:29 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks for the info Ric!
I understood Sharon's reasoning, I meant bizarre behaviour from the boys! LOL

Ric_Munoz

Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 01:49 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
You're welcome, Texannie. I agree about the boys. That Efram is such a mess and so high-maintenance. I hope Chris makes mincemeat out of him in future episodes--it's the only way the guy will ever comprehend just how lucky he was to get this far. (I also hope they give him a Geo Metro or some tiny little car like that and then say something like, "If you'd only asked earlier, you would have gotten the BMW and Erica would've been stuck with the Metro!").

Texannie

Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 02:13 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
ROFL!! I forgot about the car! LOVED how they just abused him for that!

Bracken

Tuesday, July 15, 2003 - 06:41 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Is anybody still keeping up with this show. I found this weeks episode particularly disturbing with Efraim being so pushy about the actors. Although, not knowing the script of course, the directors inability to make a decision regarding the first young actor actually provided a possible better choice to play Kelly.

I think Jane Kaczmerek would have been fine. She's not always screaming (as in Malcolm). At least she looks like she could be his mother. I love kathleen Quinlan, but they wanted that blonde actor (also good) to be the father. Gary Cole again looked like he could pass for the Dad and I've seen him do amazing stage work here in Chicago. Play a burn out, piece of cake. Efraim is really screwing up in a big way I believe.

Maybe it's just me, but even when I was a kid, I'd look for some sort of resemblance in supposed family members when I watched a film or TV Show. So, of course, I had no problem with Ozzie & Harriet, lol.

Love Chris MacDonald, but come on folks, this cute little jewish kid with brown eyes and dark curly brown hair is the offspring of Kathleen Quinlan and Chris MacDonald -- only if he is adopted.

Still love the concept of the show and hope the film turns out well especially for Erica's sake, but they are out of their freakin minds. Note to Efraim, they have casting agents for a reason.

Does anybody think they choose this pair so they would have conflict? I'm feeling more and more sorry for the gal director who was so enthusiastic about the script now.

Texannie

Tuesday, July 15, 2003 - 08:46 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Is tonite the re-airing, I wasn't home Sunday!

Kitt

Tuesday, July 15, 2003 - 11:49 am EditMoveDeleteIP
My thoughts exactly Bracken! Efram seems to think that actors can't act, that they actually are whatever last role he saw them in. He's really causing problems. What I really hate is the way he looks down on Erica, last episode he said something like "we can't have her butting in every five minutes" when it's her script for goodness sake! Oooooooo...

Next episode looks... explosive!

Bracken

Tuesday, July 15, 2003 - 01:11 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Kitt- I think you are right about him only seeing them in previous roles. I do know I would have had a hard time if they wouldn't read though, regardless. Sharon Lawrence isn't all that, either. When somebody like Chris MacDonald and Gary Cole are willing. Anyway, yes, next week looks like it is going to be good in a bad way -- I'm sticking my tongue out at Efram on behalf of Erica already, lol.

Texannie - It usually replayed several times during the week -- not sure if you are in same time zone as me. I'm in Central. Tonight not on the normal HBO's I only get a couple here. Tomorrow on reg HBO at 8:30 pm and Thursday at 11:00 pm on reg HBO. I'm sure they probably show more often on additional HBO's but my cable only gives me regular and plus.