To Appomattox (Grant vs. Lee) to be produced by Sony and Reelz Channel?

[Legionnaire66]

Originally Posted by Eric Wittenberg

There is ample budget. I cannot go into details, but rest assured that there is ample budget for this to be done correctly. Michael Beckner raised the funds himself in order to be able to retain creative control.

Well, I hope you are right but color me skeptical. To do a project like this right, you're gonna need a budget of somewhere around 8-10 million an hour. That is easily 60-80 Million dollars. And if you want it to be absolutely phenomenal, you're gonna need 80+.

I don't see that as possible. Plus the gimmick casting (Nascar? Country Music) hurts credibility rather than enhances it.

Right off the bat you pander to a specific segment of the population.

Also, the distribution rights? Who is gonna want em? Skye? BBC?

Color me wrong, without the brand name of an HBO or STARZ or even AMC I don't see where the potential to make money is, so I don't see where/why the producer could/has raised the amount of capital necessary to make a high quality period piece.


We shall see, I'll allow you the benefit of the doubt.

[semperpietas]

Originally Posted by Legionnaire66

Color me wrong, without the brand name of an HBO or STARZ or even AMC I don't see where the potential to make money is, so I don't see where/why the producer could/has raised the amount of capital necessary to make a high quality period piece.

You would be surprised at the number of well to do people who are Civil War enthusiasts.

[Hypaspist]

If they use country music stars and Nascar drivers to play certain roles, it will draw in that audience. Everyone else will be none the wiser. If I saw a Nascar driver, I wouldn't know.

The 1980's North and South and the Blue and Gray looked good for their time, and they weren't exactly working with a huge budget. What North and South had wrong was some over the top writing and crazy casting decisions in the 2nd Season. I never saw the third.

[superdeluxe]

Originally Posted by Legionnaire66

Well, I hope you are right but color me skeptical. To do a project like this right, you're gonna need a budget of somewhere around 8-10 million an hour. That is easily 60-80 Million dollars. And if you want it to be absolutely phenomenal, you're gonna need 80+.

I don't see that as possible. Plus the gimmick casting (Nascar? Country Music) hurts credibility rather than enhances it.

Right off the bat you pander to a specific segment of the population.

1) The 80 million dollar figure, can you share where you came up with that number? Thanks

2) If the thought that a good portion of people interested in Civil War movies are from the South/Southeast, then as you say you are 'pandering' to a specific segment of the population. If your 'target' audience enjoy nascar/country music. Not sure what the issue is?

Also just because you feel that it is 'gimmick' casting, perhaps they can actually act, do you really think that MFB would allow someone who is a country act to be involved, if they can't act? Dwight Yoakam has acted before, as have Trace Adkins. Another major issue is that these country acts have shown large amounts of passion for the project (I believe Trace Adkins is on the Board of Directors for the Gettysburg Battlefield?)

I have not seen any reason to already be negative about this project.

Have you seen the list of actors associated with this? Many are great actors and have been associated with historical movies in the past. Do you think they would sign up for something if it will be a sham? I'm speaking of Will Patton and Steven Lang for example. And the passion of some of the actors wanting to get this project on going because of the passion they have for it.

[Eric Wittenberg]

Again, I will reiterate: I know how much money is involved, but am not permitted to say the amount in public. I can tell you that there are plenty of zeroes after the number in question. Please trust me on this.

[Nickuru]

Should be a great film. I wonder if they need some pommies to serve as cannon fodder for the battles.

[semperpietas]

Originally Posted by Nickuru

Should be a great film. I wonder if they need some pommies to serve as cannon fodder for the battles.

TV Mini-Series actually.

[Legionnaire66]

Originally Posted by Eric Wittenberg

Again, I will reiterate: I know how much money is involved, but am not permitted to say the amount in public. I can tell you that there are plenty of zeroes after the number in question. Please trust me on this.

I will. Forgive me, you can just call me "old gloomy Pete." ;-)

[Hypaspist]

Hopes of getting a good Civil War movie: low.

If the series is successful: Medium.

So let's make it a success!