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Ed Burns: Independent Film Triple Threat
Lucrative opportunities in Independent Film Investing. See why you should Invest in the Independent Film Market. Read on...
In 1995, Edward Burns startled the film world when he produced, directed and starred in the hit independent film, “The Brothers McMullen for a mere $25,000. After winning the Sundance Grand Jury Prize, his first exploration of an Irish American family from Queens, NY went on to earn more than $10 million dollars in the US market alone.
Since his first taste of success, the talented young writer, producer-director and star has gone on to produce and direct eight of his own independent films all the while starring in blockbusters such as Steven Spielberg’s 1998 hit, “Saving Private Ryan.”
Making independent films in today’s competitive environment has its challenges, but Burns continues to plug ahead as a pioneer in bringing in films on low budgets that prove to be box office winners.
This year, only 11 years after, his first hit, Burns stars, directs and has written a New York-based comedy-drama, “The Groomsmen.” The independent film was the hit of the Tribeca Film Festival and stars box office draws, Brittany Murphy, John Leguizamo, and Jay Mohr.
“It was so impossible to get it made,” according to Burns. The film was financed by Bauer Martinez Entertainment, for around $3 million, about half of the first projected budget.
Keeping costs low was accomplished by combining many of tried and true independent filmmaking approaches. By keeping crews small, actors salaries low at only $11,000 each and using innovative new technology for post production including the latest desktop editing platforms, the project could avoid using expensive postproduction facilities while providing instantaneous editing capabilities sometimes executed right on the set with Burn’s own Macintosh Power Book computer.
But cost containment was only part of the challenge Burns faced in realizing his vision. “A lot of the specialized film companies, whether it’s Fox Searchlight or Lion’s Gate, are having so much success with teen comedies and slasher movies that they no longer make the indie films they were set up to support, finance, and distribute,” Burns claims. “Now those companies say, ‘You go raise the money, make the movie, and then maybe we’ll overspend to buy it, but we don’t want to be involved in the risk side of that business.
To that extent films of this kind clearly represent lucrative opportunities for independent investors who can make profitable films happen when the majors may not be willing to take all the risk.
With “The Groomsmen”, Burns feels he has made a film that minimized box office risk. “My films aren’t your typical art house fare,” he says. “They are pretty accessible, and while not obviously commercial, they draw a big enough audience for them to make money.”
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