Black Day at Blog Rock

 · 
August 5, 2007

Got the first week’s numbers in from France. Not a blockbuster but the film did very well for itself. Delirious was number 4 behind Live Free and Die With a Hardon, Spiders of the Caribbean and Wee Wee, a French movie about a dog who wins a prize for making the best cheese.  

This news cheered me up for about an hour or so. I went to bed and had a dream that I was pulling a freight train up a mountain with a rope made out of cheese. Although it was exhausting work it was comforting knowing that others were behind me, pulling and pushing along with me. The hill got steeper. I turned to yell encouragement to my team and was shocked to discover most of them were riding in one of the cars. The rest were walking leisurely beside the train, laughing and talking and pieces of the cheese. These walkers reacted the most venomously when I erupted in outrage. They all sneered and said, “Go ahead, do it by yourself then. This train’s goin’ nowhere anyway!” 

The dream shifted to the conference room of Gestation's offices on 54th Street. Arnold, the head of the company, was summing up the Delirious campaign. “The film opens in NYC in a month. Our entire promotion budget is $350,000. Just to put things in perspective for you another US independent film, Little Miss Sunshine, spent 8 million on promotion. So, in our case there will be one or two small pre-opening screenings to help build word of mouth but no premiere. And as we said before, there will be no TV advertising, no billboards, no magazine ads and no radio.” Arnold paused for a moment then concluded, “Under these conditions it will take either a miracle or a sex tape/celebrity murder scandal for the film to succeed.” 

In my dream I started to hallucinate. I said, “You know what, Arnie? I don’t think of this film as small. I believe in it and I’m going to keep reaching for the sky. If I hit the ground at least I’ll know I came down trying.”

It’s funny how in dreams you say things that sound just right. Arnold muttered something in half in defeat and half in denial and walked out. But still, I didn’t feel so good—and it wasn’t just his negativity that infuriated me. It was the sudden realization that he’d been operating in this little-to-none expectation mode for the past two months. All this time I’d thought he was working hard for the film. Instead he was doing nothing; because to him it just wasn't worth it. 

But, still in the dream, I caught up with Arnold in the swank Gestation lobby and accidentally hurled him against the employee espresso machine. “You fucking idiot!” I yelled. “The real miracle was getting the movie made in the first place!  All the years it took to drag and claw something into being out of nothing. And the whole time everybody was saying exactly what you just said to me, “Don’t do it. It’s too hard. Give up; it’s never going to happen.”  A woman came by and started to make a latte. But seeing me jamming Arnold's head up against the steam valve she just made some tea instead. I took the moment to explain myself more clearly. “You see, Arnie, getting any movie made is a victory of the most profound proportions. Everything afterwards, no matter how difficult, is like making tea compared to that.” Arnold nodded as best he could and whispered that the car was waiting for me.

The next thing I knew I was rushing down 7th Ave and into a packed movie theater in Chelsea where Delirious had just screened. A Q&A with Professor Richard Brown was about to begin. The tussle with Arnold had me still worked up, sparking a fever that was edging me into a state of delirium. When the professor asked me a question I could barely see his face and words rushed out of my mouth so fast I didn't know what I was saying. A lot of the words were curses. Prof. Brown asked me about independent films and distribution.

I replied, “The only films guaranteed to make it to the screen today are the blockbusters like Shrek 92 or Spiderman 12th Generation. Against them, smaller independent films have little chance. I’ve got nothing against entertainments like these. I just don’t happen to believe that the only way to enjoy myself at the movies today is to give myself a lobotomy.”  

The rest was a frenzied blur. I remember Prof. Brown embracing me afterwards. Many members of the audience came up to say how much they’d been moved by the film and by my words. At the very least the screening showed there was an audience for the film. It showed the marketing firm that there was real justification now to increase the promotional campaign. Then I looked up and saw Arnold leaning against the door.  Though smiling, his face was set in a rigid impenetrability as if he was fighting as hard as he could to smother even the faintest possibility of hope for the film.

 Then I woke up and realized none of this was a dream.

Comments
The sex tape with Buscemi post was in reference to the original marketing meeting clip that was on YouTube. It has apparently been made private since I saw it, so I guess I’ll go about pulling references off the site. Oops?
Tom
Hey Daaron, Well you just blew my mind almost as much as Mona did. The offer you propose is as tempting as her braiding my hair. Any nudge you could give to Flock and Co would be hugely appreciated. If I wanted to contact you how could I do so?
I’m not absolutely sure on the Miss Sunshine question but I do know that very soon after the sale at Sundance they went to work on a huge promotion campaign that reached very quickly the 8 million mark. Think of what we could have done with even 1 million.
Thanks for reading. I’m glad you enjoy it. More to come.
Tom
Tom
Mona, you are a kicker!! I love your writing style and sense of humor. You have a very cool site. I meant every word I said and if I err again I’m counting on you to send me a comment immediately with suggestions on how to correct it. Now as far as braiding my hair and talking about boys…an odd combo but in a strange way it does sound enjoyable.My best to you. I promise you you will not be disappointed when you see the film. I PROMISE YOU.
ps. the video clips are all scripted. see new blog. the sex tape was with Gina. did you want me to do one with Steve?
Tom
Daaron
Tremendous blog. I am a small (but consequential in my world) investor in PAE. There is a small but devoted community of investors at:
Any help we can do in terms of influencing Flock and company at PAE just let us know.
My wife and I missed the SF film fest showing due to the inability of my 6 month old to watch and care for herself – changing her own diaper seems to be an especially challenging task. However we will catch the Landmark showings.
Just a question, did little miss sunshine start with an $8 million ad budget , or did it start low and then climb as the film was successful?
Artists like you, who give a damn and care about the fans, rather than the money the fans represent, are saving the industry. I feel like a total tool for typing that, but it’s absolutely true.
With true regards,
M
Tom
To TISBuscemi.com. Thanks very much for the objective observation. I was in too deep and should have known better. You made a valid point. I appreciate it and offer my sincere apologies. Please see Blog 12 to see the corrected error offense.
Tom

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TOM DICILLO

Independent Filmmaker & Musician