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Once MBAs Run the Show - Rajeev Masand
Courtesy: open magazine
An epic passion project to be directed by a celebrated new-wave director changed hands some months ago. The studio originally committed to co-producing the film is believed to have passed on the project when its budget bloated to an unviable size. Quickly, though, a rival studio attached itself to the movie, confident of making the numbers work, based on the fact that the project stars a hot young heartthrob who has just delivered a whopping blockbuster.
Insiders reveal that the studio originally linked to the film may have balked at the price tag, but the film’s producers were equally disappointed in the corporate giant. The honchos at the studio had apparently conducted a SWOT analysis on the project, breaking down its many merits and demerits. This analysis was conducted in one of the studio’s many conference rooms, whose glass windows double up as writing boards. In the ‘Strengths’ column, while analysing the film’s commercial prospects, the A-list actor’s name was scribbled, while the director’s name was listed in the ‘Weaknesses’ column, a reflection evidently of the fact that his movies rarely make any money.
While it’s unclear what may have been decided upon at the end of that studio analysis, what we do know is that nobody had the good sense to erase the glass writing board. As fate would have it, the very same evening in the very same conference room, the same film’s producers assembled for a meeting with studio executives and were reportedly horrified to notice their revered director referred to as a ‘weakness’.
An awkward exchange followed. The bloated budget was discussed too. At the end of the meeting, the producers apparently walked out, having made up their mind that their movie couldn’t possibly take shape at this studio.
