Is Hollywood Finally Getting It?
Sat, July 23, 2011 
Let me start with a disclaimer regarding this story: it's pure opinion.
For all I know, tomorrow some news story will come out that completely rebuffs what I'm trying to say here.
But anyway...
I've noticed a certain trend lately in Hollywood concerning how much time they're putting into making a quality, blockbuster film. Films are being pre-produced and completey shot more than a year before their release date, giving the filmmakers plenty of time to make sure the film comes out right. Take for example...
The Amazing Spider-Man. Yes, I know everyone is iffy and undecided about what exactly to think concerning this reboot (I for one like the direction it's going. I couldn't stand the goofiness and amount of humor in Sam Rami's films), but you have to admit, it's comforting knowing the film has already been filmed and isn't set for release until next July 3rd. That's gives Marc Webb and the rest of his crew plenty of time to edit this thing, get the special effects right, and make sure the film comes out the best it can.
Another example yet with more detail...
Man of Steel. The Zack Snyder directed, Christopher Nolan produced reboot of Superman. It made headlines this past week when it was announced the flick would be released June 14th, 2013, almost 6 months later than it's expected December 2012 opening. Now if you look at the timeline of this film, it started being written back in February 2010. Yes, February 2010. That's when it was first announced that Christopher Nolan was producing the thing along with his brother, Jonah, and David Goyer writing the script. Then, last October, Zack Snyder came aboard to direct with Henry Cavill being announced as the star later on in February. With filming finally set to begin next month, it's been 6 months since Cavill was cast, 10 months since Snyder was announced as director, and 18 months since Chris Nolan and crew hopped on board. Now with the film not coming out until until June 2013, and filming expected to probably last anywhere from 6-8 months, that will give Snyder over a year to put this film together once it's shot. Imagine that, more than a year of post-production.
Now I know you're probably gonna say, "Well X-Men: First Class did all that in a year and came out good," or "Green Lantern had 9 months of post-production and still came out like shit." Well, look at the facts for a second. For X-Men, Bryan Singer had been working on that film 7 months before director Matthew Vaughn came aboard. So to say the film was made completely in a year is a bit exaggerated. Then there's Green Lantern. Yes, that film had plenty of time to get it right, but had three scripts to begin with, so Warner Bros. never knew where the heck they were going with the film in the first place.
I'll be the first to admit, I can be completely wrong about all of this. The Amazing Spider-Man can come out next July and be a load of crap and Man of Steel can arrive June 2013 and suck worse than Green Lantern. However, if both films do arrive and hit the ball right out of the park, maybe you'll remember this article, and how Hollywood might finally know how to make a film, not a release date.
Reader Comments (3)
Great Op-Ed John!
I hadn't originally been behind the Spidey reboot, but the new trailer and the idea that like you said they have another year to make it right, has me more than reassured they can pull it together.
Giving Snyder another 6 months to make the magic happen for Supes was the best thing that could happen there as well.
Thanks Mitch, appreciate the compliment.
An entirely plausible (not to mention sensible) way of making a big budget movie.
Blomkamp and his Elysium team seem to have got the same memo, aswell.
And on a sidenote, I agree totally about the over-abundance of humour and self-awareness in Rami's Spiderman films. I always thought they were very cynically made.