God didn’t make Rambo, Zachary Oberzan did – for $96
Sweded Blood
Filmed entirely inside his studio apartment and starring only himself, Zachary Oberzan made a 107-minute adaptation of the novel First Blood for less than $100. That’s less than the total amount spent by the 15 people I saw a matinee screening of the last Rambo with and it’s probably more entertaining.
In a post by Ben Walters at the UK Guardian Film Blog, Oberzan says:
“It’s a fuck-you to the world of TV and films that says, ‘This is the only way to make films.’ How much do you need to make a good film that you can get into? If it succeeds, it transports you to a place where the energy and emotions and love for the characters are sincere. Every time I watch a [studio] film all I can see is the catering truck and the contracts the actors signed.”
According to Walters, the free New York premiere of the film at a Brooklyn bar/art space was greeted with “enthusiastic applause” by the two dozen people in attendance.
Flooding with Love for the Kid (a title taken from a line near the end of David Morrell’s novel) can be purchased on DVD at Oberzan’s web page.
Filed under: Trailers
Reminds me of the Raiders of the Lost Ark adaptation that got a lot of attention last year (deservedly so). Except that took 7 years to make.
I like the idea of this insanely low-budget adaptations, but only to a certain extent. Some part of me still enjoys experienced actors (not Stallone, but you know) and big effects. But if my friends were shooting a home video version of Star Wars or something, I know I’d be all over it…
Yeah, I’m not sure I’d want to sit through 107 minutes of this, but as the article in the Guardian pointed out, it’s all about how much it really costs to tell an engaging story.
I think the number is probably closer to $100 than $100 million
I admire his inventiveness and daring. But the trailer was as much of this as I’d ever want to see. Maybe if the story was original and engaging, and the material was in some way served by amateur acting and the in your face artifice something like this could work.
(crossing Flooding With Love for the Kid off the list of possible Christmas presents for Mr. and Mrs. Sartre)