Xixax Film Forum

The Director's Chair => Paul Thomas Anderson => Topic started by: modage on December 03, 2009, 09:51:50 PM

Title: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: modage on December 03, 2009, 09:51:50 PM
This is something I was thinking about today considering it's been 2 years since Blood and will likely be 2 more until his next is released.  Considering that he goes between 4 and 5 years between movies and doesn't do commercials and videos in between, how much money can he possibly make writing and directing approx 2 films a decade?  How the hell does PTA pay his bills?
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Stefen on December 03, 2009, 10:01:14 PM
He probably pulls a Girlfriend Experience for some of the dorks here.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Kal on December 03, 2009, 10:01:32 PM
He makes a couple of million per film, maybe a bit less. He probably has investments and shit that he's done over the years.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: polkablues on December 03, 2009, 10:08:55 PM
Plus, Maya was on SNL for like seven years and gets semi-regular film and TV work.  And it doesn't seem like they're the crazy, free-spending type.  There's no reason whatsoever that one can't live very well off a million dollars or so every few years.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: socketlevel on December 03, 2009, 10:09:36 PM
i've wondered this too, and i don't know first hand, but i do know a lot of film makers like politicians do public seminars/speeches. they usually make a good chunk of coin cuz of the ticket sales or it's funded by a university or whatnot.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: ©brad on December 04, 2009, 06:11:27 AM
Quote from: kal on December 03, 2009, 10:01:32 PM
He makes a couple of million per film, maybe a bit less. He probably has investments and shit that he's done over the years.

I'm pretty certain he makes far more than this, after you factor in the percentage he gets of the movie's gross, and dvd sales.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Pas on December 04, 2009, 07:53:25 AM
Is this a real question? ''How does one pay the bills with millions of dollars every couple years?''

He directed, wrote and produced Boogie, Magnolia, PDL and TWBB. Take for exemple PDL, it had a 25 million dollars budget. That money went straight into salaries. Not even considering DVD sales and the money the movie makes, I'm sure he got at least 3-5+ millions for writing, producing and directing it. On the other hand in 1997 maybe he commanded a lower pay but strong continuous DVD sales of Boogie surely compensate a lot.

Now PTA has investment opportunities in films that surely we don't know about, but let's not speculate on that. Surely it is doable for him to invest in some production he believes in and be anonymous about it but how should we know. Let's just say he invests in the stock market.

The average return on investment for the 00s was in the range of 10% per year. That's conservative. Surely we can estimate that in 2003 (after Boogie, Magnolia and PDL) he had at least 5M in investment, so just with that he makes 500k a year. More than enough to pay the bills. (Even with a 15k/month rent and 5k/month car) And he's not even working, doing conferences and stuff.

But let's say you don't believe he had 5M in 2003. Let's say you think by then he had made 1 million dollars. Ok then, let's pretend he bought a house in hollywood in 1999 worth something like 3-5 millions. That takes a 300-500k cash investment. Surely, even by the lowest possible dumbass estimates, he made at least 500k with Boogie and Magnolia. in 2005 he can sell that house 10-15M easy. And that's if he bought one house, the early 00s was all about house flipping for hollywood types.

And that's all oh so very conservative. My gut feeling says he must be worth around 30-50M and making 1-5M yearly just with investments.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: socketlevel on December 04, 2009, 10:41:42 AM
he didn't make 5 mill, no way, 1-1.5 tops.  wouldn't be surprised if it was less.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: modage on December 04, 2009, 10:53:53 AM
This is a real question.  I mean, he's not making Michael Bay money, that's for sure.  Until Blood his films barely returned a profit in theatres, right?  How much back-end participation can he have?  If directors in a similar standing still make videos and commercials (Fincher, Jonze) to make ends meet, how does PTA do it?
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Kal on December 04, 2009, 11:20:24 AM
I'm pretty sure that what I say its accurate. He doesn't get much back end from his films because they are high risk investments and I believe he exchanges that for having the creative freedom he wants.

He probably gets around half a mil for writing, a bit more for directing and the same for producing. His movies have all gotten to the break even point, but they are not very profitable. He may get some royalties which adds up but its not millions for sure.

Still, like someone said earlier, if someone is making a couple million per film and has investments and a few other things, he can have a very good life without being over the top.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Pas on December 04, 2009, 11:31:53 AM
Quote from: socketlevel on December 04, 2009, 10:41:42 AM
he didn't make 5 mill, no way, 1-1.5 tops.  wouldn't be surprised if it was less.

Less than 1 million for Boogie Nights, Magnolia and PDL all written, directed and produced? The combined budget of the three is 77 million and you think it wouldn't be surprising if he got less than a mil, what, about 1% of the whole budget? For writing, directing and producing? If that is the case, where is that 76 million? Some of it in Tom Cruise's and Adam Sandler's pocket for sure, but there is a ton of money left. It just makes no sense. He has to make at the very least 3 million for the 3 films, and Kal can surely attest that it's a lot easier to turn 3 million into 6 than 100k into 200k

As far as his movies breaking even: not the case. At all. TWBB made 40M in it's american only theater run. On an estimated 25M budget. Add up the international money and DVDs, I think it's pretty safe to double that box office number. It's not record numbers, but if you can turn 80M with a 25M investment, in the course of 1-3 year, that's good money. And the guy's record proves he does it with every movie.

Boogie Nights turned a good profit on it's theater run also... and it's selling a lot of DVDs...

As for Fincher and Jonze doing commercials, I wouldn't say it's to make ends meet but merely to do some money for little work. And then again if it is to make ends meet, it is because they manage their money like shit and blow it all away because it shouldn't happen.

If PTA was known for a lavish lifestyle, yatchs and whatnot than of course we could try to figure out where he made his dough but I don't believe it's the case, correct me if I'm wrong though.

I don't mean to say that people who make millions can't have financial difficulties (see Nic Cage) but these are always circumtstances where the person is to blame for a mistake and we cannot assume PTA made a mistake so theoricaly he shoudln't have anyyyy problem making ends meet.

And really, I can make ends meet on 20k a year so I don't really understand the question at all.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: socketlevel on December 04, 2009, 11:53:36 AM
i thought you were saying upwards of 5 for each flick. combined i could see that. our numbers were the same then, about 0.75 mill per flick would be my guess.

for all we know his estate was huge cuz of his dad, and the world was his playground to begin with.  seriously maybe he never needed money in the first place, and it's all icing on the cake.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Pas on December 04, 2009, 12:06:17 PM
ok ok!

What's important I guess is that it's all about investments when you're at that amount of money. If you got 10k to invest you'll be extremely lucky if you can somewhat-safely turn 8% a year on it. If you have 1M you have different opportunities. If you make good on them, you can make a lot of money and not have to do commercials :)
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: socketlevel on December 04, 2009, 12:09:56 PM
ya standard of living is a huge thing too. i'm sure certain parts of LA would suck cash faster than others.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: cine on December 04, 2009, 12:49:40 PM
lets put all number-crunching aside and remind ourselves where he lives.

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ciaokids.org%2Fimages%2FGuest%2520House%2520DE2.JPG&hash=98f0ca2e23dce3a127770f298bc3f269ebd483e3)
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: polkablues on December 04, 2009, 01:27:58 PM
Quote from: cine on December 04, 2009, 12:49:40 PM
lets put all number-crunching aside and remind ourselves where he lives.

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ciaokids.org%2Fimages%2FGuest%2520House%2520DE2.JPG&hash=98f0ca2e23dce3a127770f298bc3f269ebd483e3)

Two front doors??? How can he afford that?
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Fernando on December 04, 2009, 01:36:33 PM
Clearly that's two houses, PBH lives next door.

They share the roof to make barbeques and shit.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Stefen on December 04, 2009, 01:55:26 PM
lol
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Pas on December 04, 2009, 01:59:52 PM
How do you know this is place? Are you sure, it's a bit small for a hollywood director's house no? Maybe he doesn't make as much money as I thought after all... dunno... wow I feel pretty embarassed by my earlier posts now lol  :oops:

But on a sidenote, I kinda like it.  A bit desolate, perhaps, but necessary from a writer's standpoint.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Stefen on December 04, 2009, 02:02:15 PM
oh, no.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Pas on December 04, 2009, 02:09:00 PM
hahaha "oh, no" you!

Quote from: Pas Rap on December 04, 2009, 01:59:52 PM
I kinda like it.  A bit desolate, perhaps, but necessary from a writer's standpoint.

Quote from: coffeebeetle on May 13, 2004, 09:02:44 PM
I kinda like it.  A bit desolate, perhaps, but necessary from a writer's standpoint.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Stefen on December 04, 2009, 02:17:05 PM
 :oops:
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Pubrick on December 04, 2009, 07:04:13 PM
anyway, pas is totally on the money, as it were. he's right about those very conservative figures. the question is a bit ridiculous because it's based on bizarre definitions of what it means "to make ends meet." Modage is mistaken to think that fincher and jonze do commercials or additional work because they are destitute -- but pas already covered this, i mean really, to summarize (i know i've been doing this a lot lately):

-pta probably makes millions every few years just from salary/cut of the profits.

-investments, this means property, stock, whatever. this is so commonplace that some rappers (mos def, the heiroglyphics crew) rap about making money from savings and wise investments. i mean this is just common sense if you ever get a million bucks, you don't just fucking spend it all! just watch the end of The Jerk.

-there's no reason to believe pta has a crazy nicolas cage-style castle-buying habit. he has FRIENDS like that, but that doesn't mean he needs to flaunt that much money just to hang out with them. modage must be thinking he's living the Diddy lifestyle. and besides, the reason any stupid moneybags would want to hang with him is cos they want to be part of his amazing work, not because they make lots of money: see kubrick.

in conclusion there is just no reasonable basis for belief that he is somehow running out of money. this question is more appropriate for ppl like Troy Duffy, or better yet Tony Kaye--- HE makes commercials and things to make ends meet, he has filed for bankrupcy twice, his movies make no money, he is erratic and a nutcase -- but even then he was best friends with brando. so what does money hav to do with it? after a few million if you're smart you can ride that shit out your whole life.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: polkablues on December 04, 2009, 07:22:35 PM
Seriously, once you start cracking that million dollar mark, you barely even need to invest to live indefinitely off of it.  Say, for the sake of easy math, he gets two million dollars from writing/directing TWBB.  He puts it in a money market savings account with a 2% annual interest rate, and just like that, he's generating $40,000 each year without lifting a finger and without touching that original two million.  If he's been a good saver, and has built up five million or so in salary over his career, that's $100,000 to live off of in interest alone.  And obviously there are plenty of ways to invest that money that would yield higher returns than that, so it's not unreasonable to think he could be pulling down a few hundred grand each year regardless of whether he ever works again or not.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: MacGuffin on December 04, 2009, 08:09:37 PM
I heard during the production of TWBB PTA actually struck oil.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: matt35mm on December 04, 2009, 08:22:14 PM
I heard he only owns 2 shirts.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Bethie on December 05, 2009, 12:44:26 AM
and we just had another baby


QuoteThough her second baby was born on November 6th, Maya Rudolph and hubby Paul Thomas Anderson have just publicly announced today the birth of their daughter, Lucille.

Lucille joins big sis, 4-year-old Pearl


Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Stefen on December 05, 2009, 01:26:43 AM
oh, no.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: polkablues on December 05, 2009, 01:30:42 AM
Two children??? How can he afford that?
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Ravi on December 05, 2009, 01:49:39 AM
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi49.tinypic.com%2Fneuyko.jpg&hash=7ab3c80c793f6d0e28ca3aa3a73c989f153fc304)
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Stefen on December 05, 2009, 02:02:12 AM
HAH.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Fernando on December 05, 2009, 03:34:00 PM
Like modage I've always wondered how some ppl (among them pta) pay the bills, if polka is right and he made 1.5-2.0 mill in cmbb that's more than enough to have a great way of life for many years, maybe by hollywood standards that money ain't worth shit. Now, if he earns that he owes a good chunk to the IRS right? so maybe he is left after with 65& of the money he earned, still that sounds enough, if he already owns a house and doesn't have a big mortgage, he's pretty much set. Let's just hope his investments weren't made with the bernie madoffs of this world.

He doesn't seem like p said like nic cage or mike tyson, I remember that when tyson got out of jail he bought 3 bentleys just like that, i mean, 3 fucking bentleys to do what? and they were like the same fucking model, at least buy different shit but no, crazy tyson wanted three bents and gottem, later he was in financial trouble, no shit. some ppl just aren't prepared to have success and they go nuts.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: SiliasRuby on December 05, 2009, 09:16:29 PM
Paul has a modest house in a gated community in Hancock Park in LA which is a upper middle class area. I've been in that community so I know what its like and it isn't as expensive as Beverly hills or the hollywood hills or living on Mulholland Drive next to jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty or the billionaire who bough Rick James' old place.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Pubrick on December 05, 2009, 10:07:02 PM
SILIAS: STOP STALKING FAMOUS PEOPLE.

DID YOU FALL OFF THE STALK WAGON?

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO:

Quote from: SiliasRuby on September 19, 2009, 01:05:52 PM
I don't stalk others

jesus chrst, now i'm scared that you were also lying in the second part of your quote:

Quote from: SiliasRuby on September 19, 2009, 01:05:52 PM
and I would never kill another human being. .

:yabbse-undecided:
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Pas on December 05, 2009, 11:14:28 PM
hahaha another human being
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Bethie on December 06, 2009, 12:21:28 AM
how do any of you guys pay your bills
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: SiliasRuby on December 06, 2009, 12:30:15 AM
I deliver packages to celebrities, studios, production company's, and other such areas in Los Angeles and that's how I know and also how I pay the bills.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Bethie on December 06, 2009, 12:31:04 AM
i'm tiger's whore #4
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: MacGuffin on December 06, 2009, 01:17:07 AM
I leak casting info about the Yellow Submarine project to TMZ.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Derek on December 06, 2009, 01:24:13 AM
He directs movies under the pseudonym Uwe Boll.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: RegularKarate on December 07, 2009, 05:31:17 PM
I'm sure he uses like an online auto-pay.  He seems like the type that would space remembering to send out checks.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Fernando on February 20, 2012, 05:26:43 PM
Just found this site that gives you the net worth of some celebrities, so obsly I had to look up PTA.....

Paul Thomas Anderson was born in California and has an estimated net worth of $50 million dollars. A director, writer, and producer, Paul Thomas Anderson left college after a year to begin working as a production assistant, and received widespread acclaim for his first feature film, which was screened at Cannes seven years later. He has received five Academy Award nominations and is currently working on his seventh film, "The Master".

http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/directors/paul-thomas-anderson-net-worth/


IF that site is even close with a margin error of 10-20%, his net worth is way higher than I thought. good for him of course.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on February 20, 2012, 05:33:49 PM
Holy crap. That is fantastic.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: polkablues on February 20, 2012, 05:37:50 PM
I find that number almost impossible to believe, unless he's been secretly directing Japanese commercials in his downtime.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on February 20, 2012, 05:40:04 PM
 :yabbse-sad:
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Reel on February 20, 2012, 07:09:46 PM
Ratner's worth 65 mil. Ain't that a thorn in your side? As I was writing this a spot for Tower Heist came on. I hate that dude...
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Fernando on February 20, 2012, 09:18:18 PM
Quote from: polkablues on February 20, 2012, 05:37:50 PM
I find that number almost impossible to believe, unless he's been secretly directing Japanese commercials in his downtime.

I do too actually, to begin with it number's too round that it sounds arbitrary, if it was between 20-25mill i'd believe that, still 20-25 is a shitload of money.

then started to look up other celebrities:

Fincher 65m
M. Bay 400m
Cruise 250m (thought he would have way more)
JC Reilly 45m
Lynch 60m

idk, maybe that site is bull, some of the above seem right others not so much.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: mogwai on February 21, 2012, 10:02:41 AM
How much did "Couch" make in YouTube profits?
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: O. on February 21, 2012, 03:03:52 PM
literally dozens!
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: bxt101 on August 05, 2012, 07:12:43 AM
Quote from: polkablues on December 04, 2009, 01:27:58 PM
Quote from: cine on December 04, 2009, 12:49:40 PM
lets put all number-crunching aside and remind ourselves where he lives.

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ciaokids.org%2Fimages%2FGuest%2520House%2520DE2.JPG&hash=98f0ca2e23dce3a127770f298bc3f269ebd483e3)

Two front doors??? How can he afford that?
Does anyone have this picture any longer -- allegedly of PTA and PSH's adjoining houses?
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Pubrick on August 05, 2012, 07:33:59 AM
Hey noob who requests things, it wasn't actually a pic of his house, it was a reference to a joke pic of a really crappy house in the desert somewhere posted in another thread. Here's the original classic xixax moment:

http://xixax.com/index.php?topic=6218.0

Anyway, when you're done lolling through that, go over here and introduce yourself:

http://xixax.com/index.php?topic=2.930
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: mogwai on August 05, 2012, 07:39:40 AM
Even if it wasn't PTA's crib, imagine having a barbecue party on the roof. No?

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv720%2Fithica45%2Fptahouse.jpg&hash=2aff99661b98339bc6ccd3c2cffeb369831d49be)
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: wilberfan on December 17, 2017, 01:01:07 PM
[THE WEBSITE FUTURE BILLIONAIRES READ EVERY DAY]

QuoteAll net worths are calculated by applying a proprietary algorithm. The results are then fact checked and confirmed by a team of editors. We scan all publicly available data and resources and work diligently to ensure that our numbers are the most accurate and up to date net worth data you will find anywhere on the internet.

https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/directors/paul-thomas-anderson-net-worth/
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on December 17, 2017, 01:18:36 PM
If true, that is definitely more than I expected.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: ono on December 17, 2017, 01:36:01 PM
Yeah, that seems really high.  And the bio reads like something someone who just learned about PTA 15 years ago would write after Googling him.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: wilberfan on December 17, 2017, 01:38:18 PM
Yeah, struck me as being an absurdly big number.   His films aren't known for making a ton of money, hard to imagine where that kind of scratch would come from.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Drenk on December 17, 2017, 02:02:21 PM
No way this number is true. The last movie that made more money that it costed was There Will Be Blood. Ten years ago. And he's been saying a lot recently that he needed to make movie for financial and emotional reasons. He's not making that much.

Now. How does Richard Kelly pay the bills?
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: csage97 on December 17, 2017, 03:46:32 PM
Makes me wonder how someone like Lynne Ramsay pays the bills.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: wilberfan on December 17, 2017, 03:53:06 PM
Between Richard and Lynne, I've seen exactly ONE of their features...

[edit]  And I had to look up both of them.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Alethia on December 17, 2017, 04:38:46 PM
I worked on Lynne Ramsay's new movie You Were Never Really Here summer before last, and from what I could tell she leads a fairly hooked-up lifestyle. She has a young child too, for whom I had to assemble an unreasonably complex bassinet in a hot, sticky, poorly-ventilated apartment in Brooklyn on a 90 degree day - but I digress. Anyway, I think she and her husband make the bulk of their living through various writing jobs...
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Tdog on December 17, 2017, 05:09:58 PM
Is there any rumours out there of PTA  doing any ghost writing gigs?
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: csage97 on December 17, 2017, 06:10:29 PM
Quote from: eward on December 17, 2017, 04:38:46 PM
I worked on Lynne Ramsay's new movie You Were Never Really Here summer before last, and from what I could tell she leads a fairly hooked-up lifestyle. She has a young child too, for whom I had to assemble an unreasonably complex bassinet in a hot, sticky, poorly-ventilated apartment in Brooklyn on a 90 degree day - but I digress. Anyway, I think she and her husband make the bulk of their living through various writing jobs...

It's really cool that you worked on that movie. I'm really, really excited for it. I constantly check for updates and release dates. I'm disappointed it couldn't have a wide release sooner. What did you do on the movie, if you don't mind sharing? Makes sense that they'd write for others.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: ono on December 17, 2017, 06:15:36 PM
Quote from: Tdog on December 17, 2017, 05:09:58 PM
Is there any rumours out there of PTA  doing any ghost writing gigs?
Let's create one.  It's bound to get picked up by Twitter eventually.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Tdog on December 17, 2017, 08:32:13 PM
He's secretly back on Pinnochio!
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Ravi on December 17, 2017, 09:26:20 PM
He did punch-up on "Ferdinand."
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Drenk on December 17, 2017, 10:47:41 PM
Ted 2? That was all on him.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Alethia on December 18, 2017, 09:45:32 AM
Quote from: csage97 on December 17, 2017, 06:10:29 PM
Quote from: eward on December 17, 2017, 04:38:46 PM
I worked on Lynne Ramsay's new movie You Were Never Really Here summer before last, and from what I could tell she leads a fairly hooked-up lifestyle. She has a young child too, for whom I had to assemble an unreasonably complex bassinet in a hot, sticky, poorly-ventilated apartment in Brooklyn on a 90 degree day - but I digress. Anyway, I think she and her husband make the bulk of their living through various writing jobs...

It's really cool that you worked on that movie. I'm really, really excited for it. I constantly check for updates and release dates. I'm disappointed it couldn't have a wide release sooner. What did you do on the movie, if you don't mind sharing? Makes sense that they'd write for others.

Technically worked as a PA in the office, but I got to spend a lot of time on set, which was great. It was my first production job (got into it a little later than many), met a lot of great people, made some hopefully lasting connections. It's been educational. And exhausting. It'll be fascinating to see the finished film because that script went through seemingly endless rewrites during production. Making sides was a daily nightmare.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Punch Drunk Hate on December 18, 2017, 07:59:23 PM
How well do PTA films perform on home video and streaming services? Anderson has a passionate and loyal fanbase, even with low box office resume. Not sure how Amazon or. Netflix keeps track of a film performs on their platform.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: BB on December 18, 2017, 09:13:05 PM
I don't think the $70 million net worth is necessarily that high. Folks have made good money off much less popular or enduring work. A couple hit movies, lots of prestige, some solid investments ...
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Robyn on December 19, 2017, 10:01:30 AM
Quote from: Drenk on December 17, 2017, 10:47:41 PM
Ted 2? That was all on him.

I met Paul at a grocery store in Los Angeles yesterday. He told me that this was very true, and that he even got the chance to be the voice of Ted in some of the scenes (one of his biggest dreams, he told me). He seemed really happy about it.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: Drenk on December 19, 2017, 10:06:26 AM
Ted is the father of at least two of his kids.
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: csage97 on December 19, 2017, 02:20:18 PM
Quote from: eward on December 18, 2017, 09:45:32 AM
Quote from: csage97 on December 17, 2017, 06:10:29 PM
Quote from: eward on December 17, 2017, 04:38:46 PM
I worked on Lynne Ramsay's new movie You Were Never Really Here summer before last, and from what I could tell she leads a fairly hooked-up lifestyle. She has a young child too, for whom I had to assemble an unreasonably complex bassinet in a hot, sticky, poorly-ventilated apartment in Brooklyn on a 90 degree day - but I digress. Anyway, I think she and her husband make the bulk of their living through various writing jobs...

It's really cool that you worked on that movie. I'm really, really excited for it. I constantly check for updates and release dates. I'm disappointed it couldn't have a wide release sooner. What did you do on the movie, if you don't mind sharing? Makes sense that they'd write for others.

Technically worked as a PA in the office, but I got to spend a lot of time on set, which was great. It was my first production job (got into it a little later than many), met a lot of great people, made some hopefully lasting connections. It's been educational. And exhausting. It'll be fascinating to see the finished film because that script went through seemingly endless rewrites during production. Making sides was a daily nightmare.

Really cool. Thanks for sharing. Yeah, Lynne Ramsay's stuff is great. This one is particularly exciting for me because of the story and plot, and of course Joaquin. Plus there's the score from Jonny, which isn't his first with Ramsay of course, but still always something to look forward to. I liked the music in the very first teaser. Come to think of it, did you meet Jonny? He seems very reserved, but we like a lot of the same authors and music, so there'd be that if I were ever stuck in a room with him. Ha.

Anyway, I'm glad it was a fruitful experience. That's a good production to be around. Was it filmed in NYC?
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: wilberfan on February 08, 2018, 05:46:57 PM
What would PTA have earned working in the Hard Eight/Boogie Nights era (mid 90s)? 

Our other thread on his Lucky Brown Directing Shirt got me thinking about his early days.  I heard him say on a podcast that he was living in an apartment at Tujunga & Moorpark back then and I started ruminating on what he would have been paid to direct Sydney/Boogie Nights.

I suppose there would have been a ton of variables--based on the deal he signed--but does anyone have an idea of what a ballpark figure would have been for a not-huge-budgeted feature like Boogie Nights?  Are there guild minimums and such that are adhered to?  Does a Producer credit get you more dough?   Would an assignment like Boogie Nights mean your money worries would be over for awhile? 
Title: Re: How Does PTA Pay The Bills?
Post by: polkablues on February 08, 2018, 07:06:05 PM
DGA does have minimum salaries for union directors, which for a feature film is currently in the neighborhood of $19,000 per week, which would equate to roughly $12,000 in 1995 dollars, assuming the rates have tracked with inflation over that time span. Production seems to have been around 12 weeks, from what I can determine (no idea if or how that DGA wage factors in pre- and post-production), so I would calculate the absolute minimum he might have made for directing the film was around $144,000. He also separately would have gotten a script acquisition fee, which would have netted him at minimum another $30,000 (almost certainly higher than that, though).

He would additionally have had a separate agreement on top of that as a producer, though that may or may not have included any upfront money. If it was strictly back-end, I'd be surprised if he ever saw any money from that. Studio accounting departments are masters at making even wildly successful movies end up in the books as not technically turning a profit, much less a mildly successful cult film.

So anyway, I'm pegging his take-home at a minimum of $175,000, but I would bet the $40 in my wallet it was actually more than that, probably in the 250-300 range. Personally, I could live off that for a while, especially after taking in a little extra doing music videos for his friends.