SPIDER-MAN budget reaches 40 million!- Page 2

[barcelona20]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 3:42pm

On the contrary, I'm simply pointing out the flaws in your opinion. It's not personal, I have no idea who you are. Are we not allowed to debate opinions?

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 3:45pm

I'm fine with debate, insult -- no.

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 4:00pm

$40 million is ridiculous. And excessive.

And excess almost never leads to good things.



Ed-

Your opinion is completely valid and I agree with you. It's an incredibly extravagant amount of money anyway, but it feels even more inappropriate than it normally would, IMO, because of the financial crisis that is hitting people so hard.
Updated On: 10/8/08 at 04:00 PM

[Elphie3]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 4:08pm

And they haven't even cast it yet, which means they haven't negotiated actor's contracts, so they don't know exactly what they'll be paying the actors yet.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 4:08pm

Not to mention unimaginative.


Feed the burbs
Tepid a show
Tepid, vapid, titles they know....

[barcelona20]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 4:09pm

I agree, this is ridiculous. I'd like to know where I made an insult?

And if you and higgins feel it's inappropriate to spend a lot of money on a show, what do you think Marvel should do with it? Donate it to charities? You think that companies should change the way they do business simply because the economy is not as strong as it was a few years ago? Should they simply scrap all the work and money that has already been put into the show? What if they've already spent $10 million dollars?

I don't understand how the financial crisis and amount of money spent on a musical have anything in common. If the producers want to spend it, let them. The people will have their say if they charge ticket prices of $150 and nobody pays.

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 4:20pm

I'm all for it!

I can't wait to see the first $100 MILLION extravanganza!

My money's on the first 3-D interactive "Wii Musical"!

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 4:29pm

barcelona-

I'm sorry, when I said "ridiculous", I was referencing the show's budget, not the debate going on. I edited my post to make that more clear.

I really don't want to argue about this, but since you addressed me, I wanted to respond. I almost said in my initial post that it was difficult to express what I was saying because it's not like the needy would be seeing the money if Marvel cut back. I didn't mean 'How dare they?! This money should be donated to charities instead of put in the show'. That's why I didn't say that. You're right; it's their money and they can do with it as they please. Absolutely.

I was simply saying, (and I don't want to speak for Ed, but took his comment similarly) that it's just a little hard to see such financial excess at a time like this. Personally, I think it's insane and wrong for a production's budget to ever go anywhere near the suggested $40 million. And on top of that, it just seems even more inappropriate given the current circumstances.

That's all. I'm not protesting and demanding a change. Please. It's simply a gut response, an emotion if you will, that this is a lot of money for a show and money is hard to come by these days.

It's just a feeling and an opinion.

[Robert Taylor]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 4:31pm

Wow, are people actually being grown-up and mature on this thread?

I'm shocked! I love it!

[wickedfan]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 4:46pm

Mister Matt- I know that Wicked's cost was reported to be $14 million. I believe that they said Young Frankenstein's was somewhere around $20 million. Jersey Boys is definitely lower than that. It's a small cast, orchestra, and is performed on what is basically a unit set. The complex lighting, projections, and Four Seasons songs catalogue must have cost a pretty penny, though. I'd be surprised if the budget was north of $12 million.

[barcelona20]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 4:47pm

Thanks Higgins for clarifying.

I guess we will have to agree to disagree over the budget size. Some endeavors require larger budgets. TOS does not, Spiderman does. The rules were changed in the 80's with the "blockbuster" musicals, and maybe they will be changed again. Or, it's possible that the economics simply won't work. I think it's hard for anyone to truly comment on it until we see the finished product. It might be $40 million foolishly spent, or it might be the most incredible show anyone has ever seen.

I think it's awesome that given the economic situation, these producers are willing to keep going with the show. I think it shows how strongly they believe in the piece.

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 5:05pm

barcelona-

I appreciate your comments and understand where you are coming from.

I certainly wish the show the best and DO hope that their investment pays off. If the show is amazing and brings people in, that's what we all want!

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 5:29pm

I understand and really sympathize with the state of the American Economy and I hope with all my heart that everything goes back to normal for my U.S. friends.
But what I don't understand, is why is it inappropriate for producers, to spend as much money as they want to throw away, because of the current climate ! So, until the crisis passes, only shows like TOS, with 4 people and a piano are appropriate ???
History has shown us, that the harder the economic and political climate, the more succesful extravagant and lush spectacles are, because people need to escape !
Of course, that's only MY opinion !

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 6:05pm

Greek, you are right.

I only criticize spending this much money on a show because I think it is a stupid thing for the producers to allow to happen, for their own sake.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 6:15pm

I would imagine they'll go the Disney/RENT route and go with no-name actors that they can pay little to no money.

[ChecksintheMayo]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 6:17pm

Vegas isn't a bad idea. Considering what the Cirque de Soleil shows cost to mount, 40 mil might be a bargain for all that supposed flash and spectacle. Eating a million a week is nothing if you get tourists losing four times the amount in the casinos.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 6:36pm

I guarantee you with both the initial investment and the weekly overhead being this high, they're going to attempt to hike ticket prices for the show.

You'll be paying for these excesses yourself, if you choose to see the show, in other words.

That's the disgusting part. Bloated banal shows, with huge costs passed directly onto the consumer, who is already paying insane prices to see a show on Broadway.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 6:38pm

If it's not your money being spent, why does anyone care about the budget for this show? I'm not sure why everyone is up in arms about it. I'd love to see what a $40 million Broadway musical looks like.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 6:42pm

Well, like best12bars said, it does effect us. We end up paying for it in the ticket prices. Sure, if the show is a mess and people don't want to see it, they'll offer substantial discounts and student tickets, etc, but in the case that it's a hit, tickets will be scarce. I can see this going either way. It has a great design team and a great commodity, but it's also taking something very masculine and something that is very well known and turning in into a "musical." And I think that word alone scars a lot of people, ha.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 6:44pm

RentBoy, I agree. Clearly Marvel and whoever else is backing this show thinks that this is some sort of sure-fire deal. But the millions of white guys who make the Spider-Man films gross $300-$400 million each are not exactly all people who would be into musicals...

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 6:47pm

"I remember seeing Eden Espinosa and Kristoffer Cusick in the Spider-Man stage show at Universal Studios theme park!

They should just do that."

I used to love that show!

I liked the 3D ride.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 6:49pm

Updated On: 5/1/09 at 06:49 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 9:21pm

"I'd love to see what a $40 million Broadway musical looks like."

And you can, Smaxie! For $600 per premium seat and $85 for a student rush or back balcony seat.

Enjoy!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 10:30pm

Ha, $85 student rush! Well, if Dr. Octopus claws his way over the audience and around the theater, then that's money well spent in my book!

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 10/9/08 at 12:04am

I'm pretty sure I read that the villain is the Green Goblin, so you'll have to settle for him gliding around the theater, shooting smoke bombs into the audience.