Nothing new under the sun.  Except flying monkeys.  Not even the romans had those.

AT
Nothing new under the sun.  Except flying monkeys.  Not even the romans had those.

But they had other things flying ... ohh wait ... you have to see the opening of the film "Intervista" ... it would be funnier!
 

This is the type of stuff that makes me think the "Rome" series could have, and still could be, an extremely popular franchise for HBO or any of the other high quality cable networks.
 
Just think of all the crazy stories that could be portrayed from throughout the Roman empire. They could run multiple series as once and never run out of quality material. Like the whole CSI franchise except not so vapid and much more interesting.
 
Of course production costs for these types of shows are enormous but apparently so is demand. It'd probably be good for the overall education of society too if it gets people interested in history. There is certainly a lot to be learned by modern western society from the successes and failures of the Roman empire.

Beepster
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Just think of all the crazy stories that could be portrayed from throughout the Roman empire. They could run multiple series as once and never run out of quality material. Like the whole CSI franchise except not so vapid and much more interesting.
 
Of course production costs for these types of shows are enormous but apparently so is demand. It'd probably be good for the overall education of society too if it gets people interested in history. There is certainly a lot to be learned by modern western society from the successes and failures of the Roman empire.

Production costs would be far less if they were done in a few places in Europe, where you don't have to pay 3,000 unions to get anything done. Nothing against the unions, but the budgetary concerns is not something the unions ever gave a darn about.
 
This would be hard in America and England ... but countries that have economy problems, like Spain, Italy and the like would be able to do this, and the price would be more on line with the possibilities.
 
All in all, I really think the problem is not the money ... it is the "vision" for it all. If you ever want an example, check out Pasolini's Gospel film, which is bad, crazy and nuts ... but efficient. He used bums and folks from the street for all roles and used nothing but the bare streets and spots that were ripped up all over Rome to get it done ... the largest expense was the film stock, more than likely! The film didn't do "great", but it created a furor, because all of a sudden a "church" was non-existent, and all its ideas gone!

1) I come from a union family (auto, not film) so yeah... don't get all union busty on me, brah
 
2) I worked in the film industry for a bit (I was not in the union but was trying to be until the towers fell and so did the industry in Canada). Those were good careers for folks and they worked HARD for their wages. Many of them could be dicks fer sure and the unions were fudged up but it was extremely good for the city, those workers and me personally (the grunt scrabbling for scraps).
 
Independent film is different but an entity like HBO or the other cable networks rake in enough profits to pay union wages and should.
 
I am talking about corporate production. Not indie films. I think indie filmakers should be allowed to avoid union chicannery if they truly are independent. If it is a for profit exercise there is a REASON those unions exist that goes back to the dawn of the original film studios and their vulturous labor practices.
 
You of all people should know this, Moshie. Being on set, in any capacity, is long, frustrating and gruelling work.

I am actually happy that it didn't become a pop culture phenomenon. 

One word.  Sangiovese
 

Beepster
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You of all people should know this, Moshie. Being on set, in any capacity, is long, frustrating and gruelling work.

I do. And very well.
 
However, there is this idea in film go'ers that you have to have the million dollar sets of the "Ten Commandments" in order to get the point across, and you don't.  Put on something like "I, Claudius". Not a large budget, but you end up with a massively intense and excellent piece. And an awesome history lesson while at it, which of course, we're not supposed to have since it's a "movie".
 
There are some issues with these things right now, that are hurting the film production in many places, and the likes of Poland, Spain and others, can not afford those higher wages and prices, and it hurts the productions. you could even check out Kieslowski's films, and find that even the trilogy (Colours) has some issues, and that somewhere along the way they ran out of money, because the film stocks used are all over the place, and wrong, and often contrasting harshly, and yet he was able to make a nice pair of films, still. He, himself, even was desperate and wanted to make more films in Poland, but there was no money ... so talking about wages at that point, is totally POINTLESS!
 
This is what I am talking about. I have no issues, otherwise, to take down unions, and they are BADLY needed in many places they are not, where there is NONE ... not an iota of protection for the employee, including the place I work for and love. And then, I look at how the whole Spanish industry died in film and theater since 1990 and I can't help think that something is wrong ... we have to work together, or the vision for any art form will die.
 
You should also read the massive fights that Fellini, and specially Kurosawa had with these situations. But if all you want is another animal cartoon, another Arnie, or another Stallone, you better believe it ... all union right down to the shoeshine!