For Oscar-winning producer, streaming ‘is the future’

US producer Charles Wessler during the master class —QUEZON CITY FILM COMMISSION

“It’s all about sticking to your guns,” said Academy Award-winning producer Charles Wessler when Inquirer Entertainment asked him to share his secret in convincing investors to take risks on his film projects.

“Also, you have to figure out how to make a good case. It’s like being a lawyer. You have to get up in front of the court and say these are the reasons I think my client is innocent. You say, ‘This is why my movie is the best decision you’re going to make this year.’ When they ask if you’re going to make money, you say, ‘I don’t know. I can’t predict the future.’ Just say why you think this particular movie is going to be great. They either believe it or they don’t. I’m just lucky that in about 20 occasions, they believed me,” he pointed out.

Wessler produced Peter Farrelly’s “Green Book” (2018), which won several awards, including the Oscar for best picture. The American producer is also responsible for comedies like “Dumb and Dumber,” “Bushwhacked,” “There’s Something About Mary” and “The Three Stooges.” His latest release (2021) is Fisher Stevens’ drama “Palmer.”

Wessler is currently in Manila doing preproduction work for another comedy that he intends to shoot in the Philippines later this year. He was also at the Mowelfund Film Institute in Quezon City during the weekend for a two-hour master class on film production, organized by the Quezon City Film Commission.

“The best part about the master class for me was when Charles shared what goes on behind the scenes, starting with his curiosity for filmmaking and lurking behind the director’s chair on set,” said TBA Studios president and COO Daphne Chiu, who was one of almost 60 film executives who attended the session.

Daphne Chiu —DAPHNE CHIU/FACEBOOK

“He’s very generous in sharing stories from his personal encounters and negotiations with big studio executives and Hollywood actors. All of which honed him into the producer he is today. I hope I will be able to use these trade secrets in my career one day” she added.

Filmmaker Ma-an Asuncion-Dagñalan said that, other than “meeting the Hollywood blockbuster producer, the best part about the session was knowing that you can’t go wrong as long as you believe in the project.”

It was “learning how universal our experiences are as producers. Whether it’s in Hollywood or the Philippines, the struggles of producing independent films are almost the same,” said filmmaker Chris Cahilig, who’s also the director of the SinePanalo Film Festival.

The ‘crazy ones’

Film and TV director Ruel S. Bayani, head of ABS-CBN international productions realized that, “Some studio executives don’t get the material, but they choose to support filmmakers for their passion or unique vision, much like what Alan Ladd Jr. did for ‘Star Wars,’ ‘Blade Runner’ and ‘Braveheart.’”

Ma-an Asuncion-Dagñalan —MA-AN ASUNCION-DAGÑALAN/FACEBOOK

“It’s confirmed! The crazy ones end up being the best film producers,” quipped actress Sylvia Sanchez, who also runs the family-owned Nathan Studios. “Charles’ life story is inspiring. We laughed when he recalled the silly mistakes he committed as a new producer, but everyone was impressed to learn that he really worked hard to fulfill his dream of making it to mainstream filmmaking. He was correct when he said success is all about having the right connections and working with people you can really trust.”

Film director Mark Meily said this particular statement from Wessler was memorable to him: “Let’s accept the fact that the future of stories we are producing … is in streaming.”

Streaming platforms

“We’re now in the age of streaming. I learned this while doing ‘Palmer,’” said Wessler. Earlier in the session, he also mentioned that “Palmer,” which took $4 million to produce, was sold to streaming platform Apple TV for $14 million.

“COVID-19 changed how we think about watching movies. What happened was that people became used to not going to the theater because it cost less to watch from a streamer. If you’re a couple, you have to get a babysitter, buy popcorn, get dinner, and also buy a ticket for $6—all these to see a movie, when you can just stay at home and watch Netflix,” he pointed out. “I remember when ‘The Wizard of Oz’ came out in theaters when I was 8 and we were so excited about it. Those days are gone. Streaming is the future.”

Ruel S. Bayani —RUEL S. BAYANI/FACEBOOK

Wessler continued: “Eventually, there will be specialty houses of cinemas. I will surely go see my favorite ‘Batman’ movie there. Other than that, I’m not going to see anything else. We call it a tent-pole movie, which means it’s holding up the whole tent or the whole studio. I think that for the next five years, 90 percent of the movies you will go to see will be that. I also think that there will come a time, like in 20 years, when people will say, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun to go back to the movies?’ Somebody will start that fad, but not for 20 years.”

Meanwhile, Wessler said he has already sent location scouts to provinces like Bohol, Palawan, Rizal and Subic to find possible set locations for his latest comedy film. “It’s about two people who get lost in the jungle through horrible circumstances. It’s a road trip, but with the duo on their legs, in the jungle. They have to make it to a place in order to escape. What’s interesting is how they will get there,” Wessler added. “I can’t really tell you, but we did go out of our way to explain a lot of stuff about the Philippines in the movie.” INQ