CINEMATIC ROMP SEDUCED AND ABANDONED, CHRONICLING JAMES TOBACK AND ALEC BALDWIN’S QUEST TO MAKE A MOVIE, DEBUTS THIS OCTOBER, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO Our Coverage Sponsored by Stribling and Associates
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“The movie business is the worst lover you’ve ever had in the sense that
you are seduced and abandoned over and over again.”
- Alec Baldwin
Ever tried to make a movie on a professional basis? We're going to bet a lot of you will answer no to that, and like any occupation that is "fun," moviemaking is subject to the laws of supply and demand which govern the economy. The more fun something is, usually the salary is lower unless you're both extraordinarily talented and exceptionally smart. And, incredibly lucky. HBO Documentaries, the most brilliant documentaries around, have hit another out of the park with Seduced and Abandoned, which is the business side of movies. We like how they pay attention to behind the scenes like they did with Casting By. The merry-go-round of this crazy business is chronicled like never before, complete with a trip to Cannes Film Festival. It is worth it, because the reward is immortality on the big screen. Forever.
Like Alec says early on, actors do not make movies for the money or the fame. They make movies that touches something in them. It's about meaning. Alec and James Toback reference that Seduced and Abandoned is not fictional and not a documentary (though we see it as a documentary): rather, they see Seduced and Abandoned as a celebration of film. They aim to make a new kind of Last Tango in Paris and need backers.
Anyone that has sold anything in their lives will feel their pain as Alec and James take their dog and pony show to potential investors to secure financing. Some of you may find it shocking that these big stars who are movie veterans need to grovel and sell as they do-we don't know if it is always like this or if this is underscoring just how bad the economy really is. Billionaires do not line up at their door every morning begging to finance them. Every business has an aspect of selling to it, and the movie business is no different-you've just probably never thought of it this way before. The reasons why people would invest in a movie are not the same as why they'd invest in real estate or a hedge fund or a fund of funds or the next diamond that Tiffany's comes out with. You'll be highly entertained by the potential investors. We were!
Anyone that has had a valuation role in their occupation will appreciate how Alec and James assign a dollar figure to making the movie and how in contrast, potential investors slap a number back at them that's representative of what they feel the flick will be worth. With such illiquid assets involved and gray areas of numbers, you will see this is really about emotion and the art of the sale. We found it interesting that there is little middle market in movies-it seems to be big or small, and feel that this is a business opportunity in itself-creating a middle market. Also the vast contrast between franchise movies versus single movies is shocking, as shown with the numbers behind Johnny Depp. Marketability is more important than the story now, sadly.
This is also a lot about the word persistence, in action.
You'll totally love the trip they take to the South of France where they zoom in to the high rollers that can make their movie dreams a reality-and we were happy to see Amour included which was brilliant. Unless you've been, you've probably never seen anything like this real filming. We like the sidewalk cafe cam that is employed. Guess what major movie person was enrolled in a seminary for a year. Ryan Gosling has got the best quote and you should watch this for that alone!!! It starts like this:
"I just love movies.
I always loved movies.
Movies were like friends of mine.
If my mother wanted to punish me, she'd take them away from me.
Sometimes I put them..."
-Ryan Gosling
Lots of great tidbits in Seduced and Abandoned.
Thumbs up to the art of negotiation, and bravo to the investors that pulled the trigger and Alec and James for leading the horse to the river and getting it to drink. You'll leave with a whole new appreciation for movies. Everyone must see Seduced and Abandoned, otherwise you have no idea of the depths of what it takes to get a movie from the heads of those making it to the big screen in your town.
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For ten days in May 2012, director James Toback and actor Alec Baldwin worked their way through the Cannes Film Festival in an attempt to secure financing for a proposed film project, a political-erotic Middle Eastern adventure inspired by Bernardo Bertolucci’s classic “Last Tango in Paris.” As they dashed around – hopeful against all odds – Toback filmed the hilarious and revealing proceedings, from pitches to billionaires, studio moguls, producers and international sales financiers, to intimate encounters with major movie stars and iconic directors whose passion for movies proves it’s still possible to transcend the madness.
The cinematic romp SEDUCED AND ABANDONED captures the tug-of-war between the eternal dream of creating pure art and the bracing reality of modern movie commerce. James Toback’s celebration of movie-making debuts MONDAY, OCT. 28 (9:00-10:45 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.
Other HBO playdates: Oct. 28 (5:20 a.m.) and 31 (6:45 p.m.), and Nov. 3 (5:15 p.m.), 6 (3:30 p.m., 1:00 a.m.), 9 (12:45 p.m.) and 12 (9:45 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Oct. 30 (8:00 p.m.) and Nov. 18 (2:50 p.m.)
HBO Documentary Films presents a weekly series this fall, debuting provocative new specials every Monday through Dec. 9. Other October films include: “Mondays at Racine” (Oct. 14); “Redemption” (Oct. 14); “Open Heart” (Oct. 14); and “Life According to Sam” (Oct. 21).
A dazzling collage of interviews, classic movie clips and colorful personalities, SEDUCED AND ABANDONED features a cast that includes, in addition to Alec Baldwin, Berenice Bejo, Bernardo Bertolucci, James Caan, Neve Campbell, Graydon Carter, Jessica Chastain, Diablo Cody, Francis Ford Coppola, Ryan Gosling, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Diane Kruger, Mike Medavoy, Ron Meyer, Jean Pigozzi, Roman Polanski, Brett Ratner, Martin Scorsese and Taki Theodoracopulos.
Toback and Baldwin explore memories and money, freedom and fate, commercialism and confessions. The outcome is a film about the nitty-gritty of great movies, revealing a Cannes that is in equal parts cinematic Valhalla and madcap bazaar.
SEDUCED AND ABANDONED documents their unpredictable experiences against the background of the bustling beauty of Cannes’ Promenade de la Croisette. The intimate and often poignant conversations with actors and industry giants constitute a heartfelt ode to everything alluring about cinema, from sex and death to the lingering hope of getting one more precious chance to tell one more story through film.
James Toback and Alec Baldwin first met on the set of Woody Allen’s “Alice.” A series of long conversations later led to the ideas that evolved into SEDUCED AND ABANDONED. The plan was to travel to Cannes to pitch their story, tentatively titled “Last Tango in Tikrit,” and explore the current state of the business of cinema. There was no script, providing the opportunity for something unique and memorable to emerge from the daily uncertainty.
Bertolucci, Coppola, Polanski and Scorsese provided invaluable insights through their reflections on their careers. But surprises also punctuate the film, as when Ryan Gosling offered, according to Toback, “the richest splash of brilliant anecdotes and observations about himself and the tribulations of film actors, as revealing as anything I’ve ever seen.”
Ultimately, the film turns the camera back on those who still can’t resist the devilish and beautiful temptations of a love affair with cinema, despite the outrageous odds against success. As the film builds to its climax, there’s no doubt that Toback and Baldwin remain hopelessly seduced. But will they be abandoned?
James Toback’s most recent film was the acclaimed documentary “Tyson.” An Academy Award® nominee for his screenplay for “Bugsy,” he has written and directed “Fingers,” “Love & Money,” “Exposed,” “The Big Bang,” “Two Girls and a Guy,” “Harvard Man,” “The Pick-up Artist,” “Black and White” and “When Will I Be Loved.” Toback also wrote the original screenplay for the Karel Reisz film “The Gambler.”
For more information, visit: Facebook: facebook.com/hbodocs; Twitter: @HBODocs #SeducedAndAbandoned.
A HanWay films presentation of a Michael Mailer Films production, SEDUCED AND ABANDONED was directed by James Toback; produced by Michael Mailer, Alec Baldwin and James Toback; executive producers, Morris Levy, Alan Helene, Larry Herbert and Neal Schneider.
