You’d become a movie producer, right? That’s what Cynthia Stafford from Hawthorne, CA has done as reported in this story from The Wrap:
While Hollywood goes chasing to Abu Dhabi and Mumbai for ever-scarcer funds to finance its movies, the industry might do better just heading to 7-Eleven.
The latest film fund, $30 million to make romantic comedies, thrillers and faith-based dramas, comes from the lottery winnings of Cynthia Stafford, a single Hawthorne homemaker who shared a $67 million jackpot with her father and brother in 2007.
Now she wants to make movies.
“What I like about movies is it’s something ongoing,” Stafford said. “Movies from the ’20s, ’30s, ’40s — I still see them today and think, ‘Wow, this is something that can go on forever.”
The film fund, which follows the creation of her production company Queen Nefertari Productions, will be repped by the Gersh Agency. The banner already has four projects lined up.
Stafford is CEO and executive producer of Queen Nefertari; Jeff Kalligheri and Lanre Idewu, who are her partners in the shingle, are producers.
It’s easy to wince at a story like this given the history of so many money people venturing into the movie business only to lose their shirts. That said, at least they’re focusing in some profitable story areas:
The company is looking primarily at commercial projects in four broad genres: comedy, romantic comedy, thriller/horror and faith-based.
The first three genres are obvious with proven long-time audiences; the latter proved out once again by the startling success of The Blind Side, which has as of today grossed $103M, a huge moneymaker considering its $29M budget. Here’s the prod co’s movie slate:
Aiming for an Easter 2010 release is “Risen,” in conjunction with Hyde Park. “It picks up literally the day after ‘The Passion of the Christ’ left off,” Kalligheri said of the faith-based project.
Also in the works are “Undying,” a supernatural action-thriller the company is co-financing with Media 8 Entertainment, that’s out to actors; and “Judd Apatow-type comedy” “Operation Caucasian,” about two Asian-born guys whose sole goal in life is to get with an American girl.
They also have comedy “Adrenaline,” a co-production with Hollywood Farms that the partners described as “Wedding Crashers” meets “Hitch,” out to directors; it’s produced by Hollywood Farms’ Kirkland Tibbels and actor Matthew Lillard.
Stafford’s living out a dream that hopefully will avoid becoming a nightmare. Godspeed, Cynthia!
How about you? If you won $67M, would you start a film production company? If so, what would be its focus, its unique niche? Or would you chuck screenwriting and head off to Tahiti?
UPDATE: Okay, let’s up the ante. What would you do if you suddenly found yourself with $7 billion?
The really scary thing about what she's trying to do is that she'll be inundated with thousands of crappy scripts being pitched by really creepy people. I sure hope she knows what she's doing.
If I won 67mil I would definitely invest at least some of it in movies. I wouldn't give up screenwriting, though; that kind of money would allow me to do it full-time, which is my dream!
If I had the money to throw into one movie project, it would be Joss Whedon's "Fray", his futuristic vampire slayer graphic novel. That book is just howling for a movie adaptation.
with 67 million dollars, I'd invest in touring theatre companies and art/theatre educational programs in fledging public schools in American inner cities. God knows these kids needs the arts.
and of course, with some money left over, I'll use them to finance and produce my own films and stage plays, too.
I would create a children's theater company that produces high quality stage adaptations of movies.
I would love to se my 9 year old and his friends do the Matrix or Star Wars on stage. They would rock it and it would be so much fun to build the props and sets, create fx, and see the kids really take on the dramatic moments.
If I won 67 million dollars, I would hire a competent estate manager.
IF I won the 67 million dollar lottery I'd probably give most of it to producers to help finance scripts I've written, AFTER I'd helped out some family memembers and a guy I made a promise to myself and God I'd help if I actually had some real $$.
I'd love to see some of my work on the silver screen, but I also know there are pros out there who do this for a living and I'd like to work with them and watch them make magic out of my scripts.
- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA
I'd hire Richard Kelly or Christopher Nolan to cast and direct my movie.
I'd focus on doing a handful of sub-10mil genre pics — employ hungry new talent in all areas that have the skills and the drive to do their best for the project. Pay them a fair wage plus profit-sharing for everyone.
And yeah, some of those projects would be my own stuff.
67 mil? Consider me retired.
First, I'd make one of my movies that I was confident in – some fluff that can hardly miss, then I'd make something from a good writer who has had successes.
Then I'd make something else of mine. Hopefully at that point – 2 years – I can save my money and use someone else's for something Cameron-huge.
I actually think about playing the lottery because of that.