If you are like me, you feel like half of all movies coming out now are sequels or re-envisioned takes on old favorites. Sometimes this can produce new classics that far surpass the original (see Dark Knight), but other times you are left wondering if it may have been best to just let an old idea die in peace (see Sex in the City 2, where somehow the lead characters are no longer “in the City”).
Nerds everywhere rejoiced this week with the release of a teaser trailer for a new take on Mortal Kombat. Currently the idea represents only a pitch by director Kevin Tancharoen on how he would reinterpret the less-than-classic video game film, but it is getting a serious amount of attention from production companies. Perhaps most interesting is how the new trailer is a microcosm for how media companies are being impacted by technological advances. The director claims that the trailer was produced for a budget of less than $7500, plus some donated equipment, and most people will agree that the quality is outstanding. The same clip would have cost millions of dollars to produce only a few years ago, and fan reactions would not be known until the full film was released. By combining internet distribution and cheap production techniques, a director can now test an idea before a production commitment is secured and even use the clip to stir up fan interest as part of an early viral marketing campaign.
Note: The clip is fairly violent, so I have chosen not to embed this on the class blog. The following link takes you to the Youtube trailer.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_MqZn7E-mk
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