FLW TOUR
I remember in 1996ish, I was producing fishing programs for ESPN
Outdoors. I was hired to work on the FLW Tour, a professional bass
fishing series. The tournament's title sponsor was Wal-Mart. Every
other weekend or so, I'd be flying into some part of the country,
renting a car and ending up in a Wal-Mart parking lot. The large
television tent where we broadcast the tournament results and
weigh-ins would be constructed in the parking lot of each location.
Because the set-up was the same in each location, there would be times
where I couldn't remember what city I was in. I don't know how many
times I'd go strolling through Wal-Mart before and after my work. The
craziest thing would be arriving somewhere that had turned very cold.
We'd haul into the Wal-Mart and look for gloves, long underwear, and
ski masks. It was all to prepare for the early 6am launches where
you'd be in a bass boat with a top bass fisherman and filming him (or
her) as they sped off to their fishing hole. Something about going 60
and 70mph in a boat at that time or morning made my teeth grind.
Holding on for dear life, one hand on the handle, one holding the
camera, I would think over and over, "how did I exactly get here?"
Bass fishing is extremely large. I remember a quote several years ago
that were over 50 million recreational fishermen in the United States.
Bass fans would pile into the Wal-Mart parking lots all over the
country when we'd come into town. The local Wal-Mart would always
played a big role in the event, and their community would show up in
hundreds to catch a glimpse of their favorite bass fisherman.
I'll never forget the first supercenter we travelled to with the FLW
Tour. I walked in and my jaw dropped. I remember thinking, if you
forget your bread, there's no going back once you get all the way
across the store to fishing supplies. For someone with ADD, the
supercenters were always a fun challenge.
It's been been over four years ago since I retired from I called my
"bass boat beatings."
It was fun to explore the parking lots and people of Wal-Mart again
this year, not from a bass fishing adventure, but from a documentary
looking into the "WHY WAL-MART WORKS."
Thursday, November 03, 2005
We're done
"Why Wal-Mart Works" is color-corrected and is being duped, thanks to brother Rob, who finished everything while I was debating Greenwald all week (it seems).
Thoughts on the Lou Dobbs show last night soon....
Thoughts on the Lou Dobbs show last night soon....
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Finishing the edit
Rob and I are in the edit booth right now finishing things up. It's weird finishing up a film while surfing the web reading the news about it. It's been an odd week.
We'll have an article by Ann Zimmerman in the Wall Street Journal on Monday or Tuesday.
We'll have an article by Ann Zimmerman in the Wall Street Journal on Monday or Tuesday.
Friday, October 28, 2005
My Distributor Part 2
According to the AP:
Wal-Mart said that it has no plans to sell DVDs of the positive film on Wal-Mart in its stores, but they can be purchased on http://www.whywalmartworks.com.
Guess that settles that!
Wal-Mart said that it has no plans to sell DVDs of the positive film on Wal-Mart in its stores, but they can be purchased on http://www.whywalmartworks.com.
Guess that settles that!
Thursday, October 27, 2005
My distributor
From the blogosphere "To counter Greenwald's offensive, Wal-Mart is distributing a video by Ron Galloway that says nice things about them. Though he claims no financial assistance from Wal-Mart, I have learned that Wal-Mart hooked up the director with a local Fayetteville distributor, Hannover House, who sell most all their product to W-M."
Whatever. And my response:
It's Ron Galloway, from "Why Wal-Mart Works." Sorry, Wal-Mart didn't hook me up with Hannover House. If you do a D&B you will find they are one of the only financially stable video distributors left. They also pay through a "lockbox" at a bank whereby the bank collects all monies and pays all parties (me, the replicators, art designers) before the distributor. My wife informs me I need to make my money back on this film, but soon. I tend to listen, because she is a surgeon and knows how to handle a knife.
Wal-Mart is also Dreamworks' biggest customer, and Universals', and Image Entertainment', etc.
Whatever. And my response:
It's Ron Galloway, from "Why Wal-Mart Works." Sorry, Wal-Mart didn't hook me up with Hannover House. If you do a D&B you will find they are one of the only financially stable video distributors left. They also pay through a "lockbox" at a bank whereby the bank collects all monies and pays all parties (me, the replicators, art designers) before the distributor. My wife informs me I need to make my money back on this film, but soon. I tend to listen, because she is a surgeon and knows how to handle a knife.
Wal-Mart is also Dreamworks' biggest customer, and Universals', and Image Entertainment', etc.
Who Is Paying For My Film?
I get asked that a lot. My budget is $85,000 and it's not like two brothers can't piece that together from savings and credit cards.
But still people think Wal-Mart paid for it. Which begs the question:
Would the world's largest corporation pay for a film they haven't even seen?
I hope not.
But still people think Wal-Mart paid for it. Which begs the question:
Would the world's largest corporation pay for a film they haven't even seen?
I hope not.
More Fun TV
I will appear with Robert Greenwald on CNBC Monday (the 31st) around 1:40, and then again that night with him on Showbiz Today on CNN sometime between 7 and 8.
One of the volunteers arranging his screenings called today, said they hated Wal-Mart, and then asked if I was interested in doing a screening of my film. I said yes, and if any more call, I'll say yes too.
He could not have been nicer, by the way.
Tons of newspapers called today. Losing my voice again. Better get it back by Monday.
One of the volunteers arranging his screenings called today, said they hated Wal-Mart, and then asked if I was interested in doing a screening of my film. I said yes, and if any more call, I'll say yes too.
He could not have been nicer, by the way.
Tons of newspapers called today. Losing my voice again. Better get it back by Monday.
It has begun.....
I was a guest on CNBC's "On The Money" at 7pm last night. It was my first live TV show, and it was very weird. They had me sitting in a room by myself with a camera staring at my like the HAL 9000 from 2001. Then you hear people in your ear.
The composer for WWW told me when you are sitting down, if you're nervous, straighten out your legs and it will provoke a calming physiological response. He was right.
All in all it was fun. I called my opponent on the panel from Walmartwatch and congratulated her.
Good Reuters article on the film here.
The composer for WWW told me when you are sitting down, if you're nervous, straighten out your legs and it will provoke a calming physiological response. He was right.
All in all it was fun. I called my opponent on the panel from Walmartwatch and congratulated her.
Good Reuters article on the film here.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Stock Footage
One reason our cost on the film is relatively low is that we used a small amount of stock footage, which these days runs around $75 per second.
So ten minutes of b-roll stock footage would cost us $45,000.
Nice work if you can get it.
So ten minutes of b-roll stock footage would cost us $45,000.
Nice work if you can get it.
ROI on WWW
I am not a political guy. Politics is a business, and it's a business I have no interest in.
I do like successful investments, however. The final budget, including publicity for this film, will be around $85,000 before Robert and I can pay ourselves. BTW, that is 6.5% of the budget for the other film.
At my royalty rate, that means I need to sell about 25,000 copies to breakeven. I feel that my distributor will hit that target, especially given this level of publicity.
Then Rob and I pay off the VISA bills and home equity lines, and our wives let us move back into our houses.
I do like successful investments, however. The final budget, including publicity for this film, will be around $85,000 before Robert and I can pay ourselves. BTW, that is 6.5% of the budget for the other film.
At my royalty rate, that means I need to sell about 25,000 copies to breakeven. I feel that my distributor will hit that target, especially given this level of publicity.
Then Rob and I pay off the VISA bills and home equity lines, and our wives let us move back into our houses.
Better Busy Than Not
Well today should be interesting....
The press release for "Why Wal-Mart Works" hit Business Wire today, and I am booked on CNBC tonight sometime from 7 to 8.
My voice, however, is gone from talking to reporters.
The press release for "Why Wal-Mart Works" hit Business Wire today, and I am booked on CNBC tonight sometime from 7 to 8.
My voice, however, is gone from talking to reporters.
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Jim Rogers from WWW
As teased, here is part of our talk with famous author and adventurer Jim Rogers...
"Nobody is forcing anybody to go to Wal-Mart as far as I know. I grew up in a small little town everybody goes to Wal-Mart from miles around but it’s not as thought Wal-Mart’s out there with machine guns saying you got to come to Wal-Mart, people are driving from miles around because they get better prices, better quality, and better service. It’s like anybody else when they come to town, if they give a better product, people are going to buy it.
You know a hundred years ago people screamed all over Europe that products were coming from America. They railed at people who bought American products, but American products were cheaper, and better, and so people bought them. People are always going to buy products where they can get the best price. Fifty years ago it was Japan, that people railed about. Said those products come from Japan and its cheap. Well that’s the point. You want to buy good quality products that are cheap and if you can figure out where they are going to come from in advance, you should do it."
"Nobody is forcing anybody to go to Wal-Mart as far as I know. I grew up in a small little town everybody goes to Wal-Mart from miles around but it’s not as thought Wal-Mart’s out there with machine guns saying you got to come to Wal-Mart, people are driving from miles around because they get better prices, better quality, and better service. It’s like anybody else when they come to town, if they give a better product, people are going to buy it.
You know a hundred years ago people screamed all over Europe that products were coming from America. They railed at people who bought American products, but American products were cheaper, and better, and so people bought them. People are always going to buy products where they can get the best price. Fifty years ago it was Japan, that people railed about. Said those products come from Japan and its cheap. Well that’s the point. You want to buy good quality products that are cheap and if you can figure out where they are going to come from in advance, you should do it."
Michael Cannon Interview
Michael Cannon, the senior health policy analyst from the Cato Institute, had an interesting story in his interview for "Why Wal-Mart Works."
Something really interesting happened in Santa Fe, when Wal-Mart wanted to open a second store there. The city counsel split down the middle about whether to allow Wal-Mart to open another store, and the mayor had to break that tie. Now put aside for a moment whether it’s a good idea that entrepreneurs should need the government’s permission to open and new store and try to offer people cheaper products. If you look at that city counsel vote, you notice something interesting. Every city counsel member with a Hispanic surname voted to allow Wal-Mart. Among those with non-Hispanic or more Anglo surnames most of them voted against allowing Wal-Mart. Now that may not mean anything, but it may mean that people who are closer to low income workers who know a little more what its like to have to struggle to put the food on the table, are very appreciative of Wal-Mart, and that others who are opposing Wal-Mart have lost touch with that segment of society.
Something really interesting happened in Santa Fe, when Wal-Mart wanted to open a second store there. The city counsel split down the middle about whether to allow Wal-Mart to open another store, and the mayor had to break that tie. Now put aside for a moment whether it’s a good idea that entrepreneurs should need the government’s permission to open and new store and try to offer people cheaper products. If you look at that city counsel vote, you notice something interesting. Every city counsel member with a Hispanic surname voted to allow Wal-Mart. Among those with non-Hispanic or more Anglo surnames most of them voted against allowing Wal-Mart. Now that may not mean anything, but it may mean that people who are closer to low income workers who know a little more what its like to have to struggle to put the food on the table, are very appreciative of Wal-Mart, and that others who are opposing Wal-Mart have lost touch with that segment of society.
Filming in Boone, NC
Robert and I shot in Boone, NC today. We're almost done shooting, which is probably good since we are due to deliver the master in 10 days. The leaves were changing in Boone and the people were thoughtful regarding Wal-Mart. Filmed in 24p on a DVCPRO 50 camera in 16:9. Gonna look good.
We're interviewing a very famous blogger tomorrow. More to come.....
We're interviewing a very famous blogger tomorrow. More to come.....
Friday, October 21, 2005
Info For Filmmakers
The software we are using for the film: Media 100, Protools, After Effects.
We had to edit a trailer for our distributor in a rush the other day, so we ran into the Apple Store in Soho, bought a PowerMac and Final Cut Express, jumped in the car heading for Maryland, and digitized and edited a trailer in the car while riding down the New Jersey Turnpike.
By the time we hit Carlisle, PA it was done. We found a hotel with wifi, and uploaded the 5 minute trailer we had just edited on the road.
You can't buy that kind of fun.
We had to edit a trailer for our distributor in a rush the other day, so we ran into the Apple Store in Soho, bought a PowerMac and Final Cut Express, jumped in the car heading for Maryland, and digitized and edited a trailer in the car while riding down the New Jersey Turnpike.
By the time we hit Carlisle, PA it was done. We found a hotel with wifi, and uploaded the 5 minute trailer we had just edited on the road.
You can't buy that kind of fun.
Jim Rogers Interview
We had a great interview the other day with Jim Rogers, the famous author and investor. He has a 2-year old daughter who already speaks English and Chinese.
His interview will be up shortly. It centers mainly on China and Wal-Mart.
His interview will be up shortly. It centers mainly on China and Wal-Mart.
Street Date For The DVD
The street date for "Why Wal-Mart Works & Why That Drives Some People Crazy" DVD is officially November 15th. It will be available pretty much everywhere, i.e., Borders, Virgin, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, Transworld, Musicland, Hastings, Tower, etc..
I kind of doubt Target and Kmart will carry it, though.....
That means I have to deliver the film November 2nd to the replicators. Mas cafe, por favor.
I kind of doubt Target and Kmart will carry it, though.....
That means I have to deliver the film November 2nd to the replicators. Mas cafe, por favor.
More Robert Prechter
From "Why Wal-Mart Works"
I think the herding principle has a lot to do with the protests against Wal-Mart. When people want to express a collective mood, they want to share in it. So generally, rallies, and protest marches and that sort of thing are a good way for people to collectively express that sort of that mood. And of course they reinforce each other when they get in a crowd situation. People have manipulated crowd situations forever, from Alexander the Great to Bill Clinton. So it’s a good way, if you want to make political progress in some way, to go about it. But again, these things don’t last very long. They last a year of so, then something else comes by, flips in front of the collective consciousness and they’ll focus their emotions on something else.
I think the herding principle has a lot to do with the protests against Wal-Mart. When people want to express a collective mood, they want to share in it. So generally, rallies, and protest marches and that sort of thing are a good way for people to collectively express that sort of that mood. And of course they reinforce each other when they get in a crowd situation. People have manipulated crowd situations forever, from Alexander the Great to Bill Clinton. So it’s a good way, if you want to make political progress in some way, to go about it. But again, these things don’t last very long. They last a year of so, then something else comes by, flips in front of the collective consciousness and they’ll focus their emotions on something else.
So if there’s any message to the people who work hard to keep Wal-Mart going, and the shopper coming in, it is “this too shall pass.”
Quote from Robert Prechter in the film
This is from Robert Prechter's interview in the film:
Wal-Mart of all companies helps the little guy more than anybody. It’s the primary reason people who are blue collar workers at the lower end of the scale are surviving. It’s the primary reason people who are trying to survive on social security checks can actually do it. So it's the millions and millions of people at the lower end of the economic scale that Wal-Mart is helping. I think that contradiction goes to show that this (the protest) is mostly a sociological phenomenon and has very little to do with Wal-Mart’s activities.
Wal-Mart of all companies helps the little guy more than anybody. It’s the primary reason people who are blue collar workers at the lower end of the scale are surviving. It’s the primary reason people who are trying to survive on social security checks can actually do it. So it's the millions and millions of people at the lower end of the economic scale that Wal-Mart is helping. I think that contradiction goes to show that this (the protest) is mostly a sociological phenomenon and has very little to do with Wal-Mart’s activities.
The Toothpaste Protest
Over at walmartmovie.com, they note that Wal-Mart "controls" 25% of the U.S. toothpaste market, and we should not buy toothpaste from there to "get Wal-Mart's attention."
So let's run some numbers. Assume 300 million Americans buy 1 tube of toothpaste every other month. That's 1.8 billion tubes of toothpaste sold per year (300,000,000 x 6). Therefore, Wal-Mart sells 450,000,000 tubes per year. Let's assume shoppers buy 2 tubes at a time. If all Wal-Mart shoppers decided to buy toothpaste somewhere else, as per the protest, we would have to DRIVE somewhere else. Let's say that trip is 1/4 mile. That means 225,000,000 (450,000,000/2 tubes per visit) trips of 1/4 mile would have to be made, resulting in 56,250,000 miles of NEW driving being made to conform with the protest.
Let's further assume the average car gets 15 miles per gallon. Therefore 3,750,000 gallons of gas would be burned annually travelling somewhere else to get our toothpaste (56,250,000/15 mpg). Just so we can protest. At today's prices, this would cost consumers an extra $11,250,000 to "protest."
But wait. One barrel of oil produces 19.5 gallons of gas when refined. Therefore, 192,307 barrels of oil would be consumed by this protest (3,750,000 / 19.5). The U.S produces about 6 million barrels of oil per day. So this protest would consume 1/2 of one day's production of oil in the U.S.
Is this protest environmentally friendly?
(And please check my math, I'm on my 6th cup of coffee)
So let's run some numbers. Assume 300 million Americans buy 1 tube of toothpaste every other month. That's 1.8 billion tubes of toothpaste sold per year (300,000,000 x 6). Therefore, Wal-Mart sells 450,000,000 tubes per year. Let's assume shoppers buy 2 tubes at a time. If all Wal-Mart shoppers decided to buy toothpaste somewhere else, as per the protest, we would have to DRIVE somewhere else. Let's say that trip is 1/4 mile. That means 225,000,000 (450,000,000/2 tubes per visit) trips of 1/4 mile would have to be made, resulting in 56,250,000 miles of NEW driving being made to conform with the protest.
Let's further assume the average car gets 15 miles per gallon. Therefore 3,750,000 gallons of gas would be burned annually travelling somewhere else to get our toothpaste (56,250,000/15 mpg). Just so we can protest. At today's prices, this would cost consumers an extra $11,250,000 to "protest."
But wait. One barrel of oil produces 19.5 gallons of gas when refined. Therefore, 192,307 barrels of oil would be consumed by this protest (3,750,000 / 19.5). The U.S produces about 6 million barrels of oil per day. So this protest would consume 1/2 of one day's production of oil in the U.S.
Is this protest environmentally friendly?
(And please check my math, I'm on my 6th cup of coffee)
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