'Tenet' director Nolan slams Warner Bros same day streaming plan

While i think releasing the items for streaming does benefit the consumer, I do agree with Nolan that what the WB is doing is potentially ripping away and shorting royalties and bonus payments to film makers and film crews. There is a lot of backend payments that go into the contracts for how films perform in theaters. For them to directly undercut theaters and the people that worked hard on these films is just wrong. They need to also pay these people with streaming proceeds.

I understand Nolan's sentiments as an artist, however he doesn't completely own the movie, the Distributors do. He was already paid millions of dollars being the writer and director, but once it's signed by the distributors? It's not in his hands anymore and the investors have to get their money back and no matter how great of a director Nolan is, distribution is not his expertise.

JJ Jetplane

I do agree with Nolan that what the WB is doing is potentially ripping away and shorting royalties and bonus payments to film makers and film crews. 

Cast and Crew were already paid during the production. They don't really get royalties etc. But try to look at the distributor's perspective. The movie already had it's time on the theaters and it already earned 360 Million USD, but I don't think they can push further as many movie theaters around the globe are still not fully operational as usual due to the pandemic. Many people are still on tight budget due to this unstable and challenging economic situation, so going to movie theaters to watch a Nolan flick is not really their priority. Nolan should instead be thankful that despite of this really bad year (especially in the entertainment industry), his film still made huge blockbuster earnings. Very selfish and ungrateful.

"Tenet" was a bit of a bomb. No movie critic dared to give their honest opinion on the movie for fear of running afoul of SJWs but nobody wanted to pay to see his crappy movie. Besides destroying his own career he probably destroyed the earning potential of every actor in it.

it was a rubbish movie!

Love Christopher Nolan, but Tenet was horrible.

@noypikantoku

Cast and Crew were already paid during the production. They don't really get royalties etc. 

That used to be true. But as the billion dollar movie became more common, the pay structure started to change. Especially with Directors such as Nolan that come with similar members very often. Typically, the people that work with him are paid on the back end while receiving less upfront.

Unlike Dunkirk and Interstellar, the latter of which being one of the greatest films made in our generation, Tenet is a flawed masterpiece.

They way that cast, writers, and directors are paid is not so black and white. It depends on the contract, the producers, where the finance came from, and if the people involved are unionized or not. Nolan gets to have his opinion. How much water does it hold? I don't know. If the distributors own all the rights and everyone else has been paid for their contributions, it is up to the rights owner.

My only issue with WB making this move is the terrible way they distribute movies in Japan. Sometimes movies are released here weeks, months, or years later! By that time, the internet has already spoiled the plot and any twists.

Nolan just wants WB to consult with the movie staff first before deciding

JJ Jetplane

That used to be true. But as the billion dollar movie became more common, the pay structure started to change. 

hmmm as a person who work in the movie industry , I am not aware of this payment structure, I am not sure if the hollywood system is different than here, but I have friends who are also film crew in LA and I don’t think they get that kind of payment structure, if that’s true, that would be lovely though. But, it doesn’t make any sense. Indeed the stars and maybe a big named director like Nolan can get some blockbuster bonuses. But not the crew. Plus, the whole point here is, the movie already had enough screenings, movie theaters wont pull it out of their theaters if its still making money. But there are no demands anymore, so theaters have to put something new to show. Because as what the others say above, indeed, its not really the best Nolan flick. I honestly like his early works but Tenet is not as good as those. WB is actually giving him a favor by distributing it through streaming media though, If this was 10 years ago it will go straight to DVD after the theatrical release is done, and there will be less chance that people would watch it. He should be happy that the movie earnings already surpassed the actual budget and profited 160 million USD more.

With small business owners and every day people going broke and struggling I couldn't care less about over paid millionires problems.

Don't like your entertainment industry probs bro - LEARN TO CODE

Just as you have all told us plebes for so long. Boo Hoo my heart bleeds.

"They've got some of the top filmmakers in the world, they've got some of the biggest stars in the world who worked for years in some cases on these projects very close to their hearts that are meant to be big-screen experiences," Nolan said.

Nolan is poorly advised. Using Oculus Quest 2 I can access streaming services and watch them on the big screen via VR headset. The majority clearly wont have VR headsets but simply stating that streaming equates to no big screen experience is false. He should get with the times.

For those who have never experienced a VR headset, you can place yourself in different theater environments both large and small and even watch movies in excellent 3D format.

They say film adds 10 pounds to the actor but in actual VR format it removes 50 pounds. A great experience to view.

Well, judging by the comments, I guess I won’t waste my time watching the movie if it’s THAT bad, thanks for saving me the time of agony.

Best intelligent blockbuster of the year. Sci-fi? Spy-fi?

Whatever. It entertained, which is the main thing.

No movie critic dared to give their honest opinion on the movie for fear of running afoul of SJWs but nobody wanted to pay to see his crappy movie.

This makes no sense. The narrative, plot and logic of your statement is even more confusing than a Nolan film.