Jason Ferus Blum is an American producer born on the 20th of November 1969 in Los Angeles. He is also the CEO of Blumhouse Production, which was founded in 2000.
Blumhouse Production is known for low budged horror films (The Gift, Split, Insidious etc.) and earned millions by producing these films. For example, Paranormal Activity earned nearly $200 millions and was produced for only $15000. Not all the movie made by them are famous, however Blum states “That budget is reverse-engineered to thinking that if the movie isn’t in wide release, at least we get our money back and can keep our doors open.” (Lincoln, 2015).
I believe this is a safe way to get into film industry as in case your film may not be famous, you don’t lose much and your next step is to make more films till you get recognised. Even if you lose some money at the begging of your career, you should see it as an experience and learn from it. For example, you may have spent some money on things you didn’t need to appear in your film and that will teach you next time to save some money. Everybody starts from bottom. Blum started from the bottom. It’s possible he lost some good money, but that didn’t make him quit his dream and look at him now. He is the CEO of Blumhouse Production.
I believe that Blum is a very good example to everybody who wants to start making their own films, because he is one of a short number of people who continued making films even if they were not successful.
Blum was not always in the film industry and had everything figured out. No. He started working for Bob and Harvey Weinstein as an executive producer, and then he went to work at Warner Brothers as an independent producer for a while. So basically, he started working for people and now he owns a Film Company. Does that make you want to carry on with your dreams and not stop just because your first film wasn’t successful? To me, Blum is an example for everybody out there trying to make films and not succeeding from the first film. He is one the people who didn’t just give up.
Obviously, to be recognised by people above you, or for the people you want to work for, you need to leave your shyness (If you have any) at home, because people will not be waiting for you to step up and speak for yourself or say what you think. People in the film industry want you to be able to work on your own as well, because you may find people you can’t rely on so you’ll have to do the job yourself. However, working in a film industry means that team work is a very important skill since you have to discuss with people and listen everybody’s opinions.
Blum has been recognised because apparently, he got sent a letter from entertainer Steve Martin, which he used to send out to Hollywood executives. That’s how he got to be a producer for Kicking and Screaming. He sees this as a funny story, because he sent the script of Kicking and Screaming to Steve Martin. Obviously connections in the film industry have a big role. Blum’s family knew Steve Martin. But I think Blum is a talented man who chased his dream and of course he took a bit of advantage of his family knowing Steve Martin. Who wouldn’t? If you have an opportunity of being closer to achieving what you’ve worked so hard for months or years, would you just let it pass by you and not take advantage of it? It might not be much, but just a letter from someone important may just change your future.
References:
the Guardian. (2018). In the night garden: a brief history of dreams. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/sep/23/brief-history-of-dreams [Accessed 10 Jan. 2018].
the Guardian. (2018). In the night garden: a brief history of dreams. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/sep/23/brief-history-of-dreams [Accessed 10 Jan. 2018].
the Guardian. (2018). In the night garden: a brief history of dreams. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/sep/23/brief-history-of-dreams [Accessed 10 Jan. 2018].