Please Don't Be the Botanical Garden's Dupe: Hollywood HQ

Good days. Spring has officially arrived because pollen-allergic folks be sneezing 24/7. Send them your blessing now.

This is Roll the Tape, our weekly market recap of recent transactions and updates in the industry.

If you’re new here, welcome to The Produced. Check out our previous deep-dive issues:

• Okay, let’s actually pay some respect to the crypto bros now.

• An Incubated Dragon of Asia’s Film Industry: Vietnam

• The Rise and Rise of A24

Before diving into it, let’s talk about the proposal of “The Star” building.

This architectural work is set to be Hollywood’s landmark high-rise building on Sunset Boulevard, designed by Norman Foster of Foster + Partners. Last week, the firm proposed a $1 billion fund needed for The Star’s makeover, as rendered in the image above.

Hmm, I don’t know how I feel about this building - it looks way too familiar. Don’t get me wrong, flowers and plants will always hit my softest spot, but I’m longing for something for extravagant.

At the end of the day, it’s a $1-billion-makeover proposal.

Let me know if you agree: it’s giving Singapore’s botanical garden, which is already too iconic to be replicated.

Recent Transactions

• BBC Studios recently acquired Brutal Company, a Spanish production company behind hits like Welcome to Eden and Killer Book Club (Netflix).

  • Great news for the UK to expand its media market, but I think they should figure out where the heck Kate Middleton first. Just saying.

• Neon and Waypoint Entertainment joined in a partnership to finance mid-budget indie films in the $10 million-plus range.

  • Neon’s portfolio: Parasite, Anatomy of a Fall and other bomb-arse projects.

Told Ya, Investors Are Movie Lovers at Hearts, Too

Doval Bacall, a Real Estate Mogul

If you’re in real estate, you’ve probably have heard of Bacall Companies, a family-owned management company in real estate development. For the sake of misreading one too many zeros, here is the approximate overview of the Bacall dynasty:

• Successfully executed +$520 million in real estate transactions

• Currently manages over $2.4 million S/F of commercial real estate

• And a whole lot more big numbers that has absolutely nothing to do with film.

Then why does Doval Bacall, a principal and partner of Bacall Companies, gears towards investing in film now?

Because Why Not?

As of March 20, 2024, Bacall is set to producer Steven Scheider’s next feature film, Boyfriend, though financial proposal remains undisclosed.

Scheider’s filmography includes:

And for the record, I have watched neither of these films nor will I ever choose to watch horrors on my own free will. Sunshine for me only please! (don’t come for me horror fans)

Bling Bling Opportunity for Filmmakers!

Doval loves his crafts, alright, especially in the filmmaking scene. His firm Doval Bacall Entertainment deviates from traditional film grants to establish these frameworks for film-financing:

• Employing private equity/debt funds

• Partnerships with family offices and high net-worth investors internationally

If your film or television project ranges between $2 million - $50 million, grab this lottery and pitch your project - you don’t want it to be shelved and dusted, do you?

Music Shopping

Apparently, spring is wedding season. It’s also a delulu blooming season.

So here’s a wedding day Spotify playlist for you because I truly believe music has the utmost power to either make your wedding day extraordinary or ruin it. Even if you have full glam and smart tuxedos. Just saying.

Obviously, it’s not like you have to be wedded now, but isn’t mental preparation essential?

Not much today, but getting to reach your inbox is already fulfilling. Hope you’re beaming and taking extra care of yourself.

Leave your thoughts below and let us know what you think. And make sure to give the Spotify playlist a listen.

You can also DM The Produced via our Instagram or X (Twitter) because we are gradually becoming a certified yapville!

Drink lots of water, okay?