Batman's Batman: A Memoir from Hollywood, Land of Bilk and Money
Batman's Batman: A Memoir from Hollywood, Land of Bilk and Money
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Overview
In Batman’s Batman, Michael E. Uslan, executive producer of the Batman movie franchise, offers an insider’s look at Hollywood and the process of how movies and television shows go from the drawing board to your screens.
Continuing the delightful tale of his adventures begun in The Boy Who Loved Batman, Uslan draws on both his successful and less successful attempts to bring ideas to the screen, offering a helpful, honest, and breezily told guide to producing films. From passion to promotion, from the initial pitch to selecting the best partners and packaging, Uslan reveals the thirteen qualities essential to would-be producers.
A lively memoir and a valuable glimpse inside Hollywood rarely seen by the public, Batman’s Batman is sure to please fans of Michael Uslan and the Batman franchise, but will also prove to be an invaluable resource for any aspiring producers, as he guides listeners through the Land of Bilk and Money.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9798200928958 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Blackstone Publishing |
| Publication date: | 05/31/2022 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.20(w) x 5.70(h) x (d) |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
So, as we begin this journey through my years in this nutty business, please understand that this is not a history, but rather a memoir. The stories that follow are constructed from what I (and others with whom I conferred) can remember of the times depicted. Names have been changed, characters combined, and events compressed. So there!
And in the not-always-best tradition of Hollywood, this book is a sequel. It follows my previous tome, The Boy Who Loved Batman. And if you know anything about Hollywood, you can assume it's part of an intended trilogy, so stay in your seats at the end of this book for an "after-credits" scene. Like my previous memoir, the stories within detail my life growing up down the shore in New Jersey and my years at school at Indiana Universityin Bloomington. They will co-mingle with tales of my escapades in Hollywood and New York in "The Biz." There's a reason for this. An outsider might call it "cause and effect." A movie industry insider might refer to it as "Ya gotta have a set-up in order to have a subsequent pay-off." And vice versa.
The secret origin of the title of this book, Batman's Batman, comes from a true story, a portion of which I first recounted in my prior book and it goes like this:
Astounding and unthinkable as it may seem, as I notified you above, I bought the rights to Batman from DC Comics when I was still a kid in my twenties. From that moment until my Bat-partner, Ben Melniker and I were able to get the first dark and serious Batman movie made took ten long, long years. In the process, we were turned down by every major studio in Hollywood. My two favorite rejections included the one East Coast head of production who told me in 1979 that "Batman and Robin could never be successful as a movie because the then recent film, Robin and Marian, didn't do well. That was a story about an aging Robin Hood and Maid Marian starring Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn. His apparent reasoning (if you could even call it that) was that both films would have the word "Robin" in the title. The very last rejection we received came from the final major studio to whom I pitched a dark and serious Batman movie. The head of production there was a dapper, silver-haired long-time exec. He and Ben had known each other for decades. I pitched my little heart out that afternoon and at the end of it, he shook his head and with a "Tsk, Tsk," told me that Batman would not be a successful movie because Columbia's movie, "Annie," didn't do well. When I was so puzzled by his proclamation and asked him if he possibly was referring to that little red-headed girl who sings the song, "Tomorrow," he said, "That's right." Shaking my head in disbelief, I asked him what that possibly had to do with Batman. His reply was right out of that entire generation of adults who had been conned into believing comic books were corrupting their children and causing a massive post-World War 2 rise of juvenile delinquency in America: "Oh, come on, Michael! They're both out of the "funny pages." At that moment, there was simply nothing left inside me and I began to scoop together the Batman comics and the copy of my sample screenplay for "Return of The Batman," and prepared to exit. That's when he turned to his old pal, Ben.
"Ben," he said thoughtfully, "you and I go back a long, long time. If you really want to do a 'Batman' movie, we'll consider doing it with you but it has to be the funny, pot-bellied Batman with all those 'Pows,' 'Zaps' and 'Whams' that audiences will remember and love."
That's when I, without any hesitation, said, "No way."
The exec sat himself down right in front of me and leaned in with lines of experience furrowed in his forehead and a frown of frustration draping his chin. "Son," he said, and I knew that anytime someone addressed me as "Son," I was already in trouble. "Better to have a film than to have no film at all."
And with only a split second of hesitation, I said, "No."
That was it. Another "Pass" and the final Batman rejection from the last major studio. Ben and I found a park-like bench on the grassy grounds of the studio. I sat, despondent with my head bowed into my hands. That's when sage Ben Melniker became a cross between Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
"It's quite ironic, Michael, that our final 'no' came from you. You know what that makes you?" he gently asked.
"Yeah, Ben, I know. It makes me an idiot," I replied with something just short of disgust.
"No," he countered. "It makes you Batman's Batman!"
"Huh? What?" I inquired as I lifted my head up to see where his was going with this.
"You have a vision for Batman based on how he was created this dark and serious thing. And you're refusing to let anyone else come in who might corrupt that or turn it back into some campy comedy. You're forfeiting big money sacrificing everything in order to protect Batman and defend him. Michael, you're Batman's Batman!"
It was a dawning for me an epiphany. This wasn't about getting a movie made. It was about getting THIS movie made MY movie. And it wasn't about money. It was never about money. It was about passion. And with that, Ben pulled me right smack out of my depression.
"So we failed to get a major studio to understand. Okay. There are other ways to make movies happen and find financing. Let's strategize and pursue every other possibility out there!" he declared. I jumped up off the bench suddenly re-energized, and off we went into movie history. Movies to come like Batman, The Dark Knight, and Joker would forever change Hollywood and re-define how the world culture would perceive comic books, super-heroes, and super-villains.
And that is the secret origin of the title of this book.
Table of Contents
ForewordProducer Prologue: The 13 "P's" of Producing1. The PASSION2. The PRAYER3. The PREP4. The PROCESS5. The PARTNERS6. The PITCH7. The PACKAGING8. The PROPERTY9. The PRODUCTION10. The POST11. The PUBLICITY & PROMOTION12. The PROFITS (?)13. The PRIORITIESAcknowledgments and CreditsWhat People are Saying About This
Batman's Batman is not just a book for Batman fans around the world, it's a life lesson guidebook that will help millions.
A fellow New Jerseyian, Michael talks about one of the keys to being a successful producer (and surviving) in this business is 'passion and storytelling.' Batman's Batman shows he is one of the best at both. His tales reveal his love for movies and the people who make them, not to mention what it takes to get things done. If you're a fan of Hollywood stories, as I am, you will enjoy this. As I did.
This fascinating coming-of-age story is very inspiring for all ages but an especially vivid tale for young folks. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and so will you!
As a child, my dear friend Michael was fascinated with comics. His fascination turned into a passion. His passion into an obsession. His obsession into a career. The result: millions of transformed happy comic fans. A life well lived!
Michael Uslan's life is a dream come true. He's a true fan with an encyclopedic knowledge of comics who also had enough business savvy to become a player in Hollywood. Batman's Batman is an inspiring read!
Batman's Batman is a refreshing reminder that there are heroes among us, those who refuse to compromise their vision for a quick payday. Uslan's dedication to his vision of Batman as a dark, damaged angel of the night—and his willingness to fight for 10 years to see that vision realized—is a testament to his character, which was molded by his extraordinary family, and propelled him from the suburbs of New Jersey to the halls of Hollywood power.
Michael Uslan is one of the true legends of Hollywood! Without him, superhero movies would not be where they are today and graphic novel–based IPs would not be dominating the global box office. His decades-long fight to bring the true Batman to the big screen is the perfect example of how 'persistence' is that primary talent needed to achieve goals that most would think impossible. I hope this book helps inspire a new generation of producers as much as Michael has inspired me.
Against all odds, Michael Uslan has done it again! Batman's Batman is that rare sequel that is every bit as entertaining, informative, and inspirational as his first book. Highly recommended.
Great enterprises often take an equally great amount of time to come to fruition. The Greeks had laid siege to Troy for ten years, at a cost of many lives, before Odysseus got the bright idea to hide a few men inside a big wooden horse. And Michael Uslan spent an equal amount of time—from 1979 to 1989—on his own personal crusade to get a high-budget, adult-worthy film about Batman onto the big screen. Both men—the canny king of Ithaca and the New Jersey 'Boy Who Loved Batman'—deserve to be remembered and celebrated for a job well done!
I loved this book. Overflowing with tales of towering victories and crushing near-misses, Michael Uslan shows us the heart of a writer, the soul of a dreamer, and the burdensome gift of being unstoppable.
Batman's Batman is an extraordinary tale of courage, tenacity, originality, and heart. It is an emotional roller coaster for anyone pursuing their dreams and finding their identity.
When Gotham City needed to be saved they called Batman. When Batman needed to be saved he called Michael Uslan. In this heartwarming and inspiring true story, Uslan takes us on a journey of passion and persistence and it's a ride every bit as fun as riding shotgun in the Batmobile. Batman's Batman is a must read.
Michael's passion and vision took a 21st-century no-brainer, where we have half a dozen actors playing Batman in various podcasts, films, and animated series, and forged it into existence in a time when no one believed it was a wise investment. Michael's shadow looms large over the entire Batman legacy. And from this Riddler's perspective, I'm very grateful.