A small-time Hollywood studio, Asylum has perfected the art of the movie doppelganger and is proving that imitation is not only the sincerest form of flattery, it is also very profitable. (David) Latt says he ‘stumbled’ on his money-making scheme by accident.
A former employee of a mainstream Hollywood studio, he left to make independent low-budget films and was working on an adaptation of HG Wells’s The War Of The Worlds for the now defunct Blockbuster video chain in 2004 when he learned Paramount was working on the same film.
‘I was about to throw in the towel, but then Blockbuster came back and said: “No, no, go ahead, we’ll order 100,000 copies,” Latt recalls with a chuckle sitting at the Asylum’s HQ in Burbank, California.
‘They told me every time there was a major blockbuster, people would come in looking for similar titles or similar themes.'I made the film for a couple of hundred thousand bucks and we doubled our profits.
'That’s when I realised, “Hang on, there’s something here.” There were people who would pay to see titles that piggy-backed off the back of a mainstream movie. It was like a lightbulb went off in my head.’
Mockbusters! Snakes on a Train, anyone? The Da Vinci Treasure? How fake films became big box-office | Mail Online
A former employee of a mainstream Hollywood studio, he left to make independent low-budget films and was working on an adaptation of HG Wells’s The War Of The Worlds for the now defunct Blockbuster video chain in 2004 when he learned Paramount was working on the same film.
‘I was about to throw in the towel, but then Blockbuster came back and said: “No, no, go ahead, we’ll order 100,000 copies,” Latt recalls with a chuckle sitting at the Asylum’s HQ in Burbank, California.
‘They told me every time there was a major blockbuster, people would come in looking for similar titles or similar themes.'I made the film for a couple of hundred thousand bucks and we doubled our profits.
'That’s when I realised, “Hang on, there’s something here.” There were people who would pay to see titles that piggy-backed off the back of a mainstream movie. It was like a lightbulb went off in my head.’
Mockbusters! Snakes on a Train, anyone? The Da Vinci Treasure? How fake films became big box-office | Mail Online
Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member:
Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)
Membership Required: Upgrade to Expose Nearly 1,000,000 Posts
Ready to Unleash the Millionaire Entrepreneur in You?
Become a member of the Fastlane Forum, the private community founded by best-selling author and multi-millionaire entrepreneur MJ DeMarco. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has poured his heart and soul into the Fastlane Forum, helping entrepreneurs reclaim their time, win their financial freedom, and live their best life.
With more than 39,000 posts packed with insights, strategies, and advice, you’re not just a member—you’re stepping into MJ’s inner-circle, a place where you’ll never be left alone.
Become a member and gain immediate access to...
- Active Community: Ever join a community only to find it DEAD? Not at Fastlane! As you can see from our home page, life-changing content is posted dozens of times daily.
- Exclusive Insights: Direct access to MJ DeMarco’s daily contributions and wisdom.
- Powerful Networking Opportunities: Connect with a diverse group of successful entrepreneurs who can offer mentorship, collaboration, and opportunities.
- Proven Strategies: Learn from the best in the business, with actionable advice and strategies that can accelerate your success.
"You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with the most..."
Who are you surrounding yourself with? Surround yourself with millionaire success. Join Fastlane today!
Join Today
