Manka Bros. To Launch Mumblecore Division

Guest Blogger:  Robin Rafe - President - Manka Bros. Theatrical Group

Good morning.  Today, the Theatrical Group has a thrilling announcement.  Because of all the hoopla about Mumblecore coming out of the 2009 South By Southwest Film Festival, Manka Bros. has decided to capture a little of that excitement by launching our very own Mumblecore Division. 

Last night, I met Chairman & CEO Khan Manka, Jr. at the Frolic Room to discuss this venture.  After a few Slivovitz shots, he relented and said it was fine as long as it didn't cost any money or cut into his new BIG IDEA INITIATIVE. 

So congratulations all... as far as I know, Manka Bros. is the only major studio to have a Mumblecore Division (details and website to come in the next few weeks).  This gives us a huge advantage going forward and puts us light years ahead of Disney, Warner Bros. or Fox in terms of capturing the Mumblecore audience.

I realize the term "Mumblecore" may be a little foreign to those of you in the Television and Publishing Groups, but Mumblecore is the new Dogme, the new French New Wave and the new [insert whatever other film movement you can think of here].  Having a Mumblecore Division gives us the freedom to tell compelling stories shot on mini-DV without stars and, because it's "Mumblecore", it stops any critics from bitching that we should have shot it on film with a major star. 

You may be thinking it sounds exactly like what we're doing at Manka Dogme.  Close but not quite.  Manka Dogme has a very strict manifesto or "Dogme(sp)" that prohibits many types of stories from being told.  Mumblecore can be whatever we want.  If it's a couple of people walking along a street and talking - we can shoot it (without permits or decent sound) and enter it into any number of film festivals.

Many of you may be wondering where the financial upside is for Manka Bros. (after all, we are a major studio and not just some punks trying to make it in Hollywood with anything they shoot on their parents camcorders).  The financials make complete sense for us.  These Mumblecore only cost the amount of a mini-DV tape (about $1.50).  Since the actors, writers, directors and other people willing to help out work for free, there is no upfront cost (other than said tape).  So these movies really only need to make back $1.51 to be in profit. 

Most likely, I'm a little off on my numbers and there are probably other costs involved somewhere - but I can guarantee each movie costs less than a Starbucks Venti Latte.  (I'll get the folks in Corporate Finance to run a more complete model.)

So... great news Manka Bros. employees.  We've added another sharp blade in our arsenal as we continue to be the most cutting-edge company in the world.

Robin Rafe - President - Manka Bros. Theatrical Group