TROMA'S IN TROUBLE!

[KYGOTC]

While the filming of TALES FROM THE CRAPPER, on of the producers backed out and sued Troma for a bunch of money for a bunch of reasons. Something about violating her contract, I dunno. But now aparently Tromas not doin too well. Infact, I read that Loyd Kaufman paid for the entire production of POULTRYGIEST out of his own pocket. Not cool. I hope someone steps in and helps or they start doing REALLY well in dvd sales or something. There the last remaining refuge for the b-movie fan.....exept for Hackfilms, but they kinda suck.

[Jordan]

You know, I'm not too surprised to hear that Troma is on the edge of toppling over. Over the years, I've heard a lot of negative things about the way they do business from various indie film makers. Perhaps this is all a backlash poor business decisions?

Also, Lloyd, I love you to death, and I love most (But not all) of Troma's films, but don't you think its time to start attempting to make GOOD b-movies? (Yeah I know, what I say is heresy, but you can only go so far in life by making s**tty movies on purpose.)

[daveblackeye15]

Oh crap is all I can think.

[DodgingGrunge]

Troma was sued at the end of 2005 over the distribution rights to Haunting Fear, but I never caught a verdict or settlement, so maybe this is what KYGOTC mentioned.  Troma V S'more.

But this isn't the first time Troma's been sued.  Lloyd Kaufman's brother, Charles, shot a movie in 1985 called When Nature Calls.  MGM sued them for featuring the cover of Gone with the Wind in a scene.  Troma removed it and the suit was dropped, but in their typical we-didn't-want-you-anyway! fashion, the poster and box cover for WNC became a spoof of GWTW.

Over the years, I've heard a lot of negative things about the way they do business from various indie film makers. Perhaps this is all a backlash poor business decisions?

I've heard this many, many times as well.  Troma is as cutthroat as Roger Corman, just slightly less prolific.  But their treatment of the independent community at large is quite different, perhaps even helpful.  Tromadance is a free alternative to Sundance, both of which are housed in Salt Lake City at the same time of year.  Lloyd's books offer a lot of insight for wannabe filmmakers too.  They give readily of their time and wisdom... unless you are a grip working on one of their films.  Haha.

I think their in-house features have missed the mark a bit as of late (Terror Firmer was quite entertaining though), but I would be sad to see them go.  Of course, Lloyd has to retire sometime, and I doubt anybody else could fill his soiled sneakers.

[KYGOTC]

You know, I'm not too surprised to hear that Troma is on the edge of toppling over. Over the years, I've heard a lot of negative things about the way they do business from various indie film makers. Perhaps this is all a backlash poor business decisions?

What have you heard about how the treat people? What do they do wrong?

[Jordan]

Yeah it would be a total shame if Troma went bellyup, with or without Lloyd at the helm. For all the toes they've stepped on, they have done a lot of good in the indie film world. I totally agree with you on that DodgingGrunge.


Well KYGOTC, I heard from various indie film makers that Troma basically OWNS you once you sign a contract with them.... if you're new to the biz and have a film that they want to acquire. I'm not going to give any names, but three of the more "high profile" indie directors I've spoken with had nothing good to say about Troma. Two of them didn't sign up to have Troma distribute their films (to them, the contracts suited Troma's interests, and not their own) and instead distributed their movies by themselves using DVD-Rs, while the third signed with Troma and ultimately lost out on a good chunk o' change. The latter had a good working relationship with Lloyd and the gang (and I think he still does), but he said that he was basically screwed out of a lot of money. I'm not saying that he didn't get ANY money, but his percentage of the DVD profits were pretty small. Sad to hear, especially when he was notified that his film turned out to be a big seller.

[Mr. DS]

You know, I'm not too surprised to hear that Troma is on the edge of toppling over. Over the years, I've heard a lot of negative things about the way they do business from various indie film makers. Perhaps this is all a backlash poor business decisions?

Also, Lloyd, I love you to death, and I love most (But not all) of Troma's films, but don't you think its time to start attempting to make GOOD b-movies? (Yeah I know, what I say is heresy, but you can only go so far in life by making s**tty movies on purpose.)

Totally with you Jordy.  Tromas films were always a bit goofy but at least at some point they tried.  Now it seems most of their movies are one hour long fart jokes.  It gets old quick. 

[KYGOTC]

  Now it seems most of their movies are one hour long fart jokes.  It gets old quick. 

Yea, thats mostly what TALES FROM THE CRAPPER consisted of. It seems that that kind of humor is usualy found in the Kaufman troma fliks more often than the others. Thats why I dig "Cannibal! The Musical". But dont get me wrong, a p**s and fart joke is a good thing here and there.

[Torgo]

The rule of thumb that I've always heard that anyone should know is that if you work on a Troma flick, you aren't going to get paid anything.

to be honest, Troma has just been riding on the coattails of the surprise success of the origina Toxic Avenger.   

[lester1/2jr]

The reason why something weird is so much better than TROMA is they don't make their own movies.  I was happy TROMA reissued "The Stablilzer" but I'm just not interested in fake bad movies.

[indianasmith]

the only movie channel I get on my satellite package is IFC, and I hate it.  I've often wondered, with some of the truly awful films they show, how come they never show any TROMA films.  Maybe it's because Lloyd has apparently burned a lotta bridges in the indie community.