Not of This Budget
Writer-director Jim Wynorski bet his mentor, Roger Corman, that he could remake one of Corman’s cheapo classics, “Not of This Earth” (1957), on a comparable budget and shooting schedule--the original cost $86,000 and was filmed in 11 days!
So, while Corman was off on a vacation last year, Wynorski secretly shot the film using existing sets and stock footage. Final cost: $296,000, cheap even by Corman standards and much cheaper--in 1957 dollars--than the original’s budget.
“When Roger returned to the office, he asked me whether the contracts had been drawn up (to make the picture) and I told him it was already done.”
Unfazed, Corman responded, “Well, then you better sign a contract.”
The cheapie--about an alien visiting earth to see if humans are suitable food for his planet--will be released next month.
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