A Conversation with Jamie Lee Curtis and Jason Blum | Global Conference 2022

Halloween Franchise and Creative Collaboration

• Jamie Lee Curtis and Jason Blum (Blumhouse Productions) formed a partnership to reboot the Halloween franchise in 2018, with the goal of restoring a direct narrative connection to John Carpenter's original 1978 film.
  • The partnership was secured through Malick Akkad, who manages the family business and IP rights following the tragic death of his father, Mustafa Akkad (original producer).
  • The collaboration resulted in a trilogy (Halloween, Halloween Kills, Halloween Ends), with Halloween Ends serving as the contractual conclusion; rights revert to the Akkad family upon completion.
• Curtis returned to the role of Laurie Strode 40 years after her first feature film (Halloween), initially filming it at age 19 for $300,000 in 17 days.
  • Curtis expressed anger regarding the 1998 sequel H2O (which she viewed as a potential series finale), noting legal constraints prevented ending the Michael Myers mythos as intended, leading to a financial demand for her participation in a resurrection where the character would die.
  • Curtis personally pitched the 2018 project to John Carpenter, who had previously disparaged the sequels, convincing him to join the creative team by emphasizing the script's focus on trauma and the "concentric circles" of terror.
  • The 2018 film's success was attributed to a confluence of the script's thematic treatment of trauma and the concurrent rise of the #MeToo movement.
• Commercial performance of the Curtis/Blum Halloween trilogy is estimated at $386 million in box office revenue, excluding secondary revenue streams from theatrical windows, home video, and licensing.

Blumhouse Business Model and Industry Analysis

• Jason Blum advocates for profit-sharing models over upfront flat fees, arguing that aligning creator compensation with project performance incentivizes higher quality and reduces production costs for financiers.
  • Blum critiques major streamers (specifically Netflix) for shifting to upfront payments for all talent regardless of viewership, a strategy he argues inflates costs and reduces the commercial viability of projects.
  • Blum acknowledges a pragmatic exception to his own philosophy: his company has accepted upfront payments from streamers and for the Exorcist trilogy with Universal solely to maintain operational liquidity during market volatility.
• Blumhouse's production strategy prioritizes high-caliber talent over cost-cutting, believing that experienced artists attract other experienced artists.
  • When acquiring remake rights, Blumhouse contractually requires consultation with the original director to ensure creative continuity, contrasting with standard industry practices.
  • This model was successfully applied to Paranormal Activity, where Blum spent three years securing theatrical distribution for a film initially sold to a studio for $100,000 straight-to-video.
  • Blum mandated a test screening of 300 people for the Paranormal Activity remake with DreamWorks, using the data to guide the rewrite, which successfully led to a hit franchise of six films.

Jamie Lee Curtis: Creative Expansion and Future Projects

• Curtis has transitioned from actress to writer and producer, founding Comet Pictures under the Blumhouse banner with the motto "Get shit done before you die."
  • She wrote a 45-page treatment for an eco-horror project titled Mother Nature, conceived when she was 19, which is being adapted into a graphic novel.
  • Curtis intends to direct Mother Nature, leveraging her expanded creative role to address environmental themes.
• Curtis and Blum have acquired television rights to all of Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta novels to develop a joint TV series.
  • The project is currently in early development with a target production start within the next year; distribution platform details have not been finalized.

New Developments and Market Trends

• Blumhouse and Curtis are producing a TV series for Amazon titled The Sticky, based on the 2006 Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist, where thieves stole $20 million worth of syrup by replacing it with water.
  • The real-life theft was discovered when water condensation on the barrels revealed the deception, as pure maple syrup does not condense.
• Curtis highlighted the critical importance of the theatrical experience, noting the communal reaction of 5,000 exhibitors at a Las Vegas event where the teaser for Halloween Ends received a standing ovation.
• Curtis noted that while her films have generated $2.3 billion in total box office revenue, she does not personally favor the horror genre, citing her personal fear of the format, yet acknowledges its role in her career longevity.