Because finding a home should be something to sing about.
Promoting Home Ownership & Real Estate
While Open House is intended to be a fun, musical comedy about a group of characters' interest in buying a home, the film is unique in that it also subtly promotes the virtues of home ownership and the need for professional realtors. If you represent an organization or company involved in the housing or real estate industry, you'll want to notice some of the ways the film expresses these theme:
Title The very title of the film, Open House, (and all subsequent mentions in reviews, advertising and promotional material) will remind people about the value of real estate open houses.
Locations The entire script takes place during a Sunday afternoon, with the characters going from one open house to another.
Characters 2 out of the 11 lead characters in the ensemble cast play real estate agents (Barry and Marjorie). There are also several other supporting characters who are realtors.
Positive Association This is one of the few feature films that show real estate agents in a positive light.
Genuine Advice - The realtor characters give genuine advice on how to buy and finance a home. Relevant topics discussed by the characters include::
preparing for an open house
open house safety
mortgage preapprovals
the perils of "For Sale by Owners" (FSBOs)
pre-payment mortgage penalties
realtors' exams
realtors' code of ethics
home-improvements
landscaping
property values
second mortgages
title transfer issues
Technically Accurate Screenwriters Mirvish and Maddox did extensive research into the specifics of real estate and used the services of a technical consultant who is an experienced realtor in New York state. Several other real estate professionals from around the country have read the script and all have loved it.
Mortgages As Plot Point One key plot point involves the dangers of an all-cash home purchase and the benefits of using mortgages: The villains of the movie use cash, and the heroes use mortgages.
Positive Themes Though some of the characters are humorously larcenous, they all get their come-uppance in the end and conclude, "Never build a house on a foundation of deceit." This is one of the strongest themes in the film.
Memorable Songs Virtually all of the key songs in the film extoll the wonders of owning a house, including "Fantabulous!" "Sellin' a Dream," and "Do You Love this House?" Other songs speak to the emotional connection between home owners and their houses: "It's My House" and "Safe House of Love." Audiences will literally leave the theater with these songs stuck in their heads. To listen to the songs, go here.
Something to Sing About By the end of the film, the moral of the story is simply that "finding a home should be something to sing about." (and in fact, this is the catch phrase that will be used to promote the film in marketing materials)
To see some of the more tangible benefits for realtors supporting the film, keep reading...
Disclaimer:
Investment in a project of this nature involves substantial risks, and should not be undertaken by those individuals or organizations who can not afford those risks. Anyone seriously interested in contributing should consult their own tax professional for complete tax advice. This website should not be construed as a formal offering or complete business prospectus, but rather is designed to give a general overview of the project.
