Best Docus of 2024

 Nonfiction films or documentaries are movies that depict reality in hopefully a meaningful and truthful way. The following are my picks for the best docus of 2024.

Bad Faith: Christian Nationalism's Unholy War on Democracy 

An anti-Trump romp attempts to mesh his authoritarianism with Christian nationalism with the goal of transforming the U.S. into a theocracy. An interesting premise but unfortunately not a reality-based film. It's a good example of what a poorly conceived and misrepresented documentary can be when based upon conspiracy theories. 

The Bibi Lives

An expose' on Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel. The film centers around the accusations of corruption, bribery and fraud brought against him and his, thus far, successful attempts to forestall any legal actions pertaining to these charges.

Black Box Diaries 

Shiori Ito's documented five-year struggle to bring to justice Noriyuki Yamaguchi, a powerful and renowned TV reporter who sexually assaulted her. The film progresses, without any manipulation, of the investigative facts, including videos and audio tapes. The viewer is taken through the ups and downs of a hard-fought legal case.

Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg

Pallenberg with Richards

This film is one of my favorites. It is a portrayal of life on bad side of rock's counterculture during the 1960's. It is built upon home videos taken by Pallenberg and Keith Richards (a member of the Rolling Stones rock group) and provides a first-hand depiction of the dark side of the rock and roll world and is definitely worth a view. 

Ernest Cole: Lost and Found

A thought-provoking journey that tells the story of Ernest Cole and his collection of photos depicting apartheid in South Africa, which was chronicled in his 1967 book, "House of Bondage". Cole subsequently moved to NYC and was never heard from or seen again. Cole's photos make up a large part of the film.

The mystery of Cole's life was further complicated when 60,000 additional photos of his were discovered in three deposit boxes in a Stockholm bank.

How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer

Mailer, the fighter

This film brought back memories for me, as I had met and conversed with Mailer on several occasions when living in Brooklyn Heights during the early 1980s. He was a neighbor. 

Mailer wanted to make a difference through his books, films, and any other means possible. He was a cultural warrior with a firebrand reputation. However, to me, he was always courteous and a pleasure to converse with. This film depicts just that - a very complex individual that made a difference. 

By: Jim Lavorato

Star of 'Crocodile Dundee' Dies at 90

 It is with great sadness that I report the demise of Bert, the Australian saltwater crocodile, who played in many movies including the 'Crocodile Dundee' films - Bert was 90 years old and passed peacefully.

Bert, on set and chomping on a light fixture

Paul Hogan, who played in the three 'Dundee' films ('Crocodile Dundee', 'Crocodile Dundee II', and 'Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles') got to know Bert very well.

Bert was captured in the early 1980s in the Reynolds River region of Australia and was known for his independent nature. He was a confirmed bachelor with a fiery disposition and his huge size evoked a commanding presence. He knew when he was on set and actually played to the cameras by posing, mouth agape, for the take.   

Hogan with Bert on set of 'Crocodile Dundee' 

Our condolences to Bert's owner and handlers and we're reminded what a large role animals play in the making of motion pictures. 

By: Jim Lavorato

Who Made This Year's Black List

The 'Black List' is the annual list of Hollywood's best unproduced feature screenplays. This year 83 scripts from writers, known and unknown, repped and unrepped were voted on by a group of 500 film executives. 

Topping this year's list was 'One Night Only' by Travis Braun, which discusses the issue of premarital sex. 'Bust' by Matt Ackels, addresses the health issues regarding silicone breast implants, while a script entitled 'Tony' is a bio on the early life of Anthony Bourdain. Matt Badey submitted a screenplay on the rise and fall of Abercrombie & Fitch called 'King of the Freshman'.

"I look forward to the scripts finding the success and audience that previous annual Black List scripts have found and to watching these movies in theaters, as soon as they're available", says Franklin Leonard, Founder of Black List.

In fact, over the years more than 400 scripts from the annual Black List have been produced, grossing over $28 billion in worldwide box office. Also, they have amassed four Best Picture and 12 Best Screenplay Oscars.

By: Jim Lavorato

Where Is 007?

 The next Bond movie should have been in production years ago. The last 007 film, in the over 50-year-old franchise, was 'No Time to Die' in 2021.

Barbara Broccoli with Daniel Craig, who starred in the last five Bond movies

It appears that long-time Bond producer and rights owner, Barbara Broccoli, and MGM, the production studio for all of the prior 27 Bond films, and was purchased by Amazon in 2021, are at loggerheads as to how future Bond films will be made and marketed. 

Broccoli believes that Amazon does not understand the very character that has made Bond films so successful. She has creative control over the 007 films and says they must have theatrical release and not turned into a streaming series on Amazon Prime. 

Amazon purchased MGM for $8.5 billion

The situation has got so intense that Broccoli recently characterized the status of the new movie in dire terms, "with no script, no story, and no new Bond. Amazon isn't a good home for Bond, the company's core business is selling everything from toilet paper to vacuums."

As part of the original MGM purchase, Amazon committed to releasing all Bond films as first-run cinema movies but now Amazon executives are pushing the idea of Bond TV spin-offs, portraying 007 with different genders, races, and sexes. These portrayals of Bond are completely anathema to Broccoli - who quickly shutdown those ideas. She firmly believes Bond "should always be played by a man, and should always be a Brit."

And to it goes. Too bad, as I, and millions of others, are huge Bond fans which eagerly await the next installment. 

By: Jim Lavorato 

Women & The NFL - A Growing Partnership

 

Who says women don't watch football? According to the NFL, the last Super Bowl had a record-breaking female viewership representing 48% of its total audience.

The NFL has its sights on increasing its female viewership and recently inked a deal with Betches Media, a company that creates content for women. Under the deal, Betches will produce content that "enables millennial and Gen Z women to tap into exciting NFL moments while presenting advertising and sponsorship revenue opportunities for brands looking to reach that demo," says Anna DeLucia, NFL Sr. Mgr. Business Development. 

The NFL will provide Betches event access to the Super Bowl, NFL Draft, sponsored interviews with athletes, etc. This partnership will launch with the 2025 Pro Bowl being aired on February 5th. 

According to DeLucia, "whether you're cheering very Sunday or new to football, this relationship invites women into the NFL conversation in a way that's fun, approachable, and engaging."

Per Betches, NFL football is the most popular sport among its female audiences. "It's been amazing to witness the cultural shift of women and their participation in sports, and pro football in particular" says, Aleen Dreksler, Betches CEO.

Betches Media reaches one-in-five women in the U.S. and has 250 million users globally.

By: Jim Lavorato

2025 Great Year for Exhibition...According to NATO

 

According to a survey just released by the National Association of Theatre Owners, 85% of moviegoers plan to go to the cinema as much or more in 2025 vs. this year. That increase in admissions due principally from Gen Zers  (Zoomers) and Hispanic audiences.

Zoomers are particularly enthusiastic about movies - among the 10–14-year-olds viewing a movie on opening weekend is their #1 preferred activity - regardless of time or expense.

The NATO report concluded that 72% of those surveyed, across 14 countries, stated they are going to the cinema "more" or "the same" as they did six months ago. 76% of Americans 12-74 saw at least one movie at a cinema in 2024, with cinema loyalty programs seeing a 12% increase in new subscriptions in 2024 reaching 119 million loyalty club members.

Zoomers are the most active moviegoers with 90% females and 89% of males going to the movies at least once a year. Hispanic moviegoers continue to be the strongest of any demographic with 27% attending six movies or more per year.  

NATO is also predicting more movie releases in 2025 - forecasting 110 movies with wide-release (more than 2,000 screens) vs. 95 in 2024.

"To gauge the true viability of movie exhibition, you must look beyond the weekly numbers and rely on a number of other factors in determining the strength of the industry," says Micheal O'Leary, NATO Head. Although, he did not elaborate on these other factors.

Moviegoers want diversity of genres 

In addition to high impact superhero films, moviegoers want to see more comedies, family films, horror, and independent movies on marquees. Consumers want and seek out exciting and thought-provoking movies that can be enjoyed on a big screen with immersive sound. For 2025, there will be more films across all genres to ensure there is entertainment for everyone. 

By: Jim Lavorato

The Movies - Recapping 2024

It was all about sequels in '24 - Deadpool, Godzilla, Inside Out 2 and others accounted for nine of the top ten grossers with Wicked being the only non-sequel to make it into the top ten.

Call them sequels, follow-ups, spinoffs, or offshoots 2024 stands in stark contrast to 2023 when the big bankers were Barbie, Super Mario Bros., and Oppenheimer - all non-sequels. 

Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. took credit for the top 2024 grossers, unfortunately the entire movie business has yet to fully recover from COVID and last year's industry strikes, and work stoppages took their toll. There were just not enough titles on exhibitors' marquees in '24. One bright spot was that both Apple and Amazon began to release films in cinemas as a way to bring attention to their streaming businesses. But the jury is still out on this tactic as the streamers need to produce quality films that people will pay to watch on the big screen. 

2024 Studio Recaps

Disney: After a dismal 2023, Disney had a great comeback in '24, with three-billion-dollar blockbusters: Inside Out 2 ($1.7b), Deadpool & Wolverine ($1.4b), and Moana 2 ($1.0b).

Paramount: Although not boasting any billion-dollar hits, Gladiator II earned over $400 million, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 should be one of the top gainers during this Christmas season. Additionally, a number of very low budget films grossed very well, including Mean Girls ($140 million on a $36 million budget), and Smile 2 ($137 million on a $28 million budget).

Sony: Not a great year for this studio. Its hits were Garfield ($257 million), Bad Boys ($404 million), Venom ($468 million), and It Ends with Us ($350 million). Sony had no big hits in 2024.

Universal: The bright spot for this studio was making musicals popular again. Although it had no blockbusters, its films did set the stage for follow-ups. Wicked ($525 million), Despicable Me 4 ($969 million), Kung Fu Panda ($547 million), and Wild Robot ($321 million).

Warner Bros.: Landed a few hits: Dune 2 ($714 million), Godzilla x Kong ($571 million), and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice ($457 million) otherwise its releases were lackluster if not out-right bombs: Furiosa ($173 million), and Horizon ($36 million) were but two examples.

Amazon MGM: testing the waters for films released first to the silver screen Amazon scored very well. The Beekeeper ($150 million) and other releases had solid returns given their very low production costs. Their big bomb was Red One, the Christmas action film which cost $250 million and will gross only $150 million.

Apple: Well, Apple may want to stick to making PCs and phones because, thus far, their movie making has had dismal results. For example, the star-studded Argylle grossed only $96 million and Fly Me to The Moon only $42 million. Apple needs to think through what kind of product it needs to produce for moviegoers and it's not all about filling your films with A-listers. With mega-bucks to spend Apple will stay in the fight. 

Lionsgate: To say this studio had a bad year is an understatement. No film released by Lionsgate made any real dollars. None of its releases grossed over $35 million - '24 was a disaster.

We're all expecting 2025 to be a lot better at the box office than this year. We need to get back to the pre-pandemic admission levels and to get there we need, not only, more releases but releases that moviegoers want to view on the big screen 

By: Jim Lavorato

Memo to Hollywood - "You Can't Stop Technology"

 The Hollywood Guilds and Unions just don't get it. You can't stop technology - be it artificial intelligence, autonomous cars, underwater drones, quantum computers, or the crypto-ecosystem. 

Last week, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) sent a letter to the heads of the major studios, criticizing them for inaction as AI appears to be taking copywritten scripts and using it to "plagiarize stolen works."

The letters were sent to Amazon MGM, Disney, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony Pictures, and Warner Bros. Discovery.

In a nutshell, the Writers' Guild is complaining that the big tech companies are getting the studios to give them the vast archive of works created by generations of union labor to train their AI systems on how to compose and write scripts. 

The WGA goes on to say, "the studios are doing nothing to stop this theft. They have allowed tech companies to plunder entire libraries without permission of compensation. The studios inaction has harmed WGA members, and we demand that the studios take immediate legal action against any company that has used our members' works to train AI systems."

Unfortunately, for the Guild, the WGA contract does not include any protection against AI training and further, in most cases, have no rights regarding the scripts which are owned by the studios. 

What the WGA fails to recognize, is that they have no power and further can't stop AI technology and its use by the entertainment industry. AI is going to be used in the production of content across the entertainment spectrum and that's the reality.

By: Jim Lavorato

Out of Tragedy Comes Good

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) in the wake of the shooting incident that occurred on the set of the film 'Rust', appointed a pair of industry experts on firearms to be advisors and experts to the film industry.

Larry Zanoff and Brook Yeaton are both long-term prop masters, arms experts, and movie armorers. Their appointments follow on the footsteps of the theatrical debut (in Poland) of 'Rust' which involved an on-set gun incident that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Hutchins on 'Rust' set before fatal shooting

The two appointees' role will be to work closely with the studios and other content producers regarding firearm safety issues. "I'm honored to be selected by my peers for this position and look forward to bringing my knowledge and experience to this new role of assisting my fellow industry colleagues in maintaining the highest level of safety on set", said Larry Zanoff.

Following the October 2021 'Rust' incident, star and producer, Alec Baldwin, who shot Hutchins, was originally charged with manslaughter but the charges were dismissed. The Armorer on the 'Rust' set was Hannah Reed, who is currently serving an 18-month sentence for negligence pertaining to the shooting.

Reed says, 'RUST' Producers Overruled Her Safety Requests

The Most Powerful Person in Hollywood

 

Do you know this woman? Well, if you want to make it big in tinsel-town you better get to know her, as she holds sway over who may or may not, for instance, get an Oscar. She is Colleen Camp, who at 71 is the fairy godmother of Hollywood. 

Camp is a character actress turned social networker. She is close friends with very mover and shaker in the film industry. She has built a reputation as one of Hollywood's most influential players with her, no press allowed screenings, big-power parties, star-studded dinners, and assorted receptions which have altered the trajectories of hundreds of Oscar campaigns.

"I'm an enthusiast. I'm also a fixer" is how she describes herself. According to Producer/Director Jerry Bruckheimer, "She's a kingmaker. A great force. You always want her on your side - if you want to win."

Camp's fingerprints are all over scores of Oscar winners, from 'The Joker' to 'Black Swan'. In Hollywood, where everyone says they're friends with whoever, but aren't, she actually is.

Camp, started out as an actress, and has appeared in over 100 films. Her first role was in the 1973 'Love, American Style'. She played Miss May in 'Apocalypse Now' and in 'Wayne's World', Over the years Camp cultivated close connections with Hollywood's big and little which eventually turned her, not merely into an awards playmaker, but an icon in a town where playmaking is an art form.

By: Jim Lavorato

Making Bank in Hollywood

 From the C-suite to the stars to movie extras here's a peek of who makes what in Hollywood.

Workers on movie set

Editor - most TV editors earn $5000/week. Top feature editors can earn $20-25,000/week.

Publicist - Mid-level agency publicists earn $100-150,000/yr. One with their own firm over $1 million.

Studio Executive - Entry-level executive assistant $50,000/yr. but there is huge growth potential.          Executive VPs earn $500-600,00. Studio head millions.

Lawyer - Deal makers that work on 5% commission instead of an hourly rate go for $175-250,000.

Director - Early-career directors $1 million. The Director's Guild minimum rate for a big-budget film    is $23,767/week with a 10-week guarantee. Big, named directors can earn up to $20                          million/film.

Stunt Person - $1,200/day but can increase this depending upon stunt person and danger of stunt.

Makeup Artist - $1-1,250/makeup job.

Stylist - $1,500/event or job plus extra fees for outside work.

Content Creator - a picture (photo) of a celebrity or event can be worth $1,000 or more. Videos can be worth $5,000 or more.

Gaffer - A union chief lighting technician makes $60.53/hour with a weekly guarantee of $3,647 while on a film set.

Minions on strike

Agent - Entry-level agency representatives earn $80-100,000/year. Older experience agents $600,000    and heavy hitters eight figures. Agency mailroom clerk makes $20/hour.

Intimacy Coordinator - a relatively new job category these people aid actors in shooting sex/nude        scenes and earn $1,200/day.

Actor - A-listers make big bank. Robert Downey Jr. made $80 million as Dr. Doom. Ryan Reynolds        makes about $30 million per film. Big TV names can earn up to $1 million per episode.                            Background or extras in movies or TV shows make $216/day.

Animator - a member of the Animation Guild earns $1,800/week, a supervising writer $3,000/week.

Producer - veteran producers up to $2 million up front and more on the backside of a hit movie.

Screenwriter - the average for a first draft script sells for $350-500,00.

CEO - as with most industries, belt-tighting never hits the tippy-top of the corporate ladder. For              example, the co-CEO of Netflix earned $49.8 million in 2023. Disney's $31.6 million, Warner                Bros. honcho $49.7 million. The highest paid was TKO Group top dog at $83.9 million. Lowest              paid was Amazon's at $1.4 million, but he has a stock grant deal worth $250 million.

By: Jim Lavorato

De-constructing The Ruby Slippers

The ruby shoes (slippers) worn by Judy Garland in the 'Wizard of Oz' film of 1939 sold at auction on December 7th for $28 million. 

Auctioned by Heritage Auctions of Dallas, TX the final price including auction fees was $32.5 million. Prior estimates by Heritage set the value at a mere $3 million, but with over 800 bidders at the auction house, on mobile and online the value rose exponentially.

De-constructed

The slippers were manufactured by the Innes Shoe Co. They have red silk faille (a soft, light-woven fabric having a ribbed texture) heels with the upper shoe and heels covered with hand-sequined silk. They are lined in white leather with leather soles painted red with orange felt adhered to the front foundation of each shoe.

The bows are hand-cut buckram cloth (course linen stiffened with paste) and are slightly different in size. Rhinestones rim the bows, which are filled with red beads surrounding center jewels.

By: Jim Lavorato

 

Fur or No Fur in Films

 

At this year's Toronto Film Festival, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) activists disrupted the debut of the animated documentary, 'Piece by Piece' for its depiction of fur and exotic skins.

This incident speaks to a larger issue, as the entertainment world has recently seen the increased use of fur in films - particularly in period productions. This has spurred many female actors to say they will not work if real fur is used in any film that are associated with. This has spread to studios as well, for example, Disney has banned the use of real fur in all of its TV and movie productions.

Currently, the vast majority of productions use faux fur or recycled fur, but some actors refuse even to wear fake fur in an effort to avoid glorifying it in any way which might entice purchases of real fur. "Even vintage fur risks normalizing the idea of wearing animals" says, Lauren Thomasson, Director of Animals in Film and TV at PETA.

A PETA anti-fur ad

But others say not using fur removes the authenticity of the production. " I believe, in a film for adults, you can depict people in the past smoking, in the same way as you can depict people in the past wearing fur", says Sandy Powell, three-time Oscar winner for Best Costume Design.

I think there will continue to be tension between sensitivity and authenticity on this subject. Faux fur is ok to use especially in period productions, as is vintage real fur - as it already exists.

By: Jim Lavorato

Creative Industry Independent Standards Authority (CIISA)

Kiera Knightley - CIISA supporter

 It's a mouth-full but the CIISA, which will officially launch in 2025, has been formed to "be a single point of accountability for the creative industries...to report behavior of concern." These concerns are bullying, harassment, and assault. The CIISA intends to work with law enforcement where appropriate.

One of the moving forces behind the Creative Industry Independent Standards Authority is Keira Knightley. She and 25 other high-profile movie industry names have signed a letter calling on entertainment industry companies to make financial commitments to the cause. 

Home-based in London, the Group has already gained the support of many companies in the creative industry - from the BBC and BAFTA to Amazon Studios. Its goal is to set standards of behavior expected within the creative industry to enable safe and inclusive working environments. 

Providing unified professional behavior standards, the CIISA will provide mediation and dispute resolution, among other services. 

Knightley's support stems from her experience after the huge success of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise films in which she co-starred ('Curse of the Black Pearl', 2003, 'Dead Man's Chest', 2006, and 'At World's End', 2007). During and after those films she was harassed, stalked, and hounded. She has stated that she would probably not get involved in a franchise movie situation again, "the hours are insane. It's years of your life. And, you have no control over where you're filming, how long you're filming, what you're filming."

Knightley with Johnny Depp in 'Pirates'

Knightley is currently starring in the Netflix spy drama series, 'Black Doves'. 

By: Jim Lavorato

Penn's Outrages are Lame and Superficial

 I normally steer clear of writing about 'personalities' but every once in a while, I can't help myself.

Penn with best 'bud' Hunter Biden

At 64, Sean Penn has bolstered his acting career with social activism. He fancies himself a crusader on whichever social issue is currently brewing. For example, he is a big proponent of the Ukraine war and supports the effort to continue the battle against Russia. He is also a good friend of Hunter Biden.

Penn's latest rant is against the Academy Awards. He slammed the Oscars for "limiting different cultural expressions" - whatever that means. He went on further to say the Academy "exercised really extraordinary cowardice when it comes to being part of the bigger world of expressing, and in fact, have largely been part of limiting the imaginations and very limiting of different cultural expressions."  

What is all this babble about? It's non-specific, in the extreme, and has to be viewed as Penn's effort to, again, bask in the - I'm controversial and relevant limelight - to the left-leaning Hollywood glitterati.

Everyone who reads this blog knows I'm not a huge fan of the Academy but "limiting cultural expressions" is a bad rap given their history. 

Penn is a provocateur. He takes positions on issues that are controversial and demonstrates his outrage by having on-site photo-ops whether it's in Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, or the Ukraine - he then moves on to his next social outrage never following-up with his past ones. Hmmm...

Penn in Ukraine where he gave one of his Oscars to Pres. Zelensky

But, why the Academy? He eagerly and without any objection accepted two Best Actor Oscars- one for 'Mystic River' and another for 'Milk'.  It begs the question, why now? What's in it for Sean? What's his motivation?

Penn's personal rants are getting very old. It's hard to imagine anyone, at this point, taking him seriously about any political or social stance - and that's my rant.

By: Jim Lavorato 

The Rise of Movie Merch

 

'Dune 2' Cup

The most important thing about going to the movies is... well, the movie. However, since day-one, exhibitors have used something extra to entice moviegoers - movie merch.

Either free with a concession purchase or available for an additional cost, merch can and does draw moviegoers to the cinema. Over the years merch has ranged from dinnerware to movie memorabilia. Today, it's all about popcorn buckets, cup toppers, and all manner of tie-ins - many of which appear on e-Bay for resale to collectors (recently a Deadpool & Wolverine popcorn bucket sold for over $100).

Termed CCVs or collectible concession vehicles, these are exclusive branded items. It all started in 2019, when AMC Theaters sold a drink cup shaped like R2-D2 which completely sold out in one evening. Since that time, it became apparent to the large exhibitors that merch exclusive to their chain was a factor to luring patrons to their auditoriums. Today, in many cases, the exclusive items are sold online when moviegoers purchase their admission tickets.

Many CCVs can take over a year from development to point-of-sale when a film is released. Some items are very elaborate, others simple - like the 'Freddy Pizza Box' in promoting Elm Street reruns.

Both the film studios and movie exhibitors have come to realize how impactful movie tie-ins can be to moviegoers. Movie merch is here to stay and will only get more sophisticated and collectible.

By: Jim Lavorato

Brazil's First Oscar?

 

Brazilians are flocking to the cinema to see the homegrown film 'Anida Estuò Aqui (I'm Still Here)'. Released on November 7th, this film has sold over two million admissions to date, beating out 'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' at the Brazilian box office.

'I'm Still Here' is based on a true story of Eunice Paiva. It was directed by Walter Salles and has won numerous festival awards, and high critical scores. It has been nominated for a Best Screenplay Oscar and it would not be a surprise me if Fernanda Torres, who portrays Eunice Paiva in the film, is nominated for Best Actor award.

If you see it on a marquee or showings at a local cinema, go and see it.

By: Jim Lavorato

Iceland's Push for Film Production

Iceland's famous Blue Lagoon with volcano in background

 Iceland has witnessed a leap in movie production since it increased its production rebate to 35% on qualified large projects. From HBO to BBC Productions, Iceland is the new to-go production destination. With its natural beauty, highlighted by hot springs, volcanos, and pristine landscapes, Iceland offers a unique venue for outdoor film production.

The increased rebate, it was 25%, has brought in millions of production dollars which has greatly helped many local communities with an influx of new monies and knowledge gained in the latest filmmaking techniques. On the production side, for example, using Iceland's famous geothermal energy to power sets and stages offers a huge savings in costs. 

The Icelandic Film Commission has noted that although production has been great, the goal is to develop other areas of the film business, i.e. VFX to music scoring, and other postproduction activities. It is estimated that the delivers a 5-7x return on investment.

In a competitive gesture, Denmark just approved a tax incentive to lure in film production activities. The Danish incentive will launch in 2026 starting with an annual budget of $17.5 million (one of the largest in Europe) and be focused on making Denmark a hub for film production. For example, Netflix has six productions in Sweden, six in Norway, and only three in Denmark, so its 'game-on'.

By: Jim Lavorato

 

Cinemas...Indispensable Community Assets

 Art-house cinemas are an easy fit into urban culture and community but do local cinemas have the same social impact?

Studies by the British Film Institute (BFI) show that cinemas, large circuits to single screen movie houses, are an anchor in a world of change. While restaurants and stores come and go, the local cinemas remain a constant. In fact, the BFI study shows that people, across all demographics, would be willing to donate $15/year just to prevent their local cinema from being repurposed into any other function. 63% of respondents stated that having a local cinema gave them a sense of pride - pushing that number to 70% if the venue included a cafe or bar.

Cinemas are local and global. They present content that has worldwide viewership while employing local friends and neighbors - so the majority of the value they create stays in the community. 

Today, moviegoers are also avid users of all forms of media. For example, 72% of moviegoers are gamers, while 53% stream movies, and 64% are sports lovers and watchers.

There is nothing 'old' about going to the movies. It's an integral part of urban, suburban, and rural life and as a community anchor has no equal.

By: Jim Lavorato

So, How Would You Like to View This Movie?

 If you haven't noticed, your movie admission can be purchased at different prices in different formats. 

• There is the basic, or standard, format which as a digital presentation with a 5.1 sound system. This format can be enjoyed at a large circuit to a small-town cinema.
• Next, is a 3D version with glasses. Usually marketed as RealD-3D. This makes the movie more immersive, but many moviegoers find it disorienting or just plain not worth the extra up-charge and this format has lost favor with the public.
• Dolby Digital Cinema, the next format, uses dual 4K resolution laser projectors. This system provides 500 times the contract ratio and twice the brightness of a standard single projection system. Again, is it worth the up charge?
• Dolby Atmos Sound. Over 90% of cinemas use surround sound, or 5.1 channel sound. This consists of a left, center, right stage speaker channels, left and right surround channels, and a subwoofer channel. The Atmos System carries sound to a new dimension. It can handle up to 64 channel feeds and is calibrated to the specifics of each auditorium - including ceiling, side, and height speakers in addition to five stage channels and three surround channels. 
• Then there is IMAX. This format has been around since the 70's, but not every IMAX Theatre is the same. The largest ones boast a 60'h x 80'w screens but there are plenty with much smaller screens. Most use dual 4K laser projectors with behind the screen speakers, surround speakers, and some utilized 'top center' speakers to take advantage of the large screen height. Is the IMAX worth the admission price? The average admission is between $15-20. It's really up to the viewer.
• Then there are circuit specific formats. For example, Regal Cinemas have the RPX, which is their version of a large-screen format. Basically, the RPX is better than a standard system, but it is not a premium system, such as IMAX, Dolby Digital Cinema, or Dolby Atmos - so it's really not worth the up charge.  

Let's face it, bigger screens, laser projectors, enhanced sound systems do make a difference and provide for a better viewing experience. But one thing that will be noticed is the comfort level of the theater. Moviegoers want comfort and this could be more significant than a larger screen and improved sound.

Different formats for the same film come with different price points. The average movie admission is now about $9 nationwide for standard format viewing. What's nice about all of these format options is just that, they provide choice. And they are all much better than in-home viewing.

By: Jim Lavorato

"The Equalizer' is BACK"

 

Denzel Washington as "The Equalizer'

Like the 'John Wick' franchise, which is scheduled for a 5th series film, 'The Equalizer' will return with 4th and 5th sequels. 

Although it was thought that Denzel Washington, who stars as Robert McCall in the series, was not in favor of any more sequels after the 3rd Equalizer, it has now been reported that the $573 million franchise will be returning to the big screen. 

Washington with Dakota Fanning in 'Equalizer 3'

"We've come to realize that the Equalizer films are for me, too, because they're for the people. They want me to get the bad guys," says Washington.

This is good news for an 'Equalizer' fan, like me. For Washington, the McCall anti-hero role, provides him the franchise series he never had. Known for his serious dramatic roles, the 'Equalizer' role is much less demanding but are guaranteed box office successes.

The past films have co-starred lesser, but very good, B-list actors, i.e. Dakota Fanning, but the next two films can cast bigger stars to supplement Washington and provide bigger box office bank. It is not known if Fanning will return in the 4th and 5th installments.

By: Jim Lavorato

Warner Bros. Discovery Uses AI to Sell Products Embedded In Their Content

 

Secondary Pop-up Screen for Products a Viewer Can Purchase

Warner Bros. is trying to turn their Discovery Channel into a shopping mall for items resident in their shows. This will all be driven by AI programs using QR codes. 

A QR code is scanned from their TV screen, upon which the potential consumer is presented a second screen where they can see the chosen product, read its specifications, and make a purchase.

"We see an opportunity to broaden how we make ads more relevant to the consumer, especially in streaming", says Ryan Gould, Head of Advanced Advertising for WB Discovery.

Wayfair, the online retailer, has inked an agreement with WB to use this new technology. Kara O'Brien, Head Brand Marketing for Wayfair, stated that, "These new solutions will make it easy for viewers to discover and purchase items for their homes inspired by the content they're viewing and enjoying."

Many media companies are eager to tie commerce to streaming content for obvious profit motives. For example, Peacock, the NBC/Universal, streaming hub allows subscribers to order food that is delivered in advance of or during a movie or sporting event.

My feeling is that this is just the beginning of a huge trend in using viewed in-home content as a means to purchase goods and services directly from our TV screens. This type of marketing offers great convenience and fosters the impulse purchase. 

AI is with us, and it will continue to impact our lives in ways we can't even imagine. Buckle-up because we're going to be on a technology-driven ride over the next decade.

By: Jim Lavorato

Hollywood First-ever Faith and Spirituality Awards Ceremony

 

Several sponsors of the Awards

On December 4, Variety will be hosting the first-ever 'Faith and Spirituality Entertainment Honors'. So, what is this new awards show? Well, according to Variety the event celebrates and honors, "Individuals who are supporting often underrepresented themes of faith in storytelling and entertainment. The Awards honor diverse portrayals of faith and spirituality that are broadly compelling and nuanced."

This inaugural event will be honoring:

• Viola Davis, as co-founder of Juvee Productions
• Bob Marley, for 'One Love' which will be accepted by Ziggy Marley
• Erica Lipez, producer/writer of 'We Were the Lucky Ones
• Jessica Matten, for lead actor in 'Dark Winds'
• Arian Moayed, acting in 'Succession' and 'Inventing Anna'

According to the Global Faith and Media Study Group, "82% of the world's population identifies as religious, spiritual, or a person of faith." This annual event is committed to ensuring that faith is meaningfully portrayed in films and other media.

Like it or not, we live in a spiritual world and there is a huge global demographic that cares deeply about this topic. In entertainment this means accurate films that reflect authentic experiences people have every day.

Variety's sponsorship and hosting this event honoring those who are doing faith-based media is meaningful and significant to the movie industry. The ceremony will be available for viewing on Varitiy.com and on Variety's social platforms.

By: Jim Lavorato

'An American Pastoral' - A Tale of Two Ideologies

 As the Democratic Party and its supporters lick their wounds from a decisive defeat in the recent elections, a film ('An American Pastoral') provides a snapshot into the chasm that exists between the left and right in U.S. society.

Aubari Edler

The film captures the election of a local school board in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania in a non-partisan view by French journalist and filmmaker Auberi Edler. There is no narration or commentary on the ideological split between leftist Democrats and rightist Republicans. 

The movie calmly 'watches' the on-going battle between the two opposing sides and lets the viewer decide which to place their support. 

To non-American audiences, school board elections, with voting even by residents without children, seems contrary to normal thinking. But Edler easily makes the micro-issue in this small community a metaphor for the larger social battleground the U.S. finds itself in.

Edler, selected the title to reflect ruralism and the Christian undercurrent that runs throughout the right-leaning thought it is built upon. 

Edler in Tikrit, Iraq war zone, 2003

'An American Pastoral' is an uncovering exercise. Acting as her own camerawoman, Edler avoids interviews and editorials and even omits identification of key figures and locations in the film. She lets the viewer decide and find their own path to the ambiguities it presents. She sits on the sidelines and doesn't participate and that's what makes 'An American Pastoral' a great film. If you get the chance to view it, do so. 

Edler's other works include American Laundry (2022), Etoiles de la SCAM (2020), Clean Torture (2019), and Le Blues de la Nouvelle-Orle'ans (2010).

By: Jim Lavorato

Behind The Camera Awards

 

Not given the attention or accolades they deserve, the Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards, sponsored by Variety, were held on November 14th.

Introduced in 2006, the BTCAs celebrate the visionary artists who help tell stories through their crafts and the work happening behind the scenes which bring films to life.

Ryan Reynolds won for 'Deadpool & Wolverine'

Some of the artists that received Awards this year included:

 

Editing - Joe Walker - 'Dune Part 2'

Stunts - Chris O'Hara - 'The Fall Guy.

Animation - Kelsey Mann - 'Inside Out 2'

Sound - Steven Marrow - 'Joker: Folie a Deux'

Hair & Makeup - Julia Flock - 'Carbonel'

Direction - Gia Coppola - 'The Last Showgirl'

Screenwriters - Ryan Reynolds - 'Deadpool & Wolverine'

Score - Jon Batiste - 'Saturday Night'

Congratulations to all of this year's winners. It the work behind the cameras that make the movies magic.

By: Jim Lavorato

Kimmel Out - O'Brien In

 

                                            https://x.com/i/status/1857416541056225636

Conan O'Brien, the stalworth comedian will emcee the Academy Awards show - which will be aired on ABC, March 2nd, '25. 

O'Brien, 61, will host the 97th Oscars replacing Jimmy Kimmel, who was lackluster in his hosting last year and drew much deserved criticism.

This will be O'Brien's first-time hosting, but he has decades of television experience. He currently presides over a podcasting company called 'Team Coco' - which has a number of well-viewed podcasts, including: 'Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend' 

He has had 31 Emmy nomination, which includes five wins for his work on Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons. 

When asked about the upcoming Oscar gig, O'Brien quipped, "America demanded it and now it's happening: Taco Bell's new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I'm hosting the Oscars."

For me, O'Brien will be a breath of fresh air for the Oscars. He is funny, self-deprecating, and a great announcer. He will be a vast improvement over Kimmel.

By: Jim Lavorato