To Increase Cinemas' Box Office - Do This!

The stalwart American pastime of moviegoing is under attack. Fewer people are 'going to the movies'. So, what can be done stop this box office bleeding, and more importantly, increase ticket sales. 

Get them back to the movies

Movie theatres' greatest competition are the streaming media companies, which is some cases, are owned and operated by the major studios. i.e. Disney+, Paramount+, Amazon Prime - in a sense competing against themselves by lowering movie attendance. 

There are 5,691 fewer movie screens then there were pre-COVID. Total U.S. movie theatres grossed $8.7 billion in 2024, a 26% drop from the $11 billion pre-pandemic level. This year the major studios will release about 110 movies of all genres, but movie theatres need more - as 20% of moviegoers have stopped 'going to the movies'.

To me, the most significant and quickest change to improve attendance is to reverse the lowered theatrical release window. 

A 60-day window is needed to boost ticket sales

Pre-COVID the window was 90 days before release to streamers, video, other media outlets. Now, that window is only 17 days! This must be expanded to, at least, 60 days before streaming, renting, or buying theatrically released movies.

Having a short theatrical release window keeps box office attendance down as potential moviegoers opt to wait a mere two weeks to buy or rent the streamed movie but a two month+ wait provides an impetus to view the movie at a cinema. 

IMAX, Dolby Atmos, and other premiere movie exhibition is booming. Leading one to believe that consumers want and are even willing to pay a high admission to see a movie. A lengthened theatrical release window would provide the needed boost to get people back into theatres.

By: Jim Lavorato

Personal Security is Booming in Hollywood and Everywhere Else

The personal security business is booming all over the world as executives, politicians, movie, music, sports stars, are hiring, in many cases, teams of security people to watch over them - if they can afford it. Security is not cheap and it's getting more expensive to get the best or even second best.

To give you an example, the ultra-rich employ 'tasters'. These are highly trained people that are members of a billionaire's advance team who is tasked with going into well-appointed kitchens (where food for a party is being prepared) or exclusive restaurants with a chemical kit which detects the presence of poison. Tasters are becoming the norm among the elitists of the Jetset.

The murder of Brian Thompson, CEO of United Healthcare in NYC established the new normal of executive security. Having no security is now out-of-the-question. Says, Chris Falkenberg, founder of Insite Risk Management, "The security business is the risk business. Real life attacks on the ruling class are becoming more prevalent, including President Trump's campaign season assassination attempts. Also in the crosshairs are the corporate elites, ala Elon Musk."

Some Costs

- Detection kit for poisons in food validated by the Dept. of Defense - $90

- Garrison Bespoke assassin proof menswear known for its style and secure bulletproof suits comprised of carbon nanotubes - $20,000 to start.

 - Miami Armored will outfit a Rolls Royce Cullinan SUV from attacks from grenades to high-caliber assault rifles - $700,000

With relatively easy access to firearms on a global basis and a growing disparity in income inequality the world is becoming a very dangerous place for the top 10 percenters and even those of lesser means. Historically, political figures, popes, and kings were prime targets for assassination. but today it's C suite occupants, and all the way down to influencers and podcasters. Mass media provides the information: names, photos, and even addresses of the Masters of the Universe.

Armored SUVs are the preferred mode of transport for security

All of these conditions have supercharged the private security industry in Hollywood. West Coast protection expert Gavin de Becker is in charge of protecting Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon. Bezos normally travels with nine bodyguards and three armed limos.

William Wilson, head of Wilson & Associates Security says, "We live in a world where there is a definite need for proactive security measures. Threats can come from anywhere, from corporate espionage to mentally unstable individuals who take up a gun and start looking to do somebody harm. I've worked with families that will spend $250,000 a year on protection, and companies that spend $15 million a year. Some corporate executives don't go anywhere without an armed protection detail and security drivers with armored SUVs"

So, it seems that the world is getting more dangerous for the rich and powerful and they are answering by upping their personal security and spend as much as they can afford. I think this trend will continue and even the less rich will find ways to protect themselves. 

By: Jim Lavorato

Bill Burr...Anything for a Buck

 Standup comic Bill Burr continues his babbling skits and non-funny take-offs on social issues, as if we don't get the nuance of what's happening around us.

This may be my own bias, but Bull Burr isn't funny. I've watched his specials. He takes the audience for idiots who need to be provided explanation on what is going on around them and impacting their lives. Burr's type of comedy has no lasting value. It's all about fake outrage and moral posturing - which provides him the convenance of playing both side of the political spectrum - rightist racists and leftist morons.

Burr's no Lenny Bruce or Richard Pryor but a comic who thinks he is funnier than he really is.

O'Brien to Return As Oscar Host

 

Yes, Conan will return for the 98th Oscars on March 15, 2026. He was a fresh and pleasant face and voice vs. Jimmy Kimmel, who brought nothing to the host function.

This year's Academy Show was made more upbeat, funny, and very entertaining vs. those of recent past. It was non-political and celebrated the nominees and the film community in general - as it should.

The recent Oscars show delivered the highest viewership in five years at 19.7 million coupled with 104 million social media views which surpassed both the Grammys and Super Bowl.

Also returning is the production team of Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan.

What Were the Goodies in This Year's Oscar Swag Bag?

Some of the presents in this year's bag

 Every year certain Academy Award nominees receive a gift bag. Those recipients, get to keep the bag regardless of winning an Oscar or not, knowing that they'll at least be receiving a six-figure gift for their efforts.  

The people receiving the "Everybody Wins" gift bags for 2025, included:

- The Host: Conan O'Brien

- The 5 Best Actor Nominees

- The 5 Best Actress Nominees

- The 5 Best Supporting Actors

- The 5 Best Supporting Actresses

- The 5 Best Director Nominees

The swag bags are the creation and work of 'Distinctive Assets', an L.A. based marketing firm. This year's bags were valued at $220,000 and included over 60 separate presents, such as:

- a $23,000 4-night stay at the Joali resort in Maldives

-  a one-year membership to Bright Harbor, an L.A. disaster recovery support group

-  a $50,000 certificate for project management services from Maison Construction.

-  $240 cutting board from John Boos

-  $400 gift card from Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas

-  $1,570 worth of luxury pocket squares from David Ashley

-  $700 worth of cannabis products

- a $5,250 stay at the Cotton House Hotel in Barcelona

and the list goes on.

Conan O'Brien received a bag for hosting this year's Awards Show

The bags are offered, and most recipients have representatives accept the bags on their behalf - but not every bag is accepted. Each year about one or two bags are not "claimed".

Distinctive Assets ensures that each bag has the correct delivery address before distribution, and it should be noted that Distinctive Assets is not affiliated with the Academy in any way. 

By: Jim Lavorato

Netflix 2025 Content Spend Will Exceed $18 billion

"We're not anywhere near a ceiling with respect to content spending", says, Spencer Neumann, Netflix's CFO." For 2025 content spend will reach $18 billion from 2024's $16.2 billion, a jump of 11.1%,

"We have pretty good predictability about our anticipated revenue stream", quips Neumann. Netflix ended 2024 with over 302 million paid subscribers globally, which translates to over 700 million viewers. This is still small in relation to market size. For example, in the U.S. Netflix represents less than 10% of total TV viewing.   

"Our objective is to deliver more and more entertainment value per dollar and improve the overall experience" says Neumann.

Netflix serves up a mix of TV shows and movies across multiple genres and formats produced in over 50 countries - live events have become a major growth area. Netflix views YouTube as a competitor but not as you might think. Neumann says, "We share in the creative and economic risk with our creators.... but think we're the home for the best creators and storytellers on the planet."   

For 2025 revenues are expected to exceed $44 billion. It announced price increases in January. The standard, ad-free plan is the U.S. rose by $2,50 to $17.79/month. Ad-supported subscriptions were raised to $7.99/month from $6.99.  

'Squid Games' Season 2 was Netflix's most viewed series with 87 million viewers but it represented only 1% of total viewings. 

     

Netflix's new logo

Netflix has pricing power. It can raise subscriptions prices easily and with over 300 million paid subscribers a $2 raise equated to $7.8 billion in higher revenues            

Even the Award Shows are Cost Cutting

 

Several of the 2025 Golden Globe winners

It's official. Helen Hoehne, President of the Golden Globes, give voting members the bad news last week - going forward, the Globes would not be paying the voting members their annual stipend of $75,000. 

The 50 voting members (who are all members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association) would be paid a one-time severance of $102,500 and all other compensation would end. The 50 voting members are a subset of the 300 members that make up the Globe. 

Helen Hoehne, President of Golden Globes 

It should be noted that other major award groups, the Oscars, Emmys, and Grammys do not pay their voting members, as it is considered an honor to be selected as a member of each group.

As a not-for-profit entity in 2024 the Golden Globes had expenses of $5.2 million, principally in salary and employee benefits costs and recently inked a five-year broadcast contract with CBS. There viewership for the 2025 Awards was 9.3 million.

It appears that payment for little work or non-work will no longer to be tolerated throughout many industries, governments, and non-profits and that's a good thing.

The King's Own Playlist

 

Young Charles kicking up his heels

Who would have thought it - King Charles has a pop music playlist that's coming out this month. Recording artists on the King's list include Kylie Minogue, Bob Marley, Grace Jones, Raye, and Davido, to name several.

To be released on Apple Music, under "The King's Music Room" his eclectic musical tastes go from disco to reggae, to Afrobeats and rock. "Throughout my life, music has meant a great deal to me. It brings great memories and lifts our spirits; it brings us joy" says the King.

Narrating "The King's Music Room" for the playlist

In the recording the King shares anecdotes about his encounters with some of the stars on the soundtrack. Rachel Newman, Apple's Head of Content, stated "We are honored that King Charles chose to share his personal playlist with us, and with music fans around the world."

"The King's Music Room" will have its broadcast premiere on Apple Music today, March 10th with additional broadcasts scheduled.

For Hollywood, DEI Morphs into Meritocracy: No Big Surprise

 DEI is dead in Hollywood, and it has nothing to do with Trump, it is just the natural evolution of our culture. Companies, including those in the entertainment industry, must shift as the culture changes.

Under the Biden Administration, DEI was front and center and therefore companies adopted those policies into their own management, now that has changed. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) now stands for 'Didn't Earn It'. 

DEI is now being replaced with meritocracy as the cultural pendulum swings the other way. Therefore, companies are changing their approach and policies - there's no other choice. Like all things, culture changes. What was culturally relevant and meaningful becomes passe'. Diversity moves on to meritocracy (which in itself is diverse).  

I believe companies will continue to adopt and recognize some form of diversity and inclusion. But the demands on society to adjust and accept evolving technologies force the hiring of people with specific skill sets. Meritocracy is color, sex, and ethnic blind. It's not who you are but what you can do.

'Facing War': An Extraordinary Documentary on NATO

 

Gulliksen filming NATO meeting and trying to stay 'invisible'

It's apropos given NATO's current huge crises over the Ukraine debacle that a new documentary film, 'Facing War', which opens March 19th at the Copenhagen DOX film festival, allows viewers a behind the scenes peek at the military alliance's inner workings.

Working alone, Tommy Gulliksen, after many months of trying, got access into the inner sanctum of NATO and its chief, Jens Stoltenberg. Gulliksen took over 200 hours of raw footage over 22 months of filming and boiled it all down to a 100-minute docu - that immerses the viewer into the power plays between the political and military leaders of our world. 

The film is remarkably timely given the current Ukraine/Russian War. "I knew that getting an independent camera in the war room would be unprecedented and tough, but I never gave up. Perhaps, at a time of fake news and mistrust of the media we were seen as transparent. I eventually signed an agreement which was very open and had few restrictions to filming and editing" says Gulliksen. "I had to become a fly-on-the-wall. I had to do everything myself - camera work, sound, setup, everything."

Gulliksen filming Stoltenberg on NATO surveillance plane

'Facing War' captures what isn't normally accessible and nothing was staged. Gulliksen leaves it up to the audience to make up their minds on what they see - pro or con NATO.

I don't know if I'll ever get a chance to view this film, but I'll make every effort to do so. It's a one-of-a-kind, behind-the-scenes look on the masters of the world in which we live.

By: Jim Lavorato

IRL Movie Club - Right for Your Cinema?

 

A film used for the IRL Movie Club

In Real Life Movie Club is a nationwide initiative to connect independent exhibitors through in-person screenings and conversations. 

Annie Roney is IRL's mover and shaker but credits social author, Robert Putnam for the idea behind her venture. IRL's premise is simple: for $5 at participating theatres, attendees get to watch an independent movie and then stay for a discussion with the rest of the audience. 

"Robert Putnam showed in his writings that when people stop gathering in social communities and talking to each other, democracy unravels", say Roney.  Also, a documentary filmmaker, Roney frequently thinks about the relationship between the decline in movie viewership to the state of our communities.

Many independent exhibitors often try to bring in filmmakers for post-screening discussion. IRL Movie Club is an excellent substitute for this, in what appears to be a win-win for the theatre and patrons. How it works is that IRL subsidizes participating theatres' event costs to keep the admission at $5. People who feel they belong tend to repeat their attendance, and many with friends in tow - again good for the theatre.

Nationally, since its inception in November 2024 starting with 23 participating theatres the number has grown to 67. 

You might want to get on-board with the IRL Movie Club. Look into it - everything and anything you can do to make your cinema more connected with the local community is a winner - and this initiative costs you nothing.

By: Jim Lavorato

2025 Razzie Awards

There's the Oscars and then there's the Razzie Awards - awards for the worst films of the year. The Razzies Awards are given out one day before the Oscars.

This year the Worst Picture was 'Madame Web' which won three Razzies in all, including Worst Actress (Dakota Johnson) and Worst Screenplay. According to Johnson, "I had never done anything like it before. I will never do anything like it again."

Worst Actor went to Jerry Seinfeld for his starring role in 'Unfrosted' which he also directed and co-wrote with Amy Schumer. She received Worst Supporting Actress Razzie.

Francis Ford Coppola won Worst Director for 'Megalopolis' but unlike the other Razzie winners he chose to accept the Award via Instagram saying, "it is a badge of pride." Jon Voight won Worst Supporting Actor in 'Megalopolis' 

On the flip side, the Razzies also award the Razzie Redeemer, an award given to a former Razzie winner who is then celebrated in future work - this year the Redeemer went to Pamela Anderson. She won a Razzie in 1996 for her performance in 'Barb Wire' but won the Redeemer for her award recognitions in 'The Last Showgirl'.

The Razzle, the members who vote on the award recipients, consist of 1,217 movie buffs, film critics, and journalists from the U.S. and 24 other countries.