James Bond Day

October 5th is Bond Day. It was 10/5/24 when Dr. No, the first Bond film debuted. In reality the true beginning of Bond was April 13, 1953, when the first Bond novel was released, "Casino Royale" by Ian Fleming.

Kim Sherwood has penned two Bond novels

What is interesting is that the Bond saga didn't end with Fleming's death. The literary world of James Bond is much more complex - and 007 books proliferate. 

For example, "Carte Blanche" a Bond novel by Jeffery Deaver (2011) shows a hard-edged Bond, where Bond tries to determine who killed his parents.

Jeffery Deaver, Bond author

"A Spy Like Me" by Kim Sherwood (2024) is her latest Bond novel (follows "Double or Nothing" (2023) where she has created three 00 agents. In her latest, Sherwood has three agents, 003 - Johanna Hardwood, 004 - Joseph Dayden, and 000 - Conrad Vane. All are introduced in a present-day setting.

"Forever and A Day" by Anthony Horowitz explores what a young Bond would have been like. While "Solo" by William Boyd (2013) is a work that attempts to fill in the Bond literary chronology. 

"Colonel Sun", a novel by Kingsley Amis (1968), who was a close friend of Fleming, penned a comic work where Bond rescues his boss - 'M'. 

All of these works are a great fun read. They prove, once again, that Bond is not a commonplace character but a very complex and deep construct with many favorable attributes but that is also flawed.

Pick up one of these novels which extend the Bond mystique and enjoy the ride.

By: Jim Lavorato

Cinemas Add Pickleball and Ziplines to Lure in Moviegoers

 Popcorn and pinball don't cut it anymore to entice patrons as cinemas introduce pickleball and even ziplines to attract moviegoers.

Pickleball at B&B Cinemas,

According to a recent survey by NATO, the eight largest cinema chains (representing over 21,000 screens) have committed to spending $2.5billion on facility upgrades over the next three years.

Sound and projection are on the wish list but there seems to be a real push for offering "attraction" based offerings to keep moviegoers happy.

In theatre bowling

Moviegoers are returning to pre-Covid levels of attendance but if you browse social sites, you'll read that cinemas are aged, in need of substantial refurbishing, and can offer more activities. All of the large circuits admit that their cinemas need a fresh look.

How about a zipline in the auditorium?

CMG believes that cinemas can become event-based destinations, but they can't lose sight of what makes bank, and that is popcorn, candy, and soda.

By: Jim Lavorato

Auditions for Potter Reboot Cause Frenzy in U.K.

Emma Watson Now and Then

HBO is planning a TV series of the Harry Potter saga and has cast its net for 9–11-year-olds to fill the three leading roles of Harry, Herminie, and Ron. This has caused somewhat of a frenzy in the U.K. as thousands of kids (and their parents) are vying for the parts and the instant stardom it brings.

Hollywood is filled with child-star has-beens cursed with mental health issues and drug abuse. 

Radcliffe

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, who played the original Harry Potter trio from 2001-2011 have all been open and vocal about the toll early fame and lack of privacy impacted their lives. 

Radcliffe has struggled with alcohol, and Watson has bemoaned the ceaseless intrusion by the paparazzi and trying to cope - "your normal life is over" she quipped.  

Each was overnight earning huge bank. Radcliffe's earnings from the franchise were $95 million, Watson's $85 million, and Grint's about $50 million. All have stated that it was hard for them to tell where their characters began and ended. 

Rupert Grint

"It's harder now, it's not just the paparazzi but everyone with a phone, taking photos and videos. You have no private life", says Watson

But who is going to turn down a shot at the limelight and massive bank? No one!

By: Jim Lavorato

Winslet Says Female Actors Aren't "Brave"

 

Kate Winslet was quoted by Time Magazine as saying she felt female actors who show their bodies or don't wear makeup on camera aren't brave. 

Winslet, who is promoting her new film, "Lee" (about the life of WWII photographer Lee Miller) said she was adamant that a body double not be used in the nude scenes of the film. 

"That's not fucking brave" said Winslet, " I'm not fighting for justice. I'm doing a job. There's a bit where I am sitting on a bench in a bikini and one of the crew came up between takes to say I may want to sit up straighter to lessen my belly rolls, No Way."

When asked about wearing makeup, she quipped, "Looking less than perfect on screen is what I take pride in because it is my life on my face. It wouldn't occur to me to cover that up. I'm more comfortable with myself as each year passes."

"Lee" is scheduled for release on September 27th and is a must see. Winslet is a great actor and has gotten better and better over time.

By: Jim Lavorato

Sundance Festival to Relocate

Sundance needs a larger location to hold its annual film festival and has narrowed its search to Cleveland, Boulder, and Salt Lake City - the move will take place by the 2027 festival. The final selection will be announced at next year's festival.

In a statement released by the Sundance selection committee, the three cities remaining were selected based upon "their infrastructure and capabilities to hold the festival as it grows, while demonstrating the diverse Sundance community and inspire the next generation of independent filmmakers."

Each location offers Sundance the logistics needed to produce a giant festival, and we hope they select Cleveland which already houses the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

By: Jim Lavorato

Chick-fil-A Enters Entertainment Industry

 

Yes, the chicken fast-food chain is launching a streaming platform centered on family-friendly unscripted original shows and acquired content.

The budgets for the unscripted shows cost about $400,000/half-hour. It is also reported that they are considering scripted projects, as well as animation shows.

Some of the cast members of the 'Chick' productions

The chicken house wants to break into the reality TV business and is building on previously produced short, animated films for its site, called "Stories of Evergreen Hills" and "Pennycake" - a series of children's games and puzzles.

Chick-fil-A, which was founded in 1946, has over 3,000 locations and boasts the highest per-store sales of any fast-food chain in the U.S. 

Good luck to the Chick's entertainment endeavor.

By: Jim Lavorato

La Bamba Returns

 Mucho Mas Media and Sony Pictures have teamed up to do a remake of the 1987 film 'La Bamba', based on the life of rock and roll star Richie Valens.

Richard Valenzuela - Rock Icon

Lou Diamond Phillips, who portrayed Valens in the original film, is executive producing the remake.

Valens' life went from field laborer to rock star with a number of hit singles. The new film will recreate the early days of rock and pay tribute to a talent who crossed all racial borders. In 2017, 'La Bamba' was added to the National Film Registry of the U.S. Library of Congress as a film of significant cultural and historic importance. 

Phillips in the original film. No casting for the remake has been announced.

Valens songs included the hits, 'Donna' and 'We Belong Together'. He died at the age of 17 in a plane crash along with rock icons Buddy Holly and Jiles Perry Richardson (known as The Big Bopper).

Richard Valenzuela earned a place in music history and retelling his story to a new generation is a noble endeavor.

By: Jim Lavorato 

Megalopolis: Not a "Woke Hollywood" Movie

 Coppola says his new production, 'Megalopolis' "is not a woke Hollywood film."

Francis Ford Coppola

The cast includes Jon Voight, who is a staunch trump supporter and Shia LaBeouf who has been accused of sexual assault. According to Coppola, "the cast features people who were canceled by the Hollywood crowd. These are archconservatives and others who are extremely politically incorrect, but all working on one film, that was interesting."

'Megalopolis's' star studded cast includes Adam Driver, Laurence Fishburne, and 
Forest Whitaker, and many others

LaBeouf, who has barely worked since accusations against him surfaced in 2021 was praised by Coppola. "I had no experience working with him. He reminded me of Dennis Hopper, who would go off script and do his own thing, which was very frustrating, but always turned into something brilliant." 

Controversy has engulfed "Megalopolis" since its debut at the Cannes Festival, which had critics sharply divided on its merit.

"Megalopolis" is scheduled for release in the U.S. on September 27th. It should be a must see.

By: Jim Lavorato

The Golden Apricot Film Festival

 

A not well known but nonetheless significant film fest is the Armenian Golden Apricot.

Officially opening last week, the fest has become a regional hub for cental European filmmakers. Launched in 2004, the fest highlights two main international competitions - feature films and documentaries. 

Festival attendees come from all over Europe

This year's festival, for example, includes Canadian entry 'Seven Veils' and Armenian documentary 'Orbita'.

Despite its small scale, the Golden Apricot is highly respected among European critics. And, due to its localized approach, serves as an important artistic counterpoint to the bigger fests in Venice, Cannes, and Berlin.

Small in comparison to the large Euro-fests it is highly rated

If you ever get a chance to attend the Golden Apricot, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the breath and sophistication of the event - don't miss it.

By: Jim Lavorato, Entertainment Equipment Corp.

Hollywood Grapples with 'Gender Taliban'

Battle lines are being drawn between those that are pro male transexuals replacing women and those that see it as an afront against women's rights. Can transmen begin to replace women in movie and TV roles? Bad enough Hollywood is dealing with AI now the gender war is on. 

The question is, should men define who a woman is? Further, does this have anything to do with equality or simply the choice, by men, who desire to be women?

Everyone, I suppose, has the right to be who they want to be, so long as they don't hurt or infringe upon others' rights. That's the problem with the male transsexual issue - taking the place of women in traditional female activities. 

The most known and common example is transmen competing in women's athletics. Men have a physical advantage over women in sports, that's a given, so in competition the advantage goes to the man. In acting roles however, the issue becomes fuzzier. Men can, and will, substitute themselves for female actors - and why not. 

See, what's accepted in one arena (athletics) can be accepted in another (acting). So, Hollywood, should be careful how far they want to support male transexuals replacing women in female roles. There appears to be some cracks developing in the once solid support of transsexualism within the Hollywood community. The term being used is the 'Gender Taliban'. It appears that the sexual ideology foisted upon society by the pollical left is not only running out of steam, but women are beginning to understand the unfairness and are fighting back.

Men defining who a woman is - is, well, passe. Women are and should be speaking out for their rights. One thing is for sure: men and women are different physically, if for nothing else then the propagation of the species. 

By: Jim Lavorato, Entertainment Equipment Corp.

Hollywood Steers-clear of Political Films

 

One movie U.S. audiences may never get to view

At the Cannes fest, a biopic on Donald Trump entitled "The Apprentice" was met with cheering crowds, and received distribution deals in virtually every territory except the U.S.

Dan Snyder, a pro-Trump billionaire, purchased the U.S. distribution rights and reportedly hates the film and has no plans to have the film released into the U.S. market. Scenes in the film have Trump abusing drugs, getting liposuction, and having scalp-reduction surgery (all of which are untrue).

But disregarding this film, Hollywood has been very reluctant to screen political films of any sort - as the financial risks are too high and box office very iffy. The last big American political biopic as "Vice", which grossed only $48 million and cost north of $60 million to produce sans marketing costs.

A good example of Hollywood's current distaste for political films was the demise of Participant Media, which shuttered its doors last year. They had produced Oscar winner "Spotlight" and docs like "An Inconvenient Truth." Or witness Disney's new policy for films as explained by Bob Iger, Disney CEO, "our films need to be to entertain, not be agenda-driven".

Hollywood's antipolitical stance regarding films is indicative of where the populace stands politically. You're either right or left, there is no common ground. So, instead of courting controversy, film distributors are staying away from politically based content altogether. This also includes the major content streamers.  

But, like most things, it comes down to the bottom line. The ability of any product to make money supersedes all and political films have never been big grossers. 

By: Jim Lavorato, Entertainment Equipment Corp.

"Made In Ethiopia" - Clashing Cultures

 "Made In Ethiopia' a co-directed film by Xinyan Yu and Max Duncan explores the moral and cultural issues regarding the influence of China on the African continent. It was filmed in Dukem, a town southeast of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital. 

This is a film about clashing cultures. It presents real-life situations that are complex and explores the moral and social implications of one country trying to invest in another where customs and moral traditions collide.

The film explores how Chinese influence in Ethiopia impacts both the native people and the expatriate investors as they fail, to resolve even the simplest of cultural differences, impeding progress and leading to distrust and failure.

"Made in Ethiopia" will test your sense of what's good and what's bad - the political, social, and economic issues of what a country's development entails and the impact on traditions and customs for both parties.

This film will have limited distribution so you may have to go out of your way to view it; however, it will be worth the search.

By: Jim Lavorato, Entertainment Equipment Corp.

Sony Acquires Alamo Chain: Bring Back Memories

 

Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas was a unique concept where the mixing of food, drink, and movies spelled magic. I remember newly hired Alamo staff making the trip to Buffalo to attend Cinema Training Central. Taking courses on cinema management, as well as technical training - this was circa 2001.

Alamo had a novel idea - a dine-in movie theater that served alcoholic beverages and ran first-run features. This concept has been replicated over and over since Alamo's inception in 1997.

It appears that Alamo, which currently has 35 locations throughout the U.S., had been soliciting offers for some time through Goldman Sachs as broker. Under its Sony ownership, Alamo will continue to operate as the Alamo Drafthouse brand. Sony also purchased as of the rights to Alamo's Fantastic Fest film festival.

To its credit, Alamo differentiated the movie experience and in doing so gained a very loyal fan base of movie goers. 

Moviegoers enjoying a movie at Alamo

The Sony/Alamo transaction is rare, in that the purchase of a movie exhibitor by a studio doesn't happen very often. Several years ago, Netflix purchased two theaters - the Egyptian in LA and the Paris in NYC. Amazon bought the Arclight in Culver City at about the same time.

Sony must believe that theatrical exhibition is worth the investment long term. I believe they're right.

By: Jim Lavorato, Entertainment Equipment Corp.

AI vs. Hollywood - The Battle is Just Beginning

Many of the Hollywood glitterati are harping about the urgency to enact laws curtailing the use of artificial intelligence. Congress however is doing a very slow walk on the issue and there is no legislation in sight let alone pending.

On the flip side, the AI industry argues laws and restrictive regulations will only stifle innovation and creativity. 

House Democrats say Republicans are to blame for the holdup, but that tactic doesn't compute because the issue is extremely complex. How and in what form should AI take? How do you control it? If there are only regulations in the U.S., AI developers will just move to another jurisdiction. 

We all know that AI can and will deliver breakthroughs in science, medicine, education, industry, and in our daily lives. AI can be a great and good force that can help people the world over and the bigger picture must be addressed - not just the few who want protection for their image or voice.

By: Jim Lavorato, Entertainment Equipment Corp.

The Cannes 'Palm Dog' Award

 

This year's Palm Dog Award, where the film fest presents an award for the best on-screen canine performance, was won by Kodi.

Kodi, a mutt, played the lead role in the film 'Dog on Trial', a comedy in which he plays, Cosmos, an aggressive pet whose taken in as a client by a defense lawyer in a story that explores the status of dogs in society. 

First launched in 2001, the Palm Dog award has become a highlight of the Cannes festival. It's said, every dog has its day and Kodi will have his, this Saturday at Cannes. By the way, it's said that the dogs have much better behavior on the red carpet then many of the two-legged celebrates. 

By: Jim Lavorato, Entertainment Equipment Corp. 

Leftists Go 'Nutty' on George Lucas

 

Lucas at Cannes fielding questions

In Cannes this week to receive the Palme d'Or honorary award for his contributions to the cinema, leftist protestors shouted out negative comments regarding George Lucas' gender preferences in the 'Star Wars' films. 

Lucas shot back at the critics, "Most of the characters are aliens. The idea is you're supposed to accept people for what they are, whether they're big and furry or whether they're green or whatever. The idea is all people are equal." Lucas went on the say, "in the Star Wars universe who were discriminated against were the robots"

Lucas during filming of 'Star Wars' the movie

Leftist critics also complained about his depiction of women. Lucas responded by saying, "You can't put a woman in pants and say she's a hero. It's their brains and their ability to think and plan and be logical. That's what a hero is."

Lucas is the visionary behind the 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones' franchises, founder of LucasFilm, LucasArts, Industrial Light and Magic, and THX audio.

I believe Lucas fully deserves the Cannes accolades. He is a pioneering force in the history of cinema and the woke leaning critics are really off-base in accusing him of sexism and discrimination.

By: Jim Lavorato, Entertainment Equipment Corp.

"Movie industry No Longer About Creativity" say Jessica Lange

 The previous post about the views of Jerry Seinfeld dovetail to what Jessica Lange has been saying about the movie industry. "We're living in a corporate world, and it certainly has moved into the film industry. So much is now not about creativity. Look at the best films of the past year - they are not from Hollywood."

Lange is currently starring in the Broadway production 'Mother Play'. She has a long career in film, TV, and the stage. "There used to be a synergy between the actors and the filmmakers. It was a beautiful way to work, and it's gone."

By: Jim Lavorato, Entertainment Equipment Corp.

Seinfeld Battles Against Wokeism - "It's Killing Comedy"

 "Political correctness and extreme left policies are making television comedy extinct" says Jerry Seinfeld. "Nothing really affects comedy. People always need it. It used to be you could go home and watch 'Cheers', or 'MASH', or 'All in the Family'. There would be some funny stuff to watch. It's gone. This is the result of the extreme left and PC crap and people worrying so much about offending other people."

"There was an episode of 'Seinfeld' where Kramer decides to start a business of having homeless people pull rickshaws because, 'They're outside anyway', could that episode be aired on TV today?" Seinfeld says.

In culture, the acceptance gates are always moving, Comedy however should move the gates. Seinfeld went on to say that "standups have the freedom to cross the line because TV networks and movies do not want to ruffle feathers."  Regarding the movie industry, he says, "film does not have social, cultural significance it once did." 

He is right on all counts. PC and extreme left policies have permeated our culture in an exclusionary way to its detriment. We need to get back to complete freedom in all of the arts.  

Seinfeld is currently promoting his upcoming Netflix film, 'Unfrosted', which will stream beginning on May 3rd.

By: Jim Lavorato, Entertainment Equipment Corp.

 

The Comeback of Historic Cinemas

 As you're aware, Entertainment Equipment has, from it very beginning, always prided itself on catering to older, independent and historical cinemas. In fact, EEC's website is dedicated to these client/cinemas.

Now, the movement that EEC started over 30 years ago has become a trendy thing for Hollywood elites to spend their time and money on. Both actors and film makers have taken to buying and restoring old cinemas.

Tarantino's Hollywood, CA 'Vista Cinema' is under renovation.

Jasonl Reitman, Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg, and Quentin Tarantino, just to name several, have taken to investing or buying old cinemas and restoring them. Additionally, communities and townships have joined with local theater owners to fund a revitalization of their 'town's' cinema.

Believe me when I say that the last 3-4 years has been dismal for the small, independent cinemas but they have weathered the storm and not one of the cinemas the EEC services closed. Cinemas need to become 'go-to venues' and offer comedy and live music shows, school graduations, film club meeting, parties, film festivals, etc. 

Many cinemas represent what are architecturally significant buildings that were constructed in the period from 1930 to 1980 and they are worth preserving as a reminder of the past.

 

By: Jim Lavorato, Entertainment Equipment Corp.

The Cinema in '24

 It's easy to be pessimistic when you look at the reality of the current cinema market. But are these woes overstated? Yes, the industry is being challenged but movie owners look forward to a much steadier footing for 2024. 

Moviegoers are returning to cinemas.

2023 biggest takeaway, for me, was the introduction of concert movies and their direct distribution to theaters. The huge success of the "Taylor Swift: the Eras Tour" and "Renaissance" A Film by Beyonce" opened a whole new revenue stream for cinemas and opened a lot of eyes regarding the screening of not just Hollywood films but an array of entertainment that will be theater-lead. The Paris Olympic Opening Ceremony which will be live-streamed at IMAXs across the U.S. is a great example. 

What's in Store for '24

I believe smaller studios will have a greater impact going forward, for example, 'Civil War' by A24 studio will be a significant box office draw. 'Sound of Freedom" was a perfect example of a great big-screen success by a small studio last year.

Cinema owners/managers need to become marketers and not rely on the major studios to do 100% of the marketing - the exhibition industry is beyond that. Let's look at the collectibles and merch business. Many moviegoers are also big fans of the movies they view at cinemas. Collectibles are a major part of the concession sales at cinema. The special cup, the T-shirt, the hat, etc. are all examples of merch cinemas can sell and, in many cases, wrap that merch around concession items. 

As it turns out, going to the cinema is now one of the most economical of entertainment spends. It's much less expensive to go to the movies then attend a game, concert, museum, live performance, etc. According to the National Association of Theater Owners (NATO), cinema loyalty programs are highest in households with income under $40,000 per year vs. those with incomes over $120,000.

So, pessimistic no - there are many trends that appear to be favorable for exhibitors over the next 3-5 years.

By: Jim Lavorato, Entertainment Equipment Corp.

Can Movies Stay Out of Politics...NOT

 A new movie, "Civil War", is about a divided U.S., premised on a blue state/red state scenario that leads to violence and civil war.

That's one side of Hollywood. The other is that studios (which are known to be left-leaning) are struggling to be apolitical - for fear of finding themselves in a culture war that hurts box-office takes. This is a valid concern given the upcoming presidential election which has become very polarizing.

Take, for example, Disney's remake of "The Little Mermaid", which suffered dismal grosses because of racial miscasting. Ditto, Pixar's "Lightyear" which saw lackluster box-office due to same-sex intimacy. These are two examples of children-friendly films that parents considered 'unfriendly.' On the flipside, "Sound of Freedom" an independent film hit the spot demographically with both conservatives and anti-child abuse activists and was soundly rewarded at the box-office.

All that being said, political correctness is not a big topic of conversation with studios executives at present - that phase has run its course. Essentially, films can't afford to lose 50% of moviegoers due to being woke. 

According to Pew Research, over 65% of U.S. voters say they feel exhausted when thinking, let alone talking, politics. So, it's little wonder the studios' marketing departments are very careful with film messaging and promotion. Currently, if people perceive even a tinge of political bias it could cause box-office doom. 

No major movies are scheduled for release during the first week of November - election time.

Many moviegoers, me included, turn to the movies as an escape from the barrage of real-world issues and concerns. So, the take-away is films should do their best not to get too close to politics. 

By: Jim Lavorato, Entertainment Equipment Corp.

Nielsen's Media Rating Monopoly Gets Competition

 Nielsen, the media rating giant, is getting competition from iSpot, as small, but well-regarded audience measurement company.

The upstart, iSpot, is going after Nielsen's big clients. During the Super Bowl, it predicted a "preliminary audience measurement estimate" for Super Bowl viewership, at 126.6 million viewers, while the final number came in at 123.4 million - not bad.

Nielsen has had a virtual monopoly on media ratings for decades and its time it got competition. There is good bank to be earned in media ratings and iSpot wants its share and will to work for it.  

As the global leader in audience measurement, it works across all channels and platforms to determine what audience preferences are and passes this information on to its clients. 

iSpot believes survey-based creative testing and measurement, that Nielsen uses, is too slow for today's fast-paced requirement to provide clients' up-to-the-minute feedback. They provide immediate verification of ad impressions. It considers itself to be the new standard of audience measurement.

By: Jim Lavorato, Entertainment Equipment Corp.

View the Olympics "Opening" Live at IMAX

 If you can't be there, the next best thing is to view the Olympics' opening ceremony live at an IMAX theater. 

A deal between IMAX and NBC will allow IMAX to air the live coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics' Opening Ceremony - it will be covered by all 150 IMAX locations in the U.S. on Friday, July 26th.

According to organizers, the game's opening will take place on the Seine River, which flows through the heart of Paris. The Seine will be turned into a stage on which a four-mile-long flotilla consisting of 100 boats will carry thousands of athletes from over 200 countries past on-shore spectators.

Artist rendition of what the flotilla will look like. 

CMG thinks witnessing the beginning of 16 days of events in this spectacular way is an option totally unavailable with home viewing. The live show will be hosted by Kelly Clarkson, Peyton Manning, and NBC's Mike Tirico.

This will be Paris's third time hosting (also in 1900 and 1924) tying London for the most as a Summer Games host. Los Angeles will also tie at three times hosting when it sponsors the Games are in 2028. LA hosted in 1932 and 1984.

By: Jim Lavorato, Entertainment Equipment Corp.