'Cinema Scene' by Seymore Flix

In Defense of the Super Hero Movie

Finally, someone in Hollywood agrees with me. What drives the global box office aren't the 'so-called' thoughtful movies - such as the likes of this year's Oscar nominees (all about personal frailties and misjudgments). Give me a super hero pic or perhaps a well constructed Pixar
movie and I am completely satisfied and feel well entertained.

Now James Gunn, the director of last year's biggest grosser, 'Guardians of the Galaxy' has spoken out to defend the high-impact, action films that generate all of the money and are the fodder that most moviegoers feed upon.

Gunn took to Facebook after there was a fair amount of critical snootiness towards superhero films. Jack Black commented that superheros were a blight on Hollywood during his rant at the Oscars. And Dan Gilroy said that "we must rise up against the tsunami of superhero movies that have swept over this industry."   Are they kidding! Without these films there is no Hollywood.

High-impact films are popular worldwide

Gunn argues that comic book movies should be judged on the same criteria as more celebrated art house features. "Whatever the case, the truth is, popular fare in any medium has always been snubbed by the self-appointed elite. I've already won more awards than I ever expected for 'Guardians'. What bothers me is that many people assume because you make big films that you put less love, care, and thought into them then people who make what are considered more serious Hollywood films."  I couldn't have stated it better.

Gunn went on further to say, "I find there are plenty of people everywhere making movies for a buck or to feed their own vanity.  And than there are people who do what they do because they love story-telling, they love cinema, and they want to add back to the world some of the same magic they've taken from the works of others.  If you think people who make superhero movies are dumb, come out and say we're dumb.  But if you are a serious film maker and think you put more love into your characters then superhero directors you are simply mistaken."

Three Cheers for James Gunn! We couldn't agree more. The Oscars should reflect what films are currently driving the industry and which films are the ones most consumers go to the local cinema to see.

Chinese Box Office Numero Uno

Chinese Box Office Breaks Record

The box office gross in China hit a record in February, amassing a huge $650 million which set a record and beat the U.S. generated gross ($640 million) for the first time.

February is always a big month for movie-going in China with the Lunar New Year but this year all the stops were off.  The big news however, was that the Chinese box office was fueled by non-Hollywood product.  The big grosser was a move entitled, 'The Man from Manchu II', a comedy sequel and 'Dragon Blade' an action movie starring Jackie Chan and John Cusack (of all people).

One of the major reasons for China's box office increase is that the number of screens keeps rising and now totals over 25,000.  This compares with the U.S.'s roughly 37,000 screens but China has over 3 times the population - leaving lots of room for growth and China will easily surpass the U.S. in total box office gross in the near future.

Oscar Winner, Halle Berry Speaks Out

Being the first and only black actress to win a Best Actor Oscar Halle Berry spoke frankly recently about Hollywood and her career. She is currently awaiting the release of a film she produced and stars in entitled, 'Frankie and Alice' - about a woman with a multiple personality disorder. She has been waiting for its release for 6 years.

Halle, can you even remember making Frankie and Alice?

Absolutely. When something is that important to you, and you put your blood, sweat, and tears into, I doubt you'll ever forget it.  When people say "there's no way you're going to make a little movie about this subject no one cares about it", I think you remember every step of the way.

Is it hard to make a low-budget film?

If you have an artistic itch, and there's a story you want to tell, you go on that journey and do it anyway.  And if only five people see it, it's worth taking the time to make the journey, to do the art. If for no other reason than to get it out of your system.  Little movies are hard to do, people don't always want to see them.

In terms of producing your own movies, do you get burnt by the experience?

No, not at all. You win some, you lose some. Some things turn out great, some things are great but don't get an audience, some things are shit and get a huge audience.  You can't let any of that discourage you, if you're in this business.

What's your take on winning the Oscar for Best Actress

If anybody tells you after winning an Oscar they can pick out things that will be hits, they're lying! The quality and value of our work isn't determined by an award.  Find the win in the work. Do your craft well.

What about the quality of work for women over the age of 40?

I've always had a hard time getting roles, being of color, so I get as many offers as I always did - there is no difference for me.  When I was 21, it was as hard as it is now when I'm 48.  For me it's the same.

You are starring in and producing 'Extant', which will debut on the Amazon Prime streaming service, why go the TV route?

Anyone in this industry will tell you that that's where the best writing is. Good actors are going to TV. It's not just about making movies any more, Movies are becoming harder and harder to make.
The taboo of television is long gone. There was a time when movies were 'movies' but now we have big screens in our homes.

Thanks Halle.

French Director Sues the Cannes Festival

For the first time in its history, the Cannes Film Festival has been sued.  Paul Verhoeven, a French film director, as sued the Festival claiming his film, 'Teenagers', was rejected by the festival due to homophobia and sexual prejudice.

The low-budget movie was rejected by Cannes officials saying that "the film is ethically very doubtful."  For his part, Verhoeven seeks either having the festival forced to screen his film or pay for it to be screened in cinemas.

A spokesman for the festival called the case "absurd" and said that films were rejected or accepted on grounds of quality alone.  'Teenagers' has received poor to bad reviews from critics. A ruling in the case is scheduled to be released this month.

Ford to Star in 'Blade Runner' Sequel

Harrison Ford will star in the sequel to the iconic sci-fi cult film 'Blade Runner'. Ford was quoted as saying that the script for the new film as, "this is the best thing I have ever read".

Released in 1982, 'Blade Runner' tells the story of a police officer, Rick Deckard, set in a dark and gritty futuristic Los Angeles.  The movie has become a classic sci-fi film and a sequel has been long-awaited.

Ford will also be starring in the upcoming 'Star Wars' , which is scheduled for release in December. He will be returning as Han Solo, space smuggler extraordinaire.


Happy Move Going,
Seymore

Cinema's Salvation ....... TV

In what could be the biggest turn of events in cinema history, the next big boost in cinema box office could be TV shows !

In a first-of-its-kind presentation, and what may be the ultimate in alternative content for cinemas, HBO and IMAX teamed up to exhibit two episodes of HBO's very popular 'Game of Thrones' series. Running on the largest in-door screens available (IMAX's 72' x 53' screens) between January 29th - February 5th the concept is contrary to the heretofore notion that small screen productions are not exhibited on big screens.

"The passionate  'Game of Thrones' fans have helped make the series a worldwide phenomenon and we are always looking for new, innovative ways to get them excited for the upcoming season" Pamela Levine, HBO's chief marketing officer, stated. "We thought the IMAX promotion would be a fun way for fans to come together, on a national level, and experience the show in a way that has never been done before."

In addition to two episodes from Season 4, the presentation included the worldwide debut of a 'sneak peek' trailer for the upcoming Season 5, which was created exclusively for the IMAX presentations.

Tickets went on sale January 16th but due to the overwhelming and unanticipated response, the shows were delayed a week to let IMAX increase the number of theatres scheduled to exhibit the show - the final tally was 205 theatres out of a total of 430 domestic IMAX cinemas.  The show carried an 'R' rating.

"IMAX is always looking for ways to provide audiences with something different and unique, said Lorne Orleans, SVP of production at IMAX, "and this relationship with HBO, Warner Bros., and 'Game of Thrones' achieves just that. 'Game' is a truly epic series and the scope, scale, and production value are remarkable and will really highlight what the IMAX experience is capable of."

Fortunately, 'Game' is shot in HD 1920x1080 format using JPEG2000 codecs which is a part of the cinema standard for DCP (digital cinema package) files, although, the picture was slightly cropped for the IMAX presentations.

The exhibition of very popular TV shows will allow fans to engage in a new and unique way.  This is really about a very different kind of communal viewing experience that was not available previously and it demonstrates how popular these screening could become and how good the box office generated. In my opinion, this is the beginning of a new cinema audience market as many TV shows are very popular and carry widely different demographics, making for a huge audience base.

This type of programming is giving TV show fans an experience they can't find anywhere else and a reason to leave their homes.  There is something special about being part of a presentation where you are surrounded by people that enjoy what you do - and that is an experience you can't get at home in front of your TV.

For its part, IMAX is in talks with other entertainment companies about exhibiting other popular TV series - and why not, the first weekend it showed, 'Game of Thrones' grossed over $1.5 million for IMAX.

TV may be the shot-in-the-arm the cinema needs.  The content is available, of high quality, and has a built-in fan base ready and willing to go to the cinema to view their favorite episodes. This is all good and a real win-win all around.

Best
Jim Lavorato

And The Loser Gets ........ The Oscar Swag Bag

If you read this blog you are aware I am not a big fan of the Oscars as, in my opinion, they are not representative of  today's movie industry and what drives it.

However, I do love the hypocrisy and self-indulgence of Hollywood and the Oscar's swag (goodie) bag demonstrates just that.  This year's swag is valued at $125,000 and is given to all of the nominees for any Award - win or loose.  Each year I present a glimpse of what the bag contains, so here goes.

- 3 night stay at a Tuscany resort - $1,500
- Luxury train ride through the Canadian Rockies - $14,000
- French Mediterranean Sea Salts - $1,500
- Candy & Dessert Buffet - $800
- One Year's Rental of Audi A4 - $20,000
- Reset Lifestyle Makeover Package - $14,200

My favorite: His/Hers Mace Guns

- Robotic Hair Transplant System - $16,000
- 'O' Shot - Female Libido Rejuvenation Treatment - $2,700
- His & Hers Mace Attack Repellent - $120
- Leather iPhone Case - $230
- Sampling of Maple Syrups - $280
- Home Visit/Show of Le Petite Cirque - $575
- Mexico vacation at Ocean Casa - $3,300
and so on

You've got to love it. I often wonder if the winners have the time to take all of the trips - my guess is Yes! An yes, I'm going to get me a camo Mace gun.

The Alternative Oscars / DIY Lightsabers / Another 'Alien'

Each year (for the past 16) Esquire Magazine publishes the Alternative Oscars - "because somebody has to acknowledge the films that weren't" nominated - and never would be.  In turn, CMG has posted some of these 'alternates'.  Here's this year's picks.


- Most Unlikely Title for a Science Fiction Film : 'Mockingjay, Part 1'
- Best Performance: Al Pacino in 'A Most Violent Year'
- Soundtrack Most Like A Classic Rock Station at Rush Hour: 'Guardians of the Galaxy'
- Movie Most Watched During Cross-county Flights: '22 Jump Street'
- Movie Most Unwatched During Cross-country Flights: 'Chef'
- Best Wrestling Match in a Film (Men): 'Foxcatcher' (Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo)
- Best Wrestling Match in a Film (Women): 'Wild' (Reese Wetherspoon and her giant backpack)
- Movie Pretending to be a Real Movie and Not Just a Cheap Marketing Ploy: 'The Lego Movie'
- Best Person vs. Nature Scene: Reese Wetherspoon,  yelling "Fuck you, bitch" to a canyon: 'Wild'
- Best "What Was That Movie About?": 'Guardians of the Galaxy'

There you have it folks.




Hasbro To Sell 'DIY' Lightsaber


For $49.95 Hasbro will be selling, through toy retailers, a build-your-own Lightsaber kit pre-release of the new Star Wars movie in December. Hasbro anticipates the new toy will have Star Wars fans rushing to get their hands on the saber kit.  Look for it at your local toy outlet soon
.


Lucas Wealthiest in Hollywood


It's official - George Lucas is the richest person in Hollywood.  Worth an estimated $5.4billion puts Lucas in a class by himself.  He attained this distinction upon the sale of his production company, Lucan Films, to Disney for $4billion.  Not bad, George
.


Weaver Wants Role in new 'Alien' pic


Sigourney Weaver has told director Neill Bloomkamp and Fox Studios that she wants to return to her role as Ellen Ripley in the much anticipated sequel to the 'Alien' franchise. "If something should happen from this, it would be very organic and very original, and because of that it would make me want to do it" said Weaver.  This might just happen, as Fox is reportedly ready to greenlight the project. The 'Alien' movies represent great sci-fi and a new one would be a sure-fired box office smash.




Best
Seymore Flix

IN-Cinema Advertising and Content Assess

'Fifty Shades' Sets In-Cinema Ad Record

Typical '50 Shades' female-based ad

'Fifty Shades of Grey' has mopped-up all of the in-cinema ad space available prior to its Valentine Day release.  So, advertisers who didn't book their ads last month are now out of luck.

OPI fingernail polish ad

National CineMedia, who sells ads for the Regal, AMC, and CineMark cinema circuits announced that they were "sold out" of all ad space for February due to 'Fifty Shades'.  It was the first time in years that NCM has sold out all of its ad space.

In general, the cinema advertising business is anticipating a banner year thanks to a slew of upcoming box office bruisers, including: 'Star Wars', 'Minions', and Pixar's newest, 'Inside Out' - just to name several.  NCM, which is trying to form a merger with ScreenVision (its rival in the in-cinema ad space) reported that it has ad commitments exceeding $225 million for 2015, a huge increase over last year's total of $110 million.

Many of the advertisers for 'Fifty Shades' were female focused brands and their commitment represents the biggest advertising expenditure since 'Sex In the City'. What's good about in-cinema ads is that they are relatively inexpensive, compared to say TV, and they are very measurable.

Is Content As 'Available' As Providers Boast

Seek and ye shall find - or maybe not!  The boast of accessing content anytime, anyplace. on any device is just that - a boast.  In fact, just finding what and when it's available for viewing is a real chore - as there exists no fully integrated digital program guide.

A recent survey by Hub Entertainment Research found that 61% of viewers say "they need a universal program listing to find shows across all sources and devices".  A universal source to search across content platforms simply does not exist today.

The survey found that in regards to the high-impact, action and animated films consumers' preference was to go to the cinema vs. any other platform.

Just saying,
Jim

Is Hollywood Broken?

Ask any studio executive or movie producer and they will tell you that the challenges they face today are more severe and complex then ever.  That the old models of making and selling movies are breaking down.

The issues range from a declining young movie audience, to a lack of diversity in content creation, to poor management at the studios, to inadequate audience measurements.  Many in the industry feel that the biggest issue is that it just costs too much to develop, produce, market, and release a movie - and most do not turn a profit. So, the ones that do make money must pay for the losers.  Today, it is all about the sequel and franchise.  And as the market changes the challenge to make a profit increases - a perfect example is the demise of DVD move sales.

Hollywood has to realize that there is a permanent change happening in viewing habits - which puts the current movie model at risk.  Young audiences of today are growing up with a different way of viewing and accessing content which puts 'big screen' viewing harder and harder to sell.  It is the blockbuster bruiser, high-impact/action films which drive today's cinema box office - and this trend will continue.  The top 25 movies generate 70% of the global box office.  The need to produce and distribute low budget, message dramas will continue to deteriorate and fewer movies will be produced - and this is a good thing!

The demographic shift that is occurring in the U.S., whereby the 18-34 segment of the population will be the largest and the Hispanic the fastest growing demand that changes be made.  On top on this is the fact that consumers have a lot of choice when it comes to what, when, and where to view content.

Hollywood may not be broken but it needs to change focus. The Oscars are a perfect example of how far out-of-date Hollywood is with the movie going public.

Just saying,
Jim

Movie Critics - Are They Fair?

Should movie critics view films more then once so as to better appraise the effort and perhaps see what may have been missed in their first go-round? Or would that be unfair to the normal moviegoer - who gets one shot to appraise?

According to some critics, once is not enough and to appraise properly several viewings are required. However, how can this be. For a mystery or whodunit, it's never the same after the first viewing. Additionally, critics may have to view 10 or even 12 movies in a week's time during summer or holiday release schedules - leaving them mentally drained and no time for second look-sees.

Is viewing a movie upon its release at a cinema or viewing it at a press screening different experiences? And would the critique be different given different circumstances.  Many film critics resist repeat viewings, insisting that a second look may taint their viewpoint - good or bad.  Some critics say they, in effect, watch a film twice during their first viewing - both for pleasure and critique. "I need to experience the movie in the way everyone else will, but also, simultaneously, to reflect on that experience, to analyze it " AO Scott, film critic for the New York Times, told CMG. "This is more complex than it sounds. It is more of an acquired technical skill than anything else. Like learning to play left-and-right hand piano parts".

Seeing a movie twice implies you missed something the first time and leaves room for doubt - first impressions maybe best when judging films.  No critic worth their salt wants to be viewed as a PR person - they need to be arms length and objective.

Cinema is the most democratic of the arts. Gender, age, race, nationality all people have an opinion on each movie they view: therefore, critics can be held accountable by every moviegoer - agree or disagree. You can't please everyone so, I my opinion, one viewing is enough.

Best
Jim

'American Sniper' - A Dose of Reality

'American Sniper' has really hit a cord with moviegoers and points to the fact that mainstream news media is essentially out-of-touch with the greater American public- as the media has poo-pooed the movie.

Eastwood and Cooper on set

'American Sniper' has grossed over $252 million since it opening on Christmas Day and the numbers keep growing. It is by far the most successful military film ever exhibited. The story-line (just in case you have been in a coma over the last several weeks) centers around a real-life sniper who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars - Chris Kyle.  The movie is based upon Kyle's best selling autobiography of the same name, in which he recounts his military career and experience - the film rights to the book were purchased by Clint Eastwood, who directed the movie. It stars Bradley Cooper as Kyle.

Kyle was a highly decorated Navy Seal who was awarded two Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, and a slue of other accommodations and was officially credited with 160 sniper kills with an unconfirmed total of 255.

But why has this film become so popular. My feeling is that this film puts modern warfare in perspective - which is impersonal and distant.  The film depicts Kyle doing his sniper work while talking to his wife on the phone - bizarre but not, I'm told, unrealistic with today's technology.  Kyle, unfortunately, was killed at a Texas shooting range in 2013 by Eddie Routh, an ex-Marine Kyle had befriended. No reason has been put forth for the killing but Routh is scheduled to go to trial this February.

Kyle with his bio. and in action

I believe the day of the lone sniper is over. Technology in the form of drones and computerized long-range rifles where only coordinates and wind speed data are required and the weapon does the rest with pinpoint accuracy is already here.   In the world of new warfare, a Chris Kyle simply wouldn't be required.  Waging war has become extremely complex but, paradoxically,  requires fewer and fewer people to wage. The U.S. doesn't need to win wars just engage.
If you enjoy war movies with a message 'American Sniper' is for you.

Best
Jim

The Oscar: Meaningful Accolade or Moviegoer Insult

Moviegoers care less and less about the Oscars, which have become no more than a run-way fashion show than meaningful movie tribute.

The public just doesn't care about the Oscars and I'm one of them. Why? Because the Oscars are an inside Hollywood game and have nothing to do with films that people go to the cinema to view.  The Oscars are about insider prestige, vanity, and phony tribute to the 'art form' of moviemaking.

Hollywood thrives on money - period! Yet at Oscar time, the money driven tinsel-town folks would have us believe that, miraculously, money is not an issue and vote for the most insipid, message movies they can muster and this year the mustering had slim-pick'ns.  Movies that shouldn't get a passing nod were bestowed with huge gobs of fanfare and awe. "Birdman" and "Grand Budapest Hotel" each got nine nominations - are you kidding me! And don't get me started on Streep. She turns up every year like a bad penny or perennial weed, this year for her 19th nomination. What the hell do they take us for - zombies.

The Academy is essentially made up of grumpy old men (94% men, average age - 62) who seemingly have no clue as to what is best to view on the big screen. In short, the Oscars have become an insult to the moviegoer.  All eight of the nominated Best Pictures (at nomination time) had grossed a paltry $203 million vs. even last year when the nominees were at $649 million. Hardly anyone viewed this year's crop of Best Pictures and don't care about viewing them even after their nominations.

The current President of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, Cheryl Boone Isaacs says "the Academy needs more diversity". After the nominees were announced she stated further,"obviously reflects a lack of diversity in Oscar voters as well as in films generally".  But Isaacs is speaking to the make-up of the Academy and not diversity in film selection, as we are.
However, she can start making changes by changing the name of this group. An Academy is a place of higher learning that promotes a set of standards - not the 7,000 member strong Academy hoi poloi that is referred to as 'the industry's shakers and movers'.

Harris to emcee Oscars

Get serious. Hollywood is anything but a brotherhood of fair and free-thinking compatriots. Gentile and artistic minded folks hell bent on preserving film's historic and artistic milieu. Nonsense.
The best movies are the ones that make the most money, that people go to the cinema to view and be entertained by. They have the biggest budgets, best actors, scripts, effects, sound, direction and right now (at this moment in history) it's the high-impact, action films that dominate the cinema - like it or not.  Right now, it is not the throw-back, weak-storied dramas that have zero impact and are viewed only by a few in the pseudo-intellectual crowd, who fancy themselves 'cinema buffs' or (God forbid) 'aficionados'.

The Oscars have become a 'bore', a meaningless relic, with no connection with today's moviegoer and unworthy of our attention. The Oscars only redeeming value is the pre-show run-way where Hollywood's glam-gals strut with borrowed gowns and jewelry and become our very own Cinderellas for the evening.

The Oscar Awards will take place on February 22nd starting at 7pm EST and be hosted by Neil Patrick (Doogie Howser) Harris.  The Academy can't even get a big name to host the event. No chance of getting the likes of a Hope, Carson, Crystal, or Leno.

Just saying,
Jim

The SCENE by Seymore Flix - 7 Jan. '15

Virtual Reality (VR) - It's Here - But Not Really

You have probably heard or read something about Oculus Rift, the much hyped VR headset that is going to turn digitally-based games and entertainment into a virtual life experience.  In fact, Facebook (which purchased Oculus Rift for a tiddy $2 billion) is betting that this technology is the next coming in the digital domain.

Oculus Rift Headset w/headphones

The Oculus Rift is a headset device which provides a 360 degree visual of 'whatever'. It has moved, since its intro two years ago, from a status of novelty to mainstream. "I knew that virtual reality would become important to the public at some point, but I thought it would take a much longer time", Rift founder, Palmer Luckey told CMG. "I did not take into account the fact that unlike some new technologies, VR is already an established concept."

All that said, it now appears that Facebook won't have a monopoly on VR. Google is planning to ship 500,000 units of its $45 Cardboard VR headset (it is literally made out of cardboard).  Samsung, not far behind, has a forthcoming $200 Gear VR.  Rift will be priced in the $200 - 400 range upon its release.  Price will be a determining factor as will reliability and ease of use but the technology must also have 'scale' - which means that it is being widely accepted by consumers which then draws in advertisers.

Google's Cardboard VR Headset

A recent survey by market research firm Deep Focus, reported that 51% of young adults (21-34) had heard of Oculus Rift and other VR devices, but the key driver to success will be the tie-in with video games.  Gaming will be the gateway to wide adoption of VR devices.  More VR headsets on faces will push more content - it's another chicken and egg situation, and VR content is expensive to produce - a 3 minute video is over $1 million.

My take is that VR will have a very steep adoption curve but in the long run could be used for many types of marketing by many different companies.  The virtual sense of being somewhere or in someplace is very powerful.  It brings the image to life that no regular video or screen can - it is immersive but yet confining as you have to wear a large headset (at least for now).


Best
Seymore Flix

It's a Wrap - 2014 Box Office A Mixed Bag

As expected, and as the 15 year trend continues, the '14 box office was dominated by high-impact, action films of fantasy and super heroes which reigned supreme.

'Transformers' takes #1 spot in 2014

At $10.4 billion, the U.S. box office was down 5% from '13's record-breaking total, which some believe may be an omen of things to come, as perhaps the world's most demanding moviegoers are tiring of the 'same old'.  In contract, the international cinema box office is booming, particularly China.


'Transformers: Age of Extinction' was the #1 global box office draw, amassing a take of over $1.9 billion which beat, to a pulp, the last Transformer movie, 'Dark of the Moon' (2011) by over $800 million.  The fourth film in the Transformer saga, Age of Extinction, was the only movie released in 2014 that grossed over $1 billion.


Other sequels did well. Captain America, Spider Man, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, How To Train Your Dragon 2, and Rio 2 faired pretty well.  However, two new entrants came in #2 and #3 after Transformers, 'Guardians of the Galaxy' ($773 million) and 'Maleficent' ($758 million) both now considered future franchise material.


In summary, Hollywood disappointed moviegoers in '14 all of which was capped by Sony's North Korean mess whose security hack is now being reported as an inside job.  It may be that tastes in movies are changing as evidenced by Universal's announcement that it experienced it most profitable year ever in 2014 without one box office bruiser and no release which cost more than $70 million. If this was planned by Universal or just circumstance makes no difference as it may be trend setting - but I don't think so.  2014 was just not the year for blockbusters. Universal will release 'Fast and Furious 7', 'Jurassic World', 'Minions', and 'Ted 2' in 2015, accompanied by a slew of Marvel and DC Comics based flix and a new 'Star Wars' for Disney.  It's back to the races in '15.


                                                Top 12 Global Box Office Earners 2014


Transformers: Age of Extinction - $1.9 billion (77% intl', 23% U.S.)
Guardians of the Galaxy - $773 million (57% intl', 43% U.S.)
Maleficent - $758 million (68% intl', 32% U.S.)
X-Men: Days of Future Past - $746 million (69% intl', 31% U.S.)
Captain America: The Winter Soldier - $714 million (64% intl', 36% U.S.)
The Amazing Spider - Man 2 - $709 million (71% intl', 29% U.S.)
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes - $708 million (71% intl', 29% U.S.)
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 - $670 million (54% intl', 46% U.S.)
Interstellar - $641 million (72% intl'. 28% U.S.)
How to Train Your Dragon 2 - $619 million (71% intl'. 29% U.S.)
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies - $573 (71% intl'. 29% U.S.)
Godzilla - $525 million (62% intl', 38% U.S.)


All 12 were fantasy or superhero movies with high levels of action and special effects. - that's what moviegoers want!

Best
Jim

'Tis The Season ......'

Yes, it's that time of the year - for good cheer and best wishes.  For frenzy shopping, over-indulgence, and phony self-reflection. For happy get-togethers , excessive credit purchases, and merry times all rolled into one gigantic ball of crass consumerism. It's the Christmas holiday season, enjoy!

Now, I may sound cranky and a wee bit down on the whole Holiday scene but as you will see, there is humor in my thoughts as well.




Holiday Joke: What are the four stages of life?
 - You Believe in Santa
 - You Don't Believe in Santa
 - You Are Santa
 - You Look Like Santa 

The reason I am down on the holidays is that we are neglecting many very important issues that impact us on a daily basis but go merrily along our way. One of these issues is the environment. I hate to break you the news but the world's survival does not rest on the shoulders of global warming - in fact, the way we are going we will be long gone before we have to worry about warming trends.

The first and most pressing issue is population growth. With 7.3 billion souls currently and an undeniable upward trend that forecasts 9.5 billion by 2050 and 11 billion by 2100 - the earth cannot sustain that many people. There are simply not enough resources - man-made or nature-made - that can support that many humans. What irks me is that the major issue of over population is essentially ignored while we concentrate on minor issues some of which are not even environmentally friendly.

For example - electric cars. From Tesla or Prius, electric cars have no positive impact on the environment. Purchasers of electric cars and certainly the auto manufacturers and certain environmental groups push the notion that electric cars are good for air quality as they have a small carbon footprint vs. gas consuming cars.  Think again. The dirty little secret is that the batteries in all of these autos (and there are hundreds of pounds of batteries in each) must be disposed of into  'toxic waste dumps' at the end of their use. Not to mention the fact that the electricity these cars use is derived principally from coal burning electric power plants.  This negates any environmental 'savings' made over the course of an electric car's life - and in fact, these autos have a larger carbon footprint then gas cars of the same size.

Holiday Joke: A wife asked her car-crazed, motor-head husband what he wanted for Christmas? "Something that goes from 0-to-220 in three seconds flat" he said. On Christmas Day he unwrapped a bathroom scale.

Beef  vs. Cars: Many of us like a good steak or juicy burger every so often, but cows (cattle) on a per pound basis use up much more energy and feed then any other source of animal protein - and it's not by a little, but a lot. In fact, instead of worrying about auto pollution we should move our attention to beef.  Recently researchers in the U.S. and Israel concluded that the environmental impact from cattle farming: including animal waste, emissions, feeding, watering, transporting, and processing gave beef a score of "about one order of magnitude" - approximately 10 times worse for the environment than other meats. Per calorie, it requires 28 times the land, 11 times the water, and generates 5 times the greenhouse gas (GHG) of pork, chicken, or lamb.

Not only is beef gassier than pork, it can generate more pollution than your car! We fixate on car pollution but one pound of beef generates and spews 32 pounds of GHG into the environment! A Camry spews less than a pound of carbon per mile. So, as long as you drive less than 16 miles round trip to lunch, your half-pounder accounts for more GHG than the drive to the fast-food outlet to get it!
So, it may be advisable to eat a little less beef.

Mega Energy Wasters: The biggest wasters of energy are buildings. Commercial and industrial structures, retail outlets, and finally homes.  Progress has been made to address the issue of building energy consumption through the efforts of groups like the U.S. Green Building Council and its LEED Program. LEED is a rating system which ranks buildings based upon their energy consumption - the lower the consumption, the higher the rating.  As a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, in 2010 I partnered with the folks at ScreenTrade Magazine, in developing a LEED inspired energy rating system for movie theaters - called Arboreel . No cinema operators, large or small, from Regal Entertainment, to Goodrich Cinemas, to independent owners would have anything to do with Arboreel. In fact, there was some contempt for the concept in some quarters of the cinema industry.  It wasn't about the cost of becoming more energy efficient (we offered several cinema operators the option to be used as a test case for free)  it was simply the fact that they felt they were doing all things right regarding energy efficiency and consumption and there was little room for improvement - Wow!

Cinema auditoriums are large spaces that are empty or near empty most of the time. The average utilization rate for cinemas is below 20% (meaning that 80% of the time a seat is not occupied while a movie is running).  Cinemas are big wasters of energy and are representative of underutilized space in structures such as shopping malls, office buildings, schools, and most commercial buildings that do not run on a 24 hour basis but need to be cooled, heated, and lit 24/7.

Holiday Joke: Santa Claus, has the right idea: visit people once a year.

I will finalize this rant by saying that the environment, like most complex issues, fosters rampant hypocrisy.  The press would have you believe that environmental conservation is a liberal, progressive cause - but the very word conservation comes from conserve (conservative - or those that do not want change). It's is not a progressive cause but on self-preservative cause. It has nothing to do with political terms, in fact, the farther right on the political scale the more conservative (environmentally) that person becomes until they go full-circle and meet the farthest left liberal - who thinks the same way they do.

Best and Happy Holidays
Jim

CineBUZZ - 8 December 2014

In this CineBUZZ Report

- Flashback For 007
- Rating The Holiday Season .... Family Style
- Boy Meets Girl - Cosby's Way
- Nichols - A Top Ten Director

New Bond Movie Gets Old Foe Title

Col. Klebb of Spectre

Flashing back to 'From Russia With Love' when Spectre was the dark foe that needed Bond's attention, the upcoming (24th Bond movie) will be titled 'Spectre'.  Spectre is the global terrorist organization, created by Ian Fleming, that is hell bent on destroying the existing world powers and replacing them with their own version of evil domination.

So, with this next episode, hopefully, we are going back to a move or less believable story line with neat gadgets and tricked-out super cars (an Aston Martin will appear in 'Spectre') - not unrealistic invisible BMWs and space station romps.  Ah, yes .... a good, old Klebb with her poison toed shoe would be a nice touch.

What's The Holiday's Without Family

Thought a little humor and soul searching about the family would be good for the upcoming holidays, answer these questions (be honest):

How Does Your Family Get On During The Holidays?
- Family is everything
- We all do our own thing
- We work well together
- There is always drama
- Not so great

Where Was Your Last Family Vacation?
- The Beach
- Camping/Hiking
- Large City
- Theme Park
- Cruise

If Your Family Won The Lottery, How Would The Money Be Spent?
- We lost the ticket
- On sports cars
- On safari
- Wait list for moon trip
- Other

What Type of Movie Would Your Family Star In?
- Comedy
- Drama
- Action/Adventure
- Fantasy
- SciFi

Describe Your Family in One Word
- Busy
-Tough
- Hilarious
- Mysterious
-Quirky

What's On the Menu for Family Holiday Dinner?
- Chinese
- Sushi
- Meat
- Pizza
- Vegan

Cosby's Got Problems

Bill's Got Problems

When asked how many women have sought her counsel regarding sexual assaults by Bill Cosby, high-profile attorney, Gloria Allred stated, "I have literally lost count."

Cosby, 77, has not been charged with any crimes, but the jury of public opinion is not swinging in his direction. The statue of limitations on the allegations has run out - some of the accusations are over 30 years old and would be very difficult to prove. So, is Cosby a saint or sexual predator? Either way it isn't good for Bill - already NBC has scrapped a planned sitcom, Netflix shelved a comedy special, and Temple University, his alma mater, requested he step down from its Board of Trustees.

Nichols - A Man In Touch With His Culture

Nichols on set of 'Wolf' w/Taylor and Burton

Mike Nichols, recently died at the age of 83, and although not my favorite director he ranked in my top 10. Known for his iconic films, Nichols was best at defining the personal weaknesses in both men and women. His best films were:

'Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf' - his directing debut, and a classic film (one of my favorites) of marital bliss/1966. Both Liz Taylor and Sandy Dennis won Oscars for their performances.
'The Graduate' - another classic, only a year after Wolf/1967
'Catch 22'/1970
'The Day of the Dolphin' /1973
'Silkwood'/1983
'Charlie Wilson's War'/2007

Nichols was always spot-on culturally and made great, memorable, and relevant movies.


Best,
Jim





 

The 'SCENE" by Seymore Flix

In this 'SCENE'

- Uncle Vlad Goes To H'wood
- Burt Reynolds Goes Broke
- Dolby Takes It Home
- Chicago Parks Group Sues Over Star Wars Museum


Vlad Putin Rescues Hollywood

3 Cheers for Uncle Vlad

Uncle Vlad put the kibosh on the Russian Parliament's effort to curb the number of Hollywood movies allowed into Russian cinemas.   Putin asked government bigwigs (nicely) to cancel debate on a bill that would have introduced quotas on foreign films. He stated, "It would be wrong to deny our consumers those goods they would like to have. It is applicable to the motion picture industry too. It would be unwise to turn down what is profitable. The Americans are talented and successful people and there is a lot we can learn from them."

Uncle Vlad's comments were warmly received by the Motion Picture Association of America, the representative body of the studios, as a spokesperson for the MPAA noted, "We welcome the remarks by President Putin. We have long enjoyed close relations with Russian film makers and have a shared interest in a healthy local market in Russia."

Hollywood films are very popular in Russia. Only two of the top 20 grossing films exhibited in Russia this year have been non-Hollywood productions, and the proposed cap of 50% on foreign films would have cost the Hollywood studios hundreds of millions.

In contract, China currently has a quota of allowing only 34 foreign films to be exhibited each year. In addition, there are delays for debuts of blockbuster in order to favor locally produced features. So, we have to give credit where credit is due and Uncle Vlad deserves lots of credit.  Three cheers for Vlad.

Reynolds Goes Bust

Recent photo of Reynolds

Burt Reynolds, the once biggest star in Hollywood, is auctioning off over 600 personal items to raise money to stave off foreclosure on his home.  On December 11 and 12 Reynolds will be selling his life-long stash of personal memorabilia at The Palms Hotel in Las Vegas. Born in 1936, Reynolds had a very successful movie and TV career and was considered a very good actor who also did live performances.

The items to be auctioned include: two Golden Globes, cowboy boots he wore in the film Striptease, signed items from Muhammad Ali, Wayne Gretsky, Jack Nicklaus, gifts from Elizabeth Taylor, Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda, James Cagney and hundreds of other movie related items.

Divorces, failed business ventures, and bad investment decisions have taken their toll on Reynolds' fortune, and the Bank of America is foreclosing on his Florida home for back mortgage payments - he hasn't made any payments since 2010.

Burt is putting a positive spin on the auction saying, "I've collected so many things that I truly adore but at this stage in my life I find it very difficult to manage them all.  The fact of the matter is that it truly is the time to downsize and for these items that I have loved over the years find new homes where they can be cared for and appreciated."

So, here's your chance to pick up a bit of real Hollywood.  A quick trip to Vegas and you never know what a couple of hundred bucks might bring you.  A Golden Globe, you say, hmmm. that empty spot on the mantle?

Dolby Takes Atmos Home

Atmos home speaker

The Atmos sound system, Dolby's latest fully immersive sound system for cinemas will now be available for home use.  Using Dolby Atmos endowed home AV receivers which will provide the 'height' effect without overhead-positioned speakers (as are used in cinemas), Dolby claims the effect will be near to the cinema sound experience.

5.1 channel home systems need only to have two additional speakers placed at front left and front right to gain the Atmos experience. AV product manufacturers which have already announced sign-on to Atmos include: Denon, Marantz, Pioneer, and Yamaha to name several.

To date there have been 150 films mixed in Dolby Atmos for cinemas and Atmos enhanced Blu-rays are appearing in stores for the holiday season.  Although the going is slow for cinemas to convert to Atmos given its cost, the home invasion by Dolby appears to be a wise move and gets Atmos exposure to the consumer - it's all a matter of educating the public.  

Lucas Star Wars Museum is Sued

Proposed Lucas Museum

A parks preservation group has sued the City of Chicago from moving ahead with the proposed construction of a Star War Museum stating that the site is on a lakefront spot that cannot be handed over to a private entity.  The Friends of the Park said, in a federal lawsuit, that the proposed, "Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, violated the law". 

The Lucas Museum's proposed location is on the same lakefront area as the Chicago Field Museum and the Shedd Aquarium.  Answering the suit, city spokesperson Adam Collins stated that, "The museum will be treated like others on the lakefront museum campus and comply with all laws. This museum is a generous gift that will expand the rich cultural and educational opportunities for children and families in every neighborhood, and visitors from around the world."

The museum will feature George Lucas' collection of painting, illustrations, and digital art, including works by Norman Rockwell, John Tenniel, and Maxfield Parrish. Lucas first wanted the museum to be built in San Francisco, but then opted for Chicago where is wife, Mellody is from.

The museum site was selected to be near Chicago's Soldiers Field because of its accessibility to public transportation and its central location. A white, fluid, modernistic design is proposed for the building.


Best Seymore

Hasbro Goes H'wood ...... Godfather Mansion for $$$

It's All About The Kids

Several of Hasbro's Toy Lines

Hasbro, the second largest toy company in the U.S. after Mattel, is set to ink a deal with the Dreamworks.  The deal calls for a merger between Hasbro Studios (the toy company's entertainment division) with Dreamworks Animation - the folks that produced the Shrek, Madagascar, and How to Train Your Dragon franchises.

Hasbro is no newcomer to the H'wood scene, having already collaborated on several movie projects including: GI Joe and The Transformers movies (the last Transformers film grossed over one billion dollars globally). Plus the company has licenses to produce toys based upon film superheroes, such as Spiderman, The Avengers, and The Hunger Games.  Hasbro has the perfect storm for making earnings from merchandising products that come from movies and from the movies themselves, and they have a huge repertorie of products (toys and games) to draw from.

Toy-inspired movies are going to take the same path that comic-inspired movies have - only this sub-genre of films has an already proven and highly profitable track record.  We spoke, last week of the My Little Pony movie, which is in the works. Other projects include a movie based on the game Candyland  with Sony Pictures and possibly a film based upon Monopoly. Toys and games into films - works better than one might think. The Lego Movie is a prime example of this strange, off-beat, but profitable concept.

Film makers will use up every toy, game, and comic character if need be until we are left with nothing to cherish but our youthful (and sadly) perhaps our best memories, and in the process, stripping future generations' of their imaginations and dreams.  But, than again - it's all about the kids - right?

It's Not Personal ... It's Only Business

Godfather House on the Block

Got a spare $3 million. If so the Staten Island, NY mansion, where the Godfather movies were shot, can be yours. The home of the Corleones, in Godfather I and II, has gone on the block. Described in the real estate ad as an "enchanting English tudor" on a 24,000 sq. ft. lot the interior of the house was never in the movies, but provided a backdrop to a number of great scenes, most notably the wedding of Connie Corleone to Carlo Rizzi (later killed by Michael) for his betrayal of Sonnie.

Built in 1930 the house was the home of the Norton family. Completely renovated in 2012 it has five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, plus a gym, four car garage, two offices, saltwater pool, and a basement level pub and game room.

So, for those wanting a piece of movie history in their day-to-day life, this is it.  The Don would approve but don't go in with too low a bid or you may windup swimming with the fish.

Best
Jim

'CINEMA SCENE' by Seymore Flix

'The Force Awakens'

That's the new title to the 7th episode in the Star Wars movie franchise. So, we're back in business against the 'dark side'.  Do you feel a disturbance in the Force?

Disney quietly announced the title of the latest Star Wars saga on Twitter this week. Begs question: Why use Twitter to announce what is expected to be one of the most anticipated sequels of all time?
To me, it sounds like a Star Wars type movie name and Disney has stated that filming has wrapped - now it's off to post-production.  The movie is scheduled for release in mid-December of next year.

Episodes VII and IX are in the works (no titles on these yet) and it appears that 'The Force Awakens' will take off where the last episode ended.  The old cast is back and we're anxious to see how the trio makes out.

Google Must Reveal Pirated Trailer Source

Marvel Studios, a sub. of Disney, was granted a subpoena against Google which forces the search firm to reveal details about a YouTube user named 'John Gazelle'.  That user is believed to have uploaded a trailer of 'Age of Ultron', the blockbuster Avengers movie, one week before the carefully planned launch of the trailer - which was to appear during an ad break on the Marvel TV show Agents of SHIELD.

Marvel execs were livid about the leak and were determined to get the culprit.  To that end, they requested and were granted, by a U.S. Federal Judge, a subpoena instructing Google to devulge all of the information they have on a 'John Gazelle'.  Google must now bring "all identifying information for the user 'John Gazelle'" to a San Francisco court on November 18th, including, "the IP address from which the file named 'ap-tlr-1_int_360p.mp4' and containing content known as: Avengers:Age of Ultron and when that data was uploaded to the Google Drive Site".  The IP address will greatly assist in locating where the file was uploaded from.

In what is being viewed as 'an inside job', the video in question was illegally accessed from Marvel's data files and then posted to YouTube. In a similar law suit, Lionsgate successfully subpoenaed Google for information regarding sites hosting illegal downloads of The Expendables 3.

Harry Potter Folks: Pics - 1st vs. Last Episode

Yes, the Potter actors had big changes over the course of the 8 Potter films, see for yourself:

Daniel Radcliff

Emma Watson

Bonnie Wright

Rupert Grint

Welles' Infamous Lost Movie Gets To The Silver Screen

Orson Welles'  legendary final lost and unfinished movie is being resurrected from its grave and will hit movie theaters sometime next year if all goes according to plan.

Welles, with Huston and Bagdanovich

The movie will be completed by well-known and accomplished director Peter Bogdanovich and will be screened to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Welles' birthday next year.  Entitled the 'The Other Side of the Wind ', Welles shot the movie between 1969 and 1976 and stars the famous actor-director John Huston. The films centers around a veteran film-maker struggling to complete his final movie despite the collapse of the Hollywood studio system and the rise of a new wave of younger directors.

Welles, who died in 1985 at the age of 70, never completed the film but he did leave behind a 45 minute edited work print.  For over three decades, a reported 1,000 reels of film languished in a Paris warehouse as legal battles over the rights to the film ensued.  Welles' daughter, Beatrice, the sole heir to the estate, finally won control but then stashed the film in a warehouse.

Ironically, Bogdanovich was asked by Welles to complete the movie in the event of his death. "He just turned to me rather casually during lunch and said, "I want you to promise that you will finish the picture if anything happens to me". I was shocked", Bogdanovich says, "Nothing is going to happen to you, I told him".  Bogdanovich adds, "He did some very complicated editing before it was taken away from him. I don't even know if I can approximate that kind of cutting because it is very fragmented and idiosyncratic. All we can do is the best we can, using the script, his notes and what he has left."

'The Other Side of the Wind' is both the title of the movie and the film-within-a-film. The legend surrounding the movie is that it was shot using a variety of film stock, from 8 to 35mm, is in both color and black and white, as well as, having still photography shots.  Welles had hoped to use the varying styles of film-making to simulate video footage taken by students, critics, and lesser known directors who had brought cameras to the movie's character, played by Huston, 70th birthday party, and which forms the centerpiece of the movie.

"This is like finding the Land of Oz or some lost tomb", has Joe Karp, who wrote a book about  Welles' lost movie. "This film is art imitating life and life imitating art.  It's become so mythical because of what happened with all the failures to finish it and the players involved."

The negative reels were controlled by Beatrice Welles under French law protecting artists' rights, and she had previously refused to allow them to be removed from storage. The 45 minute work print, however, was at her home in Primosten,Croatia, where Welles had placed it in 1975.  Beatrice, last year finally give permission, and released the work print (which is now in California) and the negative reels so the movie could be completed. The catalyst was the hundred-year anniversary and Beatrice said she was inspired to release the rights because of that. "Until now, this movie has been under lock and key under French law. I had the good fortune to be able to protect it all these years", says Beatrice Welles.

'The Other Side of the Wind' will be released via Royal Road (with distribution by one of the large studios, as yet unannounced) to coincide with Welles' 100th birthday on May 6, 2015.

This is a must see movie, from the maker of what many say is the best film ever made, Citizen Kane.

Jim

Moviegoers in Superhero Fatigue

Enough is Enough. How many Superheros can Hollywood throw at us before we cry, "Uncle". It seems not enough as the studios are gaga over superhero inspired movies and there is no end in sight.

Superhero flix bring in the big bucks, provide franchise opportunities, and provide lucrative paydays for actors and directors.  Over the next five years, at minimum, 30 superheros movies are scheduled for release and that number could easily swell to 50. Disney, Warners, Fox and Sony are all poised to take full advantage of the superhero trend. For example, Marvel Studios (part of the Disney conglom)
has reported that it has a planning map of films out to 2028!

New heroes Black Panther and Captain Marvel are being added to the Marvel roster and would good reason. Since buying Marvel in 2008 for $4 billion, Disney has earned over $7 billion in return from movies and add-on products from the Marvel-based superheros.  Disney is not alone in the craze. Warners has Batman and Superman, Flash, the Fantastic Four and X-Men. Sony has Spiderman, and is adding Black Cat, Silver Sable, Spider-girl, and Silk to its super-line.

But can the trend be sustained.  Hollywood has a history of going overboard with movie concepts. Beating a trend until its dead and it could be (based on the dismal summer box office in the U.S.) that there may be an amount of superhero box office fatigue building.  But the studios are adamant, and don't see the reign of superhero movies ending any time soon, so long as they maintain their quality in special effects and character building.  Long live the superhero! And watch for the Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Dr. Strange, Glass Ceiling, Antman, and a host of other new supers joining the already bloated roster of supers at a cinema near you.

Black Panther

Oh, and least we forget. The other studios are betting on zombies, vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural beings. If you can't have superheros then go with the undead theme which hopefully comes with a series of novels each good for at least one movie in the hopes of building that most lucrative of movie trends - 'the franchise'.

All things come to an end and the superhero genre is no different.  It looks like its demise will be slow in coming but it will come none the less, hopefully in the meantime we'll be entertained with outstanding action-packed, high-impact movies.

Best
Jim