Hollywood’s wrangling with media coverage of weekend box office grosses is a delicate balance of pre-release cajoling, begging and arm twisting in an attempt to manage expectations, writes “Los Angeles Times” columnist Patrick Goldstein. “If your movie doesn't match those opening weekend predictions come Monday morning, you're faced with an onslaught of stories … [Read more...] about Studios Tap Down Outside Expectations
cinema distribution
No ‘Oscar Bounce’ For Nominees
Mainstream entertainment films lifted box office 15.4% year-to-date, but prestige films in the Oscar race are having a lousy year. The fabled “Oscar bounce” at the box office has eluded this year’s Academy Award contenders, notes the “Los Angeles Times.” “The whispers you hear everywhere around town are asking the same hushed question: What happened to the fabled Oscar … [Read more...] about No ‘Oscar Bounce’ For Nominees
Top Indie ‘Fireproof’ Warms Christian Demo
Uplifting martial relationship drama “Fireproof” beat long odds to be last year’s top grossing indie film with $33 million in domestic box office via Samuel Goldwyn Distribution. Marketing targeted the Christian audience that is sometimes called the faith demographic. At its widest distribution, "Fireproof" played at 905 theaters, according to Boxofficemojo.com, which … [Read more...] about Top Indie ‘Fireproof’ Warms Christian Demo
Oscar Films Roll Out Gradually
Oscar contenders are being screened all over Hollywood for industry insiders who are award voters, but have barely cracked the heartland of America, according to a “New York Times” article. That’s because distribution strategies call for slow roll-outs to theaters in increments. Notes the article by Michael Cieply, “‘Frost/Nixon,’ described far and wide as a favorite in the … [Read more...] about Oscar Films Roll Out Gradually
Documentaries in Collapse
It’s always amazing to see industry insiders forgeting that it’s moviegoer behavior that runs the business. The documentary sector is suffering a meltdown because insiders like highly-partisan content like anti-Iraq war critique “Fahrenheit 9/11,” ignoring industry wisdom that it’s an outlier from this rule of thumb. Political films with an angry bent have a long history of … [Read more...] about Documentaries in Collapse
Majors Exit Indie-Film Distribution
Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures are closing or retrenching four of their indie-style specialty distribution arms, after the majors rushed into low-budget, high-brow films in the 1990s. At that time, the majors emulated Walt Disney’s indie-diversification after acquiring Miramax Film. In recent actions, Paramount Vantage is being downsized. Across town, Warner … [Read more...] about Majors Exit Indie-Film Distribution
Disney Embraces Milder Family Films
Finding darker films like “The Alamo” and “Hidalgo” flopped, Walt Disney Studios put more emphasis on family friendly films with softer edges. The thinking is milder is good fit with the Disney brand, according to a “New York Times” article. First up in this drive is chasing-history yarn “National Treasure.” The "NYT" article by Neal Koch says that Disney is “planning … [Read more...] about Disney Embraces Milder Family Films