One sign of the times is seeing more and more experienced journalism professionals move over to PR and corporate public affairs. It's the best way for them to make real money, alas. Increasingly, "journalism" is a freelancer's game that rewards churning out lots of short copy with less insight and reporting than opinion. Take Daniel Frankel. He worked on various beats at Variety from 2001 until he was laid off (along with me and many others) during the recession of 2009. Sharon Waxman brought him in as news editor and senior writer for TheWrap, where he endured until the end of 2011, leaving to become West Coast senior editor for PaidContent, where he covered the entertainment media/tech beat. It seemed a perfect fit--until PaidContent was taken over by Gigaom, which had its own set of writers. Countless journalists have ditched journalism for PR/public affairs gigs, including Joe Schlosser, Alan Mayer, Ross Johnson,...
- 9/26/2012
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
If there's one driving force behind the advance of technology in 21st-century entertainment consumption, it's that viewers want what they want, when and where they want it, with the freedom to change their minds about it at any moment -- and nothing else. According to a Paid Content piece from Daniel Frankel Friday, Comcast, DirecTV, Dish Network and Time Warner Cable -- the big four of pay TV -- all lost subscribers in the second quarter for the first time, to the collective tune of 407,000 users. Frankel ties the trend to a shift from multi-channel packaging to the a-la-carte Web-delivered content consumers are increasingly choosing (and demanding). While this development does not mean that the quartet is about to collapse, it does indicate that users are taking advantage of cherry-picking services that allow them to avoid all the junk they never wanted, and never wanted to pay for. A tipping...
- 8/3/2012
- by Jay A. Fernandez
- Indiewire
A report by the Digital Entertainment Group released Sunday claims that subscription VOD services, led by Netflix, have buoyed Hollywood’s home entertainment sector to such a degree that revenue is actually up for the first time in five years, according to a Paid Content article by Daniel Frankel. But the question remains whether revenue from the digital models will ever fully replace the depressed VHS/DVD streams that sustained the industry for nearly 30 years. According to the data from the Deg study, U.S. home entertainment is up 1.4% through the end of June, with a ballooning $2.4 billion coming from digital businesses ($1.1 from Svod) and electronic sell-through even as physical media continues to tank. Here’s the money graf: With Netflix reporting $1.04 billion in U.S. streaming revenue during the first two quarters, it’s easy to tie this metric to Los Gatos, Calif. Yes, it’s all true you...
- 7/31/2012
- by Jay A. Fernandez
- Indiewire
Meryl Streep Oscar winner Meryl Streep became a three-time Academy Award winner after getting this year's Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in Phyllida Lloyd's The Iron Lady. In the above photo, Streep poses backstage with a naked man holding a strategically placed sword during the 84th Oscar ceremony held February 26. (Photo: Richard D. Salyer / © A.M.P.A.S.) Streep's previous two Oscars were as Best Supporting Actress for Robert Benton's Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), featuring Dustin Hoffman, Jane Alexander, and Justin Henry; and as Best Actress for Alan J. Pakula's Sophie's Choice (1982), with Kevin Kline and Peter MacNicol. Her Best Actress competitors this time around were Viola Davis for The Help, Michelle Williams (as Marilyn Monroe) for Simon Curtis' My Week with Marilyn, Rooney Mara (in Noomi Rapace's original role) for David Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo remake,...
- 3/8/2012
- by Anna Robinson
- Alt Film Guide
Dressed to Win: Best Actress Meryl Streep Best Actress Oscar winner Meryl Streep — whose dress and earring match her statuette — poses backstage at the 84th Academy Awards on February 26, 2012. Streep won for her performance as Margaret Thatcher in Phyllida Lloyd's biopic The Iron Lady. That was Streep's 17th Oscar nomination and her third win. (Photo: Todd Wawrychuk / © A.M.P.A.S.) Meryl Streep's Oscar 2012 competitors were SAG Award winner Viola Davis for Tate Taylor's The Help, Michelle Williams (as Marilyn Monroe) for Simon Curtis' My Week with Marilyn, Rooney Mara for David Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and Glenn Close for Rodrigo García's Albert Nobbs. Streep's previous Oscar nominations were: as Best Supporting Actress for Michael Cimino's The Deer Hunter (1978), with Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken; and as Best Actress for Karel Reisz's The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981), with...
- 3/7/2012
- by Anna Robinson
- Alt Film Guide
Meryl Streep, husband Don Gummer: Oscar 2012 Meryl Streep and husband Don Gummer at the Governors Ball after 84th Annual Academy Awards held at the Hollywood and Highland Center in Hollywood on Sunday, February 26, 2012. Streep won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance as Margaret Thatcher in Phyllida Lloyd's The Iron Lady. (Photo: © A.M.P.A.S.) While picking up her Oscar — her third — Streep said the following onstage (courtesy of AMPAS): "Thank you so much. Thank you, thank you. When they called my name I’d had this feeling I could hear half of America going 'oh no…oh c’mon…why…her…again?' But whatever. "First I’m going to thank Don because when you thank your husband at the end of the speech they play him out with the music and I want him to know that everything I value most in our lives you’ve given me.
- 3/5/2012
- by Anna Robinson
- Alt Film Guide
Meryl Streep Meryl Streep ended up beating Viola Davis at the 2012 Academy Awards this past Sunday. In the above photo, Streep is seen on her way to picking up her third Oscar statuette. In the background, Sandra Bullock can be seen applauding enthusiastically, while George Clooney admires Streep's dress and Owen Wilson holds his trousers up. (Photo: Darren Decker / ©A.M.P.A.S.) Two days after her Oscar victory, it was announced that Streep had donated $10,000 on behalf of Viola Davis to a charter school in the Rhode Island town of Central Falls, Davis' hometown. The school is reportedly attempting to raise money to buy the building where it's located or move to another site. Some have taken to the Internet to complain that Streep's donation represents a minuscule percentage of her earnings. Never mind the fact that Streep has donated (much more?) money to other causes as well — but that those go unreported.
- 3/1/2012
- by D. Zhea
- Alt Film Guide
Meryl Streep Meryl Streep defeated Viola Davis at the 2012 Academy Awards this past Sunday. In the above photo, Streep is seen on her way to picking up her third Oscar statuette. In the background, Sandra Bullock can be seen applauding enthusiastically, while George Clooney admires Streep's dress and Owen Wilson holds his trousers up. (Photo: Darren Decker / ©A.M.P.A.S.) Two days after her Oscar victory, it was announced that Streep had donated $10,000 on behalf of Davis to a charter school in the Rhode Island town of Central Falls, Davis' hometown. The school is reportedly attempting to raise money to buy the building where it's located or move to another site. Some have taken to the Internet to complain that Streep's donation represents a minuscule percentage of her earnings. Never mind the possibility that Streep has donated (much more?) money to other causes as well — but that those go unreported.
- 3/1/2012
- by D. Zhea
- Alt Film Guide
Octavia Spencer, Meryl Streep Octavia Spencer — quite literally — joins Meryl Streep at 2012 post-Oscar ceremony Governors Ball held at Hollywood and Highland Center in Hollywood, CA, Sunday, February 26. Spencer was the Best Supporting Actress winner for her performance in Tate Taylor's socially conscious comedy-drama The Help. Streep was the Best Actress winner for her performance as former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher in Phyllida Lloyd's The Iron Lady. (Photo: Darren Decker / ©A.M.P.A.S.) Octavia Spencer was a first-time nominee. Her Best Supporting Actress competition consisted of fellow first-time nominees Jessica Chastain for The Help, Bérénice Bejo for Michel Hazanavicius' The Artist, and Melissa McCarthy for Paul Feig's Bridesmaids, in addition to two-time nominee Janet McTeer for Rodrigo García's Albert Nobbs. McTeer had been previously shortlisted in the Best Actress category for Gavin O'Connor's Tumbleweeds (1999). Meryl Streep's competitors in the Best Actress...
- 2/29/2012
- by D. Zhea
- Alt Film Guide
Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep Tom Cruise poses with Meryl Streep during the 2012 Academy Awards ceremony at Hollywood and Highland Center on Sunday, February 26. Cruise, looking very much like his old Top Gun and Cocktail self, was the evening's Best Picture presenter. Streep was the Best Actress Oscar winner for playing Margaret Thatcher in Phyllida Lloyd's The Iron Lady. Also worth noting, Cruise and Streep co-starred in Robert Redford's political drama Lions for Lambs in 2006. (Photo: Todd Wawrychuk / © A.M.P.A.S.) Tom Cruise presented the Best Picture Oscar to Michel Hazanavicius' black-and-white near-silent comedy-drama The Artist. Cruise's movie Mission: Impossible IV – Ghost Protocol was a major late-year box-office hit and received quite enthusiastic reviews, but failed to be shortlisted in any Oscar category. Cruise's next film is Adam Shankman's Rock of Ages, featuring an extensive cast that includes Malin Akerman, Bryan Cranston, Best Supporting Actress...
- 2/28/2012
- by D. Zhea
- Alt Film Guide
Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep Tom Cruise congratulates Best Actress Oscar winner Meryl Streep — for Phyllida Lloyd's The Iron Lady — backstage during the 2012 Academy Awards ceremony held at the Hollywood and Highland Center on Sunday, February 26. Cruise and Streep co-starred in Robert Redford's political/Iraq War drama Lions for Lambs in 2006; the film was a box-office flop in the United States, but did solid business overseas. (Photo: Todd Wawrychuk / © A.M.P.A.S.) Tom Cruise wasn't nominated for anything this year; he was the presenter of the Best Picture Academy Award, which went to Michel Hazanavicius' The Artist. Cruise's movie Mission: Impossible IV – Ghost Protocol was a major late-year box-office hit and received quite enthusiastic reviews. Cruise's next vehicle is Adam Shankman's Rock of Ages, featuring an eclectic cast that includes Malin Akerman, Bryan Cranston, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Alec Baldwin, Julianne Hough, Paul Giamatti, Russell Brand, Hugh Forte,...
- 2/28/2012
- by D. Zhea
- Alt Film Guide
Meryl Streep, Christopher Plummer (and The Descendants' Alexander Payne in the background) Best Actress Meryl Streep chats — or at least looks into the eyes of — Best Supporting Actor Christopher Plummer backstage during the 2012 Academy Awards. This year's Oscar ceremony was held at the Hollywood and Highland Center in Hollywood, CA, Sunday, February 26. Streep won the Oscar for her performance as Margaret Thatcher in Phyllida Lloyd's The Iron Lady. Plummer (Stage Struck, The Sound of Music, The Man Who Would Be King) won for his performance as Ewan McGregor's gay father in Mike Mills' semi-autobiographical Beginners. (Photo: Todd Wawrychuk / ©A.M.P.A.S.) Meryl Streep's competition for the Best Actress Oscar was comprised of Viola Davis for Tate Taylor's The Help, Michelle Williams (as Marilyn Monroe) for Simon Curtis' My Week with Marilyn, Rooney Mara for David Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,...
- 2/27/2012
- by D. Zhea
- Alt Film Guide
Meryl Streep Meryl Streep arrives for the 84th Academy Awards held at the formerly-known-as Kodak Theater in Hollywood, CA February 26, 2012. Streep was a Best Actress nominee this year for Phyllida Lloyd's The Iron Lady, in which she plays former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher. That was her seventeenth Oscar nod — and her first win since Sophie's Choice in early 1983. (Heather Ikei / ©A.M.P.A.S.) Meryl Streep's competitors for the Best Actress Oscar were Viola Davis for Tate Taylor's The Help, Michelle Williams (as Marilyn Monroe) for Simon Curtis' My Week with Marilyn, Rooney Mara for David Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and Glenn Close for Rodrigo García's Albert Nobbs. Streep has been nominated for a record 17 Academy Awards. Her previous nominations include those for Karel Reisz's The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981), with Jeremy Irons; Mike Nichols' Silkwood (1983), with Kurt Russell...
- 2/27/2012
- by D. Zhea
- Alt Film Guide
Brad Pitt, Bill Pohlad, Meryl Streep Brad Pitt, Bill Pohlad, and Meryl Streep at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Oscar Nominees Luncheon in Beverly Hills on Monday, February 6, 2012. Pitt is a Best Actor nominee for Bennett Miller's Moneyball. Pohlad is one of the nominated producers of Terrence Malick's Best Picture nominee The Tree of Life, in which coincidentally Pitt has a key role. (Pohlad's fellow The Tree of Life nominees are Sarah Green, Grant Hill, and Dede Gardner.) Streep is a Best Actress nominee for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in Phyllida Lloyd's The Iron Lady. (Photo: Greg Harbaugh / © A.M.P.A.S.) Brad Pitt, who has said he'll be abstaining from voting in the Best Actor category, is competing with Golden Globe (Drama) winner George Clooney for Alexander Payne's The Descendants; Golden Globe (Comedy/Musical), BAFTA, and SAG Award winner, and...
- 2/22/2012
- by D. Zhea
- Alt Film Guide
This was the startling conclusion of Daniel Frankel at TheWrap after this weekend’s box office results: No one is thinking of the menz! The strong showing of "Immortals" and "Jack and Jill" this weekend -- raking in a total of $57 million combined and beating expectations -- buoyed Hollywood's hope that young men were finally turning back to the cineplex. Uh, not so fast. Exit polls showed that males made up 60 percent of the "Immortals'" audience. But only 37 percent came from moviegoers under 25 -- the segment that includes the endangered moviegoing species of young men. Compare that to "300," which when it opened in 2007 had 52% of its audience under 25 and was also 60% male. And Adam Sandler? His "Jack and Jill" audience was 52 percent female. This is Hollywood: Young men as a moviegoing audience are “endangered” if there’s a weekend that is not dominated by movies that young men want to see.
- 11/15/2011
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
After trailing behind Real Steel on the weekend and on Monday, Footloose topped the North American box-office chart for three days in a row. Its box-office rule, however, is already over, as Paranormal Activity 3 opened with an estimated $8 million at Thursday midnight screenings at 2,200 locations, according to Box Office Mojo. [Photo: Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough in Footloose.] As Bom's Ray Subers remarks, that's considerably better than Paranormal Activity 2's $6.3m at 1,800 sites last year. Paranormal Activity 2 went on to gross $84.75 million in the Us/Canada and $177.51 million worldwide. The original Paranormal Activity collected $193.35 million worldwide. Including Thursday midnight's box-office take, Paranormal Activity 3 is expected to take in approximately $40 million this weekend — that would be more than any other movie at the North American box office since Rise of the Planet of the Apes on the first weekend of August. That is also proof that, as pundits everywhere affirm, audiences want original, quality movies and storylines.
- 10/22/2011
- by Zac Gille
- Alt Film Guide
Real Steel and Footloose are at a near-dead-heat for first-place at the North American box office this weekend (Oct. 14-16), according to studio estimates found at Box Office Mojo. The gap between the two movies is about $200,000: Real Steel with $16.3 million and Footloose with $16.1 million. Their positions may be reversed when weekend box-office actuals are released tomorrow. [Right: Kenny Wormald in Footloose.] Having fallen short of the $20 million some had been expecting, Footloose wasn't the only box-office disappointment this weekend. The Thing earned only $8.7 million at no. 3, when most pundits had been expecting earnings between $10-15 million. Worst of all was The Big Year, which brought in even less money than the predicted $4 million after a dismal Friday bow: despite the presence of Steve Martin, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson, the Daniel Frankel-directed comedy drew an estimated $3.32m at no. 9 ($1,547 average at 2,150 sites), making it one of the worst wide-release openings in recent memory and,...
- 10/16/2011
- by Zac Gille
- Alt Film Guide
The Hollywood Reporter: Daniel Miller writes that sources close to the investigation into the murder of veteran Oscar publicist Ronni Chasen have told him that their “working theory” is that Chasen’s death “was planned in advance and not the result of road rage or a carjacking gone awry.” Apparently, “police have obtained relevant footage from one or perhaps multiple security cameras located at… the home of Sherry Hackett, widow of the late comedian and actor Buddy Hackett.”
Deadline Hollywood: Pete Hammond documents this week’s frenzy of screenings and Q&As on both coasts for members of the WGA, PGA, DGA, SAG and countless media organizations. (Full disclosure: our own Scott Feinberg moderated two of this week’s New York Q&A’s, for “Frankie and Alice” with best actress hopeful Halle Berry and for “Black Swan” with best director hopeful Darren Aronofsky, best actress hopeful Natalie Portman,...
Deadline Hollywood: Pete Hammond documents this week’s frenzy of screenings and Q&As on both coasts for members of the WGA, PGA, DGA, SAG and countless media organizations. (Full disclosure: our own Scott Feinberg moderated two of this week’s New York Q&A’s, for “Frankie and Alice” with best actress hopeful Halle Berry and for “Black Swan” with best director hopeful Darren Aronofsky, best actress hopeful Natalie Portman,...
- 11/19/2010
- by Mary Skawinski
- Scott Feinberg
Deadline Hollywood: Mike Fleming details Harvey Weinstein’s game-plan for awards hopeful “Blue Valentine” in the aftermath of the MPAA’s decision to rate it Nc-17 (including hiring super-attorney David Boies, who represented Al Gore before the U.S. Supreme Court in Gore v. Bush, to represent his claim before the MPAA) and passes along a statement about the matter that Weinstein issued yesterday: “We respect the work of the MPAA and we hope, after having a chance to sit down with them, they will see that our appeal is reasonable, and the film, which is an honest and personal portrait of a relationship, would be significantly harmed by such a rating.”
Movie Line: S.T. VanAirsdale looks back at the history of the Nc-17 rating, which was first awarded 20 years ago to Phil Kaufman’s “Henry and June” (1990). Among the other films that have received the dreaded “black spot”:...
Movie Line: S.T. VanAirsdale looks back at the history of the Nc-17 rating, which was first awarded 20 years ago to Phil Kaufman’s “Henry and June” (1990). Among the other films that have received the dreaded “black spot”:...
- 10/15/2010
- by Scott Feinberg
- Scott Feinberg
Are audiences losing interest in the 3D revolution? The above graph, by TheWrap's Daniel Frankel, suggests they just might be. The percentage swing in 3D numbers would appear to indicate that audiences are increasingly less willing to shell out on higher ticket prices. This represents a big downward shift in the numbers, which peaked with Avatar's release last December.
It's not surprising that the movies that have followed Avatar haven't seen the same amount of take-up for their 3D incarnations - part of Avatar's campaign and word-of-mouth allure was the insistence that the movie had to be seen in 3D to get the full effect. But the numbers for films like Toy Story 3 and The Last Airbender, which were also largely marketed on how they looked in 3D, are a touch disappointing.
As opponents of the 3D revolution have been pointing out in recent months, the fad for 3D...
It's not surprising that the movies that have followed Avatar haven't seen the same amount of take-up for their 3D incarnations - part of Avatar's campaign and word-of-mouth allure was the insistence that the movie had to be seen in 3D to get the full effect. But the numbers for films like Toy Story 3 and The Last Airbender, which were also largely marketed on how they looked in 3D, are a touch disappointing.
As opponents of the 3D revolution have been pointing out in recent months, the fad for 3D...
- 7/22/2010
- by Joe Utichi
- Cinematical
The Wrap has published a long article on 3D's future in Hollywood which includes a nice chart designed by Daniel Frankel which chronicles the drop of opening weekend box office revenue that came from 3D movie tickets. On the surface this graph seems pretty damming, but I'm not sure I completely buy the story it tells. First off: I think it is completely unfair to include James Cameron's Avatar in this graph for many reasons. Secondly, it is the only PG-13 film included on the list. The other films are mostly family targeted. I would assume that families are the ones choosing 2D over 3D as the price of 3D tickets for a family of four or five is much less affordable.Where as teenagers and adults going alone or with a date might be more willing to pay for the 3D premium. Thirdly, there might also be something...
- 7/21/2010
- by Peter Sciretta
- Slash Film
Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Eclipse The Twilight Saga: Eclipse has already broken one box-office-related record: number of theaters screening a single film. Twihards and Twihaters alike may choose from 4,416 venues — including 193 IMAX sites — in North America to cheer/snicker at Kristen Stewart‘s human Bella Swan bouncing back and forth between Robert Pattinson‘s vampire Edward Cullen and Taylor Lautner‘s Jacob Black. Now, expect huge numbers as this is definitely one instance in which the third installment of a movie franchise will bring in more cash than its predecessors. But how huge will Eclipse‘s box-office brilliance be on opening weekend? Well, here are a few guess-timates: Daniel Frankel at TheWrap: "conservative forecasts" predict $150m in the first six days (Wed-Mon, a belated 4th of July holiday for Us government/most businesses). Exhibitor Relations’ Jeff Bock as quoted at E! Online: $50m on opening day; another $70m over the three-day weekend.
- 6/30/2010
- by Zac Gille
- Alt Film Guide
By Daniel Frankel
After a painfully slow May, the domestic box office is now officially hot, with a family film enjoying a huge opening for the second straight weekend.
This one was sort of expected.
Bouyed by stellar reviews and primo 3D ticket up charges, Disney/Pixar's "Toy Story 3" grossed $41 million in the U.S. and Canada Friday, according to studio estimates, putting it on pace for a three-day weekend gross of about $120 million.
That would better the openings of both "Finding Nemo" ($70.2 million) and "The Incredibles" ($70.4 million), ...
After a painfully slow May, the domestic box office is now officially hot, with a family film enjoying a huge opening for the second straight weekend.
This one was sort of expected.
Bouyed by stellar reviews and primo 3D ticket up charges, Disney/Pixar's "Toy Story 3" grossed $41 million in the U.S. and Canada Friday, according to studio estimates, putting it on pace for a three-day weekend gross of about $120 million.
That would better the openings of both "Finding Nemo" ($70.2 million) and "The Incredibles" ($70.4 million), ...
- 6/19/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
Warner Bros. has hired top CW publicity man Paul McGuire to serve as senior VP of worldwide corporate communications, covering the entire Warner Bros. Entertainment umbrella while serving under executive VP Susan Fleishman, the studio announced Thursday.
McGuire will continue to serve an advisory role to The CW Network, which is co-owned by Warner.
In his new role, McGuire will assume some of the duties previously handled by Scott Rowe, just named senior VP...
Warner Bros. has hired top CW publicity man Paul McGuire to serve as senior VP of worldwide corporate communications, covering the entire Warner Bros. Entertainment umbrella while serving under executive VP Susan Fleishman, the studio announced Thursday.
McGuire will continue to serve an advisory role to The CW Network, which is co-owned by Warner.
In his new role, McGuire will assume some of the duties previously handled by Scott Rowe, just named senior VP...
- 6/17/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
It’s not the kind of talent feeding frenzy that, say, “Friends” kicked off 15 years ago, but the cast of a new NBC Thursday-night comedy is once again migrating to features en masse.
Gillian Jacobs is the latest cast member from NBC’s half-hour junior-college send-up “Community” to spend her summer hiatus on a movie set. She’s currently in Los Angeles shooting the indie comedy “Let Go,” a project from first-time writer-director-producer Brian Jett that also stars David Denman, Kevin Hart and Ed Asner.
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It’s not the kind of talent feeding frenzy that, say, “Friends” kicked off 15 years ago, but the cast of a new NBC Thursday-night comedy is once again migrating to features en masse.
Gillian Jacobs is the latest cast member from NBC’s half-hour junior-college send-up “Community” to spend her summer hiatus on a movie set. She’s currently in Los Angeles shooting the indie comedy “Let Go,” a project from first-time writer-director-producer Brian Jett that also stars David Denman, Kevin Hart and Ed Asner.
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- 6/16/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
Kristen Stewart in Chris Weitz’s The Twilight Saga: New Moon At TheWrap, Brent Lang explains how tracking Twitter users may be more reliable than more old-fashioned tracking systems such as the Hollywood Stock Exchange. According to Bernardo Huberman, who co-authored a study about the Twitter box-office effect, "If you looked at what happened with New Moon and The Blind Side, you might see the same trend. There was a lot of activity on Twitter leading up to New Moon, but the amount of negative feedback increased after the opening weekend when people saw the film. The opposite was the case with Blind Side, which saw its second-weekend numbers increase." In another piece, Daniel Frankel tracks box-office tracking — which has been way off lately. Addendum: Toy Story 3 is currently “trending” — thanks to a promotional plug by Disney-Pixar. Proof of Twitter Power…...
- 6/16/2010
- by Zhea D.
- Alt Film Guide
By Daniel Frankel
With the film’s pre-release tracking in need of some heat, Paramount has moved M. Night Shyamalan’s upcoming “The Last Airbender” up a day, to Thursday July 1.
The bump will give the movie an extra day to collect ticket sales before the official start of the July 4 holiday weekend.
The first of a three-part franchise that tallies a $250 million production spend is currently on pace to open to only around $30 million, according to som...
With the film’s pre-release tracking in need of some heat, Paramount has moved M. Night Shyamalan’s upcoming “The Last Airbender” up a day, to Thursday July 1.
The bump will give the movie an extra day to collect ticket sales before the official start of the July 4 holiday weekend.
The first of a three-part franchise that tallies a $250 million production spend is currently on pace to open to only around $30 million, according to som...
- 6/16/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
Amelia Stewart has been promoted to VP of media relations for the Comcast Entertainment Group.
Moving up from executive director of corporate communications, Stewart will now oversee all corporate communications initiatives, including trade press, for the Comcast Entertainment Group, was well as E! Entertainment Television, the Style Network and G4.
Stewart has been with Comcast since 2006, arriving from Discovery Communications.
“Amelia is a ...
Amelia Stewart has been promoted to VP of media relations for the Comcast Entertainment Group.
Moving up from executive director of corporate communications, Stewart will now oversee all corporate communications initiatives, including trade press, for the Comcast Entertainment Group, was well as E! Entertainment Television, the Style Network and G4.
Stewart has been with Comcast since 2006, arriving from Discovery Communications.
“Amelia is a ...
- 6/16/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
How exact a science is movie tracking? Lately -- not very.
Over Memorial Day weekend, Warner Brother’s “Sex and the City 2” was forecast to take in around $60 million. It ended up making just $36.8 million.
A week earlier, DreamWorks Animation’s “Shrek Forever After” was on track to take in about $90 million, but it ended up opening to just $70.8 million. Then last weekend, the opposite happened with Sony's "Karate Kid." Its domestic opening beat the high end of pre-release forecasts by a stunning $20 million. What's...
How exact a science is movie tracking? Lately -- not very.
Over Memorial Day weekend, Warner Brother’s “Sex and the City 2” was forecast to take in around $60 million. It ended up making just $36.8 million.
A week earlier, DreamWorks Animation’s “Shrek Forever After” was on track to take in about $90 million, but it ended up opening to just $70.8 million. Then last weekend, the opposite happened with Sony's "Karate Kid." Its domestic opening beat the high end of pre-release forecasts by a stunning $20 million. What's...
- 6/16/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
Game 5 of the NBA Finals yielded a huge night for ABC, yielding big year-to-year ratings gains and leading the network to a Sunday-night win in virtually every key ratings benchmark.
Here are Sunday’s ratings highlights.
Party Like It’S 2008: With the Boston Celtics putting the Los Angeles Lakers in their hot-tub time machine, transporting them to 2008, when they easily beat L.A., Game 5 of the NBA Finals yielded a 36 percent ratings bounce from Game 5 of the championship round last year. The final hour of coverage averaged more than 16.1 million viewers, wh...
Game 5 of the NBA Finals yielded a huge night for ABC, yielding big year-to-year ratings gains and leading the network to a Sunday-night win in virtually every key ratings benchmark.
Here are Sunday’s ratings highlights.
Party Like It’S 2008: With the Boston Celtics putting the Los Angeles Lakers in their hot-tub time machine, transporting them to 2008, when they easily beat L.A., Game 5 of the NBA Finals yielded a 36 percent ratings bounce from Game 5 of the championship round last year. The final hour of coverage averaged more than 16.1 million viewers, wh...
- 6/14/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
Six weeks in, the summer movie season has its first hit.
Sony remake "The Karate Kid" surpassed the high end of its pre-release tracking by over $20 million this weekend, grossing $56 million, according to studio estimates.
Sony distribution chief Rory Bruer, who was a Los Angeles-based regional sales rep for Columbia Pictures when the first "Kid" was released in 1984, called the debut "crazy cool," noting that he has seen few films score as well in pre-release testing.
<img alt="" style="margin: 10px; height: 452px; width: 300px; fl...
Six weeks in, the summer movie season has its first hit.
Sony remake "The Karate Kid" surpassed the high end of its pre-release tracking by over $20 million this weekend, grossing $56 million, according to studio estimates.
Sony distribution chief Rory Bruer, who was a Los Angeles-based regional sales rep for Columbia Pictures when the first "Kid" was released in 1984, called the debut "crazy cool," noting that he has seen few films score as well in pre-release testing.
<img alt="" style="margin: 10px; height: 452px; width: 300px; fl...
- 6/13/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
After a painfully slow start, the summer box office has its first hit with the Sony remake of the 1980s bully-backlash classic "The Karate Kid."
Meanwhile, Fox's remake of the 1980s fun-loving mercenaries-themed "The A-Team" did Friday what pretty much every other big film has done at the domestic box office this spring -- disappoint.
Finishing with $18.8 million Friday, according to studio estimates, the $40 million "Karate Kid" is on pace to finish the weekend with over $50 million -- way above pre-release tracking estimates in the $30 mill...
After a painfully slow start, the summer box office has its first hit with the Sony remake of the 1980s bully-backlash classic "The Karate Kid."
Meanwhile, Fox's remake of the 1980s fun-loving mercenaries-themed "The A-Team" did Friday what pretty much every other big film has done at the domestic box office this spring -- disappoint.
Finishing with $18.8 million Friday, according to studio estimates, the $40 million "Karate Kid" is on pace to finish the weekend with over $50 million -- way above pre-release tracking estimates in the $30 mill...
- 6/12/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
The major Hollywood guilds have contacted Disney, expressing their concern over a possible sale of Miramax to an investment firm headed by David Bergstein, the New York Times reports.
According to the Times report, the Screen Actors Guild, the Directors Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America have expressed their alarm over the possibility of the Bergstein-headed group acquiring Miramax.
The guilds are listed as creditors in involuntary bankruptcy procedings that several Bergstein-owned companies are undergoing.
Disney and Bergstein’s group...
The major Hollywood guilds have contacted Disney, expressing their concern over a possible sale of Miramax to an investment firm headed by David Bergstein, the New York Times reports.
According to the Times report, the Screen Actors Guild, the Directors Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America have expressed their alarm over the possibility of the Bergstein-headed group acquiring Miramax.
The guilds are listed as creditors in involuntary bankruptcy procedings that several Bergstein-owned companies are undergoing.
Disney and Bergstein’s group...
- 6/11/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
Can a pair of reboots reboot the stagnating box office?
The good news this weekend: Awareness levels for the new films coming is really high.
Unfortunately for Fox and Sony, which are readying the Friday launches of “The A-Team” and “The Karate Kid,” respectively, moviegoing has been softer than a cup of Jackie Chan’s ramen noodles.
In fact, the domestic box office is down about 4 percent year-to-year for the first five weeks of the summer season. Naturally, distribution executives are a little skittish.
“A few weeks ago, I wou...
Can a pair of reboots reboot the stagnating box office?
The good news this weekend: Awareness levels for the new films coming is really high.
Unfortunately for Fox and Sony, which are readying the Friday launches of “The A-Team” and “The Karate Kid,” respectively, moviegoing has been softer than a cup of Jackie Chan’s ramen noodles.
In fact, the domestic box office is down about 4 percent year-to-year for the first five weeks of the summer season. Naturally, distribution executives are a little skittish.
“A few weeks ago, I wou...
- 6/10/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Lisa Horowitz and Daniel Frankel
Mark Cuban reportedly is tendering his stake in Lionsgate to Carl Icahn, whose ongoing takeover bid has proven unsuccessful -- so far.
Icahn holds 19 percent of the company's stock, and says he's been tendered an additional 4 percent in his long-running takeover attempt. Adding Cuban's 5 percent puts Icahn in the neighborhood of 28 percent.
If Icahn's ownership stake surpasses 33 percent, a provision will be triggered that delivers $16 million wort...
Mark Cuban reportedly is tendering his stake in Lionsgate to Carl Icahn, whose ongoing takeover bid has proven unsuccessful -- so far.
Icahn holds 19 percent of the company's stock, and says he's been tendered an additional 4 percent in his long-running takeover attempt. Adding Cuban's 5 percent puts Icahn in the neighborhood of 28 percent.
If Icahn's ownership stake surpasses 33 percent, a provision will be triggered that delivers $16 million wort...
- 6/10/2010
- by Lew Harris
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
Not everyone loves the World Cup.
Already dealing with a soft domestic market, movie distributors are worried that the popular soccer tournament, which kicks off Friday in South Africa with 32 teams spanning 32 countries, will dampen the booming international box office.
“It factors in a whole lot for everybody,” concedes Disney theatrical distribution president Chuck Viane. “You always try to find those spots on the calendar that are your best launching areas, but with the World Cup, you’re going to be in a much tighter competitive landscape.”</p...
Not everyone loves the World Cup.
Already dealing with a soft domestic market, movie distributors are worried that the popular soccer tournament, which kicks off Friday in South Africa with 32 teams spanning 32 countries, will dampen the booming international box office.
“It factors in a whole lot for everybody,” concedes Disney theatrical distribution president Chuck Viane. “You always try to find those spots on the calendar that are your best launching areas, but with the World Cup, you’re going to be in a much tighter competitive landscape.”</p...
- 6/10/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
Universal on Wednesday officially announced the continuation of its “Bourne” franchise, with Tony Gilroy signed to write the fourth installment, “The Bourne Legacy.”
Matt Damon, star of the first three installments, has yet to commit to the next film, which Universal hopes to release in 2012. Likewise, Paul Greengrass, who directed the last two installments, has not signed on. Both have been asked by Universal to come on board, but both have publicly stated that they don't intend to.
An official close to Universal said the studio still hopes to en...
Universal on Wednesday officially announced the continuation of its “Bourne” franchise, with Tony Gilroy signed to write the fourth installment, “The Bourne Legacy.”
Matt Damon, star of the first three installments, has yet to commit to the next film, which Universal hopes to release in 2012. Likewise, Paul Greengrass, who directed the last two installments, has not signed on. Both have been asked by Universal to come on board, but both have publicly stated that they don't intend to.
An official close to Universal said the studio still hopes to en...
- 6/9/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
Six months in, CBS Corp.’s bold venture into big-league film production and distribution doesn’t appear to be getting any easier.
On Monday, CBS Films announced that it will push its summer release “Beastly” all the way back from July 30 to March 2011, moving the Vanessa Hudgens-starrer out of the line of fire of her "High School Musical" co-star Zac Efron's "Charlie St. Cloud."
"St. Cloud" was pushed forward in April from a scheduled October release.
<img style="margin: 10px; height: 202px; width: ...
Six months in, CBS Corp.’s bold venture into big-league film production and distribution doesn’t appear to be getting any easier.
On Monday, CBS Films announced that it will push its summer release “Beastly” all the way back from July 30 to March 2011, moving the Vanessa Hudgens-starrer out of the line of fire of her "High School Musical" co-star Zac Efron's "Charlie St. Cloud."
"St. Cloud" was pushed forward in April from a scheduled October release.
<img style="margin: 10px; height: 202px; width: ...
- 6/9/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
IMAX Corp. has hired longtime United International Pictures executive Anthony Vogels as VP of international film development.
In the newly created position, the Los Angeles-based Vogels will be responsible for developing and representing the big-screen exhibitor’s international film interests, which includes exploring the business of local-language digitally re-mastered films in the IMAX format.
Vogels will r...
IMAX Corp. has hired longtime United International Pictures executive Anthony Vogels as VP of international film development.
In the newly created position, the Los Angeles-based Vogels will be responsible for developing and representing the big-screen exhibitor’s international film interests, which includes exploring the business of local-language digitally re-mastered films in the IMAX format.
Vogels will r...
- 6/8/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
Veteran entertainment publicist and political activist Stephen Rivers died Monday after a long bout with cancer.
Serving a range of high-level clients who included Barbra Streisand, Jane Fonda, the Kennedy family and Jordan’s Queen Noor, as well as the United Farm Workers union.
He also for years represented Michael Ovitz during the tumultuous period in the 1990s when Ovitz reigned Hollywood, but then began his fall from grace. For many journalists, River...
Veteran entertainment publicist and political activist Stephen Rivers died Monday after a long bout with cancer.
Serving a range of high-level clients who included Barbra Streisand, Jane Fonda, the Kennedy family and Jordan’s Queen Noor, as well as the United Farm Workers union.
He also for years represented Michael Ovitz during the tumultuous period in the 1990s when Ovitz reigned Hollywood, but then began his fall from grace. For many journalists, River...
- 6/8/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
Discovery Channel chief operating officer Tom Cosgrove has been chosen to head up the new 3D television channel being jointly launched next year by Discover, Sony and IMAX.
Cosgrove will operate under the title of president and general manager of the as-yet-unnamed channel, which will present a 24/7 array of what the principals describe as “high-quality premium content from genres that are appealing in 3D, including natural history, space, exploration, a...
Discovery Channel chief operating officer Tom Cosgrove has been chosen to head up the new 3D television channel being jointly launched next year by Discover, Sony and IMAX.
Cosgrove will operate under the title of president and general manager of the as-yet-unnamed channel, which will present a 24/7 array of what the principals describe as “high-quality premium content from genres that are appealing in 3D, including natural history, space, exploration, a...
- 6/8/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
The Cinema Advertising Council released figures Monday showing that its members actually grew their ad revenue by 2 percent in 2009 to over $584 million.
In-movie-theater advertising can still be classified in the nascent stage. However, with most platforms experiencing ad-revenue declines last year – TV was down in the double-digits – growth is growth.
“What we’ve done is lay a lot of groundwork, presenting to both clients and agencies and explainging to them how cinema not only works in their out-of-home plans, but also in their broadcast and cable pl...
The Cinema Advertising Council released figures Monday showing that its members actually grew their ad revenue by 2 percent in 2009 to over $584 million.
In-movie-theater advertising can still be classified in the nascent stage. However, with most platforms experiencing ad-revenue declines last year – TV was down in the double-digits – growth is growth.
“What we’ve done is lay a lot of groundwork, presenting to both clients and agencies and explainging to them how cinema not only works in their out-of-home plans, but also in their broadcast and cable pl...
- 6/6/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
The domestic box-office continued its chilly start to the summer season, debuting four underwhelming new wide releases amid an overall market that was off 23 percent from the same weekend in 2009.
Only one film broke the $20 million barrier, three-week-old 3D holdover "Shrek Forever After" ($25.3 million). The new entries were headlined by Universal's Judd Apatow-produced "Get Him to the Greek," which debuted to $17.4 million.
That was in line with tracking estimates for the $40 million film, co-produced with Relativity Media and Spyglass Entertainment, and...
The domestic box-office continued its chilly start to the summer season, debuting four underwhelming new wide releases amid an overall market that was off 23 percent from the same weekend in 2009.
Only one film broke the $20 million barrier, three-week-old 3D holdover "Shrek Forever After" ($25.3 million). The new entries were headlined by Universal's Judd Apatow-produced "Get Him to the Greek," which debuted to $17.4 million.
That was in line with tracking estimates for the $40 million film, co-produced with Relativity Media and Spyglass Entertainment, and...
- 6/6/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
Apparently, the "hangover" felt at the domestic box office Friday was the kind an industry gets from going on a record revenue bender the year prior, and not the type that opens to $20 million above its tracking.
The weekend's big comedy releases, Universal's Judd Apatow-produced "Get Him to the Greek" and Lionsgate's Ashton Kutcher/Katherine Heigl film "Killers" both are on track to meet middling pre-release opening estimates in the mid--to-high teens, grossing $6.2 million and $5.6 million respectively on Friday, according to studio estimates.
T...
Apparently, the "hangover" felt at the domestic box office Friday was the kind an industry gets from going on a record revenue bender the year prior, and not the type that opens to $20 million above its tracking.
The weekend's big comedy releases, Universal's Judd Apatow-produced "Get Him to the Greek" and Lionsgate's Ashton Kutcher/Katherine Heigl film "Killers" both are on track to meet middling pre-release opening estimates in the mid--to-high teens, grossing $6.2 million and $5.6 million respectively on Friday, according to studio estimates.
T...
- 6/5/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
The Producers Guild of America on Friday announced the election of Mark Gordon and Hawk Koch as co-presidents.
Other 2010 national board and develgate election vogtes included the selection of Gary Lucchesi as VP of motion pictures; Hayma "Screech" Washington as VP of television; Lauren Shuler Donner as treasurer; and Gale Anne Hurd as recording secretary.
The elections took place amid the PGA's general membership meeting on the Culver Studios lot Friday.
The guild's "Produced By' conference is set to kick off on Saturday.
Gordon is a former PGA n...
The Producers Guild of America on Friday announced the election of Mark Gordon and Hawk Koch as co-presidents.
Other 2010 national board and develgate election vogtes included the selection of Gary Lucchesi as VP of motion pictures; Hayma "Screech" Washington as VP of television; Lauren Shuler Donner as treasurer; and Gale Anne Hurd as recording secretary.
The elections took place amid the PGA's general membership meeting on the Culver Studios lot Friday.
The guild's "Produced By' conference is set to kick off on Saturday.
Gordon is a former PGA n...
- 6/5/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
In case they didn't hear the board the first dozen or so times ...
The Lionsgate board of directors issued yet another missive to shareholders Friday, urging them to continue to reject corporate raider Carl Icahn's latest takeover offer.
Earlier in the week, shareholders voted against an offer of $7 per share.
The company release states that the "offer remains financially inadequate, coercive and not in the best interests of Lionsgate, its shareholders or other stakeholders."
With the board retaining enough control over key shareholders to keep...
In case they didn't hear the board the first dozen or so times ...
The Lionsgate board of directors issued yet another missive to shareholders Friday, urging them to continue to reject corporate raider Carl Icahn's latest takeover offer.
Earlier in the week, shareholders voted against an offer of $7 per share.
The company release states that the "offer remains financially inadequate, coercive and not in the best interests of Lionsgate, its shareholders or other stakeholders."
With the board retaining enough control over key shareholders to keep...
- 6/4/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
The distributors of this year’s Oscar-winning documentary, “The Cove,” now have no exhibition outlet in Japan’s capital city, with two more theaters deciding Friday to cancel screenings of the environmentally-themed film.
At issue are scenes in the movie showing footage of a dolphin hunt in a Japanese village.
Recently, the Tokyo office of the film’s distributor, Unplugged, has been targeted by nationalist protestors with loudspeakers. Whi...
The distributors of this year’s Oscar-winning documentary, “The Cove,” now have no exhibition outlet in Japan’s capital city, with two more theaters deciding Friday to cancel screenings of the environmentally-themed film.
At issue are scenes in the movie showing footage of a dolphin hunt in a Japanese village.
Recently, the Tokyo office of the film’s distributor, Unplugged, has been targeted by nationalist protestors with loudspeakers. Whi...
- 6/4/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
Paramount Pictures announced Friday that Marc Evans has been promoted to president of production. Previosly in the role of executive VP of production, Evans steps into Adam Goodman's previous title. That's been vacant since June of last year, when Goodman replaced John Lesher as president, Paramount Film Group. Brad Weston, co-chief of production, was fired along with Lesher.
Evans is credited with supervising work on projects including “Star Trek,” “Mission: Impossible III” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”
He’s currently overs...
Paramount Pictures announced Friday that Marc Evans has been promoted to president of production. Previosly in the role of executive VP of production, Evans steps into Adam Goodman's previous title. That's been vacant since June of last year, when Goodman replaced John Lesher as president, Paramount Film Group. Brad Weston, co-chief of production, was fired along with Lesher.
Evans is credited with supervising work on projects including “Star Trek,” “Mission: Impossible III” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”
He’s currently overs...
- 6/4/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
Relativity Media has acquired writer Melisa Wallack’s updated take on “Snow White,” with the intention of adapting the Brothers Grimm fairy tale into a 3D film.
A Relativity release describes the film as a “new, edgy and modernized spin on the original classic fairy tale.
Bernie Goldman, Brett Ratner and Ryan Kavanaugh will produce, with Relativity’s Tucker Tooley serving as executive producer.
Wallack’s best-known previous ...
Relativity Media has acquired writer Melisa Wallack’s updated take on “Snow White,” with the intention of adapting the Brothers Grimm fairy tale into a 3D film.
A Relativity release describes the film as a “new, edgy and modernized spin on the original classic fairy tale.
Bernie Goldman, Brett Ratner and Ryan Kavanaugh will produce, with Relativity’s Tucker Tooley serving as executive producer.
Wallack’s best-known previous ...
- 6/4/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
By Daniel Frankel
Will the summer movie season shake off a May slump that saw no less than five highly anticipated event films underperform at the box office?
We probably won’t find out this weekend. Four modestly budgeted genre films are opening wide, with the bigger guns of June -- “The A-Team,” “Toy Story 3,” “Knight and Day” and “Twilight Saga: Eclipse” -- set to hit screens in the weeks ahead.
<img alt="" style="margin: 15px; height: 191px; width: 300px; float: left;" src="/files/u572/movie-get_him_to_the_greek-stills-106516082_0.jpg" /...
Will the summer movie season shake off a May slump that saw no less than five highly anticipated event films underperform at the box office?
We probably won’t find out this weekend. Four modestly budgeted genre films are opening wide, with the bigger guns of June -- “The A-Team,” “Toy Story 3,” “Knight and Day” and “Twilight Saga: Eclipse” -- set to hit screens in the weeks ahead.
<img alt="" style="margin: 15px; height: 191px; width: 300px; float: left;" src="/files/u572/movie-get_him_to_the_greek-stills-106516082_0.jpg" /...
- 6/3/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
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