Streaming Media West is in full swing.  With 150 speakers and 40 sessions, it is a real treat that all the videos will soon be posted at StreamingMedia.com. The video to my Commonwealth Club Smarter TV event from earlier this week will also soon be available on FORA.tv.  Between the two events, there was much discussion about the features (entertainment, social, commerce) of the connected devices and their ability to serve as monetization platforms for indie content, so this post is dedicated to providing a short synopsis of what was discussed and an overview of the market offerings.

Xbox 360
- 16mm consoles in North America, 33mm worldwide
- 1.5mm active before and after the Superbowl
- starting at $199 plus subscription to Xbox LIVE
- 25,000 pieces of content via Netflix (17,000) and Zune Marketplace
(Paramount, Lionsgate, Sony, MGM, Disney, ABC, CBS, NBCU, TBS, MTV, WB)
- Indie games get 70/30 split on XBLA via creators.xna.com/en-US
- Indie content best path to Xbox is via New Video, a Zune aggregator
- The Guild, Xbox chart-topping show, was a direct deal
- Magical friending features allow 8 Xbox LIVE living rooms linked to watch same shows, also integrating FB photos, Twitter, Last.fm
- Xbox is working toward a remoteless future with Project Natal
(per Marc Whitten, Xbox @ SMW talked about going from one to many to many to many, the channel of one, from audience to community, from programming guide to contextual search and social discovery with ratings and recommendations, tapping into the 300mm FB users, and 25mm Twitter users, and 1B+ mobile phones, PC was smart then got connected, phones were connected then got smart, TVs are now smart and connected, Xbox creating a world where it all just works – gaming, internet, tv, focused on content, community, curation, control; more details at:  http://itvt.com/interview/6110/radio-microsoft-xbox-live-general-manager-marc-whitten)

Ps3*
- 8mm+ consoles in North America, 29mm consoles worldwide
- starting at $299 includes Blu-ray player, no charge for access to Net
- Sony launching Sony Online Service for movies, tv, music, books, games
- 10,000+ hours of download content, 14,400 TV shows, 2,300 movies
- 40 partners incl Netflix, Lucasfilm, Cinetic FilmBuff, ContentFilm Intl, Image Ent, MPI Media, New Video, Showtime, Starz, G4, E!, Summit Entertainment, Weinstein, HD Net, VIZ Media, FUNimation, Magnolia,
- Best path to PS3 is via New Video, aggregator for iTunes, Hulu, Zune..
- Social integration with Facebook games

Wii*
- 56mm consoles worldwide,
- Japan video service: original branded programming, CinemaNow
- no US movies or TV yet, Netflix maybe never

TiVo
- 1.6mm – 3.5mm subscribers, launched 10yrs ago
- $249 + $129/year (also bundled with cable/sat packages)
- DVR stores up to 1TB of TV, broadband features, integrated search
- 50,000+ VOD movies/tv via Netflix, Amazon, Blockbuster, CinemaNow, Disney, YouTube, Rhapsody, Music Choice, Live365
- Thousands of video podcasts which indie producers can add to at:
www.tivo.com/rssvideo
- Indie producers can also get on TiVo Amazon VOD via CreateSpace.com
- no FB integration, Twitter onscreen chat, can share lists w friends
- in-show purchasing with remote related to specific ad campaigns
(per Evan Young, TiVo @ Commonwealth Club Smarter TV)

Apple TV*
- 500,000-6mm units sold, now starting at $229
- 50,000 tv episodes,175,000 podcasts, 2500+ movies
- Fox, Lionsgate, MGM, Miramax, New Line, Paramount, Sony, Touchstone, Universal, Disney, WB, YouTube…
- Best path on to iTunes is via an aggregator like E1 or New Video

Boxee
- 700,000 free software downloads, expect to be at 1mm by CES
- Boxee box – partnering with TV, Blu-Ray, DVR, Game Console OEMs
- 180 partners incl Netflix, MLB, eGuiders, Pandora, Last.fm, Flickr, KidMango..
- Open SDK for indie producers to put up a channel: developer.boxee.tv
- Integrating payments platform for monetization of show content, merchandise
like having first two episodes ad-supported, buy now button for the rest of the season
- monetization should be available by summer 2009
- 2009 improve platform, grow user base, 12/7 Boxee Beta Unveiling w global search
- Cool friending feature to generate virality
(per Andrew Kippen, Boxee @ Commonwealth Club SmarterTV)

Roku
- 400,000 give or take a few hundred thousand units sold
- $79, $99, $129 wifi models sold on Roku.com and Amazon
- Netflix, Amazon, MLB, Revision3, Twit.tv, Blip.tv, Mediafly
- Open SDK enables any indie producer to launch own channel
- not about social interaction, no merchandising
(per Jim Funk, Roku @ Commonwealth Club SmarterTV)

Vudu
- 100,000 units sold starting at $150
- now licensing to LG, Mitsubishi, Vizio
- On-Demand TV/Movies, Pandora, YouTube, Flickr, Picasa..
- Select video podcasts, RSS Feed not accepting indie content yet
(per Rob Holmes, Vudu @ SMW)

Yahoo! Connected TV
- On Samsung, Sony, LG, soon Vizio (WiFi TV), Toshiba (DVD player)
in 13 different countries, remote with slider keyboard
- CBS, Y! Finance, eBay, Amazon, Blockbuster, Flickr, USA Today, Twitter
- Widget SDK: http://connectedtv.yahoo.com/developer
- Leverage 70mm US and 6000 existing widgets to bring best of the web into a TV friendly environment
- No app commerce, open surf or in-show merchandising yet
(per Russ Schafer, Yahoo! Connected TV @ Commonwealth Club SmarterTV)

ZillionTV
- Entertainment and marketing service, not selling boxes
- Going through ISPs/telcos, OEMs embedded software stack, direct to consumer
- 60+ content partners including major media players:
Fox, Sony, NBCU, Disney, WB, Lionsgate, Paramount + 60 indie producers
- Self-selectable advertising play, consumer choice ad categories
- VISA rewards to allow interactive in-show purchasing with remote
- Best path to get content onto ZillionTV is content@zilliontv.tv
- And there will be a social component, fan of Nicholas Negroponte’s Being Digital
(per Mitch Berman, ZillionTV @ Commonwealth Club SmarterTV)

Sezmi*
-Just landed $25mm, starting trial in LA
(For more:  http://itvt.com/interview/6109/radio-sezmi-co-founder-chairman-and-president-phil-wiser)

FLO TV
- Bought Channel 55 spectrum in digital transition
- Now able to broadcast TV, no broadband capacity issues, no buffering
- 24/7 access to live sports, breaking news, hit shows, animation,
kids programming, soaps, game shows, reality, comedy, crime dramas
- CBS Mobile, (Y&R, CSI), Comedy Central (quick ht snacking)
- perishable content that offers social currency where live matters
- viewers watch on average 30min/day more than Hulu at 9min/day
- 900min/month more than the average voice minutes used per month
- Peaks at 1pm, stays relatively consistent 2-10pm
- 7/7/09 MJ Memorial 49minutes, most viewed in history of FLO TV
- most watch 150hrs/month, 120-180hrs range,
95% broadcast, 5% on demand
- In the top 100 cities in the US
- ATSCMH standard, DVR capability more of a rights issue
- FLO TV is standard in Japan, not using US technology
- Can’t disclose current subscriber #s, many millions split
between ATT and Verizon
- 99% subscription based, not ad supported model
- Projecting 43mm mobile tv users by 2013, 67mm by 2019
- Focusing on mobile, personal tvs and auto-entertainment
- 3″ PTV is $249, $10/month (first 6m free with purchase)
- working on monthly passes, day passes, event passes
- Established content delivers the comfort and safety of brands they know
- Original content like LXD, Amanda Congdon’s SometimesDaily
keeps them coming back for more
- Path for indie content on to FLO TV incl MyDamnChannel
- FLO TV might be integrated in nexgen iPhone
- No plans for a 20″ FLO TV but great alternative to cable
(per Bill Stone, FLO TV @ SMW)

*not present at SMW or Smarter TV

NATPE, 1/25-28
NATPE, beloved trade association that champions content deal flow, was onsite as well interesting new media companies in being showcased at the NATPE Market in Vegas in January.  The show will have a featured section for the Connected Home, and qualified exhibitors are being offered face time with major media players, venerable press outlets, and possibly even brand sponsors.  For more information, visit www.natpemarket.com, check out our NATPE LATV Fest coverage, or contact evie@natpe.org for exhbitor opportunities.

Back to the party
The party is still going strong tonight with the Reader’s Choice Awards and performance by VJ remixers Eclectic Method.  You can watch it via live stream.  And tomorrow, Epix kicks off the morning keynote which will be streamed live as well, then its another full day of programming.  In addition, there is a sizable show floor with a demo stage and rows and rows of exhibitors.  Check out Google’s little plush googlers. who won Content NOW’s Best of Schwag.  And be sure to stop by Tandberg for their timeshifting keychain and remote mints and Microlink for their pocket frisbees.  End of day, the remarks from Epix will be posted along with those from Revision3, MTV, Next New Networks, FUNimation, Tubemogul, and Electric Farm.  And then when the SMW video posts I’ll circle back on yesterday’s sessions with Hot Topic and HBO Broadband. Many thanks to conference director Dan Rayburn who embraces his attendees, offering them his cell number, free industry analyses and business development introductions. He was an enormous help to me with my Smarter TV event and this post.  He lives and breathes the stuff, and it shows.  Check out his post on the market:
http://blog.streamingmedia.com/the_business_of_online_vi/2009/09/breakdown-on-the-number-of-broadband-enables-devices-sold-in-the-us.html

Sjećate li se filma “Vrisak”? Najvjerojatnije ne, jer je u pitanju bio za današnje standarde prilično ozbiljan pokušaj da se istovremeno parodiraju slasher-horori iz 1980-ih i novoj publici predstavi mrtvački ozbiljan primjer tog žanra. Bilo kako bilo, studiju Miramax je taj film 1996. godine donio dovoljno novaca za još dva nastavka, ali i inspiraciju za parodiju zvanu “Scary Movie” – na području Hrvatske poznatu kao “Mrak film”, najgledaniji film 2000. godine.

“Mrak film” je, stoga publici poznatiji, ali ne samo zato što je nešto noviji, nego i zato što je imao nešto više nastavaka – tri. Gotovo nije potrebno govoriti da su sva tri nastavka, kao i original, s obzirom da su parodije napravljene po današnjim holivudskim uzusima, gotovo negdledljivi. U međuvremenu, Miramax je propao, ali je zato na njegovo mjesto došla Weinstein Company koja planira snimiti peti film iz sage.

Weinsteini, međutim, za ovaj film planiraju nešto “novo”. Iskoristivši novi običaj zvan “reboot”, odlučili su da će franšiza po pitanju priče – koja “Scary Movieju” nije bila jača strana – i likova – koji su prečesto bili iritantni – krenuti ispočetka. To, između ostalog, znači i da u njemu neće biti Anna Faris i Regina Hall, dvije talentirane komičarke koje su jedine bile u stanju te komade celuloidnog gnojiva na trenutak učiniti gledljivim. Weinsteinovi sada vjerojatno traže novu glumačku postavu, ali je teško pretpostaviti da će Farrisovoj i Hallovoj naći dostojnu zamjenu.

"Fantastic Mr. Fox" directed Wes Anderson 20th Century Fox

“THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX”, directed by Wes Anderson and starring Jason Schwartzman is scheduled to open the AFI FEST 2009. The film is a stop-motion animated feature which will be screened at the festival’s opening night at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. The film also stars the voices of  George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Wally Wolodarsky, Eric Anderson, Michael Gambon, Willem Dafoe, Owen Wilson and Jarvis Cocker.

The Weinstein Company’s “A SINGLE MAN” has been selected as the closing night gala presentation.  Sony Pictures Classics’ “THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS” has been selected as AFI FEST’s Centerpiece Screening Gala presentation. The film will make its US Premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Monday, November 2, 2009.

“A SINGLE MAN” features the directorial debut of fashion designer Tom Ford from his script adaptation of Christopher Isherwood’s acclaimed novel. The film follows a day in the life of a gay British college professor in Los Angeles as he attempts to cope with the death of his partner. Ford’s work helming the project and Colin Firth’s lead performance in the film have received critical acclaim following screenings at the Venice and Toronto film festivals. Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode and Ginnifer Goodwin also star in the film. The Weinstein Company release is due in theaters on December 11. Ford, Firth and Moore are scheduled to attend.

“It is exciting to champion a talented artist like Tom Ford as he moves beyond the boundaries of one medium into another. In “A SINGLE MAN”, he delivers an elegant and beautiful personal story that will resonate with all audience members“ said AFI FEST Artistic Director Rose Kuo.

The Centerpiece Screening Gala presentation features the latest work by director Terry Gilliam. “THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS” follows the leader of a traveling theater troupe who, having made a deal with the devil, takes audience members through a magical mirror to explore their imaginations. The film stars Christopher Plummer, Tom Waits, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell and Heath Ledger in his final role. The Sony Pictures Classics release is due in theaters stateside on December 25. Gilliam and Plummer are scheduled to attend.
“The mind-altering, looking-glass world that Terry Gilliam creates in “IMAGINARIUM” notes Director of Programming Robert Koehler, “is like a model for his ideal cinema, in which anything can happen and all rules are broken. If audiences thought that “THE DARK KNIGHT” was their last glimpse of Heath Ledger, then what Ledger brings to Gilliam’s fantasy-adventure will surprise them.”

AFI FEST has selected actors Christopher Plummer and Viggo Mortensen to receive tributes at this year’s Festival. Sponsored by the Skirball Cultural Center, Plummer’s tribute event will precede the screening of his film THE LAST STATION on Tuesday, November 3. Mortensen’s tribute will precede the US Premiere of the film THE ROAD on Wednesday, November 4. Both Tributes will take place at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

One of the world’s most respected actors, Plummer has won two Tony Awards (for CYRANO and BARRYMORE), three Drama Desk Awards, the National Arts Club Medal and two Emmys.

“THE ROAD” is adapted from the acclaimed novel by Cormac McCarthy.  The film stars Mortensen as a father making his way with his young son across the scorched landscape of a post-apocalyptic world. Directed by John Hillcoat from a script by Joe Penhall, the film also stars Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall, Guy Pearce and Molly Parker. The Weinstein Company release is due in theaters November 25.  Mortensen, Hillcoat and Theron are scheduled to attend.

Mortensen’s career highlights include notable films roles in “THE LORD OF THE RINGS” TRILOGIES and, “EASTERN PROMISES” for which he received Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations.

“Viggo Mortensen and Christopher Plummer are two actors and film artists of the highest order,” said Kuo. “They share that rare trait of being looked up to by audiences and film fans around the world as well as being greatly respected by their peers.”

Other highlights among the complete film schedule announced today include Jonathan Demme’s music documentary “NEIL YOUNG TRUNK SHOW” (with Demme and Young confirmed to attend) and the screening of two films connected by legendary art director and longtime AFI Conservatory Distinguished Lecturer Robert Boyle, who turned 100 on October 10. Those films are AFI Conservatory Alumnus Daniel Raim’s (Production Design ’99) documentary SOMETHING’S GONNA LIVE and Alfred Hitchcock’s classic NORTH BY NORTHWEST, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

On Monday, November 2, AFI FEST, in conjunction with Warner Home Video will present a special screening of Hitchcock’s NORTH BY NORTHWEST. The first Hitchcock film to be released on Blu-ray, the film has been restored and remastered for its 50th anniversary. As part of the Gala event, director William Friedkin will attend to moderate a Q&A with Boyle and the film’s stars Eva Marie Saint and Martin Landau.

AFI FEST continues its unique and successful association with the American Film Market with 23 of the features in official selection at AFI FEST represented by distributors at AFM, unfolding concurrently with AFI FEST from November 4–November 11.

AFI FEST 2009’s overall lineup will showcase 67 features (54 narrative, 13 documentary) and 27 shorts for a total of 94 films from 32 countries.

The Festival is headquartered at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. All screenings from October 30–November 5 will take place at the Grauman’s Chinese and Mann Chinese 6 theaters in Hollywood with the final two days of the Festival (November 6-7) screening at the Laemmle’s Monica 4-plex in Santa Monica.

A limited number of free tickets to all Festival screenings are available online at AFI.com/AFIFEST or by phone at 866-AFI-FEST . Early entry to all screenings can be secured by becoming a patron of the Festival and purchasing an AFI FEST Patron Pass. For more details, visit AFI.com.

The Weinstein Company is in trouble these days.  And it may be Dimension that saves their bacon.

In a recent interview with Variety, Dimension head Bob Weinstein said, “I’m going back to doing what I do best.”  What does that mean?  Well, that means emphasizing franchises and 3D.

Neve Campbell will be returning for Scream 4, Robert Rodriguez will be offering a Spy Kids 4, and remakes of Hellraiser and Scanners are in the offing … in 3D!  Short Circuit and An American Werewolf in London are also slated for 2D remakes.

“These films are our strength, and we are committed to doing them in style,” Weinstein told Variety.

Hmmm … not sure about that.  Dimension made its name with original Horror franchises.  Not going the reheat route.   And though remakes and 3D may look like a safe bet in these difficult times, will it ever replace the power of an exciting new franchise?  We don’t think so.

This move may keep Dimension alive.  But we doubt it will lend them the dominance they once had.  Because the an old school move at the end of the day just feels … old.

Halloween 2 is the latest Halloween movie and also one of the best. Its one of the most brutal movies you’ll see and at some point you will be shocked. The movie is mainly about Michael Myers trying to find his sister and reuniting the family and how Laurie, Dr. Loomis, Annie, and Sheriff Brackett handle the tragedy of Michaels previous murders in the last movie. I feel that some of the screen time should’ve been more devoted to more character and story development. Sure the kills were very well done but some of them were just in there to be in there.

Rob Zombies characters are often referred to as white trash and that they are. Its not a problem though because his characters aren’t seen very much in movies really ever. Its interesting to see how Laurie and everyone else has changed since the last movie. Only if there was more of that and less of the constant killing scenes.The style of the movie is very unique and the tone is much darker than the last. It really does make “Halloween” (2007) look like “The Sound of Music”. Its nice to see a sequel feel so much different and not be a rehash of its predecessor.A lot of people don’t like the dream sequences and hallucinations in this movie but I think there very fun to look at and also very well done. There not unnecessary either they give Michael depth and keep him from being a one dimensional character unlike he was in the previous franchise.

Some people say that the more mystery the more scary Michael was and even if that is true this is a new take and its not the original series which I think is a good thing.So while this was a slight disappointment its a nice and unique departure for the series with an ending that is really satisfying. I give it 3 out of 4 stars.

Bloody Disgusting has confirmed that My Bloody Valentine 3D director Patrick Lussier will be directing Halloween 3D, the next installment in the rebooted franchise.  Bloody scribe Todd Farmer has signed on to pen the screenplay.

It seems the Weinstein Company, which has seen better days,  isn’t taking any chances.  They want a team which has already directed a successful 3D horror film.  And with no sequel for Bloody in the works, this could bring fans of that film to the revived Halloween 3D.

Good play by the Weinstein Company.

The Weinstein Company has done it again. “Youth in Revolt,” starring Michael Cera, had a planned release on Oct. 30 but has now been pushed back to Jan. 15. This is yet another long-delayed film from The Weinstein Co. and the film, just like “The Road,” has garnered a great reception in it’s festival tour.

As a condolence to anyone who was looking forward to this film, I bring you something bitter-sweet: the trailer.

Thanks to Cinematical for bringing this to my attention.

CONFESSION: I still didn’t see Halloween 2 yet.

Part of the 15-year-old slasher fan in me dies with every day that passes. Why have I not seen it? Cuz the first remake just wasn’t that fuckin’ great to begin with. (And Quentin Tarantino released a movie around the same time, soooo yea, Rob Zombie – you [temporarily] lose!)

With H2’s meager box office intake ($16.5 mil), and with the loss to The Final Destination 3D in mind, the Weinstein Company has still decided to make another Halloween movie! (Why must they continue to drag Michael Myers in the dirt? Ok, ok…more on that after I actually see the sequel..) Alas! – Halloween 3D is hitting theaters Summer 2010 – without Zombie’s direction. The studio is in talks with a few new directors.

You know me – I wished they considered one of the following options: 1) Continue telling the original story. Zombie could’ve still been apart of it and a revamped Michael Myers still could’ve been introduced to a new audience. 2) They should’ve never made Halloween: Resurrection. Had Michael truly been decapitated in H20, I feel that this bitter pill would be easier to swallow. Since he wasn’t…I revert back to my first point.

Halloween 3D. A “Nightmare” remake. Zombie’s working on a “Blob” update. It just keeps getting more depressing.

The sad part? I’m one of the tools that will keep going to see them.

This /Film  interview with Kyle Newman, director of Fanboys, offers a sobering lesson in the pitfalls of studio interference.  It’s a must listen for budding filmmakers, and anyone interest in how Hollywood works.

You can read the NYT article on The Weinstein Company discussed in the podcast here.

Kolovoz nije najsretniji mjesec za početak distribucije holivudskog filma, s obzirom da su svi najjači blockbuster-aduti obično “ispucani” oko američkog Dana nezavisnosti. Stoga valja razumjeti nelagodu tvrtke Weinstein Company čija će glavna uzdanica – Tarantinov dugo očekivani Inglorious Basterds imati svoju premijeru upravo 21. kolovoza, isto kao i njihove napore da nezgodan termin pokušaju kompenzirati originalnom marketinškom kampanjom.

No, čini se da su ovaj put – barem ako se pitaju neki holivudski autoriteti – otišli predaleko. Naime, jedna od scena filma, čija se radnja odvija u Francuskoj za vrijeme nacističke okupacije, se događa na svečanoj premijeri nacističkog propagandnog filma Ponos nacije čiji glavni junak Friedrich Zoler (tumači ga Daniel Bruhl) najodlikovaniji ratni heroj Trećeg Reicha, koji uspješno razbija cijeli bataljun američkih vojnika.

Weinsteinovi su došli na ideju da od tog “filma u filmu” naprave trailer kojim će na Internetu reklamirati Inglorious Basterds. Ideja je, mora se priznati, originalna, ali i opasna. Naime, ne samo što će zbog tog lažnog trailera graju dići “politički korektni” dušobrižnici i optuživati Weinsteine za trivijaliziranje drugog svjetskog rata i Holokausta, nego postoji ozbiljan rizik da će netko zahvaljujući traileru dobiti inspiraciju da stvarno napravi nešto nalik na Ponos nacije. To danas, uostalom, baš i nije tako teško – par digitalnih kamera i mnogo entuzijazma mogu napraviti svašta, a o čemu najbolje svjedoči legendarni Troops, fanovski film koji daje alternativno viđenje zbivanja u filmu Rat zvijezda.

Nekako sumnjam da se slični rizici vezuju za neki drugi marketinški trikovi, poput one lažne reklame za Sprite.

Web Video-enabled Devices to Quadruple by 2013; according to iSuppli, 376.5 million devices capable of supporting web video will ship annually by 2013. (Multichannel News)

Study: DRM Drives People to Piracy; research shows that people get fed up with the heavy restrictions on content and find it elsewhere. (Ars Technica)

Crackle Launching Mommy XXX and All Stars Web Series; Mommy centers around the family life of a real life porn star and All Stars is about a failing corporate softball team. (Tubefilter) (Video NSFW)

Yahoo Media Exec Leaves for Startup; Jeff Dossett was SVP of North American Audience and in charge of all of Yahoo’s media assets, he will become CEO of adventure travel site AdventureLink. (BoomTown)

Sky Player Coming to Xbox; Bristish users will be able to access pay TV content from BSkyB. (The Hollywood Reporter)

The Weinstein Company Launches Dimension Horror YouTube Channel; channel will promote upcoming movies and allow users to friend Rob Zombie in order to access exclusive content. (YouTube)

Fewer Homes Unprepared for DTV Transition; Nielsen reports that 3.1 million homes (2.7 percent of TV households) are completely unready for the switch, down from 3.3 million two weeks ago. (TVWeek)

My oh my, it’s been a long time since I wrote anything about Outlander. Well I guess I was a little stung by the absolute dump that TWC perpetrated on the movie. I don’t know if I mentioned in any of the previous posts but to my knowledge, there were no posters for the movie available on opening weekend. Spectacular, no? Ah well. So anyway, it’s now out there on DVD, complete with commentary, deleted scenes, concept art and some very cool animatics. I hope everyone who has been following this gets a chance to rent it. (But even on this I have to bitch – what the fuck is with that cover they designed? You can’t even tell it’s a creature movie.) Hopefully it’ll do well out there – as you can perhaps see from the pic up top, as of this writing, it was the number 3 rental on itunes, and that without the slightest bit of promotion.

Well, after all is said and done, we have a movie we can be proud of. Is it the finest movie in the world? No. Does it have merit? I think so. Plenty of mistakes made all around, and for those of you wondering about certain budget issues, yes, we lost $10,000,000 not long before shooting and simply had to make do with what we had. It meant moving the production from New Zealand to Canada, and the FX from WETA to Spin. It meant limited extras and just 50 shooting days. It meant not being able to recover from some catastrophically bad 2nd unit days. It meant not being able to even shoot the opening sequence as written, which was a battle between the hero and the creature inside the falling space ship, not just an exterior shot of its crash. It meant Howard, the producer and myself paying for the underwater sequences because we ran out of money. It meant 2 or 3 takes, not ‘do it until it’s right’. It meant limited coverage so some scenes couldn’t be edited properlY.

And for those wondering about the running time, we were told we could not run a single frame over the contractual running time, which is where it stands now. I mean that literally. Not a single frame. As a result, we had to cut out some scenes dear to my heart . (No big; all scenes are dear to the writer’s heart). But it also meant we couldn’t edit certain things properly because we couldn’t spare the frames. And, if you’ll notice, the credits roll by extra fast. This is because we needed the time.

Funny business, no?

In the end, I have a good movie, some terrific memories of great people and a lawsuit that’s still going on

OUTLANDERRRRRRR!!!!!

That’s right. After months of controversy, delays, and rumors, the adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Road, finally has an official trailer and release date. Director John Hillcoat’s film is set to open on October 16th, almost a year after its initial release date.  Here is the trailer if you haven’t seen it already:

Personally, as a huge fan of the book, I am surprisingly indifferent about this trailer.  The Road is quite literally one of my all-time favorite novels, and I have been anxiously awaiting this trailer while following the turmoil and silently cursing the Weinstein Company.

I think my problem is that the trailer is super intense and fast paced, which seems to contradict the narrative flow of the novel.  Cormac McCarthy’s prose did such a wonderful job of building tension and suspense through the sparseness of the words on the page and his focus on the relationship between the father and son.  The trailer also features a lot of Charlize Theron’s character, which is surprising considering her role in the novel is relatively short. Lots of reasons as to why they chose to go this route, (lure in female audiences, leave the mystery/intensity of the father son journey to be seen during the film, etc.) which makes me even more curious to see the film.

Still the trailer is chock full of striking visuals, and there appears to be powerful acting from all parties, so I am not worried.  My guess is that this trailer is probably just a marketing strategy to attract a wider audience to the post-apocalyptic picture.  We’ll have to wait and see for now though, as more trailers  and news are released about this highly anticipated picture.

Any thoughts on the trailer/book/controversy? Leave them here and let’s get some debate started.

Some strange activity coming from the news surrounding Sin City 2. It’s been an active property in recent weeks, garnering much press over the potential hire of Angelina Jolie to join the selection of lithe, leather-clad women which make up that side of the Sin City cast.

Now it seems, despite a name like Jolie circling the project, that the rights for the sequel are being shopped around Hollywood, apparently indicating that Weinstein Co/Dimension has lost the rights to the sequel. This was first reported by IESB and then denied by the company in an article in Entertainment Weekly.

The latter is, according to the report in the Hollywood Reporter, still insisting that it does hold the rights. It notes a statement in EW from Bert Fields, the lawyer for The Weinstein Company, who described the rumours that the company had lost the rights at “hogwash”.

HR cites producers however saying the rights have been shopped by representatives of Frank Miller’s estate who are seeking a new place to house the sequel.

According to the HR:

“If the Weinsteins’ option did lapse, it could have happened for reasons ranging from development inactivity to a decision not to pay to re-up. Sequel rights generally require a certain amount of activity within a defined period to remain with the original rights holder, though in many deals those periods stretch much longer than the four years that have elapsed since the original “Sin City” came out.”

The article indicates that Robert Rodriguez involvement in the project is not fully known as yet, although the understanding of most what that he would direct alongside Miller, akin to the working relationship on the film film.

It is possible that Miller has got a taste for directing, despite the awful reception for The Spirit, and is working to try and take the project over for himself. Rodriguez, after all, has a long-running relationship with the Weinstein’s and Dimension.

As most have noted, the original film made $158m on the back of a $40m budget, so it does seem unlikely that the Weinsteins would let a relatively bankable project fall from its grasp.

This isn’t really about the content of the movie Observe & Report but about a second Seth Rogen film that has been hindered by marketing. I haven’t seen the movie, nor any movie in a theatre since Slumdog, due to there being more watchable, affordable fare available through rental or even on tv (TCM continues to be one of four that I watch). Can I still talk about it? Sure – as a potential customer, I think I can understand how people are trying to convince me to spend my $7-10 and 90 min – 2 hrs watching their flick.

Maybe one of the main problems with the lack of audience for this movie is the disconnect between what the trailer shows and the actual content of the movie. For the average citizen, they are probably aware of its existence through some of the television trailers that have been shown. The very first one tried to make it seem like a screwball comedy, possibly aimed at riding the coattails of *shudder* Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Within a month or two of it opening though, the tv ads have changed to show that what seemed like just another fluffy mall cop movie actually had a rather darker side. There was more Liotta, more context given around the “love story” and some of the other scenes. I’ve had trouble finding the first tv clips that I saw but here’s the new, definitive I guess, trailer.

If you’re a movie person, you’ve probably read some of the interviews by Rogen, Jody Hill, or Anna Faris that delve into the movie being a dark comedy and how it’s about a guy that is bipolar and has a very skewed version of reality trying to win the heart of a self-absorbed mall worker. There’s also the controversy of the “date rape scene” which got picked up in the mainstream media so there was a second disconnect between the earlier ads (screwball comedy) with the current news (“date rape” so maybe just crude and distasteful comedy). I think that if they had marketed it as the dark comedy it seems to be, maybe it would’ve worked a bit better or at least peoples’ expectations when they went to the theatre wouldn’t have been ruined and they might’ve gotten something out of it.

This is the second time a marketing disconnect has hindered a Seth Rogen non-schlub film. The first was Kevin Smith’s Zack and Miri Make A Porno which, if you follow the industry news, you knew that The Weinstein Company was trying its best not to promote at all and caused quite a ruckus over the initial posters meant for the movie. Those posters probably spoke more to the essence of the movie, crude though they were, than the happy daffodil ones they ended up with (though with a funny slight bard of tagline). From what I understand of movie marketing (and a bit of marketing in general), you have your logline, the one sentence “essence” of the film, and that’s what you want to get across to your audience and sell. So why can’t the companies stick with that instead of fiddling or trying to position themselves as related to another film? If you’re spending millions of bucks to make the thing, you should be able to stick by it’s core.

Then again, this is all theoretical from a very outsider p.o.v. Maybe if these were Apatow films and more Apatow-esque characters, it would’ve been easier. I look forward to seeing how the campaign works out for Apatow’s new Funny People which seems to fall in a more serious mode. For all I know, it could be that Seth Rogen needs to plead with the distributors in the future to not release his movies against a tween behemoth (High School Musical 3 beating Zack & Miri; Hannah Montana killing Observe & Report).

Project Runway is finally making it work on Lifetime. The reality show’s producer, the Weinstein Company, announced on April 1st that it will pay NBC Universal for the rights to move the fashion competition from NBC-owned Bravo to Lifetime.

NBC went to court last year to stop the Weinstein Company from making the move, claiming it wasn’t given the contractual right to match outside offers for the show.

The sixth season is already fully produced and ready to air this summer.

Source: TV Guide

Note from the Fashion Guru:

I don’t care what network this show will be on, I missed watching it! I think that it’s the best reality show ever. I can’t wait to watch it again and blog about it on here. I never want it to go away.

In September 2008, NBC, owner of Bravo, was granted a preliminary injunction against the Weinstein Company, creator and owner of Project Runway, stopping the show’s move from Bravo to Lifetime. The Weinstein Company had signed a deal moving Project Runway to Lifetime without offering NBC a last opportunity to match the deal’s terms–violating a previous agreement which gave NBC first right of refusal to any future seasons of the show.

After appeals from both sides, NBC and the Weinstein Company reached an agreement last Wednesday. Amidst a long appeals process, the Weinstein Company agreed to pay NBC a settlement fee, admitting that it violated its contract by selling Project Runway to Lifetime without allowing NBC to match the offer.

In addition to millions of dollars, NBC is also receiving a competition-free start to the new Bravo program, The Fashion Show. The terms of the settlement pushed the premiere of the already-taped sixth season of Project Runway back to mid-August, allowing The Fashion Show to premiere on May 7th without any Project Runway competition.

While the exact terms of the settlement are unknown, and it remains to be seen which show is the bigger hit with viewers, it seems that for now NBC may have received the better side of the deal. Said Weinstein CEO Harvey Weinstein, “I want to personally congratulate [president and CEO of NBC] Jeff Zucker and NBCU on their success in the litigation and thank Jeff for resolving this in a professional manner.”

– Kate Thornton

Image courtesy of Bravo

Il nuovo, attesissimo film di Quentin Tarantino, Bastardi senza gloria (in originale Inglorious Bastards) sarebbe stato invitato ufficialmente a far parte del cartellone della prossima edizione del Festival di Cannes, che si svolgerà dal 13 al 24 maggio. Sembra che Tarantino abbia accettato l’invito, e ha promesso ai produttori della pellicola, la Weinstein Company e la Universal Pictures, che tra poco più di un mese il film sarà pronto per la premiere internazionale. Al momento i produttori non hanno rilasciato commenti, e non è stato neppure possibile parlare con gli organizzatori del Festival, che annunceranno il cartellone definitivo il 23 aprile.

L’unica cosa certa della nuova edizione, per il momento, è il titolo del film che aprirà la kermesse, ovvero Up, il nuovo cartoon della Pixar.

Bastardi senza gloria la cui release ufficiale è fissata al 21 agosto  racconta la storia di un gruppo di soldati ebrei-americani capitanati da Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) che nella Francia occupata dai nazisti, durante la Seconda Guerra Mondiale, collaborano con una stella del cinema (che in realtà è un agente segreto) per rovesciare il regime nazista.
Oltre a Brad Pitt, nel cast del film di Quentin Tarantino figurano anche la bella Diane Kruger, Mike Myers, Michael Madsen, Eli Roth e B.J. Novak.

www.movieplayer.it

Trailer

]]> http://postcards.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/04/02/power-point-media-bosses-call-a-truce/ Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:51:51 +0000 Jessica Shambora, Reporter http://postcards.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/04/02/power-point-media-bosses-call-a-truce/

“I want to personally congratulate Jeff Zucker and NBCU on their success in the litigation and thank Jeff for resolving this in a professional manner.”

– Producer Harvey Weinstein in a statement Wednesday, ending a six-month battle over Project Runway. Weinstein admits he erred in moving the show from Bravo–owned by General Electric’s (GE) NBC Universal–to Lifetime without giving NBCU a shot to keep it. Lifetime reportedly paid $150 million for a five-year deal.

Paying homage to NBCU boss Zucker is just one price Weinstein agreed to. He’s also paying NBCU a fee to switch channels for Project Runway. And Weinstein and Lifetime agreed not to air new episodes until after The Fashion Show, new on Bravo, launches May 7. Just one question: Do we really need more emotionally fragile fashion designers duking it out on television? –Jessica Shambora

After voting, (which hundreds have, thank you!) take a look at the following theaters where Outlander will be showing this weekend. Hopefully your request has been fulfilled. There are a few holdovers in the list. Feel free to post this anywhere. Sorry I couldn’t get it out sooner, but I just got this list this morning. So go, bring your friends, sneak in outside food, get raucous, yell at the screen. Have fun.

1. AMC Barrett Commons 24 Theatres Kennesaw, GA

2. CARMKE Wynnsong 16 Knoxville, TN

3. CARMKE Carmike 12 Dothan, AL

4. IND-US Madison Square 12 Huntsville, AL

5. IND-US Madison Theatre 7 Albany, NY

6. INDTB Carousel Greensboro, NC

7. AMC Woodfield 20 Schaumburg, IL

8. CINMRK Valley View 24 Valley View, OH

9. COOPOH Atlas Diamond Centre Cinemas 12 Mentor, OH

10. FLORIN Tower City 11 Cleveland, OH

11. AMC Grapevine 30 Theatres Grapevine, TX

12. AMC Huebner Oaks 24 San Antonio, TX

13. AMC Mesquite 30 Theatres Mesquite, TX

14. CINMRK Legacy 24 Plano, TX

15. AMC Star Southfield 20 Southfield, MI

16. MUVICO Hialeah 14 Hialeah, FL

17. MUVICO Paradise 24 Davie, FL

18. MUVICO Centro Ybor 20 Tampa, FL

19. MUVICO Baywalk 20 St. Petersburg, FL

20. BRENDN Brenden Palms 14 + Imax Las Vegas, NV

21. CINMRK Century 18 Sam’s Town Las Vegas, NV

22. GALAXY Neonopolis 11 Las Vegas, NV

23. GALAXY Galaxy Cannery Casino 16 North Las Vegas, NV

24. CARMKE Carmike 14 Mobile, AL

25. CARMKE Carmike 10 Pensacola, FL

26. WALLCE Stadium 18 Mobile, AL

27. AMC Mission Valley 20 San Diego, CA

28. BRENDN Brenden Modesto 18 Modesto, CA

29 BRENDN Brenden Pittsburg 16 Pittsburg, CA

30. CINMRK Century 16 Theatre – Laguna Elk Grove, CA

31. CINMRK San Francisco Centre 9 San Francisco, CA

32. THBKGS 3rd Street Cinema 6 Santa Rosa, CA

33. MUVICO Egyptian 24 Hanover, MD