If you have been reading about movies that were shelved last year, do not worry. Chances are they will be back at some point or the other. Take for example, Edwin A. Salt. In 2008, Sony was in a quandary as they tried hard and did not reach a deal with Tom Cruise. Originally slated as a Cruise/ Jolie headliner, two directors later, they eventually changed the name to Salt and opted to run only with Angelina in the lead; the movie opens this year in July.
However, if you think that it took a long time to materialize, consider some the other more famous delays. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button took over two decades to hit the big screen. In that time, the plot was changed many times over, as much as (if not more than) the number of directors who were associated with it. Spike Jonze, Gary Ross, Ron Howard and Phil Alden Robinson were all flirted with until David Fincher was settled on. Even then, the project did not begin as scheduled in 2005.
Memoirs of a Geisha was also a project in the making for a long time as was A.I. Artificial Intelligence, both of which were directed by Steven Spielberg. The director is now associated with another long-awaited movie based on the life of Abraham Lincoln.
Even though all these movies took some time to come out, it just goes to show that some movies need to find just the right people and take all the time they need to come out right.
Promoting movies has taken a new direction over the last few years. While TV still forms the cornerstone with up to 60 % of the marketing budget, the old favorites such as billboards and newspapers are not considered essential anymore.
In just eight years, digital marketing has gone from 1 % of the total marketing budget to 12 %, showing that marketers are targeting specific groups and with the intent of engaging them directly. When you consider that studios spend millions in their advertising campaigns, the amount spent in using new media is extremely significant, but the returns justify it without a doubt.
When Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was due to hit the screen last year, Paramount placed a single full page in the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times during the opening week. Compare this to the numerous full-page and double full-page ads that used to be placed in higher frequencies by movies up until then that seems like a folly now. However, the movie grossed over $200 million within five days and Paramount was vindicated. Soon other movies like Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and Avatar followed suit.
Studios have also shifted to using traditional media like newspapers and billboards to drive traffic to their websites. These methods enable them to engage with the public thus creating hype. They have also gone back to an old technique used by Hollywood in days gone by, where actors are taken on nationwide and worldwide tours to promote the movie on TV, Radio and public gatherings. While these tours do cost up to about $1 million or more, it is negligible in the face of earnings that regularly exceed $100 million.
So, who’s the latest person to be invited by ABC to join “Dancing with the Stars”?
As unlikely as it seems, the answer to this question lies in the words “Sarah Palin connection”, and the person in question is the Delaware Tea Party politician also known as Christine O’ Donnell.
Blame it on her unsuccessful run for a Senate seat last (while being endorsed by Sarah Palin herself) or having two left feet, the politician isn’t too sure whether or not she should participate in the show or not.
In asking her “friends” on Facebook, she received several comments but did not lead to any concrete decision on her part despite the fact that she was flattered about the invitation made to her. However, what she was sure about was the release of her book while continuing to remain undecided about her participation on “Dancing with the Stars”.
With the new season of “Dancing with the Stars” premiering on March 21, the cast members will be finalized and announced during the broadcast of “The Bachelor” on Monday night.
However, Christine O’ Donnell has been in news for a while now but not necessarily for the most pleasant reasons as she lost to Democrat candidate Chris Coons for one of the U.S Delaware Senate seat as well while also being caught on film, released by Bill Maher, admitting to dabbling in witchcraft while also dating a witch as well.
Television seems to be taking the center spot and is responsible for even driving music sales and exposure for artists. Over the years, labels and publishers avoided TV pacts, but with everyone in the industry looking for new ways of making profits, topped off with radio making its way to a slow death and music videos on MTV and VH1 being more or less rare – TV has now become a fairly important source for labels’ marketing departments.
A good example is when Mamie Coleman, VP of music and production for Fox Broadcasting spread the word to music labels and publishers of the need for a new upbeat tune for its January promotional campaign for American Idol and 24. The overwhelming response is evidence of the big impact of TV on the music production industry.
The profits can be huge. Veterans of American Idol have currently sold close to 40 million records, and have under their belt 60 number one hits and 14 platinum albums – all these are just for one TV show.
However, not all situations are win-win. Music deal-making is extremely complicated, with all parties tussling over the use of music, be it in snippets versus the entire tune, the most crucial of which are those deals that involve the internet and home video rights.
Major labels have so far shunned digital distribution, but now, with the shift in power, some major players have managed to get into the game with very low upfront costs and without the need to make use of manufacturing or distribution infrastructures.
Coleman says, “We have so much direct contact with the labels and publishers now. We are always getting people telling us they have the perfect song for ‘House’ or a great song for ‘Idol’. A lot of labels have performances for us in their offices, and when we like what we hear, we sign a deal right then and there.”
Guest Post by Adrian Jilikian of Signal Television
As the internet has evolved has come the evolution of just what can be created with it. With the faster speeds and more accessibility to that faster speed has come the ability to watch television over the internet. All of the major internet companies are jumping into internet television industry and with this has ensued a huge battle between them.
The big battle has been between Fox and Cablevision as Fox has demanded some kind of compensation for their ability to be able to show their programs. Google has also gotten into the battle as networks have put a block on their ability to show their programs through Google TV. It is all become fodder for the big broadcasting networks as more and more of them are starting to have agreements with web based sites in order to be able to broadcast their programming online.
In a recent edition of the Washington Post, Marvin Ammori, a professor of law at the University of Nebraska said that ‘the future of television will hang in the balance in the next year.’ He went on to say that internet television is going to be like iTunes where consumers will be able to pick the songs that they want to hear. Internet television companies are going to be able to have the ability to allow users to have unfilitered and unblocked access to content. Ammori went on to say that the FCC is going to have to come up with ‘net neutrality’ and rules to prevent companies from blocking access to shows.
Youth entertainment, like The Chronicles of Narnia, Twilight, and Hannah Montana depend less on one-off actors and instead rely heavily on huge multi-year contracts. The cast is a crucial factor and can or break a movie or TV show. They have to commit a good part of their childhood to the characters they are playing. These, in turn, are the embodiment of the brand created for the production and are the life and soul of it. For instance, the Harry Potter series would not survive the loss of its star, Daniel Radcliffe.
Disney and Nickelodeon, in terms of children’s TV tend to follow more organized production schedules, aimed at minimizing work stress.
Paula Kaplan, Nickelodeon’s executive VP for talent says, “We respect the balance between work life and personal life. In our adult world, nobody accommodates us for down time. But in a child’s life on a set, we do take that seriously. At our studios on Sunset Boulevard, where we shoot ‘iCarly’ and ‘Victorious,’ the greenrooms are filled with games and Rock Band. We create an environment where they can have fun with their colleagues and take it easy.”
There is quite a bit of legal framework in place in terms of children’s workdays if you would like to call it that. Labor laws restrict their number of workdays, outline relaxation periods and breaks that must be built into production schedules, and a certain amount of breaks are also called for between dismissal and call-back. On top of all these regulations, children’s schooling ‘must’ take place during the week.
“Epic Mickey” is a video game that could see the return of Mickey Mouse to life. Not that Mickey was ever dead, but as Warren Spector put it “He’s an image, and he’s an icon, but he’s not a character anymore”. Spector is the VP and creative director of Junction Point Studios, the Disney division in charge of making the game. He is also known as the creator of vidgame franchises such as “Deus Ex,” “Thief: Deadly Shadows” and “System Shock.” His creativity in the field as well being a huge fan of the mouse were the reasons he was handed the project.
In the story line, Mickey is Kidnapped and Taken to Cartoon Wasteland, a place where all of Disney’s rejected creativity lives. Mickey is equipped with a paintbrush and thinner which he uses to interact with the environment. As he goes along creating and destroying environments and items Mickey ends up unleashing an enemy. The game also features long forgotten characters such as Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Walt Disney lost the rights to this character in 1928, long before Mickey was born, but Disney CEO Bob Iger’s personal efforts have seen him reappear in this game. Oswald is portrayed as an antagonist who hates the success Mickey has achieved and also the love Walt had for him. One of the main goals in the game is the redemption of Oswald.
Mickey’s portrayal as someone who’s not afraid to start a fight in this game has lead to doubts of acceptance by all, especially children. In reply to that Graham Hopper, exec VP-general manager of Disney Interactive Studios said he didn’t believe there was risk, he added “We designed the game for a certain demographic, this game won’t be easily played by a 4- to 5-year-old”.
Today was the return of AI! “American Idol” is back! The 10th season of the hit show began the signup process today in Nashville. Crowds braved the near 90 degree heat and turned up 10,000 strong at the Bridgestone Arena. The signup process will continue till Saturday and the auditions will begin at a later date.This year is milestone for “Idol” in many ways. First of all it is the show’s 10th season and for any TV show to make it through 10 years is a big achievement indeed. Next, the show has dropped its minimum age limit to 15, so you can expect Justin Bieber lookalikes and tiny-teeny-boppers to swamp the show (or at least the auditions).
Last of all, the missing Cowell factor could be telling on the ratings of the show. Hated or loved, Simon Cowell was the backbone of “Idol”. His decision to leave the show, while prudent on his part, may be the worst thing that ever happened to the show. With ratings steadily sliding over the last few years, the exit of Cowell was the last thing “Idol” needed. For reasons unknown, his replacement is still not evident. Neither is news on the future of Randy Jackson; whether we will see the “Dawg” return for season 10 or not remains on how contract negotiations concluded.
Since FOX has kept mum on the subject, we could see a double replacement for the male judges in the coming days.”American Idol” is scheduled to make audition stops at – Milwaukee, New Orleans, East Rutherford, Austin, and San Francisco.