"Club Penton" - Ask questions to Hollywood insider "Penton-Man"

[Penton-Man]

Oh, last thing, before I forget.
Somebody asked me "what about soccer matches in 3D?" in a PM shortly after I posted this YouTube clip of the USC game..........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHimzxTNW-o

Here ya go........happend last week -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7HIqA__TvU

[MerrickG]

Penton,

Nobody is happier than me that Last Action Hero is getting released on bluray, but WHY are there no special features? Have they just not been announced yet?

[DenonCI]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

That was so poorly handled, honestly she's needed to die since season 2, and throwing that in was just showing how little they have for her to do. At least last night's excellent episode (and offing of another character who had long outlived his usefullness) has given me hope

Personally I've always preferred watching my movies in the dark anyway, and my friend's setup was in a windowless finished basement

I've been traveling on business, so I look forward to watching the TiVo'd episode later tonight or tomorrow. Thanks for the heads-up.

As for killing off characters, I totally agree.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by merrick97

Penton,
Nobody is happier than me that Last Action Hero is getting released on bluray, but WHY are there no special features? Have they just not been announced yet?

I see that Jeff already answered your question on his Insider’s Thread….where I also just noted that Schuyler seems to be exclusively hanging out on.

Schu – PM me if there is a concern.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by DenonCI

I've been traveling on business...

I know you like the motion picture business also.
With that in mind, last year Hollywood produced about 600 films.

How many Hollywood motion pictures do you think will be produced next year and why?

[DenonCI]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I know you like the motion picture business also.
With that in mind, last year Hollywood produced about 600 films.

How many Hollywood motion pictures do you think will be produced next year and why?

I'd say somewhere between 300-400 films because the cash source (Wall Street) isn't the cash cow it used to be, right?

[Slec]

Originally Posted by DenonCI

I'd say somewhere between 300-400 films because the cash source (Wall Street) isn't the cash cow it used to be, right?

I would also think that the box office take is significantly off from last year. Even taking the major blockbusters into account (i.e. removing their effect from comp model)

[Vincent Pereira]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Most definitely.

Especially if it means a better Blu-ray of Scorsese's own GANGS OF NEW YORK, perhaps even an extended or "director's" cut? I've seen an early "workprint" edit of GoNY that I personally think is significantly better than the theatrical version, which I loved in and of itself...

Vincent

[DenonCI]

Originally Posted by Slec

I would also think that the box office take is significantly off from last year. Even taking the major blockbusters into account (i.e. removing their effect from comp model)

I think receipts are up 5-7% or so in 2009.

[Jeff Kleist]

I'd agree with Denon's figure of 400ish films, and that there's less money available to lend

I just saw Men Who Stare At Goats, fantastic and hilarious film, especially because Ewan MacGregor wants to become a Jedi The whole cast is in excellent form, looks like it was one big party of friends making a movie together.

[Knight-Errant]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I'd agree with Denon's figure of 400ish films, and that there's less money available to lend

I just saw Men Who Stare At Goats, fantastic and hilarious film, especially because Ewan MacGregor wants to become a Jedi The whole cast is in excellent form, looks like it was one big party of friends making a movie together.

Sounds great. I've been fancying seeing that.

[DenonCI]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I'd agree with Denon's figure of 400ish films, and that there's less money available to lend

I just saw Men Who Stare At Goats, fantastic and hilarious film, especially because Ewan MacGregor wants to become a Jedi The whole cast is in excellent form, looks like it was one big party of friends making a movie together.

The trailers have looked hilarious and I love the cast.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by DenonCI

I'd say somewhere between 300-400 films because the cash source (Wall Street) isn't the cash cow it used to be, right?

Most definitely that and also dwindling DVD sales.

I’m hoping the business breaks the 450 mark next year.
However, you may be right with your lower figure range, as there will be a significant decline in Hollywood productions unless there is either a new paradigm in how talent is compensated or unless there is a sudden infusion of funding by outside entities into innovative co-financing deals to cover production costs.

What I mean in regards to the former, is that instead of always paying out gross to the talent, pay out based upon the ultimate performance of the motion picture (theatrical as well as home media), in other words, have the talent share in the profits at the same time as the studios.

Regarding “innovative co-financing deals”, there have to be more agreements/deals struck with outside sources (Wall Street, etc.) to cover half the negative cost.

In lieu of either of the above happening in the current economic climate, what is needed is a shot in the arm……..
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091026/...Jvd2RlZHRoZWF0

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I'd agree with Denon's figure of 400ish films, and that there's less money available to lend

I just saw Men Who Stare At Goats, fantastic and hilarious film, especially because Ewan MacGregor wants to become a Jedi The whole cast is in excellent form, looks like it was one big party of friends making a movie together.

I just saw on our news page that there is a rumor that Road to Perdition may to coming to Blu-ray soon.

Brace yourself.
Remember we had that converstation about a year ago, concerning how some scenes will be potential bashing fodder for the ‘usual suspects’ (i.e. *screenshot scientists*)?

[DenonCI]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Most definitely that and also dwindling DVD sales.

I’m hoping the business breaks the 450 mark next year.
However, you may be right with your lower figure range, as there will be a significant decline in Hollywood productions unless there is either a new paradigm in how talent is compensated or unless there is a sudden infusion of funding by outside entities into innovative co-financing deals to cover production costs.

What I mean in regards to the former, is that instead of always paying out gross to the talent, pay out based upon the ultimate performance of the motion picture (theatrical as well as home media), in other words, have the talent share in the profits at the same time as the studios.

Regarding “innovative co-financing deals”, there have to be more agreements/deals struck with outside sources (Wall Street, etc.) to cover half the negative cost.

In lieu of either of the above happening in the current economic climate, what is needed is a shot in the arm……..
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091026/...Jvd2RlZHRoZWF0

Penton,

Interesting article. It begs the question as to when 3D is available in the home, will people still pay a premium to see it at the theater? I'm not a huge fan of it myself, but I haven't watched a 3D film since "Spy Kids 3D," so maybe I need to get out a bit more often

I like the idea of actors/directors getting paid of commission...if the product is good and it sells well (in theaters and on home video), then they get a share of the proceeds. Then again, I've been in sales my entire professional life so it's the model I'm comfortable with. I think when people have skin in the game, they tend to work harder to produce better results, unlike the DMV

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by DenonCI

Interesting article. It begs the question as to when 3D is available in the home, will people still pay a premium to see it at the theater? I'm not a huge fan of it myself, but I haven't watched a 3D film since "Spy Kids 3D," so maybe I need to get out a bit more often

Definitely. Spy Kids was the old Anaglyph Red/Blue 3D. Digital 3D is sooooooooo much more satisfying, and a lot of filmmakers are making 3D films that add depth without being gimmicky.

[Bobby Henderson]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

What I mean in regards to the former, is that instead of always paying out gross to the talent, pay out based upon the ultimate performance of the motion picture (theatrical as well as home media), in other words, have the talent share in the profits at the same time as the studios.

That may be a hard sell given the image Hollywood studios have with creative accounting practices. Lots of people have heard of the term "rolling break even." I remember Eddie Murphy using the term "monkey points" around 20 years ago with regard to actors foregoing a big pay check up front for a percentage of profit on the back end. You may never see those points.

Isn't Tommy Lee Jones involved in some sort of lawsuit along these lines over No Country for Old Men?

[Jeff Kleist]

I just saw on our news page that there is a rumor that Road to Perdition may to coming to Blu-ray soon.

Brace yourself.
Remember we had that converstation about a year ago, concerning how some scenes will be potential bashing fodder for the ‘usual suspects’ (i.e. *screenshot scientists*)?

I do, anyone want to start a pool as to who our winner will be?

Definitely. Spy Kids was the old Anaglyph Red/Blue 3D. Digital 3D is sooooooooo much more satisfying, and a lot of filmmakers are making 3D films that add depth without being gimmicky.

For home viewing, LCD shutter glasses will provide an experience close enough to polarized to satisfy most people.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by DenonCI

Penton,
Interesting article. It begs the question as to when 3D is available in the home, will people still pay a premium to see it at the theater?

Well, I sure as hell hope so, esp. if the theaters also boast “3D sound”……..
http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/...ref=technology

Next time you’re in Hollywood., check out auditorium 6 of the Mann Chinese 6 Theatre…
http://www.electrosonic.com/solution...atre-hollywood

^
For those unfamiliar with Iosono, it’s a spin-off of Germany’s famed Fraunhofer Institute (i.e. for one thing, those folks were intimately involved in the development of JPEG2000….
http://www.smpte.org/events/smpte_an...ule/06wedspm1/

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I do, anyone want to start a pool as to who our winner will be?

I haven’t keep up with the most current *scientists* except for reading a couple of links from a thread on an outside forum which were passed onto me a couple weeks or so ago via PM. It seems that the poster (a technician who actually works in the mastering or encoding/authoring business) took them to task because he had reached his limit of frustration with their nonsense.

I’ll post his comments when I’ve got time to search my inbox again.
Classic stuff.
Could qualify for post(s) of the year.