Category: media

“In Mumbai, India, a seven-week-old strike by film producers has brought Bollywood, that country’s multibillion-dollar film industry, to a halt. The Eagle specializes in first-run Bollywood movies, and without a supply of new films, theaters like it around the world have had to screen old ones, dip into the pricier Hollywood and European film catalogs — or shut down.”

“Buffy creator Joss Whedon isn’t involved and it’s not set up at a studio, but director Fran Rubel Kuzui [who owns the rights to the property] is working on a relaunch with Vertigo Entertainment, which specializes in English-language remakes of Asian films … The new Buffy film, however, would have no connection to the TV series, nor would it use popular supporting characters like Angel, Willow, Xander or Spike.”

“Summer Hours,” a French film starring Juliette Binoche, “tells the story of a family-owned art collection that must be sold off after the elderly matriarch passes away. In a rare close collaboration between a filmmaker and an art institution, director Olivier Assayas and his crew partnered with the Musée d’Orsay in Paris and several private collectors to locate works ranging from 19th century Barbizon school paintings to rare 20th century furniture.”

“The turmoil comes as agencies weigh the cost of the recession. Box-office revenues remain robust but DVD sales have slumped and fewer films and TV shows are getting the green light. Owing to difficulties securing finance, the once extortionate salaries offered to actors and writers are being slashed.”

“Performers have a ‘sense of outrage when they see the cavalier way credits are treated’ – and highlighted the practice of credits being ‘squeezed into a corner’ or run through at high speed.”

“In the midst of an expansion that has made Imax an important premium venue — in the first two weeks of “Star Trek,” it claimed more than $22 million in gross on less than 2% of screens — the company that built its reputation as the ultimate way to see a movie is being accused of failing to deliver on its own promises.”

“The social-networking service said Monday it has teamed with Reveille productions and Brillstein Entertainment Partners to develop an unscripted series based on the site, which invites 140-character postings from members around the world. The show would harness Twitter to put players on the trail of celebrities in an interactive, competitive format.”

The CBC had projected in March that about 393 jobs would have to be cut in its English-language service to make up for an overall $171-million shortfall in advertising revenue. The shortfall for the English-language service is $85-million.

“Even though business at this year’s market isn’t exactly booming, and overall prices for movies have remained low, industry experts suggest that the worst has passed for the global film industry.”

“Three local TV stations — Channels 4, 5 and 9 — will create a common newsgathering operation that will share daily news footage, in another sign that the financially pressured industry is moving to reduce its costs.”