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Global Showbiz Briefs: Searching For ‘Wicker Man’, Londoño Upped At Fox Int’l Channels, Chinese Authorities Eyeing Zhang

By NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor | Thursday May 9, 2013 @ 9:00pm PDTTags: Fox International Chal, RealD, StudioCanal, Zhang Yi

StudioCanal Seeks Original ‘Wicker Man’ Materials For 40th Anni Reissue

UK distributor StudioCanal has launched a worldwide appeal to locate original film materials relating to the 1973 horror classic The Wicker Man. This year is the Robin Hardy-directed film’s 40th anniversary, and StudioCanal is aiming to release the most complete version of the film possible. The Christopher Lee starrer originally was released with minimal promotion as the second feature of a double bill with Don’t Look Now. The version shown was significantly shorter than Hardy’s original. The negatives then disappeared from storage at Shepperton Studios and allegedly were used as landfill in the construction of the nearby M4 highway, and are considered lost forever. The company is appealing to film collectors, historians, programmers and fans to support the campaign and come forward with any information relating to the potential whereabouts of original materials.

Londoño Upped At Fox International Channels

Fox International Channels has appointed Diego Londoño as COO of its European and African units. He will take over the new post immediately and retain his role as president of FIC Italy and Germany. The appointment adds decision-making responsibilities across pan-European and African programming, production, branding, communications, research and strategy to his responsibilities. Londoño, a 15-year veteran of FIC, will be charged with strengthening and expanding the company’s portfolio and exploring new growth areas.

 

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Global Showbiz Briefs: K5 & ‘Cutie’, ‘Khumba’, Monte Carlo TV Fest, RealD In Rio, ‘Shield Of Straw’, NBCU International, Pinewood Indomina, ITV & More

By NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor | Wednesday April 24, 2013 @ 9:00pm PDTTags: Cutie And The Boxer, Global Showbiz Briefs, Khumba, RealD

K5 In The Ring With ‘Cutie And The Boxer’
K5 International has boarded director Zachary Heinzerling’s Cutie And The Boxer which is screening this week in Tribeca. Heinzerling won the U.S. Documentary directing prize in Sundance for the film which is his feature debut. The movie is a New York love story about life and art that explores the chaotic 40-year marriage of renowned boxing painter Ushio Shinohara and his wife and artist Noriko. It will be released Stateside by Radius-TWC in August. King Records will distribute in Japan with Parco and Madman in Australia.

Steve Buscemi, Anika Noni Rose Join ‘Khumba’
South Africa’s Triggerfish Animation Studios has added the voice talent of Steve Buscemi and The Good Wife’s Anika Noni Rose to its 3D animated feature, Khumba. They join Liam Neeson, Laurence Fishburne, AnnaSophia Robb, Jake T. Austin, Loretta Devine and Richard E. Grant. Khumba tells the story of a half-striped Zebra who is blamed for a severe drought by his herd. He teams up with a sassy wildebeest and a self-obsessed ostrich to go in search of the magic waterhole where legend has it the first zebras got their stripes and meets an array of wacky characters on the adventure. Edward Noeltner’s Cinema Management Group has international sales. Millennium Entertainment will release in the U.S. later this year. Buscemi and Rose’s deals were brokered by WME and Ned Lott on behalf of Triggerfish Animation. Buscemi is also repped by The Gotham Group. Read More »

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RealD Showcases Technology To Show 3D Movies On White Screens: CinemaCon

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Monday April 15, 2013 @ 9:19am PDTTags: CinemaCon, RealD

LAS VEGAS (APRIL 15, 2013) – RealD Inc. (NYSE: RLD) announced today the introduction of Precision White Screen technology for cinema projection, combining 2D white screen performance with the ability to project polarized 3D images. Designed to deliver enhanced 2D and 3D presentations with wide viewing angles similar to white screens of equivalent gain, Precision White Screen technology features edges 4 to 5 times brighter than a standard silver screen. The improved screen efficiency results in 40% more total light coming off the screen, providing more uniform brightness than a standard silver screen. Precision White Screens also feature a smooth, white surface which generates better image contrast for improved image quality in 2D and 3D.

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‘Great Gatsby’ Could Indicate How Much 3D Attendance Can Grow, RealD CFO Says

By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor | Tuesday March 12, 2013 @ 1:53pm PDTTags: 3D, RealD, The Great Gatsby

The 3D version of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic, which was just tapped to be the opening night film at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and which Warner Bros plans to release in the U.S. on May 10, will provide an early indication of whether the extra dimension appeals to audiences who like dramas — and not just animation, action, and fantasy fans. “We’re really excited to see what the data points are,” RealD Chief Financial and Operating Officer Drew Skarupa said today of The Great Gatsby at the Piper Jaffray Technology, Media and Telecommunications Conference. The 3D technology company is also eager to see additional films that appeal to overseas audiences. When a movie is available in 2D and 3D, about 60% of international sales go to the 3D version as opposed to 45% in the U.S. That’s a problem because “the press and the Street tend to focus on the domestic numbers.” What accounts for the difference? “We’ve seen direct correlations between the number of 3D showtimes and box office,” Skarupa says. “We’d like to see in the U.S. markets a greater percentage of 3D showtimes.” Read More »

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Global Showbiz Briefs: BFI Film Fund For Docs, Film London For Artists, RealD In Hospitals, Endemol’s ‘Big Boss’

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Thursday February 28, 2013 @ 10:19pm PSTTags: BFI Film Fund, Big Brother, Endemol, Film London, Global Showbiz Briefs, RealD

Documentary Makers To Pitch BFI For Funding
The BFI Film Fund will dish out funding to documentaries via twice-yearly public pitch sessions, in London and at Sheffield Doc/Fest. Documentarians will pitch ideas to a panel of senior execs “from within the BFI Film Fund and wider documentary funding community”, with selected candidates benefitting from a day of expert-led development to help them focus pitches and strengthen ideas. Documentary filmmaking in Britain is on a high after a string of high-profile successes like Man On Wire and Senna, as well as this year’s Oscar- and BAFTA-winning Brit-produced Searching For Sugarman and the BAFTA-winning The Imposter. “Documentary is the punk of the film industry,” said the BFI’s Lizzie Francke. “We’re absolutely committed to supporting the UK’s visionary documentary filmmakers and we’re pleased to be working with Sheffield Doc/Fest on this new way to deliver support directly to the sector.” – Joe Utichi  Read More »

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Fewer 3D Hits Dent RealD Q3 Earnings

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Wednesday February 6, 2013 @ 1:21pm PSTTags: RealD

UPDATE, 2:30 PM: RealD chairman Michael Lewis mentioned more than once during the post-earnings conference Disney’s plans to restart the Star Wars franchise, saying the recent decision to postpone 3D rereleases of Star Wars prequel movies doesn’t bother the company, which relies most on new tentpole product. It also announced new deals for as many as 300 screens with two exhibitors in Russia as part of an international expansion, and hinted that there may be more news about Latin America by next quarter. CFO/COO Drew Skarupa said year-end guidance is now about $10M-$15M less, which the company expects to push into fiscal 2014 when more 3D product comes online.

PREVIOUS, 1:21 PM: The 3D licensor reported its fiscal third-quarter earnings today, marking a loss of $4.2 million, or -8 cents a share, compared with a gain of $2.8 million, or +5 cents, a year ago. The drop comes despite a tax benefit of $2.2 million during the quarter that ended December 31. RealD’s total revenue came in at $46.9 million, a year-over-year dip from $49 million, though licensing was up 7%. Both earnings per share and revenue were about on par with analyst expectations. Read More »

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RealD Shares Buoyed By $25M Increase To Stock Repurchase Plan

By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor | Monday December 17, 2012 @ 9:20am PSTTags: RealD

The 3D movie company’s stock is up 1.6% in mid-day trading after it increased the repurchase effort it announced in April to $75M from $50M. The change “demonstrates our confidence in RealD’s future and our commitment to maximizing shareholder value,” … Read More »

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Global Showbiz Briefs: Environmental Media Awards Scribes, Phone-Hacking Lawsuits, Australian Cinema Woes, RealD In Russia

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Tuesday September 18, 2012 @ 11:59pm PDTTags: News Corp, RealD

Phil Rosenthal, David Wild To Pen 2012 Environmental Media Awards
The Environmental Media Association says Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal and TV writer David Wild will team up to pen the 22nd annual Environmental Media Awards. The pair first worked together on America: A Tribute To Heroes telethon in 2001. Wild’s TV writing credits include the Grammy Awards and The Primetime Emmy Awards. Rosenthal directed and stars in the feature documentary Exporting Raymond. The awards will be held September 29 at Warner Bros Studios in Burbank.

Russell Brand, Christopher Eccleston Sue Over Phone-Hacking
Russell Brand and Christopher Eccleston have added their names to the list of News Of The World litigants. News Corp’s News International, which published the now-defunct paper, is now facing about 174 invasion of privacy claims over alleged phone-hacking claims. Those cases are expected to go to trial next year, The Guardian reports. Along with the British actors, there are politicians, local TV personalities and the filmmaker Christopher Terrill. Read More »

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Theater Stocks Hammered After Colorado Shooting

By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor | Friday July 20, 2012 @ 7:32am PDTTags: Carmike Cinemas, Cinemark, IMAX, RealD, Regal

Cinmark Stock Theater ShootingCinemark, which owns the theater where this morning’s shooting took place, is -3.2% in early trading. And others are down as well: The largest chain, Regal, is -3.3%, and IMAX is -1.8%. … Read More »

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RealD To Have 2,000 Screens In China Following Deal With Stellar International

By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor | Thursday June 14, 2012 @ 3:00am PDTTags: China, RealD

The 3D technology company says this morning that it will install its systems at 100 screens operated by SMI Corporation’s Stellar International Cineplex. “This agreement adds to RealD’s growing traction in the Chinese exhibition market where we recently announced four new … Read More »

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Imax Picks Belgian Firm To Help Develop Laser Projection

By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor | Tuesday February 7, 2012 @ 8:32am PSTTags: IMAX, RealD

The announcement follows Imax’s agreement in October to license Kodak’s snazzy laser projection technology — which some analysts say could give it an edge over RealD’s 3D projectors. This release suggests that Imax is still on track to roll the new technology out in late 2013 in dome theaters with screens larger than 80 feet.

NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2012 /CNW/ – IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX; TSX: IMX) today announced it selected Barco (NYSE Euronext Brussels: BAR) to co-develop ground-breaking new laser projection technology for IMAX® theatres. The new IMAX digital laser projector will present greater brightness and clarity, a wider color gamut and deeper blacks, and consume less power and last longer than existing digital technology. This state-of-the-art solution, which will implement the patents IMAX exclusively licensed from Eastman Kodak Co. last year, will allow IMAX’s entire global theatre network to show the highest-quality digital content available.

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Exhibition Company Shares Fall As Investors Prepare For Anemic 4Q Results

By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor | Monday December 19, 2011 @ 3:11pm PSTTags: Box Office, Carmike Cinemas, Cinemark, National CineMedia, RealD, Regal Entertainment

The weak box office sales this past weekend made it clear that the year is going to end with a whimper. Regal’s shares fell 8.7%, making it the biggest loser among the theater chains followed by Carmike (-4.9%) and Cinemark (-2.9%). Companies closely aligned with theaters also suffered: 3-D technology provider RealD fell 6.2% while ad seller National Cinemedia was off nearly 3%. “The hoped-for 4Q11 box office pop is slipping away,” says Lazard Capital Markets analyst Barton Crockett. Ticket sales so far this quarter are down about 6.9% vs the same period last year, he says. He predicts the quarter will end down 1.9% following an expected surge of Christmas weekend turnout for Paramount’s Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol as it goes into wide release, Warner Bros’ Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows, Sony’s The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo, Fox’s Alvin And The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, and Paramount’s The Adventures Of Tintin. Read More »

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Media Stocks Up On Strong Holiday Sales And Hope Of European Debt Solution

By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor | Monday November 28, 2011 @ 9:40am PSTTags: Big Media, CBS, Cinedigm, Comcast, Crown Media, Disney, Madison Square Garden, Netflix, News Corp, RealD, Sinclair Broadcasting, Sony, Time Warner, Viacom, Westwood One

Shoppers spent a record $52.4B over the four-day Thanksgiving weekend, up 16% from last year, the National Retail Federation says. Add that to reports that European leaders are getting serious about resolving their debt crisis, and it’s easy … Read More »

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Media Stocks Hit By Market Fears Of Impasse Over U.S. Debt Cuts

By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor | Monday November 21, 2011 @ 12:50pm PSTTags: Barnes & Noble, CBS, Cinedigm, Comcast, Crown Media, Dish Network, Disney, E.W. Scripps, Entercom, LIN TV, Live Nation, McClatchy, McGraw-Hill, National CineMedia, Netflix, Radio One, RealD, Sirius XM, Sony, Time Warner, Viacom, Westwood One

The federal government will have to slash $1.2T in spending, mostly beginning in 2013, if the 12-member congressional Super Committee can’t strike a deficit reduction deal soon. They still appear split — even though, as a practical matter, … Read More »

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Big Media 3Q Corporate Earnings Roundup: Are CEOs Really Worried About Recession? Or Just Looking For Convenient Excuse?

By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor | Saturday November 12, 2011 @ 5:53am PSTTags: Amazon, Big Media Earnings, Bob Iger, Cars 2, CBS, Charlie Ergen, Cinemark, Comcast, Conan the Barbarian, Despicable Me, Dish Network, Disney, DreamWorks Animation, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Hulu, Kung Fu Panda 2, Les Moonves, Lionsgate, National CineMedia, NBC, Netflix, News Corp, Philippe Dauman, RealD, Reed Hastings, Regal CEO Amy Miles, Regal Entertainment Group, Rise of the Planet Of The Apes, Shrek Forever After, Time Warner, Time Warner Cable, Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt, Toy Story 3, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Universal Pictures, Viacom, Warrior, X-Men:First Class

Three months ago, when Big Media CEOs wrapped up their 2Q earnings, they were still relentlessly upbeat about the business. Any worries about the economy? Not then. But the messages they delivered over the past few weeks, as they discussed 3Q, were different. Although they’re still optimistic — remember, they’re paid to be salesmen — now and then you could hear expressions of concern about where things are headed. It stood out when Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman noted that “ad sales growth will face some headwinds.” Other CEOs who are known for speaking bluntly warned that other shocks may bedevil the business. For example, Dish Network Chairman Charlie Ergen said that his satellite company — and others in pay TV — have to fight harder against rising programming costs because “there’s a limit to the price increases that could be passed on to consumers.” Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt warned that premium channels such as HBO, Showtime and Starz “are clearly impacted by the economy as consumers try to cut back.” Either they’re genuinely worried, or they want a scapegoat to blame for things that are going bad, or may soon do so. Whatever the case, we can expect to hear a lot more about the economy when it’s time for the post-mortem on the all-important 4Q earnings.

As for industry performance matters, parents of movie studios had their usual mixed results to brag about or explain away: Time Warner benefitted from Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2. Viacom was up on Transformers: Dark Of The Moon. And News Corp beat its chest about Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes and X-Men: First Class. But Disney’s Cars 2 was no match for last year’s Toy Story 3. Comcast’s Universal Pictures had nothing to compare to last year’s Despicable Me. Lionsgate suffered from Conan The Barbarian and Warrior. And DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 2 didn’t contribute as much in the quarter as Shrek Forever After did in the same period last year.

Over at the TV networks, Comcast’s NBC underperformed the Street’s already modest expectations. Execs at almost all the companies were eager to talk about the cash they expect to collect soon from political ads — as well as their favorite new ATM machines: retransmission consent deals and digital streamers including Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix. Speaking of Netflix, CEO Reed Hastings once again tried to reassure investors that he’s focused on “building back our reputation and brand strength” after his decision in July to slap a 60% price increase on customers who wanted to continue to rent DVDs and stream videos. In 3Q Netflix lost 57.7% of its market value and 800,000 subscribers. And since that customer loss was bigger than projected, Netflix shares continued to fall — they’re now down 67.3% since July 1.

Here are some other themes from the latest earnings reports:

Ad sales: They’s good, but for how long? Most television networks report that scatter prices are comfortably above the upfront market from this past summer. CBS chief Les Moonves says prices in 4Q are up by “mid-teens” on a percentage basis, while Discovery says it sees least high single digit percentages. But Disney’s Bob Iger noted that scatter prices have “slowed slightly these last few weeks.” Kurt Hall of National CineMedia — the leading seller of ads in movie theaters — was far more direct when he spoke to analysts after ratcheting down his company’s financial forecasts. “I’m sure that the broadcast and cable guys are sitting there now counting their lucky stars they got their upfront done before August,” he told analysts. “There’s a lot of uncertainty.” Read More »

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RealD Shares -15.5% In Late Trading As Samsung TV Deal Falls Through And Revenues Disappoint

By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor | Wednesday November 2, 2011 @ 3:36pm PDTTags: 3D, 3D Glasses, DreamWorks Animation, RealD, RealD Earnings, Relativity, Sony Pictures

The after-hours trades gave up the 9.5% gain in RealD shares on Wednesday before the market closed. And the strange thing is that earnings for fiscal 2Q were way ahead of forecasts: The 3D movie technology company had net income of … Read More »

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RealD Taps Leo Bannon As EVP Global Ops

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Wednesday October 19, 2011 @ 9:12am PDTTags: RealD

LOS ANGELES — RealD Inc. (NYSE: RLD), a leading global licensor of 3D technologies, today announced the appointment of Leo Bannon as Executive Vice-President, Global Operations. Bannon brings nearly three decades of relevant experience in display, optical and

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Does IMAX’s New Laser Projection Deal With Kodak Threaten RealD?

By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor | Monday October 17, 2011 @ 8:25am PDTTags: CEO Richard Gelfond, IMAX, IMAX 3D, RealD

Many investors think so this morning; RealD shares are down more than 7.7% in early trading. There’s no immediate danger: RealD has a few years left on its exclusive deals with major theater owners to supply their 3D-projection technology. Still, BTIG analyst … Read More »

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3D Glasses Shakedown: Will Audiences End Up Paying If Studios Won’t?

By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor | Wednesday September 28, 2011 @ 5:09pm PDTTags: 3D, Disney, Fox, John Fithian, National Association Of Theatre Owners, RealD, Regal CEO Amy Miles, Regal Entertainment Group, Sony Pictures Entertainment

Sony Responds To NATO’s Claim That New 3D Glasses Plan Is Myopic

The battle lines are starting to harden around who’ll pay for those lame-looking 3D glasses. I’ve learned that other studios might line up behind Sony’s decision to stop paying the average 50-cents a pair fee beginning in May. Rival studios tell me Fox is on board. “We’re studying our options, but haven’t made any decisions yet,” denied Fox Filmed Entertainment spokesman Chris Petrikin. Remember, Fox was first in line to try to stop paying for glasses back in 2009 when it released Ice Age. But then had to abandon that effort after theaters rebelled. Sony was technically correct today when it said in a statement that “there never has been” a formal agreement stipulating that studios would shoulder the cost of 3D glasses. But it’s easy to understand why exhibitors are stunned by Sony’s stoppage. Because it changes an understanding that’s been in place since 2005 when Disney’s Chicken Little kicked off the 3D movie phenom.

“It is a radical departure from what the practice has been,” National Association of Theater Owners President John Fithian tells me. Now Regal CEO Amy Miles warns that if studios end the practice then it could “result in fewer screens exhibiting 3D films”. That’s bad news for Hollywood, which plans to release 39 films in 3D next year, vs. 36 in 2011. Exhibitors might encourage consumers to bring their own 3D glasses. That may be the future anyway. But BTIG analyst Rich Greenfield says if theaters require payment for 3D specs on top of the typical 3D surcharge ($3.25 to $4 a ticket), then “the U.S. moviegoer will reject this as another way for exhibitors to milk them and further decrease their interest in 3D (and perhaps going to the movies in general)”.

The fight is over glasses manufactured for RealD which it, in turn, supplies them to theaters. RealD’s stock price was down -14.7% today on the Sony news. The 3D tech company won’t disclose Read More »

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