TSFG Commentary - Avengers

TSFG Commentary - Avengers

OMG Podcast #4 - "DCEeeeeeeeeU"

TSFG - OMG Podcast #3 "It's BIO PIC not BYEopic"

TSFG - OMG Podcast #3 "It's BIO PIC not BYEopic"

O M G Podcast #2

The Theatrical Film is Coming to your home (for $30)?

No, you’re not misreading, major film studios have been buzzing around the concept of bringing their newer theatrical debuts to YOUR home a few weeks after they are released into theaters. 

Apparently, these talks have been going on for over a year now and some studios want their films released within 20 days after its theatrical release whereas others are asking for a month or so... 

With the fear of losing audiences to the various streaming competitors including YouTube, Vimeo and VHX (which I believe is on the bubble), as we know, these services all allow viewers to watch content on their mobile devices.

Lorenzo di Bonaventura, producer of the Transformers films stated this about streaming services,
“I think the proof is right in front of us with what’s happening in cable and streaming services, Directors want to go there, because they’re able to tell interesting stories…. That’s where the chances are being taken. That’s where the action is now.”

The film theater Exhibitors and the studios are supposedly working on a negotiated percentage cost that would go to the theater owners for this oncoming VOD service as studios must reserve screen space with exhibitors in order for their films to screen in the theatrical venues. Most screening reserves are sometimes up to a year and a half in advance with certain multiplex chains.

Each studio will be responsible for setting their own price points due to Antitrust laws, they are NOT allowed to collaborate on any agreement(s) ("Wink", "Wink").

Unknown to audiences, Studios have also been feeling their film financing sources drying up as they feel they are overpaying for Hollywood projects. And the venture capitalists are transitioning more and more into technology avenues.

Now don't expect to see the "Star Wars" or "Marvel" franchise films to fall under this system because Disney has no interest in making this type of deal (mainly because of the type of high end projects they continue to release.

Also, Disney along with Comcast/Universal, their film and television corporations make more income from their cable or consumer products (Verizon, NBC, ABC,ESPN) than from theatrical ticket sales and which is why they could care less regarding this new concept.

When will this take affect?

Since nothing is completely cemented (to date) we're guessing that studios will probably hold off until after summer is over (not wanting to tinker with it's big seasonal "blockbusters") which this is where they are making the mistake. They will more likely roll this out around the dreaded "Oscar" season to pull this off. 

Desperate times create desperate measures?

Amir Malin, co-founder of Qualia Capital, stated this about the current film distribution system, “It’s a system that’s been intoxicated with a ‘cover my ass’ mentality. Simply put, it’s a defective system, and when a business paradigm is defective, very good people start doing things that are counterproductive.”

With the DVD/Blu-Ray platform money funnel slowly drying up for studios and with certain studios secretly struggling,
I have to ask…

How soon before the deal with these Exhibitors go south? 

Studios have been known to insert their "Creative accounting" methods so could this happen with these film Exhibitors?
The same "accounting" that's been used in various lawsuits, 

- Warner Bros. v. Sylvester Stallone re: "Demolition Man"
- 2010 Warner's suit for "The Exorcist" remake
- Fox's films first "Alien" film vs. Brandywine
- Paramount's "Coming to America" suit

 The Television claims

- AMC, "The Walking Dead" v. Frank Darabont
- Fox's "Bone" also has a suit

 Lawsuits seems like a standard studio trend so again one should ask how long before the Exhibitors get burned as well?

And will this be that final brick to cause studios to crumble?

And why the media hardly discusses the various forms of "bootlegging" and how it's also taking a chunk of the studio residual pie.

Suggestion: Let filmmakers make films not studios (this might help put people in seats).

If the studios spent less time so involved with the art of storytelling and left this in the hands of the actual screenwriters and filmmakers, maybe better content would come out on yearly basis. For example Disney was involved in the Star Wars franchise which is why the "Force Awakens" is basically a re-boot in a different suit that used the loss of a major character in order to get cheap Shock and Awe.

Will we ever get the real story related of the crash and burn of the Fox's 2015 "Fantastic Four" remake?

It's unfortunate that certain studios are not ambitious enough to hire a True creative teams that understand how to merge the worlds of theatrical and television/cable. For example, why the WB did not merge their television superhero franchise (DC's "The Flash") into their theatrical world (DC's upcoming "Justice League")?

Why cast a new actor the same character
Hollywood witchcraft at work here?

But are you willing to pay $30 - $50?

Now the question still remains,
How much are you willing to pay for this new service (if you would)? 
Will you consider the idea of chipping in with friends to split the bill for the in home experience?
-Or-
Will you choose to wait the 90 days to rent/purchase all films rather than go to a theater in general? 

Network television shows should RETIRE NOW!

The number of Network TV shows, I spend my time viewing I can barely count on two hands these days, however I think it's time to place some dirt on these shows before it's too late

Arrow -This season 5 is probably the worst of the worst for this show. And I know that the TV DC universe is planning a number of crossovers but this show is reaching a rock bottom. It would be grand to cancel the show and have Arrow stand alone TV movies (some crossovers and individual 90 minute adventures).

With all these different streaming platforms taking a bite out of network television, that concept seems like the way to go….

I also think The producer’s should enlist filmmaker Kevin Smith but as a writer as he used to write “The Green Arrow” comic series some time ago.

Sleepy Hollow – After the departure of Nicole Beharie (which felt like more of a creative difference dispute rather than a thought out story line), the brotherly/sisterly relationship of between the two lead characters killed the buzz that the show began with and the original show concept seemed to die a bit... The current re-vamp is cool and can carry the show into a fifth season but it’s not the same. Although, I liked the season finale as it was a nice bookend to end the show.

Modern Family – It’s surprising that Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell didn’t win more Emmy awards for this show when it was funnier. However, the show has seems to have lost the over the top humor it once and is almost becoming predictable.

You can see my post awhile back regarding Scandal, Quantico, 2 Broke Girls here

https://goo.gl/1zsFvc

Shows that have run its Course

Warner Brothers purposely dropping two versions of their DC films as a way to recoup?

PLEASE NOTE** This blog was supposed to be released before the announcement was made of the “Suicide Squad” Blu-Ray release but I had a PC issue thus preventing me from dropping this and messing up my flow…

First, the History Lesson:

            This is a very quick “How It Kind of began”…

In the Early days, (“The 1980’s”) the invention of the Beta-Max and VHS video recording machine and players became an unspoken stream of income for film studios once they began to release their theatrical films onto video tape for film goers to purchase. The VHS v. Beta-Max format war began as the films video release dates were usually a year after its theatrical release.

You’ve read correct, a whole friggin’ Year.

      So NOW we fast forward as VHS phases out Beta and later the Laserdisc drops which goes on to become the DVD. Recently, HD DVD v. Blu-Ray (BR) format war came and went. And thus we now have Blu-Ray and HD Digital downloads.

Why the History Lesson?

            As time moved on and the pulled curtains revealed how studios had been making a lot of currency through their Home Video releases to this very day (never to reveal their numbers, how shocking)…
Currently, Blu-Ray and digital downloads offer much faster release dates after theatrical windows.

Now add on the various competitive streams that garner people’s attention (Vimeo/VHX, You Tube) which also competes with Theatrical films and direct to BR and digital formats.

(Keep in mind there was a time where a “Straight to Video” release was then deemed as “bottom of the barrel” similar to a popular film actor going to Television back then)

And with each theatrical film comes advertising which is created to get us into theaters…

What many viewers fail to realize is that a successful Theatrical window is the actual advertising for a Studio’s BR/digital revenue stream which is why the formats offer such extras as Commentaries, BTS, Bloopers and Deleted scenes...

Okay, now the Meat and Potatoes of the blog


A Conspiracy Theory:

            What if Warner’s deliberate scheme is to release a Theatrical version with missing scenes in order to boost sales on home releases where this version reveals complete storylines (what the viewer really wants)? This strategy would take advantage of the curiosity of viewer by providing a much longer (more complete) version of these films. This would of course gather more sales (purchase and rentals) for the studio.

Sounds silly?

Well when you think about it, the studios usually keep most theatrical films about 120 minutes or shorter in order to get repeat daily viewings which means selling more Tickets… Because God forbid the system would go back to the era of longer theatrical release windows which reveal a sign of a film’s stability (“legs”)…. 

For example a film like Top Gun was released in May of 1986 and ran into the end of that year

            2016, Warner’s “Batman vs. Superman” debacle left many of us confused with its storyline. However, (in my opinion) after watching the digital download release of the film, I felt that many questions were answered for me which seem to make the film better… 

            August arrives and after many hot film trailers, the “Suicide Squad” drops and although it had a much bigger Box office score than “BvS”, the film suffered a similar effect with many fans also unhappy with the film. One person went as far as trying to sue the studio for false advertising.

I am wondering if the “Suicide Squad” home digital release will contain the various “deleted scenes” inserted into longer version of the film thus closing up story gaps especially between “Harley” and “Joker”. 

***(Update, this questions has been answered about the announcement of the Home Release)

Could Subliminal Messaging be the “Key”?

After the release of “Squad” many of us may recall being bombarded by a string of media articles which told of Omitted scenes

   Seems like basic subliminal messaging being implanted into our minds priming for curiosity and also prepping us for purchase of the oncoming release of these films?

Recall the past “beef” this summer between Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel over creative differences for Fast & Furious 8?

Some wondered if that was a set-up for next year’s Wrestle-mania event...

Or could this also be subliminal marketing prepping us for next year’s release of action film?

If both "ring" true, brilliant subliminal marketing move at it's slickest


Also, is this a coincidence?

VOD Release date, Sept., 27th 2016

Plot: After he reconnects with an awkward pal from high school through Facebook, a mild-mannered accountant is lured into the world of international espionage.

&

Theatrical release date, Oct. 21, 2016

Plot: A suburban couple becomes embroiled in an international espionage plot when they discover that their seemingly perfect new neighbors are government spies.

    Similar in story premise and Artwork, "subliminally" reminding a viewer to see both films... 
Each are designed to place the asses in the seats in the theater and purchase the after burner through the secondary release platforms

And why wouldn't two rival Studios do each other a Favor where both parties win???

   Lastly, many viewers complained that “Batman vs. Superman - Dawn of Justice” might’ve been too dark and thus the studio responded with a more lighted, humorous trailer for next year’s
“Justice League” film. Later followed up with “FUNNY” outtakes from the behind the scenes of the film.

All done in order to give one a sense that this film will have a lighter tone….

Subliminal messaging?

What say you?