Consumers to DVD-profit-hungry Hollywood: Drop dead!

…U.S. consumers will rent 37.7 million movies online this year for $3 to $5 each…. That’s a nearly sevenfold increase from 2007, and it doesn’t include the more than 300 million estimated videos streamed via Netflix’s subscription rental service. Meanwhile, consumers will buy about 20 million movies this year for $10 to $15, a less than threefold increase since 2007…

https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/10/consumers-to-dvd-profit-hungry-hollywood-drop-dead.html

More people are watching movies online, but few are buying them

Consumers long ago switched their shopping habits to the Internet, so that now most don’t hesitate to buy cameras, TVs, books, appliances, cars, clothing, even foreclosed homes online. There appears to be no product that shoppers don’t prefer to buy with the click of a mouse.

No product, that is, except movies…

https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-downloads-20101019,0,558719.story

VIDEO: Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly? The ‘Back to the Future’ that could have been

With Hollywood classics, the almost-could-have-happened casting game is always fun to think about. John Travolta auditioned for “Star Wars,” Clint Eastwood was pursued as a replacement for Sean Connery in the 007 films and and Tom Selleck, the poor fella, actually turned down the chance to wear the hat in the Indiana Jones films.

Then there’s the rare star that actually gets the job and then loses it – and yes, today we’re talking about Eric Stoltz and the Marty McFly gig in “Back to the Future.” …

https://herocomplex.latimes.com/2010/10/12/back-to-the-future-eric-stoltz-mcfly/

Off-lot production in L.A. falls 6.6%

Trend follows reduction in funds from state tax credits

A softening of off-lot feature production activity in Hollywood has provoked a plea for more state support via incentives for producers to stay in L.A.

Third-quarter stats released Tuesday by nonprofit permitting agency FilmL.A. showed 1,387 days of feature shooting in the Los Angeles area — down 6.6% in the third quarter year over year to 1,387 days amid the ongoing trend of features shooting outside Hollywood, along with the reduction in funds from state tax credits. The agency’s second-quarter stats showed feature activity had jumped 11.5%, due largely to the credits…

https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118025580.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

Hollywood looks to preserve its natural back lot: California state parks

…Not surprisingly, the beauty and variety of the state’s 278 parks have provided countless backdrops for movies, TV shows and commercials for a century. In 2009 alone, nearly 500 permits were issued for nearly 1,000 days of filming in state parks…

https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/09/hollywood-looks-to-preserve-its-natural-backlot-state-parks.html

Jean-Luc Godard, Piracy Defender

Famed French filmmaker (and possible Academy Award Honoree) Jean-Luc Godard is using some of the money he saved with his Hyundai purchase to fight the good fight against copyright laws. The filmmaker is donating 1,000 Euros to the defense of James Climent, who is accused of downloading 13,788 MP3s illegally…

https://www.movieline.com/2010/09/jean-luc-godard-jean-luc-godard-supports-internet-piracy-and-donates-1000-for-mp3-downloaders-defens.php