Not directly relevant, but interesting…
Hollywood moves big bucks online, adding talent, made-for-Web TV shows
…a snazzy trailer they produced helped snag Sony Pictures Television as a partner.
“We came up with this idea,” said Warren, 31. “There’s no limit to how many episodes there can be in a Web series. So why don’t we design it as a (feature-length movie) so we can sell it as a DVD feature at the end?”
Sony executives, it turns out, had the same idea.
The studio picked up the project in April and gave it a budget of around $1 million. That’s nowhere near the $30 million-plus budgets of many Hollywood movies, but more than the producers were told they could sell it for. Web sites typically pay up to $5,000 for a short clip of original video; with 16 episodes, other Web sites might have paid around $100,000 for “The Bannen Way.” …
Hollywood films on the cheap: Paramount’s low-budget movie gamble
Let’s call it the “Paranormal Effect” initiative.
Clearly dazzled by the fact that it could gross more than $100 million on a movie that barely cost $15,000 to make, Paramount Pictures is set to launch a new production wing devoted to films budgeted at less than $100,000.
IBM computer simulates cat’s cerebral cortex
Scientists say they’ve made a breakthrough in their pursuit of computers that “think” like a living thing’s brain – an effort that tests the limits of technology.
Hmmm….
https://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34015301/ns/technology_and_science-science/
Hollywood rethinks use of pricey A-list actors
Studios have been surprised by success of cheap films starring unknowns
https://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33918029/ns/entertainment-movies/
Sony to Offer Film on Internet TV, Then DVD
In a nod to its vision of the future, Sony will make its animated hit “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” available to consumers directly through Internet-enabled televisions and Blu-ray players before the movie is released on DVD.
https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/business/media/10sony.html?_r=1
Depp to give Lone Ranger’s Tonto the Jack Sparrow treatment
Jerry Bruckheimer is developing a new movie based on The Lone Ranger, the popular western hero from radio plays and movie serials, and Johnny Depp is attached to play the Native American sidekick, Tonto.
After Mickey’s Makeover, Less Mr. Nice Guy
…concerned that Mickey has become more of a corporate symbol than a beloved character for recent generations of young people, Disney is taking the risky step of re-imagining him for the future…
First Batman, then Superman, then Star Trek…
https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/business/media/05mickey.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss
Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ the costliest film at $230 mn
Cast of Hollywood movie ‘Avatar’ (L-R) Zoa Saldana, Sam Worthington and Sigourney Weaver during a press conference for their latest movie Avator, which will be screened here from December 18, in Tokyo. AFP
Hollywood filmmaker James Cameron’s much anticipated 3-D sci-fi epic “Avatar” is being touted as the most expensive film ever – with a whopping $230 million budget…
Anyone taking bets on this?
Best Buy launching digital movie service with CinemaNow
One of the nation’s biggest sellers of DVDs is making a leap into digital movie downloading.