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HHMV FOOTFALL UP ON END OF LAST LOCKDOWN…
PUTMAN: “ONLINE WILL NEVER REPLACE THE STORE EXPERIENCE”
WITCHES HELP HMV CAST SPELL…
…AND CURZON AMONG THE STORE PROMOTIONS
HITS FROM THE BONG
CURZON HOME CINEMA’S NEW LOOK
DON’T LOOK BACK IN MANGA
ANIME LTD BEEFS UP STAFF
ELYSIAN’S EARWIG UNVEILED
COPPING SNEAKERS
STORIES PARTNERS WITH NEW LABEL PLUMERIA
NETWORK GOES BEHIND THE MASK IN MAY
BAFTA: FATHER FIGURES
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
AT THE MOVIES
TWEET OF THE WEEK
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
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Returning retailer hmv threw open its doors on Monday morning, April 12, as non-essential retail stores were finally allowed to open after the latest lockdown restrictions were eased. And it was good news from the entertainment giant and its sister company Fopp as its stores in England and Wales were allowed to trade over the counter once more – reports from the company suggest that footfall was up 150 per cent compared with hmv’s figures after its emergence from the first lockdown. Those figures were for the first two days’ trading, compared with June last year, an impressive feat for the retailer, highlighting that consumers were desperate to get back into stores. Among the home entertainment successes singled out for praise by hmv were Wonder Woman 1984 across different formats (hmv’s publicity materials showed a lifesize, 3D model of Gal Gadot as the superhero with hmv staffers wearing a mask) and Dazzler Media’s A Discovery Of Witches. The retailer also mentioned its new line of American and Japanese sweets, as well as, on the music side, the likes of Ariana Grande and Lana Del Ray on vinyl. The Raygun popped in to Fopp at Cambridge Circus, on the border between Soho and Covent Garden in London’s West End on Wednesday afternoon and were pleased to see the store was buzzing with customers, who seemed genuinely excited by the prospect of shopping for physical media. Loads of promotional activity on offer and one of the most surprising elements was the amount of teenagers crowded around the vinyl upstairs in the store.
Comment on the return hmv’s reopening came from owner Doug Putman, who welcomed the return, noting how the increased footfall compared with the end of the first lockdown highlighted just how much customers wanted to get in stores and get buying physical media. He said: “This week proved that for millions of people across the UK, online shopping will never fully replace the experience of going into stores and browsing. This was by far our strongest post-lockdown return, and it signals not only that the British public feels confident in the Covid-secure measures that retailers including hmv have put in place, but also that people are excited to get out and see what the high street has to offer. We’ve been delighted to see so many of our loyal customers returning, alongside shoppers who are just beginning their vinyl collection and more casual browsers on the lookout for our increasingly popular franchise merchandise. This year marks hmv’s 100th birthday, and we’re expecting our strong start to continue in what will be a banner year for this iconic retailer.”
Meanwhile, with its A Discovery Of Witches standing out as among the retailer’s top sellers, Dazzler Media – which released the second series of the fantasy series based on the bestselling books – was celebrating the retailer’s return to the fore too. The company’s Paul Holland said: “It was an excellent week at Dazzler with three titles in the Top 10 all week so far and while we think Wonder Woman will top the end of the week charts its been great having a few days at the summit of the UK chart for the first time. Personally I am thrilled that my current and all time favourite retailer is back. And it was great that their doors opened as A Discovery Of Witches Series 2 came out. It's worked out well for us both. It was also noticeable that TV series like It's A Sin and Bloodlines, released in Lockdown 3, saw a great jump in sales which I am sure is down to hmv. I have to admit personally I made sure Fopp was my first retail destination post the opening up on retail and of course made a contribution to their great week on vinyl. It's great to have hmv back and we look forward to doing great business with them in 2021 and beyond.”
Meanwhile, Curzon Artificial Eye’s big Monday release is also certain to become a hot property on shelves on its April 19 release and will remain a permanent fixture for some months to come. The company is releasing the Bong Joon Ho Collection, a mammoth seven-disc Blu-ray set that features the key works from the Korean director, taking in everything from recently re-released, revived and rediscovered early outings such as Barking Dogs Never Bite and Memories of Murder through to the Oscar-winning, record-breaking Parasite, available in both its original colour and black and white versions. Along the way it takes in titles from other distributors such as The Host and Snowpiercer (from Studiocanal and Lionsgate respectively), putting them all under the same banner. Given the devotion of the director’s ardent fans, the self-style Bong-hive, this one has plenty of potential, as the company’s Damian Spandley, again, said; “The team has worked tirelessly to bring together Bong's outstanding catalogue in one gorgeously designed collectable box set, a must-have for all fans of Korean and world cinema!"
Sticking with Curzon and the company’s Curzon Home Cinema service, its groundbreaking day and date video on demand platform presenting the best in cinema from around the world, has given a new look and feel to its website as part of a wider Curzon plan to align its bricks and mortar cinemas with its online cinema offering. In a letter to customers, ceo Philip Knatchbull said: "The new website delivers on my long-held ambition to unify cinemas with watching films at home, bringing the very best films to the widest audience possible, when and where customers want. Cinema is for all and with Curzon Home Cinema you each have your own personal, virtual cinema in which to enjoy the latest film releases at your leisure. Along with the launch of this new website comes a renewed commitment to bringing the most exciting films from around the world to your homes, available for you to watch the same day that they arrive in Curzon cinemas.” He added: “Along with our new website comes a number of new apps. Our Apple and Google Play apps have all been upgraded, and you can now make in-app purchases through each of them for a smoother experience. We have also introduced a new ‘chatbot’, an on-line tool that will be on hand to answer any questions you may have, at any time of the day or night. The second and unifying stage of our website launches will be the new Curzon cinemas website which will have many of the same new features as the Curzon Home Cinema website and will launch at the same time our cinemas reopen hopefully next month.” Stay tuned for more details as Curzon AE is preparing to offer up full details of the site’s new functionality shortly after bedding in.
Loads of news from the anime side of the business this week, and it’s goodbye Manga, hello Funimation, as the Sony-owned anime company, which acquired the long-standing indie operation two years ago, has announced that Manga is rebranding as Funimation from April 19. The move is the final step in the acquisition of Manga, and will see all Manga releases, be they physical, digital, theatrical or svod released under the Funimation name. All communications from Manga across social media, the web and email from Monday April 19 will be Funimation branded. “As we continue to build the global Funimation brand, we want to celebrate a community and ethos where anime fans know they belong -- with us and with one another,” said Tim Anderson, svp of International for Funimation Global Group. “By unifying our brands, it will be apparent to fans, creators and the entire ecosystem that it is a winning formula to deliver more content, more experiences and more community in service to anime. By fully leveraging the global Funimation brand, it’s a win for fans.”
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Anime Ltd, the fast-growing UK distributor which is also aiming for a bigger global footprint, has named a raft of new appointments at the company to aid its rapid expansion plans, both on these shores and internationally. The company has moved beyond just home entertainment and into a music label as well as merchandising. The appointments include a new worldwide chief marketing officer, Miles Thomas, who joins from Warner-owned anime service Crunchyroll, where he was director of community marketing. Anime Ltd ceo Andrew Partridge said: "This is the perfect time to welcome someone like Miles with such a wide understanding of anime across the world and a global expertise in the field to Anime Limited as we gear up for the next phase of our growth and expansion including that of our music label worldwide.” “Anime Limited is the most exciting publisher in the industry,” said Thomas. “At a time of unprecedented media consolidation, there’s a greater need than ever for prestige brands with specialised expertise that deliver unparalleled quality to consumers. Anime has never been more popular, and I couldn’t be more excited to help export Anime Limited’s stellar reputation as Western Europe’s favourite distributor around the world.”
In two other moves, Anime Ltd has promoted two of its existing staff to more senior roles, further signifying its intent. Jessica Poce, who has been general manager at the company since 2017, has been upped to the role of chief operating officer for the company, while former vp of marketing Kerry Kasim has been promoted to general manager replacing Poce. Andrew Partridge said its home entertainment operation had been bucking the trend during lockdown, as fans flocked to anime to chase away the pandemic blues. He told The Raygun: “Business remains in a growth phase during lockdown – with home video sales going up instead of down and new streaming opportunities we remain confident for how Japanese animation is weathering the storm just now!"
It’s also worth noting that Elysian Film Group Distribution, the company set up by former Optimum and Studiocanal chief Danny Perkins has announced its first big theatrical release Earwig And The Witch, the latest from Studio Ghibli, us due at cinemas at the end of May, with home entertainment certain to follow later in 2021. The film is directed by Gore Miyazaki, with Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki on board as producer alongside Miyazaki senior, legendary Ghibli animator Hayao, on board working on planning for his offsprings film. It represents Studio Ghibl’s first move into 3DCG animation.
Our friends at Film Stories magazine have long supported physical media, and our industry too (we’d heartily recommend you put your ads through a supportive publication such as this ahead of any other potential ads in other magazines), and now it is dipping its toe in the distribution waters, having announced a first release under the FS banner, after hooking up with fledgling imprint Plumeria Pictures. It’s initially going to be mail order only, although Film Stories founder, publisher and editor Simon Brew said he may look to expand into retail dependent on the response. It follows a similar model to other boutique labels, although Brew said he was not looking to rival those, preferring instead to look for titles that may have disappeared or fallen by the wayside. In his statement to readers, Brew said: "With huge thanks to Plumeria Pictures, I’ve teamed up with them to launch a small, handpicked physical media label for Film Stories. I’m very much looking to support the third-party labels that have been doing such wonderful work flying the physical media flag, so not looking to bid against them for titles or anything like that. Instead, to see if there’s a film that doesn’t have a good disc release, or has perhaps fallen out of print, and do something about that. And I’m starting with one of my favourite film of the 1990s: Sneakers. This will be the first Film Stories Blu-ray release, coming on June 28 2021. It’ll feature previously published extras that we can lay our hands on, as well as a brand-new commentary track that I’m recording with screenwriter and fellow Sneakers devotee James Moran. These are being sold mail order only. It’s a limited run I’m doing because, well, this is a bit of a gamble. There are just 1000 copies available that come with the special Sneakers-themed slipcase too.” We're hoping the label will turn into a fully fledged operation open to retail too, and, as Film Stories’ Brew added to The Raygun: “Film Stories is a complete labour of love, and born out of an ethos of putting my very limited money where my far more sizeable mouth is. There are other titles we've got our eyes on, but fingers crossed for this one first!”
And what of Plumeria Pictures, we hear you say? Plumeria Pictures is the boutique Blu-ray label founded in lockdown by 30-year industry veteran David Hughes, whose movie marketing agency Synchronicity turned 15 this month. Plumeria Pictures aims to specialise in rare and out of print films, with two titles under its belt as well as the new association with Film Stories. Its catalogue thus far consists of Soft Top Hard Shoulder (1992) and The Hours And Times (1991), and Sneakers continues the ‘90s theme. “That just happened by pure chance,” Hughes explained. “I actually meant to launch an audio commentary podcast in lockdown – Rogue Commentary, which just published episode 16 - and wound up accidentally launching a Blu-ray label. We’re now looking to boost our slate with some really interesting titles and the partnership with Film Stories is perfect because Simon has such great taste – and he knows where all the good VAM is buried.”
Our friends over at Network Releasing have just unveiled the company’s releases for May, and, as ever, there’s some wonderful rediscovered titles given the treatment that only the independent can offer. Unveiling its slate, the company’s Oteri Otobor said: “Our May releases include a diverse selection ranging from classic comedy The Playboy Of The Western World, to tense drama Behind The Mask, which stars Vanessa Redgrave in her film debut. We also have the swashbuckling adventure The Devil-Ship Pirates starring Christopher Lee. The title has been restored in its as exhibited Hammerscope theatrical aspect ratio. And finally, the eighth volume in the Look at Life documentary series arrives on DVD. This instalment of the landmark documentary series covers People and Places.”
To the BAFTAs, or rather, not to the BAFTAs, to our sofa, where we watched the ceremony this year. And, despite the joy for streaming services and titles scheduled to land not in cinemas – Promising Young Woman, now appearing on Sky Cinema and Nomadland, due to debut as a standard title on Disney+ – it was good to see a few films yet to land theatrically before making their way to home entertainment formats (the traditional way) doing well. Chief among them were the excellent Another Round, best foreign language film and on the way from Studiocanal, and the gongs picked up for The Father, arriving from Lionsgate in the coming months. The company’s Olivia Dean said: “We're delighted with the BAFTA wins for Leading Actor Anthony Hopkins and Adapted Screenplay. The film is truly fantastic, and the awards recognition will certainly form a central pillar of our marketing as we bring The Father to audiences this summer.”
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“In terms of levels of infringement, the findings from the qualitative phase showed that while many reported no change in their use of illegal sources, some noted that owing to their general consumption in entertainment increasing, so too did their use of illegal sources. Motivations for doing so remained consistent with those uncovered in the previous wave (2019); a lack of access to specific content on streaming subscriptions they use, availability on existing entertainment subscriptions and/or an unwillingness to pay additional costs for content outside of what they already pay for.
“The closing exercise of the Online Community focused on potential communication materials and messages to try and encourage behaviour change around online infringement. Using the segmentation of respondents established in last year’s study, this exercise showed that a number of types of messages were effective for ‘Cautious Infringers’ - those who are uneasy and unsure about illegally accessing content, highlighting the need for education and awareness. Yet, it emerged that in order to try and reach those who are harder to engage in behaviour change, i.e. the ‘Savvy Infringers’, the most effective way to talk about the consequences of infringement was by focusing on the impact on the individual - both within the industry as well as the impact on the individual consumer through risks to their own hardware and devices.” From the latest report from government’s copyright infringement tracker assessing the current state of play for illegal film and TV viewing as well as other illegal activities. More on this next week… AT THE MOVIES
So, it was the BAFTAs last Sunday, as we’ve noted above, and we’re not going to run through the whole list of winners again, but in case you’ve not seen it yet (maybe you switched off after a few minutes, horrified at the canned laughter and applause), you can catch up with all the winners here.
Hot awards property this year is, of course, Carey Mulligan and the star is following the plaudits for her turn in Promising Young Woman with the announcement that she is joining the cast of Spaceman, the next Netflix Adam Sandler film which, once again, sees the actor taking on a serious role, this time as an, er, spaceman, at the far reaches of the galaxy…
This week’s “next Indiana Jones story” sees another big casting announcement for the fifth instalment of the ongoing franchise. As revealed last week, Phoebe Waller-Bridge is set to join Harrison Ford in the next outing for the ageing archaeologist and adventurer, which will be directed by James Mangold as original helmer Steven Spielberg takes on an executive producing role. Latest news is that Mads Mikkelsen, fresh from helping Another Round pick up a BAFTA, is also joining, making it another hugely successful franchise he’s appeared in after Bond, Star Wars and that whole Harry Potter thing too.
TWEET OF THE WEEK
Follow us on www.twitter.com/theraygun, we should be breaking at least one big story next week…
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK The world has a way of changing…
A glimpse of the woman in the window…
Chadwick Boseman special, launching this weekend…
Zack’s back…
Bodyguard of the year…
THE OBLIGATORY GDPR BIT
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