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CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
SUPPLY CHAIN PRESSURE
BREAKING: HMV SHUTTERS STORES
AMAZON PRIORITISES…
WINDOWS COLLAPSE AS CINEMAS CLOSE
TROLLS’ TOUR TAKES IN VOD
DIGITAL RETAILERS WELCOME MOVE
EXPECT BIG SKY PUSH
SONY’S BLOODLETTING
VIVARIUM FINDS A NEW HABITAT
CINEMA OWNERS: AUDIENCES WILL RETURN
VIRUS BRINGS HOME ENT OPPORTUNITIES
ENGAGEMENT PUSH FOR FINDANYFILM
NETWORK LANDS WOMAN…
…AND UNVEILS APRIL TITLES
THIRD WINDOW OPENS UP WITH NEW TITLES
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
TWEET OF THE WEEK
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK 
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It has been a week like no other, as the Coronavirus crisis has hit home. Many in the industry are now working from home (welcome to the club) and supply chain issues have come to the fore as many battle to get their releases into store and on to online sites. It’s difficult to even know where to start this week’s newsletter. In our 30 or so years in the business, there has never been anything like it. Firstly, let The Raygun send out out thoughts to everyone’s personal welfare during this difficult time – both physical and mental health – as well as that of their colleagues and friends and families everywhere. Given the enormity of the crisis facing everyone out there, not just our industry, but far, far beyond, we’re offering up a snapshot of where the business currently is, and what may or may not be happening. We’re not going to offer up too much speculation, and please be aware that this is a fast-changing and moving scenario – by the time you read this, everything may be different. What we’re offering is a glimpse as to where the industry is at, where it’s going and what may, or may not happen. Remember we’ll be at home next week, regularly updating our twitter feed and will be looking to post news and insight as the week progresses (check back on Twitter for more news on this), offering headlines as they happen. And so, deep breath, here goes…
The week has seen huge pressure on the supply chain at all levels. With supermarkets and the grocers seeing a ridiculous level of panic buying from consumers, they have in turn had to prioritise deliveries to stores. What price a Blu-ray, essential to us, maybe, but not essential compared to, say, toilet roll, pasta, tinned goods, paracetamol and other items that were stripped from the bare shelves? This means the flow of product to stores may be interrupted, but it will sort itself as the situation develops. The industry, and many we’ve spoken to, have been understanding, but fingers crossed it will be resolved. In a statement to The Raygun, ERA chief executive Kim Bayley said: “ERA CEO Kim Bayley said, “Coronavirus is a challenge for everyone in society and so it is to be expected that the home entertainment sector is affected too. Retailers are doing a magnificent job in the circumstances. I want to pay particular tribute to the supermarket staff who have had to face unprecedented scenes as people stock up. It is not surprising in these circumstances that they are prioritising certain essentials. Our great hope has to be that the authorities are able to get on top of this situation as soon as possible.”
As The Raygun finished for the week – and what a long week it’s been – hmV announced that it would be temporarily closing its doors at its stores around the country. In a statement sent out, the retailer said: “Thank you for all your continued loyalty and support during these uncertain times. Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this unprecedented situation. We have kept our shops open as long as possible because we know how much entertainment can support people during difficult times. However, due to the unfolding situation with Coronavirus, we're very sad to have to let you know we'll be temporarily closing our stores for trade from the end of the day today, Sunday March 22. Whilst our stores are temporarily closed you can still get all your entertainment delivered straight to your door through our website just follow this link hmv.com/store. Our customer service team are on hand to answer any of your questions or you can find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter where we will be sharing our latest updates and news. We look forward to welcoming you back into our stores in the future and would like to thank you for your ongoing support.” Expect more promotional activity through its social media channels, which it had already been using smartly for the past few weeks, offering cheap deals on 4k, box sets, feature films, fitness DVDs and more for those self-isolating and the likes.
UK online retailer Zavvi is proudly proclaiming business as usual, while over at Amazon, the company has issued its own statement on how it is coping under the Coronavirus-related pressures and prioritising what it is sending out to customers, and, equally crucially, how. It is limiting what it is accepting at those its fulfilment centres, although as of the new strategy being introduced on March 17, it said it would still accept goods that were on their way. The policy will last until April 5. In a statement, the retailer said: “We are seeing increased online shopping and as a result some products such as household staples and medical supplies are out of stock. With this in mind, we are temporarily prioritising household staples, medical supplies, and other high-demand products coming into our fulfillment centres so we can more quickly receive, restock, and deliver these products to customers. We understand this is a change for our selling partners and appreciate their understanding as we temporarily prioritise these products for customers.”
Of course the crisis brings opportunities. Chief among these is video on demand and digital services. Many cinemas are now closed, the majority of multiplexes had shuttered their doors, with a smattering of independents remaining open, until events overtook them. Theatrical releases had already been delayed, and then came the shock news from Universal: a clutch of its current releases would be made available via premium vod and, crucially, Trolls World Tour, its big Easter holiday theatrical release, would also be released on premium vod day and date. Now, given the cinema ruling from the authorities, that will be pvod only. The move, it is believed, came not just from the studio, but partners, production companies and others, all keen to not see their films left hanging in the air. The move was welcomed by home entertainment digital giants and the wider industry. It's a fine balancing act for Universal and its partners. Theatrical owners have responded, and it will be interesting to see what happens as the panic subsides and life gets back to normal. Will pvod continue as a concept for bigger releases? Will the genie go back in the bottle?
Universal’s move means The Invisible Man, Emma and The Hunt are now available across the likes of Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media at around the £15.99 mark, with the films available for 48 hours from purchase. Trolls World Tour will follow early in April. In its statement, Universal said: “Given the rapidly evolving and unprecedented changes to consumers’ daily lives during this difficult time, the company felt that now was the right time to provide this option in the home as well as in theatres. NBCUniversal will continue to evaluate the environment as conditions evolve and will determine the best distribution strategy in each market when the current unique situation changes.” NBC Universal chief executive Jeff Shell said: "Universal Pictures has a broad and diverse range of movies with 2020 being no exception. Rather than delaying these films or releasing them into a challenged distribution landscape, we wanted to provide an option for people to view these titles in the home that is both accessible and affordable We hope and believe that people will still go to the movies in theatres where available, but we understand that for people in different areas of the world that is increasingly becoming less possible.”
The move was welcomed by UK vod operators, with many lining up to put their marker in the sand. Sky UK and Europe evp and ceo Stephen van Rooyen: “We’re working hard at Sky to make sure we continue to look after our customers. We’re also introducing some things to help make life a little easier for anyone at home trying to work, stay connected to loved ones, or keep the family entertained.” Sky will be aggressively marketing the titles, which, given its marketing clout and muscle, will mean a hugely high profile for the releases.
More comment came from Virgin Media’s chief digital entertainment officer David Bouchier who said: “In these challenging times, its great news for our customers that they won’t be missing out on the latest cinema releases. At a click of a button, friends and families can sit back, relax and enjoy the latest blockbusters from the comfort of their sofa.” Will Ennett, Head of TV Content at TalkTalk, said: “We welcome NBCUniversal’s decision to make new cinema releases available in the home during this time and are pleased we can help TalkTalk TV customers continue to enjoy the latest films. In such an uncertain time for everyone, we know that consumers are going to be increasingly looking for things to do together at home and hope the partnership with the studio will provide some welcome entertainment and quality time over the coming weeks.”
Also arriving on March 27 will be Vivarium, Vertigo’s Imogen Poots and Jesse Eisenberg starrrer that was building a nice head of steam for its theatrical bow, but cinemas’ closure means it will be digial only through the gamut of digital retailers, taking in )deep breath) iTunes/Apple TV, Amazon, Sky Store, Virgin. Google Play, Rakuten, BT. Playstation. Microsoft, Curzon Home Cinema. BFI Player. More on this as more arrive, we’ll also have some expert opinion on whether Pandora’s digital box can be closed once the home ent unboxing has occurred.
Theatre owners and distributors were keen to play down the prospect of the concept of at-home theatrical releases and premium and other forms of video on demand continuing in this manner once cinemas reopen. Perhaps the mood among the exhibitors is best highlighted by a statement from UNIC, the European exhibitors' group representing assorted countries’ trade bodies. It said: “The health and welfare of all of those working in the sector is the top priority for all European cinema operators as we face up to the unparalleled challenges presented by the global Coronavirus outbreak. In these unprecedented times, it is crucial that the entire industry comes together and prepares for the day when we can welcome audiences back to once again enjoy the unique Big Screen experience. We are all, individually and collectively, having to make adjustments in our daily lives as we seek to ensure that the threat to our collective well-being is minimised. But we must also look to the future and to the long-term health of our sector, something best achieved by demonstrating a unity of purpose and a shared sense of responsibility. We all depend on each other. With the financial impacts of this unprecedented crisis on our industry still not fully clear, now is not the time to seek short-term financial gains at the expense of the sector as a whole. Some are speculating that the temporary closure of cinemas will lead to the release of some titles straight to home entertainment. This is not a development, however, which is in the interest of either the sector or audiences. For these and so many other reasons, we anticipate that the overwhelming majority of films which have been delayed by the current difficulties will be rescheduled for cinema release as life returns to normal. In the meantime, we must pull together so that, once these challenging times are behind us, the whole sector is in the best possible position to recover as soon as possible.We are confident that when audiences are able to return, they will soon rediscover the unforgettable, immersive experience that only the Big Screen can deliver and that cinemas will continue to play the role they always have, in good times and bad, as the most popular, affordable form of entertainment available outside the home.”
One thing you can expect – plenty more internal meetings (via assorted platforms, of course, as everyone works from home), with distributors nervously eyeing schedules and wondering “what if we did this?”, theatre owners making noises about returning to normal, digital retailers pushing titles such as Trolls World Tour and consumers – well, that’s the key test. There's plenty on offer for them – all kinds of vod, as well as Blu-ray and DVD. Lowering of bandwitdth will mean less quality for svod and other services. HMV closures aside, the physical market could pick up the slack. Of course, this too depends on the supply chain, and stock making it from mainland Europe in to the UK. As one insider said to us: “We're trying to get stock made as quickly as possible and into the UK, but that could all change in any given hour. If people are staying indoors and need a distraction for a couple of hours, a DVD is perfect for that. And with internet bandwidths in heavy use with people online working from home and streaming, at least a disc plays without interruption and buffering issues.”
Meanwhile, the entertainment industry through its findanyfilm.com resource, directing consumers where to find films legally, was ramping up its activity and aiming to increase engagement to point consumers in the right direction. Commenting on its activity, BASE and Industry Trust chief Liz Bales said: “It’s clear for everyone in the category to see that the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak is escalating at a pace much faster and deeper than perhaps anyone imagined. Lives and habits are changing in profound ways and normal life is effectively suspended for the foreseeable future, with further draconian measures potentially still to come. In tandem, the impacts being foisted upon the industry are just as seismic, presenting both the opportunity to meet consumers’ changing needs as much they table individual and category-wide challenges such as those being presented to our colleagues in exhibition. Mindful of this situation, the strategy in place from the BASE and Industry Trust comms team is to drive the opportunity across both disc and digital as sensitively as possible, using FindAnyFilm.com to highlight not only the options available to us while stuck at home but to also give visibility to all of the routes to legal and safe content and to mitigate the reality that infringers – and facilitators of infringing services will take advantage of the situation. The first wave of activity will see BASE engaging with media to drive the category to the fore – from our Mother’s Day mailer we’ve already seen greater engagement with home entertainment content from major press outlets like the Daily Express and the Mail On Sunday, and there’s a growing list of targets increasingly keen for content that provides a meaningful distraction from the noise of the outbreak coverage. The team is working with partners across the industry to drive further coverage for category options and of course we’d love to hear from all members to help develop the strategy, as well as see them amplify all opportunities through their own channels.”
Non Coronavirus news from Network, once again proving that there are still eagerly-awaited, much-requested, unreleased or unavailable titles out there if you’re prepared to work at it… For the independent has announced a world exclusive in securing a release for the 1989 version of The Woman In Black, adapted from Susan Hill’s chiller by folk horror maestro Nigel Kneale. Originally made in 1989, it is, as Network’s Juan Veloza noted, "the ultimate ghost story, rightly regarded as a masterclass of the genre”. The first ever Blu-ray release has been restored by Network’s award-winning team, and comes complete with a raft of extras, including a commentary by Kim Newman and Mark Gatiss. Commenting on the release, Network’s Tim Beddows said: “We’ve had to be very, very patient to put this out. This release is literally decades in the making and required a level of perseverance on our part that went way beyond normal tolerance but it was absolutely worth the wait and effort. Everyone is going to love this.”
The announcement arrived simultaneously with Network unveiling its releases for April, with another varied release offering from the label for the month. It sees a further five additions to its The British Cinema range, taking in homegrown features starring names ranging from Sir Alec Guinness to original Brit rocker Joe Brown. Outlining the range, Network’s Juan Veloza said: "April sees new five additions to our ever popular The British Film collection, from the Ealing comedy, The Card, starring the legendary Sir Alec Guinness to the war drama, The Intruder, a film by future Bond director Guy Hamilton, starring Jack Hawkins, George Cole and Michael Medwin. We also have two Sixties musicals – Some People and What a Crazy World, the former starring BAFTA-winner Kenneth More, the latter starring one of the original Rock n Roll stars, Joe Brown. And to wrap next month’s releases, we have another film starring Kenneth More – a post-war British Noir, unseen since the late 1940s, Man on the Run."
Independent Japanese and south east Asian film specialist Third Window has announced acquisitions and titles it is working on for 2020, with an impressive slate offering up some of the best and most diverse range of titles the region has to offer. The company’s founder, Adam Torel ran The Raygun through the slate of forthcoming goodies. He said: “I’m happy to be able to announce some interesting acquisitions for the year. Despite not being a part of the Japan 2020 season or getting any official support, with third window films distributing (and also producing) Japanese cinema for 15 years now, we also have some unique and varied titles lined up for 2020. Violence Voyager and Burning Buddha Man, two very weird ‘animations’ by Ujicha using Gekimation style of animation; Hangatami: Nobuhiko Obayashi’s passion project 40 years in the making; ‘Melancholic: the debut film of Seiji Tanaka which is a low-budget, high concept genre film that has achieved a similar sort of success to [the company’s massive 2019 hit] One Cut Of The Dead. Plus we have five volumes of classic Japanese pink cinema from the 60s-80s, all newly restored. Vol 1&2 out in March, with 3&4 in May and five later in the summer. Also, in April we have the latest Shinya Tsukamoto film Killing packaged with his 1988 pre-Tetsuo film Adventures Of Denchukozo and his 2005 film Haze, all part of a Tsukamoto Blu-ray set."
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Covid-19 presents us with an unprecedented challenge to our business. We are keenly aware that the wide ranging and damaging impact of the virus is being felt across the entire industry and at every possible level. As the lead organisation for film, we will support our many industry colleagues during this fast moving and rapidly evolving situation, and we are in discussion with key partners, stakeholders and Government to urgently assess the scale of the short and longer term impact on business.
“We are focused on ensuring the resilience of the industry and on tackling the huge range of short to mid-term financial, cultural and societal challenges – not least to the exhibition and freelance sectors who are likely to be hit hardest most immediately by the crisis.
The BFI is in constant communication with colleagues in Government and with other funders across the sector, to ensure we all fully understand the ramifications of the most critical issues, and help shape measures to address them. We have an already established Screen Sector Taskforce which will be convening to coordinate our conversation with Government and discuss the potential mitigations. We also urge practitioners across the industry and cultural sector to contact us with their key concerns and have set up an email address as a centralised point for all enquires covid-19.queries@bfi.org.uk to feed into our impact response recommendations.
As a funder, we will be as supportive and flexible as possible across existing funding arrangements, including the ability of those organisations and projects to meet contractual requirements.
“As a production financier, we are obviously supporting our filmmakers with advice on a case by case basis. They are all different projects, each case is different and complex with completely different variables, so there isn’t one size fits all guidance, and we are advising them through these very particular challenges as best we can.The BFI is working hard to support everyone across the sector during this extremely challenging time and we will update you with more news and information when we can.”
Ben Roberts, Chief Executive, BFI giving a statesman-like response to Coronavirus issues…
SITE OF THE WEEK
Blow your own trumpet time and The Raygun’s very own Tim Murray has penned a mammoth tribute to DJ, producer and all-round lovely bloke Andrew Weatherall. You can read it here, should you be interested…
Follow us on www.twitter.com/theraygun
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
Very metal…
Get connected…
Some minor cheers…
We talked about this last week, not for the faint-hearted…
Run to me
THE OBLIGATORY GDPR BIT
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