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WINDOWS TO CLOSE?
GAP BETWEEN CINEMAS AND HOME DOWN TO 31-45 DAYS
BOX OFFICE COULD TAKE YERS TO RECOVER
FACT: CONSUMERS DON’T KNOW ABOUT PIRACY DANGERS
MAKE WAY FOR THE ORIGINALS…
…AS SKY INKS STUDIOCANAL DEAL
THE SAINT IS COMING
NEW HERO AT HIGH FLIERS
ARROW UNVEILS APRIL TITLES…
…WITH MORE LAVISH 4K SETS
THE ONLY BORIS THAT COUNTS…
…AND BELA LUGOSI’S STILL NOT DEAD AT EUREKA
AN INDICATOR OF SUCCESS
DISNEY’S STAR TO SHINE BRIGHTLY
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
AT THE MOVIES
TWEET OF THE WEEK
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
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Industry talk for much of the pandemic over the past nearly-12 months has often centred on windows and what will happen to the traditional 16-week gap between theatrical and home entertainment. Theatrical exhibitors have stuck rigidly to this in recent years, refusing to sanction any further shortening and refusing to air films that would break the window. Well, after much discussion and speculation, it appears as if a shorter window may now become a reality into the pandemic era and beyond. For Telegraph film critic and writer Robbie Collin’s weekly email newsletter has just landed in our inbox and the well-placed scribe reckons it’s going to become a reality in the UK. According to the newsletter (the second most essential industry newsletter you can subscribe to), the standard window between cinemas and home release will go down to 31 days, with 45 days becoming the norm for blockbusters.
The Telegraph’s Robbie Collin went on to explain the benefits for consumers. He said; “For film lovers, this is extremely good news. First, it means the unique communal experience of cinema is preserved: when you see a brand new release, you’ll be experiencing it with a like-minded crowd. Second, it means more consumer choice: if you don’t want to pay a premium price for any given title, you won’t have to wait very long for a more cost-effective and convenient alternative. Third, it might make wide cinema releases a more attractive option for streaming companies who produce their own films – such as Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV+, and, let’s be frank, Disney – since it greatly reduces the accompanying delay before they can bring those films directly to their own customers. And fourth, and perhaps most excitingly of all, it should hopefully benefit smaller independent releases, since they’ll be able to use the momentum of their theatrical ad campaigns, early reviews and word-of-mouth on social media to make a higher-profile debuts on VOD. What’s more, I gather the multiplex operators are not especially concerned about a consequent fall in box-office takings, not least because of the sizeable backlog of mainstream studio offerings that are all due to arrive within the next 12-18 months. And the fact that studios will be able to sell their output to viewers at home in relatively short order means the inevitable jockeying for screens – Bond and Dune, both IMAX productions, are currently due to arrive within a week of one another – might be a little less of an unseemly crush.” Watch this space…
Meanwhile, the news came as research suggested that it will take two to three years for box office revenue to recover following the Covid-19 crisis. Omdia’s Moving Windows – Adapting To The Future identified three different key groups, Cinema Power Users, the most frequent cinema attendees, Cinema Goers and Infrequent Goers. It said with cinemas still shuttered and releases delayed, other methods of delivery such as vod will become increasingly important. It noted: “Cinema Power Users are subscribed to 50 per cent more SVOD services than infrequent goers, rent twice as many new movie releases, purchase three times as many new releases and are around three times as likely to pirate content from unauthorised sources. Although Power Users are the highest content users across the board, Cinema Goers present the greatest growth opportunity for studios across all content access points, particularly through paid subscription channels with 13.9 per cent growth YoY in subscriptions per household to SVOD services.” Max Signorelli, senior analyst for media and entertainment at Omdia, commented: “While Cinema closures have effectively halted box office revenues, they have not hampered consumer demand for new content, especially in cases of government mandated lockdowns. We are seeing consumers look to all subsequent video options to access premium entertainment with an increasingly appetite that will remain post pandemic. As cinema release delays such as James Bond prove however, content producers can reliably bet on people returning to the cinema when able to do so.”
Mention of piracy brings us on to more research from The Federation Against Copyright Theft, issued this week by the anti-piracy group. It suggested that three out of five UK consumers were unaware of the dangers and threats associated with piracy such as fraud, malware and identity theft, as well as the close links between piracy and organised crime, coming as home viewing was growing – almost a quarter of respondents had received devices to watch content on at home over Christmas. On the plus side more than three quarters (76 per cent) knew it was illegal, a third were still tempted to access content without paying. But when told about the dangers, just under 40 per cent said they would advise friends and family against illegal downloading. FACT ceo Kieron Sharp said: “While it’s good to see that so many people are aware of the illegality of piracy, there appears to be a lack of understanding about the very real risks consumers face, with many unwittingly putting themselves in danger as a result. Identity theft, fraud and exposure to malware and viruses as a result of piracy are all too real. I’d ask anyone who is considering turning to illegal content to think twice about whether it’s worth risking giving criminals access to your devices and bank accounts.”
In the ongoing scramble for superiority and the eyes of consumers at home, Sky has this week upped the ante by announcing ambitious plans for its film channels in the coming months, signing more big exclusive releases to go straight on to its film channels, and its Now TV service and signifying its intent. The new titles will be exclusive to Sky and come under the Sky Originals banner. The media giant is pledging two Sky Original films premiering a week, which will increase to one every week in 2022. This year’s total is 30 Sky Original films and 30 Sky Original TV shows, an increase of 50 per cent year on year. Among the high profile films it will air exclusive before anywhere else are Lionsgate’s Antebellum and the Nick Moran directed Brit flick Creation Stories, charting the rise and rise of Alan McGee’s record label and the stars, such as Oasis, that he signed. Commenting on its plans, Sky md for content Zai Bennett said: “This year on Sky and NOW TV we’ve got an epic variety of entertainment for everyone, adding a brand-new slate of Sky Original films and Sky Original documentaries to our line-up of award-winning drama, comedy, entertainment and arts series. If you love film, Sky Cinema is the place for you with the latest box office movies alongside our new and exclusive 30 Sky Original films, including A Boy Called Christmas and Save The Cinema and A list stars from Judi Dench and Eddie Izzard through to Morgan Freeman and Robert De Niro. And if real life stories are your thing, we’ve got compelling documentaries on everything from the drugs trade in 1980s Liverpool to the White House Farm Murders, alongside unmissable drama from world class writers including Paul Abbott, David Farr and Joe Barton and Michael Winterbottom.”
The Sky Original news comes just after the media giant inked a deal with Studiocanal that ensures a further flow of films to Sky Q and its Now TV Cinema Pass. The deal will see all Studiocanal theatrical releases from 2021 onwards heading to Sky after their release at cinemas. The deal cements the relationship that has seen titles such as The Secret Garden and, most recently, Blithe Spirit, appearing as Sky Originals while cinemas were shuttered. The deal also covers films from Studiocanal’s vast library going to Now TV and Sky Cinema. Titles such as Paddington, and its sequel, A Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, Legend, Logan Lucky, The Imitation Game and The Hurt Locker. Sarah Wright, director of Sky Cinema & Acquisitions, Sky UK said: “There‘s so much to look forward to already on Sky Cinema this year. Studiocanal’s brilliant theatrical slate with highly anticipated, talent driven films such as Supernova, The Last Letter From Your Lover and The Electrical Life of Louis Wain to name a few, is a fantastic addition to the service. At Sky we’re committed to bringing customers everything they love, in one place, and our partnership with Studiocanal is another step towards doing just that.” Alex Hamilton, ceo Studiocanal UK commented: “We are delighted to be bringing our exciting upcoming line up of films and the glories of the Studiocanal catalogue to the fantastic and ever evolving Sky platform. We look forward to a great collaboration together over the coming months and beyond.”
Sticking with Studiocanal and the company is releasing its biggest title of the year thus far – and one likely to be one of the first quarter’s biggest – in the shape of hit homegrown horror Saint Maud due on Monday February 1. The campaign is in place ahead of the digital, Blu-ray and DVD release of the title and, as Studiocanal’s Carys Gaskin explained: “Rejoice for this Monday is now Saint Maud's Day, as we release the critically acclaimed must-see film on Digital, DVD, Blu-ray and SteelBook! We have a huge media and PR campaign underway encompassing digital promotion across social, search, video display and BVOD as well a treasure trove of merch bundle competitions and press drops going out to celebrate the release with Maud's fanatical followers. We were also able to create an exclusive new t-shirt design with fan favourite site Last Exit to Nowhere which will also be released on the February 1, cementing the cultural impact the film from debut director Rose Glass has already had. Praise be to Maud!”
Also in stores on Monday and well worth a closer look is something a bit different from indie High Fliers. For the company has a superhero film that goes beyond the usual Marvel and DC fare. Gundala has already built strong word of mouth, with the Indonesian comic book film having succeeded at festivals and in other territories around the world. What’s more, its international success means a franchise is likely. Commenting on the release, High Fliers’ Mark Anderson said: “`We are looking forward to the release of Gundala, an exciting action-packed film, it is something fresh and brand new with some great reviews and it has been successful elsewhere in other territories and played at Festivals. Our thanks go to the chart support from our retail partners and also all our digital platform partners.” For the trailer, see below…
This Friday was the last one in January and, as is traditional (aside from December), Arrow Video took to social media to reveal some forthcoming titles. The company revealed a hefty slate for the month of April, including further moves into the 4K market, with its previous UHD releases proving to behave with the devoted fans of the horror and genre-based imprint. The company’s head of marketing Mike Hewitt talked us through the slate. He said; “It’s a huge April release month on Arrow Video with a fantastic line-up of genre favourites and the ultimate Limited Edition 4k UHD releases of a pair of absolute classics. For exploitation fans, we present Death Has Blue Eyes, a gripping 1976 action thriller from maverick filmmaker Nico Mastorakis; Jack Hill’s sensational Switchblade Sisters, a Quentin Tarantino favourite and stone cold Grindhouse classic; while Elvira: Mistress of the Dark sees a gorgeous new Zavvi-exclusive steelbook release. Moving to the modern day, Justin McConnell’s Clapboard Jungle is a deeply insightful and must-see documentary on what it takes to get a film made and released, packed with over five hours of extended interviews from the likes of Guillermo del Toro and George A. Romero – an essential title for anyone interested in the business of making films.”
More on Arrow’s April, and its mammoth UHD releases planned. Head of marketing Mike Hewitt said: “A perennial Arrow Video favourite, we also present a beautiful new Limited Edition 4k UHD release of Richard Kelly’s Donnie Darko, with a superb 4k restoration, 100-page hardcover book, poster, postcards and phenomenal new artwork by Luke Preece. Last, but by no means least, Arrow Video is proud to announce new Limited Edition UHD and Blu-ray releases of Kinji Fukasaku’s landmark film Battle Royale. Also featuring the sequel, Battle Royale II: Requiem, these five-disc box sets are truly the ultimate packages of one of the greatest cult classics of our times.
Also announcing its April titles was Eureka and its Masters of Cinema imprint, with any equally packed schedule for the Easter month. Unveiling the titles, the company’s Marcus Garwood said: “The month of April is all about multi-film sets, plus an appetising side dish of high-octane Russian action for March. Think of early horror and the name Boris Karloff will be at the forefront for many, so it is with great pleasure that we announce a bumper six film set which brings together the films the great man made for Columbia Pictures between 1935 and 1942. The Black Room, The Man They Could Not Hang, The Man With Nine Lives, Before I Hang, The Devil Commands and The Boogie Man Will Get You all make their worldwide debut on Blu-ray in Karloff at Columbia. It’s a limited edition release housed in a striking O-Card slipcase and also contains a collector’s booklet featuring writing on all six films by Karloff expert Stephen Jacobs (author of Boris Karloff: More Than a Monster); film critic and author Jon Towlson; and film scholar Craig Ian Mann. Westerns next, as we bring two early John Ford classics into a Masters Of Cinema double bill set. It’s a very special release as both films (1917’s Straight Shooting and 1918’s Hell Bent) were both previously considered lost until prints were found in the Czechoslovak Film Archive. Those prints now appear here fully restored in 4K to make their debut here in the UK. The set is housed in a limited edition O-Card slipcase and the inner sleeve art is reversible so you can choose how you want your particular edition to look. Extras across the two Blu-ray discs are extensive and include the full score for both films, audio commentaries, video essays and more. A real essential purchase for any Western fan.”
More on Eureka’s April titles and the company’s national accounts manager Marcus Garwood continued: “Following the success of our limited edition Three Edgar Allan Poe Adaptations Starring Bela Lugosi set on Masters of Cinema last year (which sold out in double quick time) we are now launching its standard-edition incarnation for those that missed out. Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Black Cat, and The Raven are still present in all of their restored glory with a pared down booklet and packaging for this standard edition. A trip to Russia completes this set of announcements with a brand-new film from up-and-coming Russian Director Denis Kryuchkov called Russian Raid. Fast paced action leaps off the screen in explosive hi-resolution as the films central character Nikita, a former Russian Spetsnaz operative, is hired to neutralise the large private security force at a local factory by his shady employer. Laser gun sights, axes, bottles, swords (or just about anything which comes to hand in order to cause injury) keeps the adrenalin levels sky high in this brutal revenge movie.”
Both the aforementioned boutique imprints – Arrow Video and Eureka’s Masters Of Cinema – featured heavily in website DVD Beaver’s year-end Best Of listings, but it was one relative newcomer to the market which came out top in the prestigious label of the year category for 2020. For Powerhouse’s Indicator series finally deposed the gold standard and established player Criterion from the label of the year chart. It earned such plaudits from consumers as “a great selection of films and high presentations. Their box sets are attractively packaged and hard to resist”; ”pure Class and loving attention to detail – hands down the best Blu-ray label in existence… I can't wait fore them to adopt 4K UHD” and “Indicator - for the tremendous care they take to produce perfect Blu-ray editions of many less known films”. Commenting on its success, the company’s Sam Dunn said: “After the challenges that last year presented for all of us, it was extremely gratifying to find a number of our 2020 releases, and even the label as a whole, being voted for in the 2020 end-of-year polls by the likes of Sight & Sound and DVD Beaver. We've got big plans for the year ahead, and we hope that the range and quality of what's to come will continue to justify such loyalty and recognition." You can see more here http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/2020_blu-ray_and_4K_UHD_of_the_year.htm#labels
Disney has unveiled more details of its Disney+ strand entitled Star, due to launch on February 23 and now benefiting from a big marketing push from the entertainment giant. Star, as noted previously, is an additional part of the Disney+ service, included in the monthly charge (which is increasing). It will boast four original series at launch – Big Sky from Big Little Lies creator David E Kelley; Love, Simon spoon-off Love, Victor; grown-up animated series Solar Opposites from some of the Rick and Morty team, and drama Helstrom. Many of its TV catalogue titles are from the Fox stable, Grey’s Anatomy, 24, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, The X-Files, Lost and Family Guy, with films such as The Favourite, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Pretty Woman, Die Hard 2, The Devil Wears Prada, and Moulin Rouge. Jan Koeppen, President, The Walt Disney Company EMEA: “Star will be an integral part of Disney+, making it bigger, bolder and even more exciting. The arrival of hundreds of TV series and movies including our exclusive Star Originals will make Disney+ the premier destination for high quality entertainment with something for everyone. Needless to say, all this comes with parental controls to give parents that peace of mind.”
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“At the end of the day, we all have the same piece of film content, whether it’s from Warner, from Universal, from whichever partner. How do we make it unique? We spend a lot of time targeting our customers in a manner that’s appropriate for them [with a title that] shows their interest based on prior search or selections — or we even do a lot of game and movie bundles for our gaming audience on Xbox. We’ve all seen the people who have their wall of DVDs. With the digital stuff, people want to show you their library’s bigger than Netflix. They want to buy. [The digital collector] does not want to have to worry about do I need to go to HBO Max, do I need to go to Disney+. Where is my content? My content is right here in my collection.”
Microsoft’s Pedro Gutierrez on a DEG panel this week in the US talking about the digital market and its collectors…
AT THE MOVIES
Reboot news of the week sees director Robert Rodriguez revealing that he will be reviving his Spy Kids franchise for Skydance Media. It’s the 20th anniversary of the first Antonio Banderas and his offspring outing this year (that’ll make you feel old) and after his return to family fare with Netflix’s We Can Be Heroes, Rodriguez has signalled a further move back into this arena. He’s also currently working on a sequel to that for the svod operator, with a series for Disney+, The Book Of Boba Fett, also on the way.
Comic book fans spent much of the past week discussing the news surrounding the planned Netflix adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s seminal series Sandman. The first raft of casting announcements were made this week, with Tom Sturridge starring and a wealth of talent including Charles Dance, Sanjeev Bhaksar, Asim Chaudry and Gwendoline Christie (as Lucifer) all lining up. Sturridge was, said Gaiman, who will executive producer, in a tweet “perfect for the role”.
Still with Netflix, and there’s a few more animated series on the way, as was revealed this week… One is an animated Tomb Raider adventure series, the other called Skull Island, spinning off from the ongoing King Kong and other monster films released through Warner. Oh, and over at HBO Max, there’s talk of an adult animated Game Of Thrones series, although this is at such an early stage that it could well be just an idle conversation between executives around the water cooler. TWEET OF THE WEEK
Follow us on www.twitter.com/theraygun…
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
Due from Lionsgate…
https://youtu.be/PFb-GRca97M Also on the way from Lionsgate…
https://youtu.be/1d8xJ15aQ1E Here’s that High Fliers release…
Arriving in March…
This week’s Disney…
THE OBLIGATORY GDPR BIT
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