NEWSLETTER :: June 10 2010

 
 BLINK AND YOU'LL MISS IT
SONY CRACKLES...
THIS WEEK ON THE RAYGUN.CO.UK
WINDOW OPENS UP
ACORN VERSUS THE WORLD
A PRIME RELEASE
BOYLE'S IN THE CAN
BFI'S BRONCO RIDES OUT
SWIMMING ALONG
RE-VIEW REVIEW
NEW KIDS CHIEF AT E1
GRUNBAUM TO ROAR
FREEFORM'S NEW DIVISION
AWARDS ROUND-UP
GLOBAL THEATRICAL TAKE GROWS
RELEASE OF THE WEEK
AT THE MOVIES
TWEET OF THE WEEK
SITE OF THE WEEK
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
COMING SOON ON DVD AND AT CINEMAS
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It Was A Good Week For... Alice In Wonderland. A nice start for WDSHE's blockbuster, which at first sight appeared to vindicate the major's strategy... 
 
It Was A Bad Week For... Uh-oh. Here comes the World Cup. Batten down the hatches.

Internet traffic over the past week appears to have been almost all in the direction of film download/streaming site blinkbox blinkbox and its new offering www.fullstreamahead.co.uk . Why? Well, the company has launched a for-one-week-only deal in partnership with the five major studios, and assorted industry bodies (The Film Council, BFI, Industry Trust and BSAC). The initiative is, for seven days only, offering £20 worth of credit to ALL UK visitors to the site. The aim is to show the great British public that streaming content legally is fast, easy, fun and won't break the bank. The move follows research that shows that one in four people in the UK plan to increase the number of films they watch through legitimate sites, and further findings that some 28 per cent of consumers using illegal P2P sites were doing so because of the immediacy of illegal file-sharing and its instant access offering. Blinkbox ceo and co-founder Michael Comish said: "Not everyone realises that they can get instant access to an extensive range of high quality content through streaming services like blinkbox. Full Stream Ahead is designed to show film fans that there are affordable, legal ways for instantly obtaining films: quicker than P2P, and virus and Spyware free. We believe that showing the public how new online services can legally fulfil their needs is a first step towards encouraging the majority of people to adopt new technology, and turn their backs on copyright theft for good. The Industry Trust's Liz Bales added: "blinkbox’s Full Stream Ahead week is a fantastic opportunity for the public to try quality virus-free streaming for themselves. The UK film industry is determined to make the most of opportunities afforded by new technology in continuing to provide films in new and innovative ways.  That’s why we are investing in developing and providing services that enable the public to watch film and television online in a manner which suits them whilst remaining commercially viable so funding is available for films in the future." The Raygun has already signed up and tried it out – for a full report see our website tomorrow...

Also on the online front, Sony Pictures' own bespoke service, Crackle, http://www.crackle.com/ is now available to UK audiences too (as well as launching in Australia) following on from its bow in the US. It offers feature films, TV shows – predominantly in the cut-down "minisode" form (we shuddered as we typed that made up word) and is advertiser funded. The UK is yet to boast the full offering of titles in the US, but we had a peek at a shortened episode of Diff'rent Strokes (the Nancy Reagan drugs one) and also viewed John Belushi's last film, Neighbours. Full report shortly on the website...

Since we're on websites, let's plug our own. This week at www.theraygun.co.uk loads of new material's gone up – we've had Doctor Who news, from both 2entertain and HMV; a look at Optimum's clutch of exploitation films, including a specially created UK trailer; we've studied  ITV Studios' restoration of The African Queen; had a look back at this year's MCM Expo show with some of the main exhibitors from the home entertainment sector; looked at Paramount's action-packed new creative and also had a comment piece from Ian Gilchrist, a home entertainment specialist returning to the UK after a decade back in North America. Bookmark us, we've got daily updates at www.theraygun.co.uk

It's a bold move, but The Raygun has to applaud independent label Third Window Films' ambitious marketing campaign for its June 21 release of Kakera. The Japanese, Manga-inspired title will be supported by a London Underground poster campaign with the A4 sheets appearing at Tottenham Court Road, Oxford Circus, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden. In addition the title, distribution through Fusion Media Sales, will have ads in Neo, G3 magazine and the London and Brighton Pride events and a further ad in Sight And Sound, covering off the anime, gay and arthouse markets. Third Window is working closely with director Momoko Ando and the film's Japanese distributors to build a worldwide momentum and buzz about the film. The company's Adam Torel said: "The film opened in cinemas both in Tokyo and London on the same day and we've really been working hard in tandem to make this young director into the next big-thing from Japan as she definitely has the qualities." Third Window is planning a similarly high profile campaign for its next release, Fish Story on July 5...

So, in case you haven't noticed, and haven't been deluged by the football-related TV ads (seen the adidas Star Wars one yet? It's here), the World Cup starts tomorrow. On last week's newsletter we looked at the potential down and upsides for our business. But whither the TV schedules? Well, it appears as if there is one common theme running through both ITV and BBC's counter-programming. And that's our very own Acorn Media. Over the next week, while its main terrestrial rival is screening football, BBC and ITV will be showing Countryfile, Antiques Roadshow, Who Do You Think You Are, Taggart, Midsomer Murders, South Africa Walks, Taggart (again), Inspector George Gently, The Hairy Bikers and Midsomer Murders again. This trend continues later in the group stages, with the likes of Inspector Lynley, Waterloo Road and New Tricks all taking on the football. Acorn Media md Paul Holland said: "When it comes to taking on the biggest show on earth only one DVD label is big enough."



More news from Acorn, and we at The Raygun couldn't help but break out into (admittedly poor) Maggie Smith impersonations after seeing that the company has inked a deal to release the legendary Smith starrer The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie for the first time ever on DVD. We were even more surprised when we realised it had never been out before, but that is the case. The title will make its bow on August 2. Acorn md Paul Holland (again) said: "We were surprised to discover that a film of the caliber of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie hadn't been released on DVD in the UK and we were thrilled to pick it up. It’s a perfect fit for the Acorn audience and Maggie Smith’s Oscar-winning performance makes it a must-have for film fans everywhere."

To the hmvapollo for the filming of Frankie Boyle's forthcoming live stand-up DVD for 4DVD. Filmed over three sessions, the title (once the libel lawyers have got to grips with it) will, in The Raygun's humble estimation, be just as good as its predecessor and arguably more shocking. Boyle's retreat from TV has only fuelled his ire and seen him further hone his biting wit, and has also, judging by the packed crowd, driven up demand for his caustic comments. HMV's Andy Anderson said: "Frankie Boyle's latest tour is brilliant. If you like his humour, and as he keeps reminding you it is a joke, then you will be hard pushed to find a comedy show that is so consistently funny throughout. The jokes shock, but only because they are so close to the bone. Best not to sit in the front two rows though. I can't wait for the DVD so I can sit though it again." The title has been penciled in for a November 15 release.

We've also been about down at the BFI Southbank in the past week, and after having a beer overlooking the Thames on a gloriously sunny evening, we slipped into the main auditorium for the first UK screening of Bronco Bullfrog, a great "lost" London film, which despite being hugely influential and a favourite of the likes of Paul Weller, has remained virtually unseen for years. It has now been given a new lease of life for the digital age by the BFI and, after a theatrical release is will be arriving on DVD and Blu-ray this autumn as part of the BFI's wonderful Flipside series. A low budget gritty ground-breaking drama set in London's East End, it portrays a long disappeared vision of the capital and was the first film to document the skinhead youth cult evolving into the suedehead look. Director Barney Platts-Mills (whose only other feature, Private Road, is also due from BFI Flipside this autumn too) was on hand for a lively Q&A debate afterwards. BFI's James Blackford said: "We are delighted to be working with Barney Platts Mills on these digitally remastered versions of Bronco Bullfrog and Private Road. These are precisely the kind of fantastic British films which deserve to be seen on Blu-ray."

And while we're on about things we've enjoyed watching, check this out: it's the new series from the Adult Swim strand. It's unlikely to appear on DVD until 2011, but we're still laughing at John C. Reilly public access-style presenter Dr Steve Brule now. http://www.adultswim.co.uk/videos/check-it-out-dr-steve-brule-family

We must say when we picked up the new issue of long-running film magazine Empire this week, we were mightily impressed by its ever-expanding, and, we reckon, ever-improving DVD and Blu-ray section, Re-View, described by reviews editor Nick De Semlyen as "Empire's cheeky younger brother" which is now really coming into its own. We love the whole magazine within a magazine feel, particularly like the little icons and and the fact that home entertainment is really given the depth and coverage that our sector deserves. As De Semlyen noted, it's eschewed the traditional route of locking itself into a template and instead gives titles the space and coverage they deserve, irrespective of how many pages it might take up. And we must further applaud its support for Blu-ray as a format. De Semlyen said: "In a nutshell, we hope Re-View is a rewarding experience aside from the rest of Empire. Not just a collection of reviews, one after another, but a refreshing mix of humour, detail, insight and news which makes up a pacey, fun read."

Movements on the jobs merry-go-round this week: E1 has appointed a new md to its E1 Kids arm, Olivier Dumont will oversee all the commercial and creative activities of E1 Kids' brands, taking in the likes of Peppa Pig and Ben And Holly's Little Kingdom, spanning the UK, US and Canadian operations of the ever-growing film and TV company. He will also help develop new properties. E1 president for filmed entertainment Patrice Theroux said : "Our kids' division is an important engine of growth for E1, as part of our television activities. We have gained significant expertise from our tremendous pre-school success Peppa Pig and it has allowed E1 to develop strong production, sales, licensing and merchandising divisions. This appointment will allow us to streamline our resources in the UK, Canada and the US which will position E1 as a truly unique partner for the continued creation and management of brands and franchises in the Kids programming sector."

Meanwhile, at Lionsgate, its home entertainment arm has announced the appointment of Ben Grunbaum as its senior product manager, catalogue. Grunbaum has been at HMV as DVD advertising planner for four years. The appointment reflects Lionsgate's ever-growing catalogue and range of titles. Marketing director Marie-Claire Benson said: " We’re so pleased to have Ben joining the team. Our catalogue continues to grow from strength to strength, and to maximise its potential we were looking for someone with a commercial focus and a solid understanding of the UK retail environment. Not only does Ben fit the bill thanks to his wealth of experience with HMV, but also his creativity demonstrated by the varied marketing campaigns he has executed was enough to convince us that he will be a great addition to the team."

On the agency side, Blueprint Media has announced a new division in addition to its free.London and freeform.Digital creative arms, freeform.Production. The separate company, based out of freeform's new and expanded Old Street, London, offices, will focus on production and localisation of entertainment product. The company has recently inked a major deal with Warner. The company's Tony Roberts said: "We have focused on developing and building our core business of creative design, planning and execution and felt now was the time to expand the services we offer to our clients to include production, thereby ensuring only one agency is needed for the full life cycle of a product. This should greatly reduce costs and timelines for our customers." The Raygun recently visited its vast new premises and the scale of the freeform.Production offering is hugely impressive, we must say.
 
You should know by now that we love trailers. And what with helping out at a school Film Club (no, honest), we at the Raygun appreciate the value of educating kids about film. So we read with interest of the initiative from
Charity Film Education and the FDA (Film Distributors’ Association) to launch the 2010 edition of its Teaching Trailers resource for both primary and secondary schools. Supplied free of charge, it allows classes to look at the art of the trailer and allows students to become both “critically creative and creatively critical”. Some 25,000 will be sent out to schools. FDA president Lord Puttnam CBE said: “Film can be used imaginatively to bring alive many subjects in the curriculum at all levels. I am happy to see the industry continue to reach out and take a bold, pro-active approach to facilitating this study. Comprehending the meaning of texts across a range of digital and physical media is a vital skill to be nurtured, and tools such as Teaching Trailers can help young people become better informed citizens and consumers.”

Just when you thought the awards season was over, along come a few more ceremonies and gongs to be handed out... While the MTV Awards provided some strange sights (Tom Cruise's turn as his Tropic Thunder creation Les Grossman for starters, which is now set to appear on the big screens in his own outing) and more swearing than your average awards event (most of the stars were doing their best to appear big, hard and grown-up by using the F-word, even though the bleeping out rendered it pointless), then the BAFTA TV awards was a far more sedate affair. Pretty much every winner in the drama and comedy categories was available on DVD in some form or another. With plaudits in particular going to 2 entertain products (triple award winner The Thick Of It chief among its successes) and 4DVD (Mo and The Misfits both won and The Inbetweeners was an audience winner thanks to youtube viewers). Also notable was Channel 4's feature length drama The Unloved, Samantha Morton's directorial debut available on DVD via ICA.  

Last week we ended on a couple of glum items, but here's some cheerier news that has emerged this week: estimates from the US suggest that overseas box office for the major studios for the first part of 2010 was up a whopping 64 per cent. The rise has been put down to 3D, films performing better overseas than in the US, the inexorable rise of 3D, and massive growth above even that level in territories such as China and Russia. The rise comes in spite of the weak Euro and pound.
 
 



 RELEASE OF THE WEEK
Momentum is one of the sharper companies when it comes to its DVD releases, never shying away from bold moves, especially when it comes to design. So in a bid to give its July 12 release of Youth In Revolt, the Michael Cera starrer, a new look and feel, it not only produced a new sleeve, but it also went out and extensively researched potential designs, to see which resonated with the consumer (you probably saw it at the top of this newsletter). Not only do we think the sleeve looks great, but it also works well for this cracking film, which appeals to the Superbad and Juno crowd (and beyond). Ever prepared to back its releases with marketing clout, Momentum is TV advertising the title, with ads across Channel 4, E4, Virgin, Bravo and five and its sister channels. Bookend creatives, concentrating on Cera's character Nick Twist and his aler-ego Francois Dillinger will appear in the likes of Nuts, Kerrang, NME and More. In terms of PR, journalists will be receiving fake Dillinger masks (we can't wait). Oh, and there's a great website too (see below). Momentum's Louisa Mitchell said: "Our campaign will target young male DVD buyers in a really engaging way, with every element designed to deliver maximum stand out. Our hilarious TV advert will deliver (probably much needed!) belly laughs following World Cup mania."

FILM NEWS
Death At A Funeral (£696,280) and 4.3.2.1 and She's Out Of My League (both £400k plus) all bowed in the top 10, which is still dominated by Sex And The City 2 (£13.6 million) StreetDance 3D (almost £9 million) and Prince Of Persia (more than £6 million).
 
Franchise update: the Internet has been awash with rumour and counter-rumour about the current state of some of the business' biggest franchises. Arguably the biggest, although at the same time the vaguest, is the news that Die Hard is on the way back. Although according to reports, the next instalment will not be Die Hard 5, it will be Die Hard 24/7. One story circulating was that there was originally going to be a team-up between Die Hard's John McClane, aka Bruce Willis, and Kiefer Sutherland's Jack Bauer. So it became Die Hard 24/7, and has stuck, despite the fact that 24 and Bauer will now go solo for a film adaptation of the series, which ended its run on UK TV screens this week. Although we're guessing if the name sticks, a few cinemagoers might be confused about missing out on a few instalments...

The Fantastic Four is also due what is popularly known as the reboot, with Fox preparing to give the franchise a new lease of life (although it does seem remarkably close to the first two outings to be talking about giving it a new look and feel). It will go under the moniker Fantastic Four Reborn.

Another franchise seemingly in need of a reboot is the Bourne series, who's uncertain future is thought to be a bit clearer after the news that Tony Gilroy, the original writer credited with turning the trilogy (thus far) into the success it is. The latest addition will be called The Bourne Legacy; Gilroy's name is the only certainty so far, after Paul Greengrass left the franchise, and Matt Damon is reported to have said he wouldn't continue without the British director's involvement. Although with Gilroy on board, he, and even Greengrass himself, could also return to the fold.

TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
Look out for Kenneth from 30 Rock, fast becoming this summer's must-have cameo star:
http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/wb/catsanddogstherevengeofkittygalore3d/

More talking animal business:
http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/fox/marmaduke/

Not sure about the tagline, but this looks pretty good:
http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/gullivers-travels/trailer

SITE OF THE WEEK
Mentioned above, but Momentum's site for Youth In Revolt, its Bad Self Generator, allows consumers to create their own alter egos. So say we at The Raygun, aka Tate Realdeal. http://getdownwithyourbadself.co.uk/

TWEET OF THE WEEK
Fair play to Blinkbox and the assorted partners' Full Stream Ahead initiative, Twitter was positively abuzz with people recommending it to other users... The Raygun is now officially obsessed with tweeting too, and we're commenting on EVERY film or show we see... Track us down, here
 

OUT NEXT WEEK ON DVD

The African Queen Special Restoration Edition (ITV Studios)
Al Murray The Pub Landlord Crown Jewels Collection (ITV Studios)
American Dad Season 5 (Fox)
Chanbara Striptease (Manga)
Crazy Heart (Fox)
The Cup (2 entertain)
The Dam Busters Special Edition (Optimum) (DVD and Blu-ray)
Dear Mother Love Albert (Network)
Doctor Who Kamelion Box (2 entertain)
Edge Of Darkness (Icon)
Father & Son (2 entertain)
Fireman Sam (HIT)
Harry Hill The Golden Boxset (ITV Studios)
The Haunting Of Molly Hartley (Icon)
The ICC World T20 Highlights: England Champions Of The World (Fremantle)
Invictus (Warner)
Legends Of Comedy (2 entertain)
Manchester United End Of Season 2009/2010 (2 entertain)
My Friends Tigger And Pooh (WDSHE)
My Name Is Khan (Fox)
Naruto Shippuden Box Set 1 (Manga)
Naruto Unleashed Complete Series 8 (Manga)
Not The Messiah (He’s A very Naughty Boy (SPHE)
The Office Complete Season 4 (Universal Playback)
The Rolling Stones In Exile (Eagle Vision)
Small Island (ITV Studios)
The Story Of India (2 entertain)
The Story Of The Rugby World Cup 1995 (Lace)
UFC 110 (Clear Vision)
WWE No Way Out 2002 (Clear Vision)
 
OUT THIS WEEK AT CINEMAS
Black Death (Revolver)
Bronco Bullfrog (BFI)
Brooklyn's Finest (Momentum)
Greenberg (Universal)
H2Oil (Dogwoof)
Letters To Juliet (E1)
Shed Your Tears And Walk Away (ICO)
Women Without Men (Artificial Eye)

OUT NEXT WEEK AT CINEMAS
Ajami (Vertigo)
Hierro (Optimum)
Journey To Mecca (SK Films)
Killers (Lionsgate)
MacGruber (Universal)
Our Family Wedding (Fox)
Please Give (Sony)
Raavan (Reliance Big Entertainment)
Rashomon (bfi)
Trash Humpers (Warp Films/Alcove Entertainment)
Wild Grass (New Wave Films)
Wild Target (Entertainment)




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