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BOND GOES BACK, NO HOME ENT FOR 2021?
1.3M BRITS SIGN UP FOR SVOD IN Q4
KANTAR RESEARCH SHOWS FOOTBALL IS A WINNER
DISNEY, APPLE MAKE STRIDES
WHITE LABEL AIMS TO DELIVER
YOUR NAME’S ON THE DOOR
THE MASQUE GOES ON
SECOND RUN’S CUPPA
GEKI THUMP
ALTITUDE’S NEW HEIGHTS FOR Q1
HAPPY BIRTHDAY 4DIGITAL MEDIA
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
AT THE MOVIES
TWEET OF THE WEEK
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
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Another week, another raft of film releases dated and slated for 2021 have slipped, with the biggest announcement coming from Universal concerning the now oft-delayed launch of the perennially forthcoming next James Bond film No Time To Die. The film will now be released on October 8 2021. It was originally slated for March 2020, having now slipped again from its autumn 2020 and spring 2021 release slots. The new slippage, however, has ramifications for the home entertainment industry. For that Friday in October is a mere 11 weeks away from Christmas Eve, meaning that if the industry wants a physical home entertainment release of Daniel Craig’s final 007 outing, then something’s going to have to be done about windows, as an eight to 10 week gap between theatrical and home entertainment would breach existing window structures. Admittedly, there is no such thing as normal any more and cinemas might be thankful to be open and have No Time To Die as it stands without getting too het up about windows. But giving continued resistance exhibited during the pandemic last year when distributors were toying with release strategies, then there’s no real reason to think they would change. Two Christmases following the arrival of Covid-19 without No Time To Die, which would have originally been earmarked for digital, DVD and Blu-ray sometime towards the end of summer last year, would again hit the Q4 business hard. Given the delays to the cinema release of the eagerly awaited title, it’d be safe to think that few are counting on a home entertainment release yet, given the potential for further Coronavirus-related pitfalls, but keep an eye on this one…
Some 1.3 million British homes signed up signed up to a new streaming service in Q4 according to the latest figures from Kantar’s Entertainment On Demand panel. It was one of the chief highlights in another boom quarter for SVOD services. It was one where content proved its worth once more, and the latest figures from the research experts at Kantar also highlight how sport and particularly football could become a key battleground in the ongoing battle. Almost 13 million SVOD subscriptions were taken out in 2020, and by the end of the year, some 16.7 million homes had at least one service. Amazon captured almost half of the new subscribers in Q4, with the report noting: “Amazon Prime Video continues to benefit from being integrated with Prime Membership, with Amazon Prime subscribers rising to 53.5 per cent of households in Q4 2020. In addition to increasing overall Prime membership, Amazon also saw an increase in the proportion of Prime members using Prime Video, rising to 62.6 per cent up from 60.5 per cent the previous quarter. Amazon’s increasing focus on live sports continues to pay big dividends, with the Rugby Autumn internationals playing a significant role in attracting new users, as well as the return of live football. The combination of football/rugby/tennis acted as the catalyst for more than one in four new subscribers over the quarter. The Boys continues to perform well for Amazon, showing as the #4 most enjoyed SVoD title during Q4.”
More from the Kantar Entertainment on Demand report and BritBox has overtaken Now TV and Apple TV in share of new subscriber terms, while with more than a third citing content as the reason for going with the service, thanks in no small part to the relaunch of British satirical institution Spitting Image. Amazon’s The Boys may have been in the top five for programming, but Netflix still dominates – The Crown and The Queen’s Gambit were the top two programmes in Q4, with Disney+’s The Mandalorian at three and Now TV’s The Undoing at five. There was good news for Disney according to Kantar, as the report said: “Disney+ has held double digit share of new SVoD subscribers throughout the year and, due to its huge lanch performance in Q1 2020, comes out as #1 in terms of total new SVoD sign ups over the year. Disney+ is also showing good progress in bringing its retention rate under control, with customer churn of just six per cent in Q4, almost half that of its churn rate in Q2.”
The prognosis for AppleTV+ in the Kantar Entertainment on Demand report was less healthy. It noted: “AppleTV+ hit a year high in share of new subscribers in Q4, at 4.8 per cent, but this was only enough to secure #6 spot. Consumers continue to have an overall negative rating of AppleTV+ for Variety of TV Shows, Number of New Release Films, and Variety of Classic Films; however, Quality of Shows remains positive. The recent announcement of a further extended trial for AppleTV+ users to July 2021 is well timed, as the latest research results show 26 per cent of AppleTV+ users in Q4 2020 plan to cancel the service, up from 16 per cent in Q1 2020. Of these planned cancellations, 45 per cent say they are not prepared to pay after the free trial is over, whilst a further 35 per cent say they are not using the service frequently enough to justify the cost.”
Releases due on Monday January 25 now and one o the biggies in stores is from Lionsgate in the form of action film The Doorman, and the company is aiming to ensure that plenty of punters can get in. Commenting on the release, the company’s Olivia Dean said: “Monday sees the DVD launch of high-octane action thriller The Doorman, starring Ruby Rose and Jean Reno. With an abundance of great set-pieces and Rose in a kick-ass role as an ex-Marine, we’re looking forward to bringing this to consumers. Our artwork is bold, showcasing lead cast and the New York setting; key elements we’ve highlighted across our marketing materials. We’re supporting the release with a targeted social campaign on Facebook and Instagram, plus a national PR campaign. Jean Reno has supported with an interview with The Guardian, while a feature on director Ryuhei Kitamura has been placed with FrightFest, Love Horror and The Movie Waffler.”
Studiocanal’s latest classic title to get the full treatment in terms of restoration is the Roger Corman adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Masque Of The Red Death. We watched the Blu-ray over the Christmas and have been raving about it ever since – it looks an absolute treat. Commenting on the release, Studiocanal’s Alison Arber said: “We are thrilled to be releasing a stunning new extended cut of Roger Corman classic adaptation of Poe's The Masque of the Red Death, starring the inimitable Vincent Price at his finest. The Film Foundation and The Academy worked tirelessly to painstakingly restore the film as it was originally intended to be seen before heavy censorship in the UK and US at release. With an essay from The Academy's Film Preservationist Tessa Idlewine in the accompanying booklet and some stunning art cards showcasing the beautiful restoration - This edition is not to be missed and as Peter Bradshaw commented in his recent five-star Guardian review - 'It's horribly apt’.”
Due in stores on Monday is the latest from boutique imprint Second Run and we think you’ll be hard pressed to find a better title for a film than Tomorrow I’ll Wake Up And Scald Myself With Tea due out in 2021. Commenting on the release, the company’s Chris Barwick said: "We're thrilled to be bringing Jindrich Ikarie XB-1' Polak's terrific Czech sci-fi comedy Tomorrow I’ll Wake Up And Scald Myself With Tea to Blu-ray and DVD in the UK. Not only does it boast one of the best titles ever, it's truly one of the great undiscovered sci-fi gems of the 1970s, one of the smartest and funniest time-travel movies ever made. It also has a curious cult following here in the UK after an unscheduled late-night BBC2 tv broadcast in the early 1980s. Those that saw it, never forgot it - and now they and others will be able to experience the film afresh.”
Also arriving is another title from another of our favourite imprints, This Window Films. It’s The Weird And Wonderful World of Ujicha features a brace of feature from the mad Japanese animation artist. And in something of another first for the independent company, it’s among the most comprehensive Blu-ray releases fo Ujicha available anywhere in the world. Commenting on the release, the company’s Adam Torel said: "We're happy to present a really original series of 'not animation' from the unique mind of Japanese young director Ujicha who, from a tiny room in his parent's house, spends years and years making films totally by himself. Ujicha is trying to make popular a rare filmmaking technique called 'Geki-mation' in which cut-out illustrations are moved around hand-drawn backgrounds to create a story. While it may sound boring to describe, the works he makes are totally wild, surreal, gross-out, vulgar and very entertaining, so we're extremely excited to get out this set of two features and three shorts alongside loads of other extras in a two-disc Blu-ray set. It's also the first time in the world the majority of films on the disc have been released in the format.”
After a strong Q4 for its varied slate, including a raft of successes with feature films, most notably Russell Crowe Unhinged, as well as Fatman, in which Mel Gibson starred as Chris Cringle, aka Santa Claus, and its slate of football and music-related gifting titles, most notably End Of The Storm, which charted Liverpool's return to the top of the pile and league victory, Altitude is returning to the fray with a new slate for Q1. Things kick off next week with the premium vod and EST release for The Capote Tapes, and there's more to come too, with the independent focusing on the kind of mainstream action content that consumers are missing out on with cinemas shuttered – the kind of strategy that turned Unhinged into one of 2020's lockdown successes. The company's head of home entertainment Adam Eldrett said: "There's a lot of action and sci-fi coming to Home Ent this quarter as the cinemas sadly remain closed. Archenemy, from the producers of home entertainment hits Color Out Of Space and Mandy arrives on February 22 and there's more sci-fi action with Bruce Willis action in Cosmic Sin on March 1. Later in March we also have Redemption Day starring Andy Garcia and Gary Dourdan that features some epic action sequences as Dourdan faces down some Middle Eastern Terrorists. We are also gearing up for the release of Fukashima 50 in early March, an incredibly powerful film about the workers who stayed behind at the stricken power plant. And we'll have more coming to our Q1 slate in the weeks ahead as we hit the ground running after a busy Q4 slate."
Happy birthday to our old chums at 4Digital Media, who have just celebrated the independent’s 14th birthday. As the label pointed out, its commitment to the industry is unwavering, although it has been tested sorely over the years, from retailer disappearances, through to companies collapsing and even the fire at Sony DADC during the riots that destroyed much of its stock. And over the last year, there’s been the not insignificant matter of a pandemic to contend with. But, as recent successes show, it’s managed to thrive in this time and is still committed to the business. The company’s Tony Taglienti said: “During this time 4Digital Media has been through many challenges: including the collapse of Woolworth and EUK, which changed the face of the Home Entertainment industry overnight forcing many DVD and music labels into closure. We saw the collapse of Pinnacle which almost brought 4DM to its knees but was saved by 4Digital Asia releases, which were distributed through Trinity (known as Lace then). The Sony fire, which was handled with remarkable efficiently by Sony who had replacement stock for many labels within 48 hours of the fire starting. The collapse and reincarnation of HMV - several times, a recession, the creation and the spectacular demise of Alchemy, our first distributors in North America, a memorable experience of being distributed by Sony Home Entertainment in North America and the UK. And now the latest obstacle we are all facing is the Covid 19 pandemic. Our constants has been Trinity Creative Partnership and their continued support, as well as Obviously Creative and Silversun Media Group who have consistently supported us. We’ve always been able to seek new market opportunities and in 2021 we can proudly say we have a very strong slate of films in the US and the UK, and even though it’s challenging – but when hasn’t it been?”
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“All of our careers have been built in large part on the benefits brought by UK cinemas. But these venues are amongst those which have been hit hardest by COVID-19 and need further support if they are to survive and continue to serve their communities.
“Cinema-going offers proven benefits when it comes to jobs, high street footfall and community cohesion. The mental health benefits are more important than ever in the current time. And the cinema experience has given generations of children and adults the opportunity to enjoy the magic of the big screen.
“This is now all at risk. There is no doubt that if supported to survive, the sector will recover and once again thrive. But the need for direct financial support is pressing.
“We recognise the support that government has already been able to provide. But we fear that this will not be enough, with the challenges being most acute for those larger cinema operators who have not been able to access any tailored funding.
“These companies represent over 80 per cent of the market, in many ways constituting its ‘critical mass’ and helping to drive the success of associated sectors such as film distribution and production coalesce. Without them, the future of the entire UK film industry would look extremely precarious.
“We very much hope that Government will respond to this call. UK cinema stands on the edge of an abyss. We urgently need targeted funding support to ensure that future generations can enjoy the magic of cinema.”
A letter backed by major British talent calling on the government to act to save cinema in the UK…
Signatories include Andrea Arnold OBE, Amma Asante MBE, Simon Beaufoy, Tim Bevan CBE, Danny Boyle, Graham Broadbent, Barbara Broccoli OBE, Iain Canning, Gurinder Chadha OBE, Noel Clarke, Richard Curtis CBE, Stephen Daldry CBE, Gareth Edwards, Eric Fellner CBE, Stephen Frears, Stephen Fry, Sarah Gavron, Jane Goldman, Paul Greengrass, David Heyman, Armando Iannucci OBE, Asif Kapadia, Elizabeth Karlsen, Duncan Kenworthy OBE, Paul King, Jude Law, Philippa Lowthorpe, Andrew Macdonald, Kevin Macdonald, Steve McQueen CBE, Sam Mendes CBE, Peter Morgan CBE, Christopher Nolan, Nira Park, David Puttnam CBE, Lynne Ramsay, Guy Ritchie, Ridley Scott, Emma Thomas, Matthew Vaughn, Ben Wheatley, Michael G. Wilson OBE, Stephen Woolley, Edgar Wright, Joe Wright.
AT THE MOVIES
Too soon? Not for Sky and its Originals strand, which has announced a dramatisation of the British government’s response to the current pandemic crisis is being put into production. What’s more, Kenneth Branagh will star as PM Boris Johnson in the five part series, being put together under Michael Winterbottom. The series is entitled This Sceptred Isle…
More on the Willy Wonka prequel currently in the works at Warner, under the tutelage of director Paul King and producer David Heyman, fresh from Paddington, behind the 2023 release. And it now seems as if they’re closing in on the actor to play the man behind the chocolate factory. For stories circulating this week suggest that it’s a direct toss-up between either Timothee Chalomet or Tom Holland. The duo seem to be in the running for pretty much any role going, so who knows whether either will cement the role…
TV news and a few series on the way… For current Netflix hit du jour Bridgerton will have a second series, hardly surprising given the runaway success of the first. And drama of a different kind as the man behind Peaky Blinders, Steven Knight, has revealed that the next outing for Cillian Murphy and Brummie criminal cronies – the sixth – will be the last. But it won’t be the end for the gang. The creator told Deadline it was originally intended to run for seven series, but noted: "Covid changed our plans. But I can say that my plan from the beginning was to end Peaky with a movie. That is what is going to happen.”
SITE OF THE WEEK
We’ve launched a new Home Viewing column for our pals over at consumer site The Ransom Note to talk about what we’ve been watching at home and recommending titles to its savvy readers. First one was on Dogwoof’s American Utopia, the David Byrne concert film, and you can read it over here…
TWEET OF THE WEEK
Follow us on www.twitter.com/theraygun…
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
This Price is right…
Another week, another Cage trailer…
Not the Alice Cooper one…
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