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LIONSGATE FEEDS THE HUNGER
RETAILERS WELCOME THE GAMES
FINS AIN'T WHAT THEY USED TO BE
EONE SPREADS VIRUS…
…AND FINALLY CONFIRMS ALLIANCE DEAL
EONE IN FURTHER PACT…
AS MOMENTUM TURNS ON RED LIGHTS…
BVA YEARBOOK PUBLISHED
CORNICHE TAKES STAKE IN REVOLVER
METRODOME ANNOUNCES DISTRIBUTION PROFIT…
…AND GETS READY FOR ST GEORGE'S DAY
ARROW HITS TARGET WITH BIGGEST THEATRICAL
ANCHOR BAY IS ROCKIN' ALL OVER THE WORLD…
…AND FLYING TO NEW YORK WITH PAM ANN
BOYLE ADDS OLYMPIC COMMENTARY
OGILVIE TO LEAVE BBC
NETFLIX'S INDIAN TREAT
HACKS DON'T HELP HMV
ANYONE FOR DHD?
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
AT THE MOVIES
TWEET OF THE WEEK
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
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It Was A Good Week For… Lionsgate, with The Hunger Games starting off brightly…
It Was A Bad Week For… Journalists who can't be bothered to check stuff (see below for more)…
Monday September 3 saw the release of The Hunger Games, one of the year's biggest theatrical smashes and arguably the start of a run that will see big titles out through to the latter part of Q4. It was the one retailers were waiting for and, on the back of some smart launch marketing from Lionsgate – much of it themed around elements in the film – the title got off to a strong start. Lionsgate's Sarah Sanders said: "The wide-reaching campaign from PR, social media and ATL strategy through to retailer support and in-store activity has had the desired effect. We are really pleased with the sales through the week to date, particularly regarding the Blu-ray share which, bearing in mind the genre, in part shows the impact of releasing the ‘unseen version’ on this format." HMV's Tim Scaping said: "The marketing and PR campaign around The Hunger Games has been hugely impressive, innovative and highly engaging, including a strong social media element that fits particularly well with the customer demographic. With Lionsgate's commitment, HMV was able to create a compelling in=store experience by using Foursquare to support 'district'-based live reapings across the chain to win premiere tickets and goody bags. The activity generated considerable pre-awareness and interaction as part of the build up to the official product launch. For its part HMV achieved excellent share on this tile, and we thank Lionsgate for its support." Tesco's Steve Lovatt said: "What looks to be an already exceptional week one number proves what a successful studio and retailer partnership which puts the consumer at the heart of a multi-channel retail product launch can achieve."
Interesting to note too that The Hunger Games is not just working on physical formats too, as some are anticipating that the title will be just as big on other online formats as DVD and Blu-ray. blinkbox ceo Michael Cornish said: "We’re thrilled to report that The Hunger Games has been a huge hit since becoming available on blinkbox this Monday and is on track to be our biggest title of the year so far.” There's more on The Hunger Games on our website, including pictures and reports on the launch activity and, as part of our weekly round-up of press coverage of DVD and Blu-ray releases, a look at how it fared in the weekend's papers.
 It's been a big week too for Jaws, with Universal's Blu-ray bow for the title, part of the studio's 100th birthday outing, arriving in stores on the back of some impressive coverage secured by Freud, which saw the mouth-watering morsel of a teaser for a feature on the front page of the Times, as well as coverage in the publications ranging from the Financial Times through to Zoo, taking in TV and websites along the way. It was aided by some smart ideas – taking journalists shark fishing, interviews with the creator of the shark and even some Olympic and Paralympic tie-ins, courtesy of some synchronised swimmers (no, seriously, see here) and Paralympian and shark attack survivor Achmat Hussein. And it's all helped the title start swimmingly, as head of film marketing at Universal Vicki Davis said: "We’re absolutely delighted with the sales of our Blu-ray release of Jaws, with the intense media interest that this classic release has generated and the way that our five second TV ads featuring the iconic Jaws theme have cut through to consumers. It’s fantastic to see that there is still an appetite for new-to-Blu-ray releases of this calibre, which we hope will continue with the release of E.T. on Blu-ray on October 22."
Also released this week was eOne's latest title in the [REC] horror franchise, [REC] Genesis. As noted last week, it was released on the back of a major Twitter stunt under the #RECvirus hashtag, which involved all manner of horror writers and experts supposedly coming under attack from zombies and the likes. eOne's Sayoko Tietz said: "We are very pleased with fantastic feedback we had for the #RECvirus twitter stunt. #RECvirus was trending in the UK and the news also spread around the web to major sites including Dread Central, Brutal as Hell, Horror Talk and Blogomatic 3000. Thanks to all contributors and all people who RTed us, so the infection went viral.
 Talk of eOne leads us on neatly to the deal of the week. It has long been mooted, and discussed around the industry for what seems like an age, certainly for all of 2012, but Entertainment One, aka eOne, this week confirmed it has signed the deal to acquire Momentum Pictures and its parent Alliance Films, creating the largest independent distributor in the UK and Canada. In an official statement, eOne said the deal would not only strengthen its business, but drive growth too. The deal, worth up to $272 million Canadian dollars – that's £174 million – is still subject to regulatory approval, which could take some months (eOne has said it will be some months before it works out how it is going to integrate the two operations in, say the UK)e, but it will create a distributor with a library of 35,000 film and television titles. eOne president and ceo Darren Throop said: "The combination of Entertainment One and Alliance Films will create the leading global independent film distribution business which alongside our Television and Family divisions will deliver a strong strategic platform for long term growth. As a result of the acquisition, eOne will be a more competitive business in each of the geographic markets that we serve, allowing us to act as a more valuable partner for content producers and expanding the quality and depth of the content that we offer to our customers. I am extremely excited by the opportunities available to us to grow the Group and we look forward to representing the very best in independent film across all of our markets. This acquisition means that eOne is better positioned than ever to generate significant value for shareholders." Alliance Films chairman and ceo Victor Loewy said: " eOne and Alliance Films share similar values. We both have a strong commitment to supporting film, culture and talent in Canada and in each of our territories. We also have passion for this business. Joining the eOne family will provide our dedicated teams and partners more opportunities to work with great films and film makers from around the globe."
Of course, both eOne and Momentum have got busy release schedules going forward. Both have now got their eyes set on October 31, with some Halloween-related titles, more for the grown-ups, on the way. In the case of the former, it has The Pact, the high profile horror hit due on October 1. As the company's Tim Westbey said: "Following its strong performance at the box office, the title is well placed to be one of the leading horror releases of the year. The campaign encompasses ATL media across TV, online and press, a talent-led PR campaign and social media."
 Also ahead of Halloween, Momentum has Red Lights, another high profile theatrically released title, which this time boasts an impressive cast that includes veterans such as Robert De Niro and Sigourney Weaver alongside younger names such as Cillian Murphy. Momentum's Kristin Ryan said: "Red Lights is a really strong cast led thriller with echoes of supernatural horror that plays to a wide audience, from mainstream thriller fans right to niche horror fans. The easily recognized A-list cast, visual strength, genre and Halloween release strategy means TV advertising is our biggest media execution supported by press and online activity and a major PR and promotional push."
Back to that eOne and Momentum deal, and the combined company would have boasted a market share in 2011 of 7.5 per cent in te3rms of volume and 7.1 per cent in value terms, ahead of Sony Pictures in both cases. How do we know that? Thanks to the BVA Yearbook, which is being published and sent out as we speak. We've seen a PDF of it and it makes for fascinating reading; we're still trawling through it ahead of a feature on our website next week. Its introduction is penned by Lord Smith of Finsbury, aka Chris Smith, the former culture minister who looked at the film industry for his major report published earlier this year. "I don’t subscribe to the doom-mongers who claim the economic eco-system around creative content is broken. History tells me that creatives adapt and amend to changing technology. CDs didn’t kill radio, video didn’t kill cinemas and the Internet hasn’t and won’t break the video entertainment sector. Adapting to technology isn’t simple or cheap. Some will find it easier than others and will be quicker to react and at times we all get frustrated that change isn’t more rapid. I realise, though, that transition is a risky business. I have great faith, however, that the video entertainment industry can continue to change – UltraViolet is just one exciting example of how the embrace of disruptive technologies can open up new opportunities. Video entertainment requires new forms of distribution and clever new ways to generate revenue, but the skills required to fulfil those aims are well within the industry’s reach."
 More financial news now, and another big announcement this time from Revolver, which has announced that Corniche Pictures has taken a "significant minority stake" in Revolver's distribution business as well as its in-house production division Gunslinger. It was further invested in the vod service FiNDWATCHSHARE. According to an announcement, the deal will allow the assorted arms strengthen their position both at home and abroad, with FiNDWATCHSHARE looking to expand internationally. Corniche Pictures ceo Hani Farsi said: "Revolver Entertainment is a company I have admired and respected for many years. I have followed their progress very keenly and hold Justin and his team in a very high regard for what they have achieved. Year on year their innovative and cost effective approach to distribution and production has made them a unique company with an incredible brand identity. I am truly excited to work with Justin and his team to continue their fine work, and assist in taking the company even further around the world.” Revolver's own Justin Marciano added: "This deal delivers a seismic shift in our business and marks an exciting new chapter for both Revolver and Gunslinger. We’re delighted to welcome Hani and Corniche as our new partner. Having founded this business 15 years ago with a drive to bring originality and creativity to British film production and distribution – I wanted to be sure that any expansion is assisted by likeminded people with a shared vision – In Hani and Corniche not only have we found a very strong partner, but also a common desire to leave a legacy in film. We look forward to working with Corniche’s expert team to take the Revolver brand to the next level in the UK and internationally.”
And a last bit from our city correspondent, as it were, with news from Metrodome, which has published its interim results for the six months to the end of June 30 2012. And after the much-publicised problems with its Target offshoot, it's good to see the distribution business continuing to perform well, reporting a profit of £110,000 for those six months. Ceo Mark Webster said: "The first six months have shown the strength and resilience of the film business in difficult market conditions. Despite early setbacks we are committed to look for the right opportunities to grow our business both organically and by M&A."
 Interestingly, Metrodome's Royal Affair (more on that next week), due on DVD at the end of October, has become the year's most successful foreign language arthouse hit. It has been bested by The Raid and Headhunters, but those breakout hits are more genre films than traditional world cinema arthouse flicks. Next up at theatrical from Metrodome is St George's Day, the directorial debut from Frank Harper, star of many a homegrown film, which blends gangster and football hooligan fare together (he is, after all, a Millwall supporter, like us here). The title will arrive at the end of the year on DVD and ahead of that Metrodome's Rebecca Johnson said: "We've had some impressive PR success with St George's Day, including a huge feature on glamour model Keeley Hazell in The Sun this week and the film has seen some fantastic press and great word-of-mouth buzz in the build-up to release. It has also been a privilege to work with the great Cass Pennant, who has been promoting the film to all the key firms and fan clubs up and down the country, through screenings and social media. St George's Day is in cinemas today and looking set to take on Football Factory and Rise Of The Footsoldier."
It's been a big week for our old pals at Arrow, which has enjoyed its biggest ever week one for a theatrical release with the first seven days box office receipts for the epic Samsara topping the £75,000 mark. The Ron Fricke title is, in keeping with his previous films such as Baraka, a "non-verbal" film, using images captured from around the globe. The week has also seen one of its biggest acquisitions ever, Love Is All You Need, premiering at Venice to great acclaim, and another of its releases, The Hunt, being unveiled as one of the key titles for the London Film Festival. It's also working on the finishing touches to its own Nordic Noir Festival, showcasing the brand and genre it has made its own alongside the Scandinavia Show 2012 (more on this event soon). All this presages what looks set to be the company's biggest ever year in 2013, with some 10 theatrical titles slated for release in the first half of the year. Arrow's Jon Sadler said: "We've really ramped up the theatrical side of our business as a strategic move going forwards and are focusing on quality long-tail programming that will see results right through the value chain. It is very gratifying to see such a solid result on Samsara in a very difficult market and up against such strong titles in the art-house arena. This is just the beginning though, as the much anticipated The Hunt will follow soon afterwards, as well as our first big screen release from the Nordic Noir label, False Trail and then the glossy Kristen Scott Thomas thriller, Love Crime, all within this Q4." Samsara is due for home entertainment release on January 14 in 2013.
 Anyone who remembers even as far back as the VHS days will know Status Quo fans are an unbelievably loyal bunch, who'll pick up anything associated with their beloved denim clad heroes. And Quo too are set to go the for one night only screenings with a Q&A beamed to cinemas around the country route for Hello Quo, the definitive documentary charting the band's history. The title will be aired on Monday October 22 at cinemas countrywide, before arriving on DVD, Blu-ray and special collectors edition DVD on October 29. The title has been picked up for release by Anchor Bay, whose acquisitions director Rod Smith said: " Anchor Bay is excited to be working with such iconic and much loved British rock legends as Status Quo. We are proud to be associated with the band during such an exciting time in their long and successful history. This remarkable film is destined to be a smash success and a perfect Christmas gift for all lovers of great music.”
Also from Anchor Bay, it's been interesting to note that its big comedy release for 2012, Pam Ann – Non-Stop Live From New York City is currently sitting pretty at number one in Amazon's pre-order chart for stand-up comedy releases, ahead of a host of bigger names such as Michael McIntyre. The title is also at number three in its overall chart. Anchor Bay's Thom Leaman said: "We're stoked here at AB towers about the imminent landing of our second Pam Ann release, and its good to see that the general public appear to be too. Her profile has gone sky high since her previous release and with a busy PR trail ahead of her this Q4, Pam Ann Non Stop: Live From New York should see a very solid performance when it lands on November 12. Sorry for all the puns."
 Also selling very well on pre-orders is The London 2012 Olympic Games, due from BBC Worldwide on October 29, a mammoth DVD or Blu-ray box set, and this week the BBC has announced more details of the set. Perhaps most interesting of all is that the set will include Danny Boyle's own "director's cut" of the opening ceremony, with additional unseen footage from the director as well as a director's commentary for the opening ceremony, with Boyle giving a unique insight into his vision. As well as a cover-wrap on Sport magazine this week, expect to see some marketing from BBC Worldwide around the victory parade taking place on Monday September 10. We're going to have a full feature on how the BBC Worldwide is setting about the task of pulling the release together on our website next week…
Sticking with BBC Worldwide, and it is with some sadness that we announce that the operation's popular operations director Alasdair Ogilvie has this week stated he is planning to leave his role at the end of 2012, after one final Q4. He's been there in all its guises, through from VCI to BBC Worldwide via 2entertain, for 15 years, prior to that he'd been at companies such as THE. In an open letter, Ogilvie stated: " I will miss the people and the business enormously but nothing stays the same and as I say it feels the right time for me to move on. No fixed plans for my future as yet but lots of thoughts and ideas and indeed I have already had some interesting discussions with some who have heard my news." He later told The Raygun: "It will be strange after 36 years in the music and video businesses but I've had some great times with great people and great product with too many stories to remember." We remember a few, one from Dublin, and one from Old Trafford, we'll reveal them all at his leaving do…
To the West End of London for a major launch from streaming operator Netflix, which is expanding its roster of titles to take in Bollywood films too. It's the latest in a raft of deals being inked and genres being explored by the US giant, which recently announced it has passed the 1 million mark in terms of customers. The event was hosted by BBC Asian DJ Nihal, who welcomed Netflix's interest in Bollywood, as previously the only way to see Indian films was to "watch them on Bollywood channels, or go down to Southall and buy one off one of your dodgy uncles". He also told the audience of journalists and bloggers (who were also treated to Indian cocktails, food and even beauty tips): "It's a global phenomenon worth billions, it's very important that someone like Netflix fgets involved." And, he added, referring to Netflix's monthly subscription fees: "£5.99? People spend that on weed for a day."
 How journalism works, part 463: Never let it be said that hacks are lazy when it comes to checking facts, as HMV discovered this week. For a factually incorrect report spread from the Midlands and was repeated by numerous sources, none of them bothering to check the facts with the retailer. What had become one store shutting its doors as its lease ran out (and with two others in Birmingham, one very nearby, it was a logical decision not to renew it) suddenly became a raft of closures. HMV reacted quickly, but it's a sad indictment of the lack of fact-checking that goes on in the digital space that it even had to move to rubbish the preposterous claims about mass closures…
BREAKING NEWS: As The Raygun went to press, it emerged that Fox was planning to release Prometheus on a new digital platform, Digital HD, ahead of its physical bow. In the US it will be available for $15, three weeks ahead of DVD and Blu-ray (September 18 against October 8). It will be available through assorted online retailers, including Amazin and iTunes, and will be joined by a whopping 600 catalogue titles on Digital HD. The strategy of early digital release (DHD, anyone?) will follow on all new titles going forward, including the likes of the fourth Ice Age film, Continental Drift. More on this next week…
 QUOTE OF THE WEEK"We are investing hundreds of millions of dollars to expand the Prime Instant Video library for our customers. We have now more than doubled this selection of movies and TV episodes to over 25,000 titles in just under a year."
Bill Carr, vice president of video and music at Amazon, announcing a deal with the Lionsgate, Paramount and MGM-owned Epix in the US, offering it far more content. It's still behind Netflix (50,000 shows and movies) and Hulu (58.400 videos).
AT THE MOVIES
Two new entries at the top of the charts in UK cinemas, with the Total Recall remake, with £2.5 million, taking the top slot ahead of The Watch (£2.35 million). Also new, with just under £1 million, was The Possession.
The full line-ups for some of the UK's leading film festivals were unveiled this week. We've yet have the time to fully peruse the London Film Festival or Raindance line-ups, but we'll be having a leisurely look over the weekend, and possibly giving our thoughts next week, in the meantime. You can have a look yourselves for Raindance here and the LFF here. And stay tuned for some more interesting LFF news…
One film due to air at the LFF is the eagerly awaited sophomore outing from Ben Wheatley, the man behind the excellent Kill List. Sightseers hasn't even opened yet, but the much in-demand Wheatley's next few projects after that are already coming together. A Field in England is set to shoot from the end of this month and is, as he announced this week, a "psychedelic" film set during the English Civil War, the chiller will star the likes of Kill List's Michael Smiley, The League Of Gentlemen's Reece Shearsmith and Julian Barratt from The Mighty Boosh. Beyond that, he'll be crossing the Atlantic for monster thriller Freakshift.
Many havve this week headed from Venice to Toronto, and news lands in our in-box from there that Renee Zellweger is to make her directorial debut, as well as starring aloingside Johnny Knoxville, in 4 1/2 Minutes. The film follows a stand-up comic who ends up looking after the genius son of a single mum, played by Zellweger, natch. If it sounds far-fetched, think again: it's based on the life of a real comedian, Dov Davidoff (crazy name, crazy guy).
TWEET OF THE WEEK
We've been following The Hunger Games and [REC] Genesis and their assorted social media campaigns around launch, as well as sticking up some pictures of old VHS and DVD rarities and even some lobby cards from Hong Kong. You can follow us on www.twitter.com/theraygun
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
We've mentioned it earlier, but have a look at the St George's Day trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xM8gLkfHww
This looks excellent:
More Gemma Arterton, this time a bit closer to Gravesend…
New Skyfall…
They Live for the Internet era…
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