Theatrical Future/PVOD Thread

[RevFreako]

I'm not bothered by it. I'm pointing out their absolute and complete incompetence. HBO Max should've at the very least expanded to Europe by now so that they could use WW 84 and the 2021 slate of movies to gain subscribers. But without that, this is just a laughably big missed opportunity to grow their streamer.

I'm sure they'll figure something out, like Crave in Canada.

 

[quinnmac000]

Bill Mechanic: Lack Of Talent Management Skills Atop AT&T & WarnerMedia Caused HBO Max Rancor And Long-Term Damage – Guest Column

Bill Mechanic: Lack Of Talent Management Skills Atop AT&T & WarnerMedia Caused HBO Max Rancor And Long Term Damage

deadline.com

 

[Nick]

George Clooney on Why the Movie Industry Will Continue to Survive

"The truth of the matter is there’s always going to be a great space for cinema," says George Clooney. "People have to get out of the house"

variety.com

 

[HandsomePete]

Bit of a clapback by Kilar:

WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar on Why He Stands by the Decision to Release 2021 Theatrical Slate on HBO Max

WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar talks about why he stands by the decision to release the studio's 2021 theatrical slate day-and-date on HBO Max.

variety.com

This sounds like a guy who lives in a world of McKinsey-speak.

Let’s say hypothetically that theaters do die out. Just because you’re the first one to the new normal doesn’t mean you’re the best one in the new normal. Shooting your partners in both feet while preaching about the importance of storytelling and content is peak both-sides-of-a-mouth talking.

I think my favorite line is, “This is beyond media.” No it isn’t.

 

[youhow2]

This sounds like a guy who lives in a world of McKinsey-speak.

Let’s say hypothetically that theaters do die out. Just because you’re the first one to the new normal doesn’t mean you’re the best one in the new normal. Shooting your partners in both feet while preaching about the importance of storytelling and content is peak both-sides-of-a-mouth talking.

I think my favorite line is, “This is beyond media.” No it isn’t.

No one likes to be the guy to "go first" into the void.


Other than the clear lack of communication with talent and behind the scenes folk, I just don't see how anyone has any choice moving forward. Even the naysayers about the move in this thread acknowledge it's a fallacy to expect any of these productions to produce adequate box office numbers moving forward into the next year, and even 2022 is a big question mark. The numbers they get from new subs will probably end up saving them, in addition to whatever they get in box office revenue. Incorporating streaming into the release strategy and business model is absolutely the way moving forward.


Besides, there are 7 billion people on this planet that need to get vaccinated. Even halving that number you're still talking about a global mobilization effort to meanie 3.5 billion people with 2 vaccines thus far, each taking a dose a month from initial vaccination date, and one of those vaccines have to be stored at -100c... And you'll need to produce 7 billion doses collectively to vaccinate half of the planet. Does anyone honestly think, even with airplanes and our hyper connected world and such we're going to get there in a year? Not to mention reinfection, science deniers, etc.

 

[rageofthegods]

I just don't see how anyone has any choice moving forward. Even the naysayers about the move in this thread acknowledge it's a fallacy to expect any of these productions to produce adequate box office numbers moving forward into the next year, and even 2022 is a big question mark. The numbers they get from new subs will probably end up saving them, in addition to whatever they get in box office revenue. Incorporating streaming into the release strategy and business model is absolutely the way moving forward.

Trust me when I say that no, it very much won't.

Besides, there are 7 billion people on this planet that need to get vaccinated. Even halving that number you're still talking about a global mobilization effort to meanie 3.5 billion people with 2 vaccines thus far, each taking a dose a month from initial vaccination date, and one of those vaccines have to be stored at -100c... And you'll need to produce 7 billion doses collectively to vaccinate half of the planet. Does anyone honestly think, even with airplanes and our hyper connected world and such we're going to get there in a year? Not to mention reinfection, science deniers, etc.

Dr. Fauci says U.S. could return to normal by mid-fall if most people get Covid vaccine

Returning to normal will require somewhere between 75% and 85% of the population to get inoculated against Covid-19, Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNBC.

www.cnbc.com

EDIT:

Other than the clear lack of communication with talent and behind the scenes folk,

The issue is money. Many, many people would've been fine with this move if A) they'd been consulted and B) if they'd been paid. Judd Apatow and Jason Blum are two critics of the move and they both have a significant presence on Streaming. Denzel Washington is said to have been open to the move but still pissed that he wasn't consulted and isn't getting paid very much.

Look, the fact that WB didn't consult people and isn't willing to open their pockets isn't some small difference between their move and, say, Disney's move to put Raya on Premiere Access, or Universal's move to put King of Staten Island on PVOD. It's the main difference. Jason Kilar is doing a press tour touting how generous they're being while the actual talent and the agencies representing them are getting squat. That's just insulting.

 

[Nick]

And yeah, those subs alone won’t save them as HBO Max (and pretty much all streaming services currently run at a loss). Even Disney+, who is now projecting 230-260M subs by 2024, says they don’t expect to be profitable until then.

 

[Nick]

Also within the article, it mentions that theaters are trying to keep 75-80% of the ticket sales on $3-$5 tickets.

 

[quinnmac000]

The saga continues with WW84 vastly underperforming in China (Croods 2 did better in its first week) and now going straight PVOD in UK, Warner has upset more people.

WarnerMedia chief Jason Kilar could be exiting. Insiders questioned if he had what it takes to turn around the entertainment giant without destroying it.

His shakeup of the movie release schedule made him enemies in Hollywood but fans among viewers.

www.businessinsider.com

 

[Nick]

The saga continues with WW84 vastly underperforming in China (Croods 2 did better in its first week) and now going straight PVOD in UK, Warner has upset more people.

WarnerMedia chief Jason Kilar could be exiting. Insiders questioned if he had what it takes to turn around the entertainment giant without destroying it.

His shakeup of the movie release schedule made him enemies in Hollywood but fans among viewers.

www.businessinsider.com

China has had a drastic turn in supporting domestic films rather than Hollywood films ever since their theaters have been back open and running at a high capacity.

 

[Nick]

So, independent movie theaters, Broadway, and live entertainment venues are getting help. I get that Indie movie theaters are probably the future of the business, but I think it's still absolutely ridiculous that they're handing out $15B and they can't find room to help some of the chain theaters a bit, too.

Independent Venues, Movie Theaters to Get $15 Billion in Federal Aid

The Save Our Stages Act is being incorporated into the federal government’s $900 billion stimulus package

pitchfork.com

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

So, independent movie theaters, Broadway, and live entertainment venues are getting help. I get that Indie movie theaters are probably the future of the business, but I think it's still absolutely ridiculous that they're handing out $15B and they can't find room to help some of the chain theaters a bit, too.

Independent Venues, Movie Theaters to Get $15 Billion in Federal Aid

The Save Our Stages Act is being incorporated into the federal government’s $900 billion stimulus package

pitchfork.com

I don't feel sorry fr the millionair/billionaire owners of those cooperations, the workers of course though. Im glad to see the government helping mostly smaller businesses

 

[rageofthegods]

John Lee Hancock On A 30-Year Odyssey Making ‘The Little Things’ With Denzel Washington, Rami Malek & Jared Leto, And The Abrupt HBO Max Pandemic Pivot: The Deadline Q&A

John Lee Hancock On A 30 Year Odyssey Making 'The Little Things' With Denzel Washington, Rami Malek & Jared Leto, And An Abrupt HBO Max Pivot

deadline.com

Battles big and small are being fought on numerous films: Legendary is in a big fight that might result in lawsuits after it financed 75% of tent poles Dune and Godzilla vs. Kong and was completely blindsided. Rumors have the solution to that breach being to preserve Dune as a traditional theatrical to preserve its franchise potential and since its October 1 release date falls well after the estimated late spring date when Covid vaccines should achieve herd immunity. Godzilla vs. Kong might stay an HBO Max hybrid in its May 21 slot, but only if Warner Bros makes a deal with Legendary that uses as a base the $250 million value established when the film was shopped earlier to Netflix.

There is also King Richard, the Will Smith-starrer that nearly went to Netflix and Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground. Smith’s deal expressly calls for a theatrical only release, sources say, and while he became the first big star to sign one of those $30 million Netflix salary + pre-negotiated back end deals several years ago on Bright, Warner Bros only won the vigorous King Richard auction because its makers and the family of Venus and Serena Williams wanted to see the underdog story of their father Richard play on the big screen.

 

[Nick]

John Lee Hancock On A 30-Year Odyssey Making ‘The Little Things’ With Denzel Washington, Rami Malek & Jared Leto, And The Abrupt HBO Max Pandemic Pivot: The Deadline Q&A

John Lee Hancock On A 30 Year Odyssey Making 'The Little Things' With Denzel Washington, Rami Malek & Jared Leto, And An Abrupt HBO Max Pivot

deadline.com

Battles big and small are being fought on numerous films: Legendary is in a big fight that might result in lawsuits after it financed 75% of tent poles Dune and Godzilla vs. Kong and was completely blindsided. Rumors have the solution to that breach being to preserve Dune as a traditional theatrical to preserve its franchise potential and since its October 1 release date falls well after the estimated late spring date when Covid vaccines should achieve herd immunity. Godzilla vs. Kong might stay an HBO Max hybrid in its May 21 slot, but only if Warner Bros makes a deal with Legendary that uses as a base the $250 million value established when the film was shopped earlier to Netflix.

There is also King Richard, the Will Smith-starrer that nearly went to Netflix and Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground. Smith’s deal expressly calls for a theatrical only release, sources say, and while he became the first big star to sign one of those $30 million Netflix salary + pre-negotiated back end deals several years ago on Bright, Warner Bros only won the vigorous King Richard auction because its makers and the family of Venus and Serena Williams wanted to see the underdog story of their father Richard play on the big screen.

So HBO Max may have to pay MORE than $250M if they want distribution rights to Godzilla Vs. Kong for day and date (or potentially even in general). It's insane that Warner thought they could get away with this self-dealing where Legendary financed 75% of the movie and then it basically goes to HBO Max at no cost to Warner when Netflix was offering $250M for the movie.

And this is all for a movie that's gonna suck anyway!

 

[Grabnar]

So HBO Max may have to pay MORE than $250M if they want distribution rights to Godzilla Vs. Kong for day and date (or potentially even in general). It's insane that Warner thought they could get away with this self-dealing where Legendary financed 75% of the movie and then it basically goes to HBO Max at no cost to Warner when Netflix was offering $250M for the movie.

And this is all for a movie that's gonna suck anyway!

You have to give Kilar some points for pure audacity. I don’t think it’s an entirely boneheaded move to push for big releases on streaming but this is objectively the worst way to go about any of this. He will get ousted as head in the next 6 months to year.

 

[quinnmac000]

WW84 is underperforming worldwide.
Add in all the legal issues WB is facing...HBO Max move seems so short sided and dumb.

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

WW84 is underperforming worldwide.
Add in all the legal issues WB is facing...HBO Max move seems so short sided and dumb.

I'm imagining Jason Kilar in full Howard Hughes mode believing the HBO Max model is the way of the future...

 

[Jamesh22]

WW84 is underperforming worldwide.
Add in all the legal issues WB is facing...HBO Max move seems so short sided and dumb.

Just like every other movie released in a pandemic? :shrug:

The streaming numbers will be ineresting. Where I agree is in releasing on streaming when HBO Max is only available in the US, that seems dumb.

 

[OLSinFLA]

Just like every other movie released in a pandemic? :shrug:

The streaming numbers will be ineresting. Where I agree is in releasing on streaming when HBO Max is only available in the US, that seems dumb.

Even though theaters here are obviously in reduced capacity, I find it interesting a lot of the WW84 shows are sold out today. No other films are

 

[Nick]

Even though theaters here are obviously in reduced capacity, I find it interesting a lot of the WW84 shows are sold out today. No other films are

In normal times, Christmas is the busiest movie going day of the year, so it stands to reason that more than usual people are going to the movies (as far as pandemic times) today, especially with a lot of theaters playing WW84 for only $3-$5. With this year being unique in that a lot of people aren't going to be with loved ones, a lot of people aren't going to just want to just sit home on Christmas.