Theatrical Future/PVOD Thread

[belloq87]

‘Drive-Away Dolls’ Eyes September Exit; What’s Involved In Possible ‘Dune: Part Two’ Spring 2024 Move – The Dish

All major motion picture studios are assessing release-date changes the longer the SAG-AFTRA strike goes on.

deadline.com

Interesting quote:

Sources tell me that studio executives are hoping to huddle with the National Association of Theatre Owners in an effort to get the word out to SAG-AFTRA how a lengthy strike could really do damage, not just to the motion picture business but also to exhibition itself after cinemas ate dirt during Covid. The news comes as No. 1 theater chain AMC is running out of cash; cinemas can’t go through this again.

To me, the bolded part is kind of backwards. NATO should be proactively doing their best to pressure the studios to maintain their release calendar (if not outright get back to negotiating an end of the strikes), especially after the great week of box office we're currently seeing.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

‘Drive-Away Dolls’ Eyes September Exit; What’s Involved In Possible ‘Dune: Part Two’ Spring 2024 Move – The Dish

All major motion picture studios are assessing release-date changes the longer the SAG-AFTRA strike goes on.

deadline.com

Interesting quote:

To me, the bolded part is kind of backwards. NATO should be proactively doing their best to pressure the studios to maintain their release calendar (if not outright get back to negotiating an end of the strikes), especially after the great week of box office we're currently seeing.

Agreed 100%, but this isn’t how billionaires work sadly

 

[Jerroddragon]

lol

If the Studios cared they'd pay but no they keep trying to frame themselves as the victims. Here is an idea if you need to cut some costs, start with the over paid CEO's who can live 100 life times and still never have to work a day in their lives.

 

[rageofthegods]

Yeah, it's a disgustingly obvious attempt at redirecting blame, especially when SAG has now officially stated that they've tried to reenter negotiations with the AMPTP - and the AMPTP refuses.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

Yeah, it's a disgustingly obvious attempt at redirecting blame, especially when SAG has now officially stated that they've tried to reenter negotiations with the AMPTP - and the AMPTP refuses.

Dawg, the studios are so transparent, like if you're gonna do propaganda, at least make it work.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Dawg, the studios are so transparent, like if you're gonna do propaganda, at least make it work.

It's getting much much harder to convince everyone to not pay workers

Yes there are some people who are still under the impression that anyone who works hard will get rich, but most people are realizing its much harder because of the people in charge wanting every dollar and not wanting to give even fair pay any more.

 

[Nick]

I'm going to ask to please refrain from using Deadline articles on this subject. They are vehemently pro-corporate and anti-union so their messaging is meant to make SAG look like the bad guy. Variety is a much better source that has writers on this topic that care about unions and normally when there's a Deadline article about a news story there's a Variety article too if it's legit.

 

[Grabnar]

I'm going to ask to please refrain from using Deadline articles on this subject. They are vehemently pro-business and anti-union so their messaging is meant to make SAG look like the bad guy. Variety is a much better source that has writers on this topic that care about unions and normally when there's a Deadline article about a news story there's a Variety article too if it's legit.

Pro-business is a bad way of phrasing it, paying your workers is pro-business as it retains talent and ensures everyone is able to work, not just billionaire fail-sons and nepo babies. Anti-worker, pro-exploitation, pro-boss, pro-bourgeoisie are all more accurate terms imo.

But yeah Deadline sucks, don’t post corporate propaganda for free. At least get paid to lick clean those boots, folks

 

[Nick]

Pro-business is a bad way of phrasing it, paying your workers is pro-business as it retains talent and ensures everyone is able to work, not just billionaire fail-sons and nepo babies. Anti-worker, pro-exploitation, pro-boss, pro-bourgeoisie are all more accurate terms imo.

But yeah Deadline sucks, don’t post corporate propaganda for free. At least get paid to lick clean those boots, folks

Pro-corporate/pro-studio I think may be better. They are always going to root for the billionaires over the ones fighting for fair pay because they are "hurting the industry" when in reality, it's the Studios who are the reason why the industry may see another round of delays.

If AMC gets hurt or the theater industry as a whole gets hurt, I don't want to see any blaming the actors. This is on the studios.

 

[belloq87]

I've been reading all the trades (including Deadline) for a decade, and I wouldn't characterize Deadline in the terms you folks have, but whatever. I won't post their stuff here anymore.

 

[Nick]

I've been reading all the trades (including Deadline) for a decade, and I wouldn't characterize Deadline in the terms you folks have, but whatever. I won't post their stuff here anymore.

You can post their stuff, there's no rule against that. It will just be criticized when deserved. This article they wrote that you posted was mostly fine, but there's subtle parts that are thrown in to make SAG look bad. I'm not saying never to post from them again. It was more of a word of caution against them specifically on this topic.

The whole "News comes as AMC is running out of cash... Theaters can't go through this again" reads to me Deadline is playing the middle and just being like "we're just reporting a story", but it's about how it comes across. Because to us, we may see through it. To those that aren't terminally in the loop on this, they see SAG striking and theaters potentially going out of business and ask the question "why would they let that happen?". To me, their articles are trying to turn the joe schmoes out there against the unions ever so subtly.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

Sony Pictures has become the first official film studio to buy a theater chain (following the recension of The Paramount Decree); with the premium specialty cinemas of Alamo Drafthouse being scooped up by them.

Sony Pictures Acquires Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Landmark Deal That Puts Studios Back in Theater Game

For more than seven decades, studios weren't allowed under certain conditions to own an exhibition company under the Paramount Consent Decrees, which were rescinded in 2020.

hollywoodreporter.com

 

[youhow2]

Sony Pictures has become the first official film studio to buy a theater chain (following the recension of The Paramount Decree); with the premium specialty cinemas of Alamo Drafthouse being scooped up by them.

Sony Pictures Acquires Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Landmark Deal That Puts Studios Back in Theater Game

For more than seven decades, studios weren't allowed under certain conditions to own an exhibition company under the Paramount Consent Decrees, which were rescinded in 2020.

hollywoodreporter.com

I'm a huge fan of this happening in the age of streaming. It serves a need if leveraged and regulated properly. We might see the cost of tickets and concessions come down, just a tad. Theaters need to become more economical and studios can operate on a more volume based model than cinema operators currently can. Also paves the way for continuing innovations for gear and on-set practices. As media has become democratized, a loosening of these rules was absolutely needed.

 

[pumpkinbot343]

Hmmmm… is this a good thing or a bad thing (considering it’s Sony we’re talking about)

 

[Grabnar]

Hmmmm… is this a good thing or a bad thing (considering it’s Sony we’re talking about)

Bad, any of the studios buying a theater chain is generally bad for people. I don't mind them having a flagship location to do their premieres at but there's a reason that this kind of vertical integration and monopolization was illegal.

 

[KlownzNskullZ]

Bad, any of the studios buying a theater chain is generally bad for people. I don't mind them having a flagship location to do their premieres at but there's a reason that this kind of vertical integration and monopolization was illegal.

Yeah because now Sony pictures will probably have primary access to these screens and have long runs

 

[Lucky Planet]

I only wonder how it will affect other movies.

it could be good because Sony can run matinees of old movies or do special screenings or do marathons of trilogies etc. ( like universal does in citywalk sometimes. ) could be very good. they could give out posters or stuff. ( if they were smart they would have merch)

could be bad if they cut short other movies or something. it depends.

 

[Grabnar]

I only wonder how it will affect other movies.

it could be good because Sony can run matinees of old movies or do special screenings or do marathons of trilogies etc. ( like universal does in citywalk sometimes. ) could be very good. they could give out posters or stuff. ( if they were smart they would have merch)

could be bad if they cut short other movies or something. it depends.

It’s generally a problem for foreign and independent film and indie theaters. Historically the studios ran a cartel that controlled and edged out competition, forced out smaller theaters, and refused to showcase films that weren’t theirs.

It’s really unfortunate because the Drafthouse was one of the last commercial places that still did screenings of older films and had unique programming (shout out to Master Pancake Theater in Austin).

 

[belloq87]

The positive way to look at it is that Sony sees theatrical exhibition as being worth seriously investing in. That points to an anticipated health of that side of the industry.

But I know several independent/small-chain theater owners/managers, and they're not thrilled about the idea of the studios starting to muscle in.

 

[quinnmac000]

I do want to point out....exhibition was a lot different when the paramount decree was passed compared to now. All the studios combined only owned 17% of the theatres so it wasn't a huge monopoly and the policies and decree was driven by the factors of Edgar Hoover and his hatred of Hollywood, Truman and the anti monopolistic society that exist.

With one movie ticket back then you essentially got newsreel, short films, an A film (the blockbuster movie) and a b film. That in now way compares to paying the price we pay together for way less content and time.

Theatre owners adapted and altered the cinema experience which has lead to today. They are not absolved of their own greed which created this issue as well. They devalued the experience for multiplexes, over priced concessions, and a lot of overall unique experiences and appeal to bring the viewers back in.

Studios being back in this business who value you their multiple lines of product maybe will put more love into this and help us get to where we need to be. Bringing in more competition would be healthy