WEEKLY CineBUZZ REPORT - 10 October 2012

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK'S REPORT

- Special Report: Day-and-Date Release of Films Across Media Formats
- Dolby: Taking Cinema Sound To New Levels
- Oscar Predictions: Out on the Thin Branches

CINEMA INDUSTRY - ONE STEP CLOSER TO SIMULTANEOUS RELEASE

"Arbitrage", a movie collaboration between LionsGate Entertainment and Roadside Attractions was released simultaneously in cinemas and on video-on-demand via iTunes, AmazonPlus, and through cable and satellite pay-per-view channels.

According to LionsGate, "Arbitrage's" VOD sales reached $11 million as of last week, while at cinemas it had grossed $7.3 million. These are very solid numbers for a low budget, independently distributed movie and indicates that for some films day-and-date release via cinemas and VOD makes economic sense.  I believe this trend will become the norm and puts cinemas on notice that the exhibition business is in for major change and adjustment going forward.

"This is a model that we have been in front of - to make both theatrical and VOD work at the same time", said Howard Cohen co-president of Roadside Attractions. Distributors, such as Roadside, that specialize in VOD releases can now tout pay-per-view profits when they try to acquire movies at film festivals and other markets.
Unlike box office grosses, that are typically (on average) split 55/45 between distributor and cinema owner, VOD grosses are split 70/30 and sometimes more in favor of the distributor. "For example, Roadside and LionsGate paid $2 million for the domestic distribution rights to "Arbitrage" at this year's Sundance Film Festival; then spent about $2.5 million promoting the film's theatrical pre-release.  However, the marketing expenses associated with the VOD release were only several hundred thousand dollars", Steve Beeks, President of LionsGate's motion picture group told CMG.

Not long ago, VOD movies that didn't receive a theatrical release couldn't muster an audience and sometimes weren't viewed at all - this is changing!  "There is a huge change that's in the process of taking place - it's probably the biggest revolution in the history of the movie business" says film maker Barry Levinson, who won an Oscar for the "Rain Man", "VOD distribution provides an economical end run around the traditional exhibition model. With VOD, anyone can view a movie anywhere, at any given time - and that opens up lanes to movies that otherwise would be shut-out of the marketplace".  CMG couldn't agree more.

Many moons ago I wrote in this blog that films would eventually be released on all available media formats simultaneously - that time in slowing inching forward and that is why it is imperative that cinema owners convert to digital asap.  First, because they must ensure that their movie (and other content) presentations (both image and sound) are of high quality and a step above 'in-home' entertainment systems; and second, that cinemas take full advantage of the wide variety of presentation opportunities that 'digital cinema' offers.

Needless to say, the large cinema chains, including Regal and Cinemark have refused to exhibit movies that are released day-and-date on VOD - but they are fighting a losing battle.  The technology can not and will not stop, it is relentless.  It it up to each cinema owner to confront reality, embrace the technology, and USE IT!

DOLBY INTRO'S THE 'ATMOS' CINEMA SOUND SYSTEM

Last week Dolby Laboratories, Inc. premiered its long anticipated Atmos Cinema Sound System which is centered around the new CP850 Cinema Sound Processor.

The Atmos System takes cinema sound to a whole new level, unattainable on any home entertainment system.  The CP850 offers support for 64 speaker feeds. It supports Cinema Dolby Surround 7.1 and 5.1 digital playback, as well as, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Pro LogicII, Dolby TrueHD and Dolby E which covers all alternative content formats.

Along with each CP850, Dolby provides the Atmos Commissioning Service which provides a review of the cinema's sound system design to ensure that the speakers and amplifiers have the necessary performance and room coverage to deliver the high-quality Atmos experience.

For 2012, Atmos enabled films include: Brave, Rise of the Guardians, Taken 2, Chasing Mavericks, Life of Pi, and The Hobbit. 
For 2013 (thus far): Star Trek Into Darkness, Gravity, Pacific Rim

The Atmos System ushers in a new dimension in cinema sound that will afford theatres an opportunity to provide audiences an experience unattainable in any other entertainent venue.


CMG'S OSCAR PREDICTIONS

Is it too early to predict what movies will get the Oscar nod, not for CMG it isn't.
Our picks for 2012 are the following:

Best Picture: Lincoln (Hollywood loves history - real or not)
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln)
Best Actress: Naomi Watts (Impossible)
Best Director: Steven Spielberg (Lincoln)
Best Musical: Les Miserables
Best Supporting Actor: Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln)
Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables)

OK, folks - that's it!

Best & Happy Movie Going
Jim Lavorato
Comments Welcomed