You may have already seen a teaser for The Suicide Shop, but here’s a new one (via the Toronto International Film Festival), replete with the final animation. It looks delightfully dark in a way that Tim Burton’s never quite been able to muster with his animation.
The Suicide Shop – New Teaser Read More »
This is a repost from November 2010 but a recent post by Mark Mayerson over on his blog brought it back to my attention. In it, Mark points out that the distribution models for movies is about to rapidly change, and not necessarily for the better as far as cinemas go:
Just like record stores have mostly disappeared and physical bookstores are suffering, movie theatres may be next. While they won’t vanish entirely, we could be looking at a drastic reduction in the number of theatres.
It sounds scary, but it’s not unavoidable, below is my post where I outline how cinemas can improve their business, and it doesn’t have to take a lot of effort either.
Almost as if on cue, Brad Bird also tweeted this morning about the current design of cinemas and his distaste for their bland design:
[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/BradBirdA113/status/248420923210878976″]
What do you think? Does the cinema/movie theatre experience need to change? Leave a comment with your thoughts!
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The other night I went to see Harry Potter (which contained a surprise animated sequence). It was a rather unique experience because we didn’t go to our usual cinema. Sadly, the 7 o’clock showing was all sold out there (and likely overrun with rowdy teenagers to boot), so instead we had to find somewhere else.Thankfully, The Senator Theatre was re-opened just in time and it turned out to be about the same distance away from the house too!
All in all, it was a great evening and the film was fantastic to boot. Normally we drive up, park, get gouged when we buy our tickets, get gouged again when we buy the popcorn and then have the pleasure of watching 20 minutes of commercial content followed by another 20 minutes of advertising before the film finally starts.
At The Senator, we got our tickets online for less than usual with the popcorn being slightly cheaper as well, and there was no beating about the bush when the lights went down. We got a rating certificate and then the film. I hadn’t seen start that quick since I was at a sneak preview for The Simpsons Movie!
Throughout the evening, what struck me most was how much different it was from our usual cinematic expeditions. It was more like a special event, an occasion even. Granted, it was Harry Potter, so things were slightly more electrified than normal although that did not cloud the overall experience.
All of this got me thinking and it made me a wee bit sad to think that going to the cinema is no longer treated as something special. It is now a run-of-the-mill chore that is forgotten as soon as we leave the building. How did things become so bland and mundane? Let’s take a look back.
The Golden Age of Hollywood between the 20s and the early 50s was also the greatest era for cinematic entertainment in this country. New cinemas were popping up all over the country and changed the face of evening entertainment in the US.
The cinema owners knew this and realised that the best way to earn business was to have people come to their cinemas, and come often. They achieved this through competition, either in size, features, luxury or price. Often it was a combination of them all. Yeah, the studios may have block-booked timeslots and owned the cinema chains but they still had each other to contend with.
There was a time when you could go to dinner at the theatre and then go upstairs to watch the show. You might have even been able to enjoy a drink at the bar afterwards and your movie ticket would have been all of 25 cents. Even adjusted for inflation, this is cheap by today’s standards.
The point is that owners made going to the cinema an experience. They wanted attendees to feel special, that they were being offered a glimpse into the Hollywood glamour; customers responded in kind by dressing up for the evening. The result of all of this is that they came back, again and again and again. In 1930, attendance was 80 million people, or 65% of the entire population! Since then, audience numbers have declined to the point that barely 3% of the population visits the cinema on a weekly basis.
Why is this? Television certainly has its role to play. Why indeed would you drive all the way to the cinema, cough up your kids college fund and then watch a film with a guy on the left who can’t stop farting and a woman on the right conducting a live directors commentary, not to mention the kid behind you kicking your seat. When you think about it, you really would be much more comfortable at home on your own couch, maybe even in your underwear and being all the happier for it.
The point here is that today, cinema owners and movie studios are under a number of illusions when it comes to why people go to the cinema, which I will now dissect:
As you can see, there is actually very few reasons why any of us should go to the cinema. It’s normally an expensive, cold, noisy hour and a half with very little to show for it in the end. I haven’t even touched on the strip searches some chains have implemented to catch “pirates”. Talk about pissing off the people who are handing over their hard-earned cash.
Compare that to the golden era when customers were treated like royalty. The expansive architecture (check out Uncle Eddie’s Theory Corner and his comparison post if you don’t believe me) , the awe-inspiring theatre chamber, the men’s lounge (seriously, the Senator has a men’s lounge you pass through on the way to the bathroom) and the feeling that you are doing much more with your evening than watching a film.
That way of thinking has been lost in this country. Today, cinema-goers are treated like cattle, “get them in, get them out” is the order of the day. Patrons somehow “owe” the cinema the pleasure of their business rather than the other way around. Why has it come to this? Why is it that as a film fan, I am forced to make choices about whether it is worth my while going to see a film or not? I shouldn’t have to, and the entire industry is worse off because of it. I may be just one person, but if one farmer in Iowa is judged by the Supreme Court to come under Federal law because of the corn he grows, then I am certainly not alone.
Instead, would it not be better if going to the cinema were treated like the occasion it used to be? Instead of being given the Wal-Mart treatment, we were enlightened by our evening and as a result, are far more likely to consider patronising The Senator again (definitely once they get that bar open though). In the past, the addition of more screens, stadium seating and better sound were thought to entice people from their armchairs. Now it’s 3-D that’s been given another crack at the limelight, and it too, looks to falter again. All these things cost a ton of money, which could perhaps have been better spent on giving the customer something they actually want.
Hundreds if not thousands of cinema gems have been lost over the years, the victims of growing suburbia, socio-economic upheaval in their surroundings and a general apathy towards history in this country. The March of Progress, etc. etc. The oft-quoted response is that such buildings are “a dime a dozen”. Sadly, there isn’t that many left.
Is there hope for the future? Perhaps. Cinemas such as The Senator are dependent on two things: continued patronage and the uninhibited ability to show the films they want. I fully enjoyed my little slice of American cinematic glory. Its time we all did.
Why The Cinema Experience Needs to Change [repost] Read More »
Via Didier Ghez’ excellent Disney Books blog is the original notice that Margaret Winkler took out to inform others in the business that Felix distributor Pat Sullivan was attempting to pull a fast one. Consider it the precursor to a full-page ad in Variety.
Things Were Serious Back in the Old Days Read More »
Continuing our series of posts on the characters in Avatar: The Last Airbender, we’re taking a look at Katara this week. Needless to say, there are spoilers ahead.
Strong female characters are a favourite of mine, that’s no secret, so it should come as no surprise to learn that I hold Katara in high esteem. She’s the sole female member and although she is outnumbered until Toph joins, is more than capable of being a balancing force to Aang and Sokka. Although the former is the main protagonist of the series, the story does, in fact, revolve around Katara, so it is fitting that she is analysed last.
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The Avatar Character Comparison – Katara Read More »
As far as animation has come in the last 10-15 years, you still get the odd reminder that it remains on the fringes of the entertainment landscape, especially its view among adults. If got one of these reminders the other day, when the boss happened to spot the wallpaper on my computer. Said wallpaper was, of course, The Legend of Korra.
This initiated a discussion that went as follows:
The Boss: The Legend of Korra?
Me: Yeah. It’s on Nickelodeon. It’s a great show.
The Boss: Oh yeah, it’s that Avatar thing. My 12 year old watches that.
Me: Have you ever watched it?
The Boss: Well, no….
Me: (-.-)
So I basically called his bluff on this one. I said it was a good show, he insinuated that I watched a kids show, I countered that if he hadn’t watched it, how could he know why I was watching it.
This encounter was a reminder that a prejudice continues to exist among adults with regard to animation. The notion is that anything on the three kid’s networks is automatically only for kids. It’s sometimes tough to put thing into perspective for those who believe this and it’s an uphill struggle to make them understand that just because something is aimed at kids, doesn’t mean that it can’t be enjoyed by those who are not.
That was the conclusion I came to a number of years ago. If it’s an adult making something, surely an adult can enjoy it, right?
The Boss, The Legend of Korra and I Read More »
Have you ever wondered what would happen if James Bond was made of plasticine, called James Blob instead and got attacked by an otter? Then wonder no more!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nk9YNIJgnQI
OK, did you enjoy that piece of silliness? I sure did! If you enjoyed that one, why not check out the entire series!
Of course that wasn’t done by a professional animator but by kids attending the Donegal Summer School of Music (the very same one I did all those years ago where I played piano and violin) with some help by my old classmate, Jeremy Howard.
It’s a fun little side project that I thought I would share with you because it’s fascinating how animation is almost seeping into aspects of our lives on a daily basis. Now obviously these films were done to showcase the students musical talents as much as anything else, but it’s always nice to see animation used in a complimentary way in artistic endeavors, especially when kids are involved.
James Blob: The Animated Movie Read More »
I’ve been on a bit of a kick about fans and fandom this week so taking the idiom “in for a penny in for a pound” for all it’s worth, here’s Off Book’s latest video that discusses the place of fandom within overall society.
Is it that fans encompass all sectors of society? Is it that they can come in all shapes sizes and (literally) colours? (For you Rainbow Dash bronies that are paying attention out there.) Or is it that the cultural engines of our society are capable of creating effects that ripple through the rest of society outside of their initial splash, both good and bad?
It’s really a combination of all of them. Everyone is a fan of something, it doesn’t have to be an entertainment creation and you certainly don’t have to be called a fan either. Need an example? Just think about any time there is an election going on. Anyone who’s canvassing for a candidate is a fan of that candidate, right? It’s the same premise, just slightly different.
Aside from changing society (e.g. Bronies challenging the notion of what a guy can and cannot enjoy) fans are also what sustains their chosen subject. Without fans, things tend to disappear and get forgotten and lost in the cultural timeline (think of any one hit wonder).
TV series are especially dependent, less so the kids ones, but even then, there are examples of fans making a difference. Kim Possible getting another season is just one example. There are many others, but there are also plenty of gems that either lose or never garner a large enough fan base, leaving behind a small but extremely devoted fanbase.
Why is all of this important? Well as I’ve said before and will do so again, the entertainment landscape is changing from the “push” model we’re used to today to the “pull” model of tomorrow. In other words, we’re shifting from a model that tells us what to watch to one where we demand what to watch.
Things are already moving in that direction (such as DreamWorks with their Ptch app) but as it progresses, fandom and fanbases will become essential, almost strategic assets to entertainment companies. In other words, if you thought the San Diego Comic-Con was commercial now, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
Can fans change society? The answer is yes, and their going to be doing it even more in the years to come.
Now, as a bonus, check out their video on animation!
Can Fandom Change Society? PBS Off Book Investigates. Read More »
So part of me wonders why I should even be writing a response to this misguided Deadline Hollywood article on DreamWorks because as Jack Warner once said “today’s newspaper is tomorrow’s toilet paper.” Obsolescence aside, the saying holds true so by Saturday it will all be forgotten. However, it’s so poorly thought out, one can’t help but wonder whether the writer has any clue at all. So I thought it might be a fun (read: mind cleansing) idea to demolish her claims in much the same fashion as Steve Hullett did on the Animation Guild Blog but from a bit further distance away.
The quote above refers to the studio’s recent announcement of it’s slate for the foreseeable future that includes 12 feature-length films in addition to numerous TV series’ and spin-offs. Analysts are mentioned in the DH article but the great thing about them (/sarcasm) is that they are sometimes wrong (believe it or not). They may say to hold or sell, but that is simply their opinion. Analysts like to pretend they are presenting facts but even a cursory glance of sites like The Street turn up more biased “assessments” than you can shake a stick at. Hardly worth the effort.
Then there’s this fun line:
The stock is up 5.8% so far this year but that’s lousy since NASDAQ where DWA trades is up 20.4%. And over the last 12 months DreamWorks Animation is down 5.4% while NASDAQ is up 27.1%.
So if you have any knowledge of the stock market, you’ll know that it is comprised of hundreds upon hundreds of stocks spread across the entire economy and coming in all shapes and sizes. However “beating the market” is always held aloft by the spoofers on CNBC as the ultimate goal of any company. WRONG! A company’s successes are measured in relative terms and a look at the the details reveals that the company is down, but hardly out.
Well no shit sherlock, but at least DWA is actually doing something to replace it. Consider the deal with Netlfix, the decision to open a theme park in China, or perhaps most clearly of all, bargaining for a greater percentage of digital distribution. See, I have a hard time believing that Jeffrey Katzenberg is an idiot. As Steve Hullett notes, he got tossed out of Disney and considering he started from scratch, has actually done quite well for himself considering.
If you read the article, you would be inclined to believe that the sky was falling. Yes, competition from the likes of Illumination and Blue Sky is something to consider, but DWA is streets ahead in terms of quality (Despicable Me was good but The Lorax was a bit of a misfire) and that’s where it counts for the long tail. Just look at Shrek, it’s still something more than a decade after it first came out!
Another thing to keep in mind is that while the DVD market is being eroded, it won’t fall as quickly as the music industry. The reason is actually quite simple: not enough people have a fast enough connection yet (see where the US is, and then who’s above it!) So we’ll see a much more gradual decline that should give studios the breathing space they need to come up with a viable solution.
I have no idea what this paragraph is about besides claiming Katzenberg is a bit of a jerk and no-one in Hollywood likes him. A personal opinion at best and hardly suitable to be considered fact. There’s also no evidence to back up the claim that Disney was a potential buyer for DWA either so I’m taking this one with more than a pinch of salt.
Ah yes, well Roy certainly thought Walt’s idea to build a park was a completely nutty idea and look what the end result was. Something may look like a bad idea at the time, but until it’s finished, no-one can know for sure.
While I would say that China is a risky bet, with many noting that the Chinese government is apt to break the rules on occasion, the fact is that such behaviour will be forced out of existence if China is to become a world player. A nice little recession along the way won’t do them any harm either.
My theory is that the Chinese venture is the prototype. If the proposed theme park in New Jersey takes off, you can be sure the Shanghai model will be imported to the US.
Don’t write off DreamWorks until the sheriff is at the door or the warning signs come thick and fast, like at Digital Domain.
The Misguided Deadline Hollywood Article on DreamWorks Big Moves Read More »
Although I generally try to avoid these kind of catch-all posts, I just can’t avoid it today for various reasons. Below is a list of articles I read today that should interest you.
Helen McCarthy has a post where she raises the notion that Hayao Miyazaki may not be the great feminist that many see him as. While it is generally accepted that he creates films with great, strong female characters, McCarthy argues that he created these characters more out of necessity that any real desire to improve the presence of females in anime.
Via: The Guardian
Bleeding Cool has this article reporting that Disney has finally decided to take on the knock-off films that are produced with an uncanny resemblance to their hits. Numerous titles including Braver, What’s Up and the Little Cars are all in the firing line as the company seeks to end their distribution. My thoughts? There are eejits out there who will considerany animation to be from Disney.
Coming by way of Michael Sporn is this review of Chuck Jones’ early career and his many cartoons featuring mice by Thad Komorowski. Naturally Sniffles is the main focus of attention, but the post itself is a great analysis of Jones’ style of directing and indeed the kind of stories and characters he used. Well worth a read.
British newspaper The Guardian takes a look at Adventure Time and doesn’t really come to any solid conclusion (but then we all know there are far weirder kids shows out there). Nonetheless it is a generally fawning piece that praises the show’s ability to place itself within “that sweet spot between pre-teen adoration and countercultural cool”, its awesome visuals and the fact that the characters are gradually aging as the show progresses.
This is perhaps one of the cooler tumblelogs devoted to the animated GIF that I’ve come across. Well worth a follow if you’re on Tumblr.
5 Articles You Should Read Today Read More »
Continuing our series of posts on the characters in Avatar: The Last Airbender, we’re taking a look at Azula this week. Needless to say, there are spoilers ahead.
Oooh I’ve been waiting for this one. Why? The reason is all to simple, Azula is an all-too perfect character to analyse. She’s not only the main antagonist in Book 2, she’s also a lynchpin in the entire story and breaks any number of moulds throughout the series. Today we’re going to take a look at Azula and what makes her such a great character.
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The Avatar Character Comparison – Azula Read More »
At the end of the day, this is what it’s all about: connecting with the people who make the things that you love.
What It Means To Be A Fan Read More »
