The Blair Witch Project is now available for download from the iTunes Store. I doubt anyone will get motion sickness from watching it on their 2.5" video iPod screen, so I recommend viewing it on a bus, train, or plane to get the full effect.

Link to The Blair Witch Project at the iTunes Store.

The disappointing opening of Snakes on a Plane was an excuse for fearful Hollywood executives to declare the internet, and blogs in particular, as unable to open a film. Some claimed the power of blogs is overvalued and used the Snakes numbers as proof. Variety took the opportunity to compare Snakes to The Blair Witch Project and point out the "perils" of internet marketing.

But there is one important difference between BWP and SoaP, and all these bullshit pronouncements about the "failure" of the blogosphere to open a movie only obscures the real lesson Hollywood needs to learn.

It's hard to see past the massive Blair Witch backlash, but when BWP was released it was met with a chorus of favorable reviews. People were anticipating BWP before it came out and loved the movie after they saw it.

Once people saw SoaP, word of mouth about the film spread faster than the hype that fueled its anticipation. Whatever desire I had to see SoaP was quickly eliminated by the chorus of reviews that could be summed up with the words "it was all right."

The deafening buzz over Snakes on a Plane proves the power of the internet to generate heat. The disappointing opening of Snakes proves that you still need to make a good movie.

I've been ignoring my indieWIRE blog. I admit it. Truth is, I have found the state of movies the last few years rather, well, unexciting. When I think back on the entertainment that has moved me the last couple of years, it's all been Television:

Deadwood
Sopranos
Lost
Arrested Development
The Office (UK & US)
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
30 Days
Spike Lee's amazing HBO doc When the Levee Breaks

Hard to get me into the cinema when most flicks can't compete with the above list. But I'm back, and the movie responsible? Snakes on a Plane. I'll explain in the next post.

According to Ad Age, both Sundance Channel and Independent Film Channel are turning marketers like Target, Heineken, and Acura into content producers, in the hopes of developing a "TiVO proof" environment.

I guess like anything it all comes down to execution, but it will be interesting to see how the content changes as advertisers burrow themselves into the production process.

The Orlando Film Commission has a great seminar booked at Enzian Theater next Thursday, June 24 called The Art of the Deal: Protecting and Financing Creative Content. Divided into two distinct panels, the first part of the morning covers intellectual property rights with a panel of lawyers and experts. The second panel focuses on financing creative content and the line-up is very good:

Marion Spiegelman, Sr. Vice President, Business Affairs, Film Finances, Inc.
Art Stribley, Executive Vice President, Mercantile National Bank
Elizabeth Untiedt, Vice President, City National Bank, Entertainment Division
Vicki Cherkes, Head of Business Affairs, GreeneStreet Films
Producer Joe Caracciolo Jr.
Kirk Sullivan, Senior Counsel, Foley and Lardner, LLP

The panel will focus on how to go about putting together financing for your project. I've been asked to moderate this panel, so I thought I would put out the call for questions -- what would you like to know from this group? Post your questions and I'll report back after the panel.

Click here for more information about the panel, including how to register and attend. Download the PDF file there for all the details.

Following the lead of other indieWIRE bloggers, I've decided to place ads on my blog. I've been told these ads are highly targeted to appeal to the kinds of people who read this blog, so I'm sure you will all enjoy the many fine products advertised here by the fine folks at Reemco.

Thanks!