Thompson on Hollywood

Avatar to Lose 3-D and IMAX Screens, Still Breaks Records

We all know that Avatar has broken all box office records, unseating former king of the world Titanic. The James Cameron sci-fi epic holds the record for domestic ($690 million) and worldwide ($2.5 billion) gross.

By Anne Thompson
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February 25, 2010 1:55 AM
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JP Morgan Raises Financing for Digital Theaters

JP Morgan has raised some $700 million to finance the digital conversion of thousands of screens around the country, reports the LAT. This will boost 3-D exhibition on some 12,000 screens around the country, which everyone wants, post-Avatar, which has broken worldwide records thanks to 3-D premium ticket prices. Studios are fighting over about 3500 current 3-D screens. The funding was delayed by the credit crisis.

By Anne Thompson
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February 6, 2010 2:03 AM
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Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Expands

After a successful platform launch in four theaters, Sony Pictures Classics will expand The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus to about 400 theaters on January 8. Not sure how many moviegoers will be wooed by this TV spot. Most likely the film, Heath Ledger's last, will sell well when it is released on DVD, when the movie's devoted fan site will be included in the extras.

By Anne Thompson
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January 5, 2010 5:04 AM
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Avatar Advance Ticket Sales Skyrocket

The first Avatar show this Thursday at midnight is already selling out across the country, and currently accounts for 70% of all ticket sales this week at MovieTickets.com, which reports 350 sold out “Avatar” performances: Ticket Buyers· 78% of “Avatar” ticket buyers at MovieTickets.com are male

By Anne Thompson
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December 16, 2009 7:53 AM
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AMC Select Seeks Filmmakers

With a lack of available distributors to handle the spate of indie films seeking theatrical release, some filmmakers are taking matters into their own hands. Doc director Mary Mazzio went directly to a theater chain. Now her movie is playing in eight cities.

By Anne Thompson
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November 16, 2009 7:26 AM
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Studios vs. Theaters: Clash Over FCC Waiver

National Association of Theater Owners (NATO) president John Fithian is at war. He is in Washington right now fighting a pitched battle for exhibitors at the FCC. The LAT reported Wednesday:In regulatory filing today, the Motion Picture Assn. of America, the chief lobbying group for the major studios, restated its support for a waiver of current Federal Communications Commission rules that would clear the way for a technology that would allow consumers to watch movies at home close to or during their theatrical release. The so-called selectable output control technology would prevent the illegal copying of movies, which has been a major stumbling block to delivering first-run movies directly to consumers.

By Anne Thompson
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November 5, 2009 7:07 AM
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With Paranormal Activity, Paramount Sets New Marketing Model

From the start, Paramount online marketing executive Amy Powell knew that she could sell micro-budget horror thriller Paranormal Activity on the Internet.

By Anne Thompson
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October 15, 2009 8:48 AM
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Four Ways to Build a New Open Infrastructure

Digital pioneer Lance Weiler joins the fray with a modest proposal for how the film industry should embrace innovation as it faces the digital future: