StarWars and Sundance Awards

Star Wars finds director! J.J Abrams!

'Star Wars creator George Lucas said he was the "ideal choice" to direct the movie - due out in 2015 - adding "the legacy couldn't be in better hands".

It will be scripted by Oscar-winning writer Michael Arndt.'

It is rumoured that they already have a treatment for the 7th StarWars, however a target to have release by 2015 could be difficult.

Sundance Awards!

This year the recipent of the top award was Fruitvale, the Ryan Coogler-directed account of the real-life shooting of Oscar Grant in 2008 in Oakland, California. Grant's death at the hands of a transport policeman on the platform of the Fruitvale rapid transport station became a flashpoint for protests and riots. Officer Johannes Mehserle was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2010. The Hollywood Reporter described it as "powerful dramatic feature film" and "a complex and nuanced story", while slashfilm described it as "simple but stunningly effective". Fruitvale confirmed its festival-favourite status by taking the Audience award for the same category.

Blockbuster and HMV administration, Twitter quotes and iPhone gadgets

Blockbuster and HMV administration, Twitter quotes and iPhone gadgets

Blockbuster and HMV
Both Blockbuster and HMV are going under administration. This is due to:

     - Increasing number of online sales meaning customers are not visiting these shops, and they have low profits
     -

"We are working closely with [Blockbuster UK's] suppliers and employees to ensure the business has the best possible platform to secure a sale, preserve jobs and generate as much value as possible for all creditors," said Lee Manning, from Deloitte's Restructuring Services practice.

"The core of the business is still profitable and we will continue to trade as normal in both retail and rental whilst we seek a buyer for all or parts of the business as a going concern.

"During this time gift cards and credit acquired through Blockbuster's trade-in scheme will be honoured towards the purchase of goods."

January retail administrations
	Branches	Staff
HMV	239	4,350
Jessops	187	1,500
Blockbuster UK	528	4,190

Twitter Quotes

There is a rising number of films using quotes, not from film critics, but from "regular people" on Twitter. This could be ignoring all negative reviews but promote a sense of "word of mouth hype"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/shortcuts/2013/jan/16/twitter-users-film-industrys-critics?CMP=twt_gu

Raindance

-Supports British Independent Films and British Film Education-

"10 Reasons independent film masers should be thankful"

1, Never been a better time to make films
    - Content is craved by audiences, and there are numerous outlets for films.

2, Super light, small, affordable cameras
    - Image quality has excelled on these small cameras
    - "Marfa Girl" was filmed on a Cannon 5D

3, Phones and Tablets- new cinema screens
    - Films can now be watched anytime, anywhere

9, Social Media
    - This is BIG! It is cheap and VERY effective.

10, Self Distribution
   - Make your own money from sites like YouTube etc.
   - It is up to you what happens with your film


Awards Season
   - This can promote films and create a buzz about them 

   - Critic's responses can be responsible for the adjudicators noticing their film

Producers&Audiences

Film 4

• 1986- Channel 4 was created
• My Beautiful Laundrette was 1985, Steven Freeze.
• Film 4 finances, supports and exhibits British Independent films.
• Sometimes, a film will show on film 4 on TV before DVD release
• "Layer Cake" currently showing on Film4, Daniel Craig's "Skyfall" fame helps promote.

British Connection Season

• "Submarine" was shown.
• "Kill List", a genre combined shocking film by Ben Wheatley was shown.

4OD

• British films could be streamed for 30 pence
• This promoted British Film at an attractive price

BBC/ITV/Sky

• BBC do NOT gain their funds through advertising
• This gives them more freedom because they don't have to do anything their advertisers tell them to show
• £20 million is what the BBC sets aside for British film
• This is a similar budget to the BFI (British Film Industry)

Digital vs Film

• Until recently, 35mm film was used for avery movie
• We now have "Digital"
• "Skyfall" was entirely digitally filmed
• Skyfall's cinematographer says there is no competition between film and digital, digital is the best
• Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight Rises) and Steven Spielberg (Jurassic Park) prefer the use of film
• Because of their high stature in the film industry, the use of film is surviving
• They say the effect that film has cannot be replaced
• In 10-15 years, however, film will probably be extinct
• "The Master" was shot on 70mm film
• This was VERY expensive

Box Office

-This is how much money is made in exhibition-

• People say that the cinematic experience is dying
• However, it is more popular than ever
• Takings are 1% up from last year
• 15-24 year olds love cinema!
• The olympics interrupted the amount of cinematic trips

Skyfall, Disney, Warp 12/11/12

 Skyfall, Disney, and Warp.

Skyfall- Sam Mendes, 2012

• Opening weekend: £20.1 million
• This was just behind record breaker Harry Potter (DH pt.2)
• First 7 days of showing: £37.2 million
• This was the largest 7 day box office ever recorded.
• Critically, this film was very well received.
• Huge publicity: Day of release, 3 main stars appeared on The Graham Norton Show. Big red carpet premiere at the Great Alert Hall. Youtube live coverage with David Walliams presenting. Numerous appearances from Daniel Craig on TV&radio etc.
• Achieved synergy across: Bond&Sony, Bond&X-Factor (Simon Cowell=Sony), Bond&PS3 (Sony).

Disney and Lucas Film.

• The company, largely famous for the "Star Wars" franchise, was bought by Disney for $4.05 billion.
• Skywalker Sound and the visual effects studio Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) were also parts of Lucasfilm concealed in the contract.
• George Lucas has become the wealthiest artist in the United States since this deal.
• He owned 100% of Lucasfilm, and therefore gained the entire $4.05 billion to himself. However, he promises to turn to philanthropy and help others through education.

Warp

• It was recently their 10 year anniversary.
•  To commemorate it, Pete McKee drew 10 posters in style of Warp's most successful films such as Submarine, This is England, and Four Lions.