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