Posted on 08/11/2005 6:50:44 PM PDT by wagglebee
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A bumpy ride at the summer box office and signs that booming DVD sales may be slowing have Hollywood studios looking for new ways to win fans as the movie industry faces increased competition.
But studio executives say the key to recapturing audiences is to make better films -- an age-old answer in Hollywood -- and industry watchers are divided over whether film and DVD markets truly are weakening.
"If you believe all the press reports, we are in the middle of Armageddon with box office erosion," said Peter Chernin, president of News Corp., parent of the Twentieth Century Fox film studio. "I believe that is a definite overreaction."
Movie studios and theater owners have had a rough summer, which is a problem since the season makes up nearly 40 percent of annual movie ticket sales.
By September's Labor Day holiday in the United States, the box office is expected to be down 7 to 12 percent after films such like "The Island" and "Stealth" failed to connect with audiences.
Tracking service Exhibitor Relations sees ticket sales at around $3.7 billion for the season, about 7 percent below 2004's $3.96 billion, marking the worst summer since 2001.
Admissions, or the number of people attending movies, are seen down 9 percent at 578 million for the worst year since 1999.
But Exhibitor Relations President Paul Dergarabedian admitted his figures were optimistic. By contrast, Boxofficemojo President Brandon Gray figures summer box office will be off 12 percent.
Others are quick to point out that a strong line-up of fall movies could still rescue the year. "I think fall is going to be exceptional this year, financially," said David Poland at the Web site, Movie City News, citing upcoming films like November's "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."
MAKE BETTER MOVIES
Industry watchers cite many reasons for weaker ticket sales -- competition from video games, the narrowing of time between a film playing in theaters and on DVD, and Internet piracy -- but the one factor that seems to outweigh all the others is that some of this summer's films lack a fresh appeal.
"We can all try to blame the closing window of DVD and all that, but you see the movies that are really distinctive still going out and doing really well," said Mark Gill, president of Warner Independent Pictures, which released surprise summer hit nature documentary "March of the Penguins."
Films like "Batman Begins" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" were often mentioned as two films that won fans with fresh takes on tried-and-true Hollywood formulas.
Roger Birnbaum, co-founder of Spyglass Entertainment which had modest spring success, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" said some summer releases were "a little tired."
Birnbaum said Spyglass, which is behind fall films "Memoirs of a Geisha" and "The Legend of Zorro," will not change the way it develops or makes movies just because of one bumpy summer.
In recent years, difficult times at box offices would be offset by the booming DVD market where studios would recoup their investment and profit from films. But there are signs that DVD growth may be slowing, too.
Earlier this week, Bob Iger, the incoming chief executive of The Walt Disney Co, said industrywide DVD sales were about the same this summer as last. But because the number of homes owning DVD players had risen, the average number of sales per home had fallen, he said.
"One thing is clear, consumer choice is increasing, making quality ... content more important than ever," he said.
What for-profit industry starts out by dissing over half their potential customer base? Hollyweird of course. The leftists forget who pays their big salaries and it's the customers. Piss them off and they don't buy your product.
"It's crude and sexual, but "The Wedding Crashers" is the funniest movie I've seen in years!"
That's a shame - I would like it I'm sure were it not for the fact that I still am boycotting Hollywhat.
Methinks movie sales are weakening because of Plasma screen TVs, surround sound speakers, and DVDs. Who needs to go to a theater when you've got one in your own home? In turn, DVD sales are weakening because of services like Netflix. Why pay $20+ for a newly release DVD, when you can rent it whenever you want. I've about stopped buying DVDs, as I rarely watch many of the ones I own.
And that's during the opening previews.
Just watched the DVD of Hotel Rwanda. That was good. Of course, it was pro-Christian, anti-Clinton & not Hollywood.
Movies? Just say NO NO NO. Stay away and save your $$$$. PERIOD! Too much junko vids, advertisements, high ticket and concession prices and little value. Boycott all of Hollyweird movies except any quality classics-like material which is almost non-existent. Hit em where it hurts...they will get the message soon enough!
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MEL's -PASSION- sparked by -WE WERE SOLDIERS-
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1085111/posts
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There's a reason we have the DVD.
I normally don't go to the movies except for great ones like "The Passion" and the LOTR movies but I think I'll be heading out to see The Great Raid this weekend. The ten anti-America/pro-terrorist movies listed above that Rush was talking about will be on my "forgetaboutit" list.
Cinderella Man was decent. Seems Ron Howard makes a good movie. His Movie on Howard Hughes was good also
And anti UN.
There are some terrific stories to tell about our soldiers' heroism in Afghanistan and Iraq and someone needs to tell them. I'm looking forward to the story of the battle of Fallujah that Fox will have on this Sat. night, I think. We need to support the movies that support our troups.
The only thing I really like about a movie theater is their popcorn, you just can't make it the same way at home!
Agreed! If I had cable (I don't like supporting artificial monopolies), I'd be watching...
They pump out the same old sludge and wonder why we won't buy it. Fascinating.
Home theaters are not as good as a THX theater yet. You'd have to spend at least 100K to set up something as nice - and have the space to do it properly.
Preaching to the choir. I have not attended a movie other than a few for my kids in about 5 years. I tell everyone who will listen to stop supporting people who would just as soon see you and your family relegated to poverty while they live their aristocratic lifestyle using all the precious resources they so desperately want to keep you from. It makes me sick that so many people can't see the blatant hypocrisy and agenda of these high school dropouts.
I will definitely see "The Great Raid."
Somebody recommended buying the DVD of the British show "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" instead of seeing the new movie. They were right. Not a big budget but it stayed faithful to Adamses story and lines, which is what makes it funny and interesting, the whole point of the stories. Read transcripts and saw trailers of the new HHGTG and noticed most of the humor was sucked out of it.
Especially anti-UN. Also, anti-Belgian & anti-French.
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