Trend 2009 – 3D Advertising on Movie Screens

3D Ads

By PATRICK FRATER

–>HONG KONG – Hollywood’s heavy hitters gathered Wednesday to talk up the future of 3D movie making and exhibition.”Within the next five to seven years, I expect all movies out of Hollywood to be in 3-D,” said Jeffrey Katzenberg, head of Dreamworks Animation. He was speaking at the inaugural 3DX, the 3D Film and Entertainment Technology Festival in Singapore (Nov 19-23.)

“We can tell stories differently, engage the audience better (with 3D). They can’t get this at home,” Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group prexy Mark Zoradi, said. “This is a wonderful incentive for theater owners to install digital cinema (equipment). For Asia there is an additional benefit in that this is a deterrent to piracy.”

Dan Glickman, prexy of the Motion Picture Association of America, described 3D film-making as a “genuine revolution” in the way that movies are watched. “(3D) is confirmation of the dawn of a new era, an era filled with possibility, fuelled by innovation and which will advance the timeless and global art of storytelling through the unique and profound medium of film,” said Glickman. “The extraordinary innovation we have seen here on display barely scratches the surface of the innovation that lies before us.”

Fest, which comprises a business forum, film festival, public screenings and a gala red carpet event, is backed by the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) with support from the Singapore Tourism Board, Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore and Singapore Economic Development Board.

BOX OFFICE TOTALS 2008 vs. 2007

By Phil Contrino

From www.boxoffice.com

2008 vs. 2007 Figures

As 2008 nears an end, it looks as though the year as a whole has a decent shot at topping 2007’s record-setting box office haul of $9.62 billion.

As long as this weekend’s estimates don’t fluctuate too much, 2008’s box office haul of $8.154 billion is currently around 1% higher than 2007’s haul at the same point in the year.

2008 achieved early success in January with films like Cloverfield ($80 million domestically) and 27 Dresses ($76.8 million). February boasted strong grosses from Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: The Best of Both Worlds ($65.3 million) and Fool’s Gold ($70.2 million). In addition, March featured 10,000 B.C. ($94.7 million), Horton Hears a Who! ($154.5 million) and 21 ($81.2 million). Plus, April and May produced two strong comedies, Forgetting Sarah Marshall ($63.2 million) and Baby Mama ($60 million), respectively.

Then came the summer.

Even if Summer 2008 hadn’t produced the second highest grossing film of all time with The Dark Knight ($528.6 million domestically), the industry as a whole would still be able to brag about the success of Iron Man ($318.3 million), Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull ($317 million), Kung Fu Panda ($215.4 million), WALL-E ($223.1 million) and Hancock ($227.9).

The month of November has already proven to be incredibly successful thanks to the likes of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and Quantum of Solace.

Looking forward, 2008’s box office still has to face strong 2007 results. The third weekend of November 2007 posted very solid numbers. Enchanted finished #1 with $34 million and a total of six films grossed more than $10 million that weekend. Still, next weekend should only help to boost 2008’s lead with the emergence of Twilight and Bolt. Twilight will bring in crucial teenage demographics, while Bolt will grab younger audiences and their adult chaperons. Plus, Solace and Madagascar 2 will continue to perform well.

Although, 2008 could lose out to 2007 if December produces mediocre results. Major December releases such as Frost/Nixon, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Seven Pounds are all plagued by commercial question marks.

Bad Economy Good for Movies

All this dire economic news could be good for Hollywood. Box office grosses for the weekend are projected to range between $130 million and $140 million, up from $102 million last year, estimates Stifel Nicolaus analyst Drew Crum.

The reason? No doubt the release of “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” might have something to do with it. (We can’t wait.)

Another possible explanation: When the economy hits the skids, people watch more movies. In five of the last seven recessions since 1965, box office grosses increased, according to the National Association of Theater Owners.