The wait between when a movie is released to theatres and when it comes out on DVD has gotten shorter. That in turn has increased pressure on movie theatres and is changing a time-tested business model. Is there a way to pull out of this death spiral?
Tag: 08.01.05
Aussie Movie Chain Slashes Ticket Prices
Australia’s movie box office is suffering like it is in the rest of the world. So one of the country’s biggest movie theatre chains is slashing prices. “Hoyts announced yesterday that tickets for ‘any movie, any session, all day long’ would be discounted savagely from Thursday to Sunday after yet another flat weekend for takings.”
More Authors Going Green
“A small and growing number of authors are asking publishers to print their books on environmentally friendly paper…”
Pompidou Expands With Satellite Museum
The Pompidou is planning a new satellite museum in the shape of a Chinese peasant hat. “The Pompidou Centre Metz in eastern France, due to open in 2008, will show rotating exhibitions from the museum’s 56,000-strong collection. Only about 1,300 works can be shown at one time in the Paris museum.”
Downtown New York – It’s Surreal
There’s no dominant Downtown dance style in New York right now. But a group of surrealists is worth paying attention to, writes Joan Acocella. “As yet, none of them have performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the major channel by which downtown work meets uptown ticket buyers.”
Will New UK Law Kill Live Music?
A new law governing live music venues in the UK threatens to decimate the country’s live music scene. “New research shows that almost seven in 10 owners or managers of small music venues are unaware of the implications of the 2003 Licensing Act, which requires them to reapply for their live music licence by August 6. The research warned that at least 56,700 venues face possible closure if they do not reapply by the deadline. Almost half of those those currently stage live music, and it is predicted that the number of gigs taking place every day in the UK could fall from 4,500 to fewer than 2,250.”
A Small LA Theatre Gets Big (And Finds Trouble)
LA’s Colony Theatre was a small theatre that grew big and got successful. “Yet recently, the troupe has been involved in a bitter power struggle between many veteran company members and artistic director Barbara Beckley, contributing to the departures of more than half the actors in the group.”
Public Broadcasting Plan To Teach History Stirs Commercialization Fears
America’s Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced a plan to increase middle school and high school students’ awareness of history. “But an emphasis by corporation officials on how corporate investors could profit from the project has provoked controversy about the role commercial interests will play in the initiative and hints at new areas of conflict in public broadcasting’s reliance on private-sector support.”
A Paint Roller That Paints Images
A new high-tech paint roller allows images to be transfered in the paint. “The Pixel Roller picks up paint from a tray, like any other paint roller, but is controlled electronically by a computer to transfer pixilated images onto any surface — floors, walls, ceilings, brick, concrete and glass — and at just about any scale.”
Montreal Symphony Strike Threatens Season
Talks have broken down in the Montreal Symphony musicians strike, and the impass could threaten the start of the orchestra’s new season. “The players’ proposal would have increased wages by 45 per cent over five years, as well as maintain current work rules governing recordings, overtime and rehearsals on tour. Management had offered an 8-per-cent raise over five years, as well as lump-sum amounts to counter the effects of a two-year wage freeze. The players have been without a contract since August, 2003.”