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London based media analyst firm Screen Digest has launched Global Media Intelligence (GMI), a new division dedicated to delivering high quality research and analysis to institutional investors in the US.
GMI's latest report - 'Do Movies Make Money' - published projects that after five years of exploitation across all global media, the 132 medium-to-big budget films released by the leading US studios in 2006 will produce a loss of $1.9 billion pre-tax. This compares to a profit of $2.2 billion for the new releases of 2004.
Despite a recent surge in box office returns, GMI believes that the movie business has seen costs rising faster than revenue for the past several years.
Revenues from DVD sales, which accounted for 75 per cent of growth and significant profits from 1999 to 2004, have experienced a worldwide decline over the past three years. A detailed title-by-title analysis was carried out for this report which shows the trend accelerating further in the first half of 2007 with US DVD sales down 12.5 per cent from 2006. International sales mirrored this decline.
Some executives in the Hollywood studios are looking to the new technologies of Video on Demand (VoD) and subscription based TV to fill the gap left by DVD. However, GMI estimates that while VoD will offer a superior share of the consumer dollar over traditional pay channels (60 per cent versus 40 per cent), it will not deliver at the lofty levels predicted in the early days of the industry and will not help the studios put 'old wine in new bottles.'
Financing films has also become a major concern. Until recently, the industry used to generate its own capital entirely from internal sources. However since 2004 when revenues started to decline, the industry has been forced to seek outside financing, mostly from hedge funds and private equity. GMI believes that this source of capital will not be available on the attractive terms that until recently prevailed. Sophisticated investors are becoming aware of just how thin, or even non-existent, movie profit margins can be.
One of the biggest sources of increasing costs is for the stars of the movies, particularly the 'gross participations' paid to top actors, directors and producers. These costs totalled $3 billion in 2006 - nearly double that of five years ago. While the studios are currently in negotiations with writers, actors and directors over fees, these salaries are not the main issue; the current cost of producing, casting and advertising movies in the present environment simply exceeds the likely returns.
Roger Smith, author of the report believes the outlook is bleak. "Our analysis of the business of the Hollywood studios may come as a surprise to investors and even some people within the industry. We believe there is little chance of the negative revenue trend reversing in the coming years.
"New technology will not deliver anything like the revenue initially predicted, and as DVD sales continue to decline and the cost if making movies increases, the message is simple: the Hollywood studio's must begin a serious attempt to reign in costs, like News Corporation's Fox have done, if they are to survive."
Hollywood studios take $2bn hit on new movies in 2006
From Bollywood babe to Bond girl
People from the industry thinks Sushmita, Aishwarya and Shilpa can carry off the role quite nicely.
Shilpa Shetty, with her newly found stardom, post the Big Brother episode, seems all set to make her presence felt in Hollywood as well.
Speculations are rife that the lady is considered for the role of a Bond Girl opposite none other than Daniel Craig in the forthcoming James Bond movie slated to be released next year.
Rumours about Aishwarya Bachchan featuring in such a flick were also doing the rounds. So with Bollywood babes figuring in the list of probable Bond Girls, what leaves one perplexed is the question that can these babes do justice to the character and who among the current crop fits the bill for this much hyped role? AT finds out...
Film producer Mukesh Bhatt doesn’t find anything special in Hollywood actresses and rates their Indian counterparts highly. “Indian actresses are so talented that they can do any kind of role given to them.” So whom does he find ideal for a Bond Girl? “Bipasha would be fantastic doing this role as she is smart, has got elegant looks and an exceptional figure. Moreover, she carries herself very well, unlike other actresses in the industry,” says he.
Kunal Kohli, film-maker, was not far behind to endorse him. Indian actresses are capable enough to portray any sort of role, whether it is in an Indian film or a Hollywood film and I think actresses like Bipasha Basu, Aishwarya Bachchan and Shilpa Shetty are a straight fit for this,” opines Kunal.
Isn’t it interesting that whosoever has been a Bond Girl previously, has garnered immense popularity and has even left a matchless cinematic impact that remains unequalled till date? So will an Indian actress ever get an opportunity to act in a Bond film?
Trade pundit Taran Adarsh avers, “It would indeed be a great idea to have an Indian actress playing the role of a Bond Girl. They have those glamorous international looks teamed with a stunning figure. So what else can one actually ask for? In my opinion, Sushmita Sen, Aishwarya Bachchan and Shilpa Shetty can carry off the role quite nicely.”
But Adman Prahlad Kakkar has completely different criteria for an actress to qualify for the role of Bond Girl. According to him, “Apart from looking sexy, the actress should be dumb to fit in the role of the Bond girl. They are only sex objects in the movie; they can play James Bond if they are intelligent enough. And I feel Bipasha Basu, Priyanka Chopra and Shilpa Shetty can do justice to this role.” We know what Prahlad is trying to suggest!
And actress turned TV host Pooja Bedi, says, “It would be wonderful for Bollywood if an Indian actress does the job of a Bond Girl. I think Shilpa Shetty fits the bill for this role as she is good-looking, has a fantastic body and has enjoyed a reasonable amount of fame of late.”
When asked whether an Indian actress would be comfortable doing those bold scenes, which are part of each and every James Bond movie, Pooja replies, “I don’t know. May be she is comfortable doing those bold scenes, may be not. Nowadays one also has the luxury to use body doubles, so I think this should not be a big issue for not accepting the role of Bond Girl.”
So it seems its Hollywood calling for Shilpa Shetty!
Looking for the Big B: Bollywood, Bachchan and Jessica Hines
The UK is at the start of an Indian summer, with all things Bollywood beguiling Britain over the coming months. At the forefront of Hindi film in her home country, is writer and academic Jessica Hines. A frequent visitor to India, Hines, who was reportedly associated with Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, talks with the author on her views on the Big B, the response to her book Looking for the Big B: Bollywood, Bachchan and Me, and her love for Bollywood.
You have travelled to India 29 times, would you consider living in India permanently?
I love living in India but it only works, to my mind, if you have a specific job to do there. There was a point where I thought I would be living there more than London but that didn't pan out.
Where did your interest in Hindi Film begin?
It began in earnest at SOAS (The School of Oriental And African Studies). I was very earnest.
You have been responsible for bringing Bollywood into the public consciousness in the UK, with events like film festivals and Selfridges department store Bollywood month. When do you think Bollywood 'arrived' in the UK?
Well its funny, I wonder how much quicker Hindi films would have wooed the UK audiences had video not made its huge impact on the Indian community. Remember that almost overnight the number of cinemas showing Hindi films went from almost 100 to 0. It wasn't until the early 1990s that film culture started to inch its way out of the Indian communities living rooms again. I think it started to kick off again at the end of the 90s.
You launched your book earlier this year. What has been the response to it? Has the response been different in the UK compared to India?
Well in India the response was a bit nuts. But that was more because of my personal life and the fact that I had finally completed this book, than about the book itself. The UK is being its uniquely insular self and hasn't picked up on the fact that I have a certain notoriety in India, which is a very bizarre thing.
What was the most difficult thing about writing the book?
Being a single mum with a small baby and no money? Oh that's three.
When was the last time you met Amitabh Bachchan?
We just missed each other in Mumbai and London. I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago though when he called to congratulate me on my engagement.
What do you think of Amitabh's recent performances in his recent releases Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, Baabul, Eklavya: The Royal Guard, Nishabd, Cheeni Kum?
I think that he is growing with the variety of roles that he is taking on now. Sometimes you would think that he could just mail in a performance but I know that each shot is thought about and planned and worked on. All actors have to constantly find the feelings over again or they fail as an actor.
Is Amitabh more popular in the UK or the US?
I think the UK, although the sellout performances and events that the NY Film Festival a couple of years ago show that there is a big fan following and a growing awareness.
There is very little mention of Abhishek Bachchan in the book. How do you feel he compares to his father?
He is an interesting actor and an exceptionally nice man. I think it is going to be very interesting to watch him develop. The Bachchans all take time to become what they are meant to be. Amitabh did and so did his later father.
In the UK, Indian film stars are able to enjoy a certain degree of anonymity. How hard is it to be a celebrity of Amitabh Bachchan's status in India?
I think it is an insanely difficult thing. As Salman Rushdie said, I don't know how he remains sane.
As a western woman and an academic on Hindi Film, what is your perception of the portrayal of goras in Bollywood?
It is limited but that is expected. It is also limited in Hollywood. Villains or fops or loveable cockney rogues.
Finally, what is your favourite Hindi film?
My fave Hindi film is Amar Akbar Anthony.
Shilpa Shetty And Danielle Lloyd Are Friends Again
After the bizarre confrontation on Celebrity Big Brother and several months of Shilpa Shetty fame - the Bollywood actress and Danielle Lloyd got together at the premiere of Life In A Metra in London.
The Bollywood movie stars Shetty and has had an international release this week.
MTV Movie Awards Results - Pirates Take All
Johnny Depp made it to the awards as the third Pirates film took the honors for Best Movie and Jack Sparrow was crowned for Best Performance.
All the MTV Movie Awards results:
Best Villain: Jack Nicholson (The Departed)
Bes Fight: Gerard Butler vs the Uber Immortal (300)
Best Kiss: Will Ferrell and Sacha Baron Cohen (Talladega Nights)
Breakthrough Performance: Jayden Smith (Pursuit Of Happiness)
Best Comedic Performance: Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat)
MTV Generation Award: Mike Myers
Best Summer Movie You Haven’t Seen Yet: Transformers
Best Performance: Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean)
Best Movie: Pirates of the Caribbean
Batman’s New Suit For The Dark Knight
Britney Spears Upset About Bald Picture In Ads
Britney Spears is fuming over ads for a radio station in Florida, which has used her bald-headed image along with the headlines: Certifiable, Shock Therapy, and Total Nut Jobs.
Spears lawyers are apparently preparing to sue the the station which has so far ignored requests to take the pictures down.
Mallika Sherawat had started shedding clothes so often
