February 15, 2021

Hollywood Struggles for Fans in China’s Growing Film Market (bloomberg.com)

With China’s box office takings expected to return to near pre-pandemic highs in 2021, the world’s largest movie market is becoming more attractive — and more tricky — for Hollywood studios.

Ticket sales from movie theaters in China, which has largely contained the coronavirus, may jump to 60 billion yuan ($9 billion) this year, according to Rance Pow, founder of consultancy Artisan Gateway, closing in on 2019’s record haul of 64 billion yuan. By contrast, with outbreaks still raging, U.S. cinemas may take in about a third of that tally, Wedbush Securities estimates, underscoring Hollywood studios’ growing dependence on the Asian country.

China overtook the U.S. to become the top movie market last year, as the pandemic shut American film theaters for longer than their Chinese peers. But the increasing reliance comes as Chinese viewers pivot to local language films, and show a greater sensitivity toward portrayals of China and its people in Western culture, amid simmering geopolitical tensions with the U.S. Adding to the pressure on studios, a bilateral pact that required China to import a minimum number of American movies every year, has expired.Where Hollywood and Silicon Valley collideGet a front-row seat with the Screentime newsletter.EmailSign UpBy submitting my information, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service and to receive offers and promotions from Bloomberg.

By: Shirley Zhao

Continue Reading at bloomberg.com

New Mexico Film Office aims to create safer sets with new training (krqe.com)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A select group of New Mexico residents have begun training for a unique and relatively new position on film sets. The New Mexico Film Office is offering training courses to equip applicants to be certified intimacy coordinators.

Intimacy coordinators work on film and television productions to create a safer work environment for actors performing in scenes involving physical touch, nudity, intimacy, and simulated sex. The film office partnered with the Intimacy Professionals Association (IPA) Intimacy Coordinator Training Program, the first agency in the world to solely specialize in representing intimacy professionals.

By: Anna Padilla

Continue Reading at krqe.com

Bill Could Entice Film Production To Utah With Economic Incentives (kpcw.org)

After three seasons of the popular cable-TV series Yellowstone, production left Utah for Montana. However, a new bill could incentivize film studios to move to Utah. 

The move to Montana directly affected Summit and Wasatch Counties. 

In an interview with KPCW, Utah Film Commission Executive Director Virginia Pearce said both counties tend to see a similar amount of activity because of their proximity. 

“Over the past three years, there have been about 150 film permits issued in those areas,” Pearce said. “And obviously, some very iconic productions, Yellowstone – all three seasons – Wind River, Hereditary, Wolf of Snow Hollow – that just came out last year.” 

Pearce said production during season two of Yellowstone -which is a good indication of all three seasons- brought in about $40 million dollars to the area. Of that money $15 million went to wages of around 400 jobs during their nine months of production.  

By: Jessica Lowell

Continue reading at kpcw.org

Vistas Media Capital aims to disrupt the content financing structure (indiantelevision.com)

MUMBAI: Singapore-based media investment entity Vistas Media Capital (VMC) made news in 2020 when it invested $5 million in Planet Marathi to acquire strategic equity in the OTT platform. The investment arm further roped in former Viacom18 COO Raj Nayak as an advisor to get a deeper insight into the country’s media and entertainment space.

Founded and run by NRIs, VMC is investing into multiple media businesses, companies and assets in the capital markets including stocks, bonds and options and private equity space.

By: Shikha Singh

Continue Reading at indiantelevision.com