Film+Update+4

=Avatar Sequels!= Kayla Del Casale

For all of those die-hard Avatar fans out there, get excited because Avatar 2 and 3 are scheduled to be released in December of 2014 and 2015. The films are set to be filmed in Manhattan Beach, California. Rather than using the ocean and the beach for shots in the film, director James Cameron, has signed a lease for a 580,000-square-foot studio at Media Campus in California. This facility will not only be used for the two upcoming Avatars, but it will also become the new place for the Lightstorm Entertainment. The original Avatar was filmed at a place that is now being renovated and there was some speculations that Avatar 2 and 3 would be delayed, but luckily James Cameron made some moves and Avatar will be shown in 2014 and 2015 at a theater near you! == =[|Read more]=

= = ="Chalet Girl" Utilizes Facebook "Like" Function for Interactive Advertising Campaign = media type="custom" key="8764842" Update by: Noelle Belling March, 19 2011 ====﻿Blue Barracuda was hired by Momentum Pictures to create an advertising campaign utlizing social media to it's full capabilities. ==== ====This is the first film that has incorporated facebooks "Like" button as an interactive way to participate. "Like"-ing the film will open up a whole new pannel for users and allow them to see more features such as clothing worn in the trailer to "like" them or share with friends. ==== ====We have been discussing in class how many film and television companies are thinking about the idea where a user can take their mouse to scroll over a certain item in a show and be linked to buy that item directly... well this plays in to that concept as well. The user is given the brand and type of clothing. ==== ==== CEO Martin Talks of Blue Barracuda shares important quote (as stated in the article) “When people watch a film, they are often inspired by the lifestyle it portrays and want to buy into it. Our campaign takes that to the next level by enabling viewers to identify themselves with the cool brands in the film and use cool social sharing functionality. It’s the technology facilitating what people are doing already: enthusing about the film and investigating the latest boarding gear, games, key actors and locations. Participation and sharing, such as this, and the convergence of media, like films and the internet, is the future of film making.” ==== [|View Article]

=Censorship a Political, Economic Concern for Producers, Panel Says= Updated by: Breanne Ratajczak March 23, 2011

In Hong Kong- China's censorship is limiting film producers to explore new ideas and limiting the market distribution for production companies. This idea of censorship is also limiting the amount of money that production companies could be making. Yu Dong, the chairman and CEO of Bona Film Group stated at the "Asian Film Producers Forum" that Hong Kong and China need to move forward and overcome the obscenities of censorship because it is 2011 and change the golden age has arrived. Yu stated, “We need to have more stories, scripts and innovative ideas. And to encourage creative and prosperous ideas we cannot waste investment and make use of existing censorship.” Production companies need to continue making money and with the exploration of obscenity is one way to do this. It is unfortunate that censorship will no longer be enforced for parental concerns but money needs to be made in the film industry so production companies will move forward into new transformations. Production companies continue to experiment and research what aspects work and don't work in the film industry, some critics state that the experimentation is like a gambling game. Some movies lose money and some make billions of dollars, new ideas and innovations are being made and no one is stopping anyone.

View Article: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/censorship-a-political-economic-concern-170040

=**Born To Be Wild 17D!** = ====media type="youtube" key="wv2Af-H7ZnI" height="390" width="640" ====

Walter Ayllon April 8, 2011

This online trailer doesn't nearly do this film justice. While the film does not come out until tomorrow and I am only basing this on the in theater trailer I saw a few months ago, "Born To Be Wild 3d" takes the prize when it comes to the third dimension. While other films make it look as if you are going get hit in the face with broken glass and Tron disc's, this film literally places the audience in Africa for an hour... yes literally. The film is about rescuing baby orangutans and elephants. More importantly, the film stands as a glimpse into how we might be able to see other parts of the globe in the future in a way current pictures and recordings can't. Only thing I think that it could possibly be lacking is stench and malaria.

=Warner Brothers Pulled the Plug on The Hangover Part II Movie Trailer= Audrey Rynberg 4/8/11

Warner Bros has stopped showing The Hangover II trailer in movie theaters due to its offensive content. According to the Motion Picture Assn. of America the advertisement was out of sync with the ratings system when it was played before a PG-13 movie. Warner brothers also claims the trailer is even too offensive to be shown before R rated films. The trailer is now being remade and is said to be back in theaters April 15, but only in front of R rated movies. "Warners wouldn’t discuss what’s being tweaked, but insiders say the scene featuring the monkey nibbling on an old man’s 'wenis' is a likely target."

Watch the trailer below!

media type="custom" key="9014420" [|Click here for original article]


 * Alaska's Film Production Tax Credit Bill Makes Noise **



Updated by: Andrew Slutzky April 7, 2011

When we think of movie sets, Alaska doesn’t exactly come to mind. According to the //Alaska Dispatch//, this may be changing. The Senate passed a bill that “would extend the state’s film industry tax credit program another 10 years and provide an additional $200 million in tax credits.” ** 1 ** The bill also would allow film companies that spend at least $100,000 to receive at least 30-percent back in transferrable tax credits. This is a big move because it rewards companies for doing business in Alaska, and it is supposed to create jobs. The bill still needs to be “approved by the House and signed into law by the governor.” ** 1 **

Ironically, according to the //LA Times//, Los Angeles’ on-location production is only up 5-percent in the first quarter this year. At the end of the 2010 fourth quarter business cycle, it was up 26-percent. Why the drop? The //LA Times// claims other states are competing better, and other states have better tax rebate programs. ** 2 **

Tax rebates are major incentives for film companies. Essentially, a tax credit deducts money from how much you owe on your taxes while a tax deductible simply deducts how much you owe on your income before you calculate how much you owe on your taxes. ** 3 **

Why is this relevant to class? First, I think Alaska breaking into the film industry with this bill, if it goes through, goes against conventional wisdom and is newsworthy. Second, tax credits are a financial incentive system we haven’t really talked about. Yes, we have mentioned freemiums, donations, subscriptions etc…, but maybe tax credits will get more love in the future. Third, it’s interesting how Los Angeles’ on-location seemingly impenetrable fortress isn’t necessarily as invincible as we once thought.

** 1 ** Alaska film tax credit program link: []

** 2 ** LA Times article about L.A.. film production slowing first quarter link: []

** 3 ** How does a tax credit work link: []