One important aspect of movie business is distribution. Distribution is marketing and circulation of movies to various theaters and even for home viewing (ie. DVDs, Downloading, Pay-Per-View, etc). The distributor needs to convince people to show a certain film at a certain date A movie distributor is an entertainment business professional who acts as an agent, linking motion picture producers with exhibitors to book a given film’s original theatrical run. Film distribution companies also market and circulate movies in home entertainment formats, including VHS, DVD, Blu-ray and online digital formats.
Here’s how it works: film studios sign licensing agreements with movie distribution companies after a film is completed, at which time the distributor decides how many prints of the movie should be made. The more theaters the film will play in, the more prints needed. Limited engagements and smaller theatrical runs require fewer prints, at least initially; if the demand proves to be there once a movie appears in cinemas, film distribution companies will order additional prints for a wider theatrical release.
I hope this makes people realize that many different components go into making a movie and distribution is one that is very important and works closely with marketing.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Pollution
Here are a few of my thoughts on pollution that arise from the whole global warming debate.
1) Environmental Risks Caused by Pollution
Over the past century, the introduction of new products in the transportation sector has increased the economic efficiency of modern day society. With automobiles, employees are able to travel greater distances than before to arrive on time to their work destination. Large semi-trucks with full trailers allow consumer goods to flow across borders to meet their distributors, and airplanes allow businessmen to fly halfway around the world to sign a deal or an economic policy with enough time to be back at home for dinner. On the surface, such goods seem to offer only positive things for our current society. However, basic economic laws teach us that with anything, benefits are always met with costs. Despite the convenience and efficiency that comes with cars, trucks, trains, and airplanes, there are many negative externalities that were not accounted for in their production. Pollution, for example, is a derivative of automobiles that is causing billions of dollars a year in health damages, as well as with fatal long-term damages to our current environment. According to the EPA , carcinogens and other mobile source air toxins (MSAT) are deteriorating the quality of the ozone, making the earth more vulnerable to catastrophic events in the future. The Environmental Protection Agency teaches that the toxins that are emitted daily by transportation vehicles have began to eat away at the surface of the ozone, incrementally increasing the earths temperature, and melting the polar ice-caps in an exponential progress. Other organizations, such as the Natural Resources Defense Council state that the increased heat can cause long-term changes in the earth’s climate, and allow for increased probabilities of flood, drought, and extermination of ecosystems . However, research has proven that the negative effects of pollution are not limited to the environment, and cause even greater immediate effects on the quality of human health.
2) Health Risks of Pollution Caused by Transportation:
Despite the long-term environmental concerns that pollution raises, studies have shown that the health effects caused by daily transportation due to vehicles and airplanes brings forth more devastating and immediate concerns. In an article by the World Health Organization titled Health Effects of Transport-Related Air Pollution , researchers Krzyzanowki, Kuna-Dibber, and Schneider conclude that toxins emitted from automobiles and motorcycles in urban areas create long term respiratory illnesses such as asthma, birth defects, male fertility, and in extreme cases mortality. To illustrate this point, the researchers point to workers in different industries, such as racecar drivers and railway workers, as these professionals demonstrated higher levels of lung cancer and eventual death due to their proximity to the released toxins. In their investigation of the topic, the authors mentioned above of the World Health Organization conduct toxicological research on cells in laboratories exposed to the same toxins from consumer transportation vehicles. Such toxins as benzene, diesel, and butane, as defined by the EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality , are released to the cells, and the mutations of cell behavior are witnessed and logged. In their research, the WHO determined that exposure to these contents caused inflammation, DNA damage, and eventual cell death. The researchers then applied these results to the human population, and determined that they are not only harmful to humans, but should be eliminated to promote a healthy human race for years to come.
Many urban areas in the international community have learned of the negative externality, and are now pushing for new legislation that would ensure healthier living situations for all. In a study by the American Lung Association , Greater Cincinnati is a region with very liberal EPA standards for air-quality, and currently has 409,000 children under the age of 14, and 222,000 adults over the age of 65 affected by illnesses such as cancer and respiratory failures. The study shows that this works out to 5.5% and 7.2% of the respective populations. However, the effects of air pollution are not limited to consumer automobiles and motorcycles. In an article found in Environmental Health Perspectives , a magazine published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, airplanes are responsible for pumping the highest levels of benzene and formaldehyde into the ozone. In the article, the author writes:
“Airports are among the greatest sources of local air pollution. A major airport's idling and taxiing planes can emit hundreds of tons of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and NOx annually. John F. Kennedy International Airport is the second largest source of VOCs in New York City. LaGuardia is among the major sources of NOx.”
The combination of the mortal and morbid health effects, along with the devastating environmental damages that are taking place due to pollution has prompted the attention of the international community, and has introduced many policies and legislations that dramatically change the economic situations in nations across the globe.
3) Policies for Limiting Pollution:
In order to combat the exponential decay that pollution from transportation related products is bringing to both human health and the environment, many policies have been put in place, and are on the table for further legislative discussion that could change the course of the global economy in the future. The introduction of new products, standards, and taxation laws are adding boundaries to the introduction of pollutants in the future, but like any product or policy, come with various costs and benefits that must be weighed out before being implemented. According to Rita Pandey in her article Economic Policy Instruments for Controlling Vehicular Air Pollution, there are three directions that the industry could move to in order to fix the worsening pollution situation.
1) Environmental Risks Caused by Pollution
Over the past century, the introduction of new products in the transportation sector has increased the economic efficiency of modern day society. With automobiles, employees are able to travel greater distances than before to arrive on time to their work destination. Large semi-trucks with full trailers allow consumer goods to flow across borders to meet their distributors, and airplanes allow businessmen to fly halfway around the world to sign a deal or an economic policy with enough time to be back at home for dinner. On the surface, such goods seem to offer only positive things for our current society. However, basic economic laws teach us that with anything, benefits are always met with costs. Despite the convenience and efficiency that comes with cars, trucks, trains, and airplanes, there are many negative externalities that were not accounted for in their production. Pollution, for example, is a derivative of automobiles that is causing billions of dollars a year in health damages, as well as with fatal long-term damages to our current environment. According to the EPA , carcinogens and other mobile source air toxins (MSAT) are deteriorating the quality of the ozone, making the earth more vulnerable to catastrophic events in the future. The Environmental Protection Agency teaches that the toxins that are emitted daily by transportation vehicles have began to eat away at the surface of the ozone, incrementally increasing the earths temperature, and melting the polar ice-caps in an exponential progress. Other organizations, such as the Natural Resources Defense Council state that the increased heat can cause long-term changes in the earth’s climate, and allow for increased probabilities of flood, drought, and extermination of ecosystems . However, research has proven that the negative effects of pollution are not limited to the environment, and cause even greater immediate effects on the quality of human health.
2) Health Risks of Pollution Caused by Transportation:
Despite the long-term environmental concerns that pollution raises, studies have shown that the health effects caused by daily transportation due to vehicles and airplanes brings forth more devastating and immediate concerns. In an article by the World Health Organization titled Health Effects of Transport-Related Air Pollution , researchers Krzyzanowki, Kuna-Dibber, and Schneider conclude that toxins emitted from automobiles and motorcycles in urban areas create long term respiratory illnesses such as asthma, birth defects, male fertility, and in extreme cases mortality. To illustrate this point, the researchers point to workers in different industries, such as racecar drivers and railway workers, as these professionals demonstrated higher levels of lung cancer and eventual death due to their proximity to the released toxins. In their investigation of the topic, the authors mentioned above of the World Health Organization conduct toxicological research on cells in laboratories exposed to the same toxins from consumer transportation vehicles. Such toxins as benzene, diesel, and butane, as defined by the EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality , are released to the cells, and the mutations of cell behavior are witnessed and logged. In their research, the WHO determined that exposure to these contents caused inflammation, DNA damage, and eventual cell death. The researchers then applied these results to the human population, and determined that they are not only harmful to humans, but should be eliminated to promote a healthy human race for years to come.
Many urban areas in the international community have learned of the negative externality, and are now pushing for new legislation that would ensure healthier living situations for all. In a study by the American Lung Association , Greater Cincinnati is a region with very liberal EPA standards for air-quality, and currently has 409,000 children under the age of 14, and 222,000 adults over the age of 65 affected by illnesses such as cancer and respiratory failures. The study shows that this works out to 5.5% and 7.2% of the respective populations. However, the effects of air pollution are not limited to consumer automobiles and motorcycles. In an article found in Environmental Health Perspectives , a magazine published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, airplanes are responsible for pumping the highest levels of benzene and formaldehyde into the ozone. In the article, the author writes:
“Airports are among the greatest sources of local air pollution. A major airport's idling and taxiing planes can emit hundreds of tons of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and NOx annually. John F. Kennedy International Airport is the second largest source of VOCs in New York City. LaGuardia is among the major sources of NOx.”
The combination of the mortal and morbid health effects, along with the devastating environmental damages that are taking place due to pollution has prompted the attention of the international community, and has introduced many policies and legislations that dramatically change the economic situations in nations across the globe.
3) Policies for Limiting Pollution:
In order to combat the exponential decay that pollution from transportation related products is bringing to both human health and the environment, many policies have been put in place, and are on the table for further legislative discussion that could change the course of the global economy in the future. The introduction of new products, standards, and taxation laws are adding boundaries to the introduction of pollutants in the future, but like any product or policy, come with various costs and benefits that must be weighed out before being implemented. According to Rita Pandey in her article Economic Policy Instruments for Controlling Vehicular Air Pollution, there are three directions that the industry could move to in order to fix the worsening pollution situation.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Blogging.
Even though my assignment of blogging at my convenience is coming to an end, this blog is not. I am going to continue blogging and switch up the content a little bit. I am going to try out new restaurants and blog about them with added pictures and such. Hope you guys will still follow :) Thank you for all your support.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Study Abroad.
When one is given the opportunity to study abroad, he or she shall take it without a moments pause because it is a wonderful experience to endure.
Weekend Box Office
With the recession in progress, movies seem to be doing quite well and seem to be an escape from reality for a couple of hours.
USA Weekend Box-Office Summary
Rank Title Weekend Gross
1 A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) $32.9M $32.9M
2 How to Train Your Dragon (2010) $10.6M $192M
3 Date Night (2010) $7.58M $73.6M
4 The Back-up Plan (2010) $7.26M $23M
5 Furry Vengeance (2010) $6.63M $6.63M
6 The Losers (2010/I) $5.89M $18M
7 Clash of the Titans (2010) $5.86M $154M
8 Kick-Ass (2010) $4.52M $42.2M
9 Death at a Funeral (2010) $4.12M $34.9M
10 Océans (2009) $2.56M $13.5M
USA Weekend Box-Office Summary
Rank Title Weekend Gross
1 A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) $32.9M $32.9M
2 How to Train Your Dragon (2010) $10.6M $192M
3 Date Night (2010) $7.58M $73.6M
4 The Back-up Plan (2010) $7.26M $23M
5 Furry Vengeance (2010) $6.63M $6.63M
6 The Losers (2010/I) $5.89M $18M
7 Clash of the Titans (2010) $5.86M $154M
8 Kick-Ass (2010) $4.52M $42.2M
9 Death at a Funeral (2010) $4.12M $34.9M
10 Océans (2009) $2.56M $13.5M
Monday, May 3, 2010
Avatar Controversy [Re-write]
James Cameron has done it again! Avatar has truly made a name for itself in the film industry and has left audiences with a meaningful movie-going experience. Cameron made Titanic, which is one of the highest grossing films in history, and once again has won audiences over, with his new feature Avatar. Avatar envelops all your senses and brings you into a mesmerizing fantasy adventure that you will be so glad that you experienced.
Avatar is about a physically disabled human being, Marine Jake Sully, whose spirit and inner-soul and power was able to save the Na’vi tribe. When his brother was killed at the beginning of the movie, Sulley decides to take his brother’s place in the challenging mission. There, he learns of greedy corporate figurehead Parker Selfridge's intentions of driving off the native humanoid, Na'vi, in order to mine for the precious material that are known to be placed throughout their rich woodland. In exchange for the spinal surgery – that will ultimately fix his legs – Jake gathers Intel for the cooperating military unit spearheaded by gung-ho Colonel Quaritch, while simultaneously attempting to infiltrate the Na'vi people with the use of an "avatar" identity. While trying to fulfill the needs of the outer world in his undertaking, plans change as he falls in love with a Na’vi native, Neytiri. Only fate will determine what is in store for them in the future.
Being an avid moviegoer, I can tell when a movie is made for the dark room and is well worth seeing. And Ladies and Gentlemen, Avatar is one of those movies. I solidly believe movies are watched to escape reality and are seen for pure enjoyment. However, reading blog posts about this movie have proved me wrong. Many bloggers have expressed their views about Avatar’s hidden messages and how the movie acts as a religious controversy. Avatar was in the filmmaking process for over a decade, which proves that all the connection to war and politics are incongruent with time. I personally don’t understand how people can watch a beautifully made movie and then state that the movie was bad because they did not agree with the plot or the idea in the movie. I guess it can be argued that everyone does not see everything from the same lens and may perceive things a lot different than their peers, however, bashing the movie is not a way to go about stating one’s opinion.
Blogs such as “Heresy Corner” attacked the film for having an underlying political message that the American troops are evil because they are trying to ruin the living environment of the Na’vi people. According to this specific blog, the whole concept of the movie was striving to prove industrialism’s evils versus simplicity and natural life. However, I interpreted Avatar according to its face value and not according the political stigmas that lay behind this genius production. In fact, James Cameron was inspired to make Avatar because of his love for the natural world. He loved being in the woods as a child, so he mixed up his affection for the natural environment along with science fiction to create his Oscar winning Avatar. Cameron is also involved in numerous environmental efforts because his movie connected to environmentalists all around the globe. He released the movie on Earth day to remind his viewers that Avatar is an environmentally conscious film as the environment is one of the unique centerpieces of the movie. Sebastian states that the Vatican believes that the movie preaches pantheism, which is a nature religion. Cameron’s love for nature has vividly been revealed in this film; yet, to say that the movie preaches pantheistic beliefs, in my humble opinion, is simply pushing it. All these facts about Cameron also prove that Heresy Corner has truly misinterpreted chunks of the film.
Brent Riggs is another blogger who feels strongly that Avatar is a left-wing movie which promotes the principle that “white corporate America is greedy,” and that the “military is death-loving [and] peace hating.” He also acknowledges the fact that moviegoers are brainwashed and are used to movies like Avatar, so we accept the messages the movie is sending to us. However, Riggs does admit that it was a spectacular movie and an invigorating experience. Yet, I believe that Riggs looked at the context of the movie too in depth and did not appreciate the work that went into making Avatar. When the military is trying to mine for precious goods and resources in the Na’vi environment and tries to take over the Na’vi land, this practice simply shows Cameron’s belief that people should appreciate others’ land and appreciate the nature surrounding them.
Bloggers are not the only ones who see a problem with this film, as major corporations such as CNN have thoughts on Avatar as well. CNN has publically mentioned that their company believes that Cameron’s movie is anti-religious, yet pro-environment. Even though CNN agrees with one of the movie’s underlying messages of ‘nature’, its interpretation of Avatar as being anti-religious is certainly wrong. Simply because Cameron does not give the people living in the ancient world of Pandora a religion, it does not mean that the movie is meant to be anti-religious. CNN also states that Cameron is accused of making a film that depicts the military as the “bad guys”, trying to illustrate that Cameron does not respect American ‘military culture’. Newsflash! If CNN would research a little about Cameron’s life, they would find that he has a brother who was a former marine and that Cameron has great respect for the military.
Nevertheless, the majorities of people who have watched Avatar have appreciated the movie and have also stated their opinions all around the web and print media.
Waddah Jerk is a neutral blogger who mentions that Avatar relates to the Iraq war, spiritualism, and a greener environment. I believe that Cameron put these intertwining thoughts in his phenomenal motion picture in order to make Avatar relate to the widest audience possible; in turn yielding the greatest amounts of profits as well. Therefore, by intelligently inserting issues pertaining to the wide society, Cameron was able to connect to both moviegoers and non-moviegoers around the globe. In general terms, when audiences can relate to a piece of work that one has created, they feel a sense of connection to the filmmaker and people who are involved in the film, in turn developing a love for a maker of a movie and his or her skill set. Henceforth, when a new movie in the future comes out with Cameron’s name on it, (for example) massive audiences will rush to theaters to watch the film, as they are already aware of his brilliance and talent.
Huffington Post has praised the film for being “imaginatively absorbing.” Well-known movie critics agree with Huffington Post about Avatar and overall, their reviews, like mine are mostly positive.
All these blog posts and reactions are simply able to depict that audiences look into movies for more than pure and simple enjoyment, as they like to look at the deeper meanings of films and come up with their own positions of each film. All movies are seen from different perspectives and audiences have different outlooks on life, which in turn are able to make them interpret things differently.
Avatar has set the bar for future films and I cannot wait until the sequel of Avatar will come to theaters, but until then . . . ☺
Avatar is about a physically disabled human being, Marine Jake Sully, whose spirit and inner-soul and power was able to save the Na’vi tribe. When his brother was killed at the beginning of the movie, Sulley decides to take his brother’s place in the challenging mission. There, he learns of greedy corporate figurehead Parker Selfridge's intentions of driving off the native humanoid, Na'vi, in order to mine for the precious material that are known to be placed throughout their rich woodland. In exchange for the spinal surgery – that will ultimately fix his legs – Jake gathers Intel for the cooperating military unit spearheaded by gung-ho Colonel Quaritch, while simultaneously attempting to infiltrate the Na'vi people with the use of an "avatar" identity. While trying to fulfill the needs of the outer world in his undertaking, plans change as he falls in love with a Na’vi native, Neytiri. Only fate will determine what is in store for them in the future.
Being an avid moviegoer, I can tell when a movie is made for the dark room and is well worth seeing. And Ladies and Gentlemen, Avatar is one of those movies. I solidly believe movies are watched to escape reality and are seen for pure enjoyment. However, reading blog posts about this movie have proved me wrong. Many bloggers have expressed their views about Avatar’s hidden messages and how the movie acts as a religious controversy. Avatar was in the filmmaking process for over a decade, which proves that all the connection to war and politics are incongruent with time. I personally don’t understand how people can watch a beautifully made movie and then state that the movie was bad because they did not agree with the plot or the idea in the movie. I guess it can be argued that everyone does not see everything from the same lens and may perceive things a lot different than their peers, however, bashing the movie is not a way to go about stating one’s opinion.
Blogs such as “Heresy Corner” attacked the film for having an underlying political message that the American troops are evil because they are trying to ruin the living environment of the Na’vi people. According to this specific blog, the whole concept of the movie was striving to prove industrialism’s evils versus simplicity and natural life. However, I interpreted Avatar according to its face value and not according the political stigmas that lay behind this genius production. In fact, James Cameron was inspired to make Avatar because of his love for the natural world. He loved being in the woods as a child, so he mixed up his affection for the natural environment along with science fiction to create his Oscar winning Avatar. Cameron is also involved in numerous environmental efforts because his movie connected to environmentalists all around the globe. He released the movie on Earth day to remind his viewers that Avatar is an environmentally conscious film as the environment is one of the unique centerpieces of the movie. Sebastian states that the Vatican believes that the movie preaches pantheism, which is a nature religion. Cameron’s love for nature has vividly been revealed in this film; yet, to say that the movie preaches pantheistic beliefs, in my humble opinion, is simply pushing it. All these facts about Cameron also prove that Heresy Corner has truly misinterpreted chunks of the film.
Brent Riggs is another blogger who feels strongly that Avatar is a left-wing movie which promotes the principle that “white corporate America is greedy,” and that the “military is death-loving [and] peace hating.” He also acknowledges the fact that moviegoers are brainwashed and are used to movies like Avatar, so we accept the messages the movie is sending to us. However, Riggs does admit that it was a spectacular movie and an invigorating experience. Yet, I believe that Riggs looked at the context of the movie too in depth and did not appreciate the work that went into making Avatar. When the military is trying to mine for precious goods and resources in the Na’vi environment and tries to take over the Na’vi land, this practice simply shows Cameron’s belief that people should appreciate others’ land and appreciate the nature surrounding them.
Bloggers are not the only ones who see a problem with this film, as major corporations such as CNN have thoughts on Avatar as well. CNN has publically mentioned that their company believes that Cameron’s movie is anti-religious, yet pro-environment. Even though CNN agrees with one of the movie’s underlying messages of ‘nature’, its interpretation of Avatar as being anti-religious is certainly wrong. Simply because Cameron does not give the people living in the ancient world of Pandora a religion, it does not mean that the movie is meant to be anti-religious. CNN also states that Cameron is accused of making a film that depicts the military as the “bad guys”, trying to illustrate that Cameron does not respect American ‘military culture’. Newsflash! If CNN would research a little about Cameron’s life, they would find that he has a brother who was a former marine and that Cameron has great respect for the military.
Nevertheless, the majorities of people who have watched Avatar have appreciated the movie and have also stated their opinions all around the web and print media.
Waddah Jerk is a neutral blogger who mentions that Avatar relates to the Iraq war, spiritualism, and a greener environment. I believe that Cameron put these intertwining thoughts in his phenomenal motion picture in order to make Avatar relate to the widest audience possible; in turn yielding the greatest amounts of profits as well. Therefore, by intelligently inserting issues pertaining to the wide society, Cameron was able to connect to both moviegoers and non-moviegoers around the globe. In general terms, when audiences can relate to a piece of work that one has created, they feel a sense of connection to the filmmaker and people who are involved in the film, in turn developing a love for a maker of a movie and his or her skill set. Henceforth, when a new movie in the future comes out with Cameron’s name on it, (for example) massive audiences will rush to theaters to watch the film, as they are already aware of his brilliance and talent.
Huffington Post has praised the film for being “imaginatively absorbing.” Well-known movie critics agree with Huffington Post about Avatar and overall, their reviews, like mine are mostly positive.
All these blog posts and reactions are simply able to depict that audiences look into movies for more than pure and simple enjoyment, as they like to look at the deeper meanings of films and come up with their own positions of each film. All movies are seen from different perspectives and audiences have different outlooks on life, which in turn are able to make them interpret things differently.
Avatar has set the bar for future films and I cannot wait until the sequel of Avatar will come to theaters, but until then . . . ☺
Deals in Movie Business
The following are types of deals between a studio and a writer, a producer, or other producing entity and how they differ from the others. If you want to know a little more about movie business, then this is for you :)
a. Development Deal: A non-exclusive arrangement between two parties to develop a screenplay from an original idea, or a novel, play, magazine article, into a screenplay. A producer creates an idea and will either hire a writer out of his/her own money or go to a studio for development money to hire a writer. It is usually between a writer and a producer, but may include a director as well. Since the two parties are not exclusive, unlike the First Look or Exclusive Deals, the producer is able to share the project with others if the main project plan does not work out.
b. First Look Deal: A producer presents any idea to a movie studio first and if the studio does not want to develop the idea, then the producer can pitch the idea to another studio or financier once the contract of the deal has ended. This is an agreement lasting three or more years between a movie studio and a producing entity on a first look basis. Producers, directors, writers and actors/actresses can act as the producing entities in a First Look Deal. This deal differs from a Development deal because it is more formal and has terms and agreements attached to it. Also the development deal is between a writer and a producing entity, while a First Look Deal is between a studio and a producing entity. In the First Look Deal the producing entity is able to present to idea over and over again to many studios until it finally works out, however, in an Exclusive Deal the producing entity is not able to jump around to different studios to present the same idea and the studio has the power to decide whether to release the idea’s rights or not.
c. Exclusive Deal: Similar to the First Look Deal, the Exclusive Deal is also an agreement that lasts three or more years between a movie studio and a producing entity, however, it is on an exclusive basis. A producing entity can be a writer, director, actor, or producer who can introduce an idea to a movie studio; However, if the movie studio is not fond of the idea and does not want to develop it, then the producing entity cannot go to another movie studio and share the same idea. In a First Look Deal, the producing entity is able to distribute the idea to other movie studios if the original movie studio does not want to develop the idea, but in an Exclusive Deal, the producing entity cannot. Also, the Development Deal is different from the Exclusive Deal because an in an Exclusive deal actually involves a certain agreement where the idea cannot shared with others, while the Development Deal is less formal and does not contain any strict rules or regulations.
a. Development Deal: A non-exclusive arrangement between two parties to develop a screenplay from an original idea, or a novel, play, magazine article, into a screenplay. A producer creates an idea and will either hire a writer out of his/her own money or go to a studio for development money to hire a writer. It is usually between a writer and a producer, but may include a director as well. Since the two parties are not exclusive, unlike the First Look or Exclusive Deals, the producer is able to share the project with others if the main project plan does not work out.
b. First Look Deal: A producer presents any idea to a movie studio first and if the studio does not want to develop the idea, then the producer can pitch the idea to another studio or financier once the contract of the deal has ended. This is an agreement lasting three or more years between a movie studio and a producing entity on a first look basis. Producers, directors, writers and actors/actresses can act as the producing entities in a First Look Deal. This deal differs from a Development deal because it is more formal and has terms and agreements attached to it. Also the development deal is between a writer and a producing entity, while a First Look Deal is between a studio and a producing entity. In the First Look Deal the producing entity is able to present to idea over and over again to many studios until it finally works out, however, in an Exclusive Deal the producing entity is not able to jump around to different studios to present the same idea and the studio has the power to decide whether to release the idea’s rights or not.
c. Exclusive Deal: Similar to the First Look Deal, the Exclusive Deal is also an agreement that lasts three or more years between a movie studio and a producing entity, however, it is on an exclusive basis. A producing entity can be a writer, director, actor, or producer who can introduce an idea to a movie studio; However, if the movie studio is not fond of the idea and does not want to develop it, then the producing entity cannot go to another movie studio and share the same idea. In a First Look Deal, the producing entity is able to distribute the idea to other movie studios if the original movie studio does not want to develop the idea, but in an Exclusive Deal, the producing entity cannot. Also, the Development Deal is different from the Exclusive Deal because an in an Exclusive deal actually involves a certain agreement where the idea cannot shared with others, while the Development Deal is less formal and does not contain any strict rules or regulations.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Other Sources of Revenues For Movies
Here are just a few other ways for a movie to gain money outside the initial release at the box office.
a. Foreign Theatrical Release → which is the money from ticket sales in foreign countries, which does not include North America. There is also profit when the movie is released to DVD/VHS and revenue can also be accumulated by foreign cable and foreign TV.
b. Pay Per View Option → which charges money from licensed subscribers willing to pay a one-time fee to view a movie, most often utilized by hotel and airline guests.
c. DVD/VHS cassette sales and rentals → Revenue from the sale and rental of DVDs to the public, which can also be purchased online (Netflix) or video stores (Blockbuster).
a. Foreign Theatrical Release → which is the money from ticket sales in foreign countries, which does not include North America. There is also profit when the movie is released to DVD/VHS and revenue can also be accumulated by foreign cable and foreign TV.
b. Pay Per View Option → which charges money from licensed subscribers willing to pay a one-time fee to view a movie, most often utilized by hotel and airline guests.
c. DVD/VHS cassette sales and rentals → Revenue from the sale and rental of DVDs to the public, which can also be purchased online (Netflix) or video stores (Blockbuster).
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Turnaround
Not all box-office hits are "green-lit" (accepted) by the studios at first glance. There is a process called turnaround." Turnaround is the process when a movie studio or the person financing the movie doesn’t want to spend any more money on the script, so it goes into abandonment. If the screenplay has a turnaround clause, the producer or movie studio can sell the screenplay to other companies and simply need to pay back the original cost to the studio with interest to the studio that put it through abandonment. A few turnaround movies are ET, Forrest Gump, and Shakespeare in Love. If a project goes into turnaround and no one picks it up then its dead and the producer or movie studio should move on. Also, during this whole process the script, producer, talent, or director can all change.
So, next time you see a movie you really enjoyed, know that it takes more than just money to make it.
So, next time you see a movie you really enjoyed, know that it takes more than just money to make it.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Novel Cafe.
I have lived in Los Angeles all my life and I still have so much to see. I am trying this new thing where I am trying to go eat at restaurants and cafe's which I have never been too. Today was the start to my adventure and I went to Novel Cafe. They have a few locations in Los Angeles, but I went to the one on Ocean Park Blvd. in Santa Monica. The thing that caught my eye about this place was the wide selection of food. It served breakfast all day and had lunch AND dinner food. I knew that this place was calling my name and I needed to go. So I embarked on my journey. I went to dinner with a friend and our expectations were far less than what was percieved. We had a great experience and the service was FaNtAsTiC! They even had Ballroom dancing music playing in the background. We went a little late so there wasn't a lot of people there, but it was still a good place. Oh and the best part is that there was free WiFi, so if you want to ever study at a cafe, this is the spot
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Movie Necessities.
The five major elements that a studio considers in selecting a project to put through the production process are the script/screenplay, director, producer, an acceptable budget, and “star power.” “Star power” refers to the actors and actresses that come with a specific project. The screenplay is ultimately “gold” because it is the building block for all the other four elements that essentially get a project made.
Also, three things that can happen to a screenplay developed at a major studio can . . .
1. It can be put into production and get ultimately made.
2. It can be abandoned and go into turnaround.
3. The movie studio can shop it and another financier (100%, 50%, etc) can pick up the project
It is very important that a studio tries to fill all these elements in a movie, because that is what can determine ultimate success.
Also, three things that can happen to a screenplay developed at a major studio can . . .
1. It can be put into production and get ultimately made.
2. It can be abandoned and go into turnaround.
3. The movie studio can shop it and another financier (100%, 50%, etc) can pick up the project
It is very important that a studio tries to fill all these elements in a movie, because that is what can determine ultimate success.
Friday, April 23, 2010
the cheating game.
Whoever said cheating the system will get you in big trouble is certainly proven wrong over the Goldman Sach's Situation. They made $5.4 Billion over just three months of work all while being sued by the Securities & Exchange Commissions for Fraud facing an EU investigation. They are still going strong and are still the largest investment bank who will get out of this mess pretty quickly. Goldman Sach's made a crazy amount of money betting on mortgages, while the economy was going downhill. They thought they were doing something ethical, when in fact it was deemed as unethical. They took clients money when they knew that a deal would go bad. However, Goldman Sach's has been in trouble with the law quite often that they know how to play the cheating game and get away with it.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Persian Heritage
Escaping the Iranian Revolution in 1978, United States was the place my parents were forced to call home. They had to leave all their belongings and prized possessions in Iran and leave with only the clothes on their backs. They came to America and started from the bottom up, regardless if they were wealthy or not. A lot of Iranian degrees were not valid in the United States. So, whether you were a teacher, a doctor or a well known business man, you were simply labeled as an immigrant who did not know the English language. In order to assimilate, the Persian people had to learn a new language, a new culture and a whole new way to try to connect their heritage in their new home. Unlike American culture, the Persian culture is very strong in the sense that even thought the persian had to assimilate, they still kept their language and heritage alive (to some degree).
However, do the children who were born in America in these Persian cultured homes still consider themselves more Persian than American. Well, the answer is that it all depends on how much your parents have instilled the culture in their children. Personally, I am a Persian first generation American Citizen, but consider my self more Persian than American. I was brought up with the values of the Persian culture and were taught many of the traditions that my parents followed in Iran. Yet, as you go down the line to the younger generation, they would consider themselves more American than Persian. This is so, because the younger generation have parents who are first generation Americans and grew up in America. In a few decades I wonder if the children of the next generations will even know Farsi or any of the culture. Now it is up to organizations to perhaps teach the American-Persians about their culture and how easy they have it compared to Iran.
However, do the children who were born in America in these Persian cultured homes still consider themselves more Persian than American. Well, the answer is that it all depends on how much your parents have instilled the culture in their children. Personally, I am a Persian first generation American Citizen, but consider my self more Persian than American. I was brought up with the values of the Persian culture and were taught many of the traditions that my parents followed in Iran. Yet, as you go down the line to the younger generation, they would consider themselves more American than Persian. This is so, because the younger generation have parents who are first generation Americans and grew up in America. In a few decades I wonder if the children of the next generations will even know Farsi or any of the culture. Now it is up to organizations to perhaps teach the American-Persians about their culture and how easy they have it compared to Iran.
Blogging in itself.
I am taking blogging to a whole new level.
The reason I originally started blogging is because it was sort of forced by an English course which I am taking. Before creating "The Scoop," I have never written a blog or was a part of a web-conversation. Honestly, I am neutral when it comes the stating my opinion and didn't even really care about blogs. When I was first assigned to create this blog, I was so lost and did not even know where to begin. I did not know how to set it up, was frankly too lazy to be typing all day and I did not even know what to write about! Many students found blogging to be better than writing papers for a class, yet, frankly speaking, I viewed blogging as mostly a burden. Why would people care about what I - out of all people - have to say. I simply hated the assignment. We had to continuously be blogging about whatever comes to mind and we did not need to have a certain pattern in our blog posts.
Because of my lack of enthusiasm, I - of course - lagged on writing on my blog and wouldn't really write that much (when I did end up blogging). I would blog here and there because I had to, NOT because I wanted to. But, I soon realized that not constantly updating my blog would bite me in the behind when it came towards the end of the semester.
As the semester came close to the end, I realized that my blog lacks some umph and did not have many posts. So, I started to fill the empty space with things that would actually relate to my life to make the assignment a little more interesting. As I started to get in the real mode of blogging, I soon learned that this assignment is not really that bad. I started to view blogging as more as an activity to get your thoughts out, rather than an assignment. I am a little bothered by the fact that I did not realize the true essence of blogging earlier in the term, but I learned a lot more from this experience.
One learns that in life comes challenges that they must face with open arms, because if you don't, the challenge will get a lot harder. As the great saying goes, you live and you learn. I did not enjoy blogging at all at the beginning of my forced assignment, but I realized it is a fun way to express my viewpoints and no one can say whether you are right or wrong. Next time I am faced with a challenge that I do not necessarily favor, I am going to try my very best to fight it back with all my might.
The reason I originally started blogging is because it was sort of forced by an English course which I am taking. Before creating "The Scoop," I have never written a blog or was a part of a web-conversation. Honestly, I am neutral when it comes the stating my opinion and didn't even really care about blogs. When I was first assigned to create this blog, I was so lost and did not even know where to begin. I did not know how to set it up, was frankly too lazy to be typing all day and I did not even know what to write about! Many students found blogging to be better than writing papers for a class, yet, frankly speaking, I viewed blogging as mostly a burden. Why would people care about what I - out of all people - have to say. I simply hated the assignment. We had to continuously be blogging about whatever comes to mind and we did not need to have a certain pattern in our blog posts.
Because of my lack of enthusiasm, I - of course - lagged on writing on my blog and wouldn't really write that much (when I did end up blogging). I would blog here and there because I had to, NOT because I wanted to. But, I soon realized that not constantly updating my blog would bite me in the behind when it came towards the end of the semester.
As the semester came close to the end, I realized that my blog lacks some umph and did not have many posts. So, I started to fill the empty space with things that would actually relate to my life to make the assignment a little more interesting. As I started to get in the real mode of blogging, I soon learned that this assignment is not really that bad. I started to view blogging as more as an activity to get your thoughts out, rather than an assignment. I am a little bothered by the fact that I did not realize the true essence of blogging earlier in the term, but I learned a lot more from this experience.
One learns that in life comes challenges that they must face with open arms, because if you don't, the challenge will get a lot harder. As the great saying goes, you live and you learn. I did not enjoy blogging at all at the beginning of my forced assignment, but I realized it is a fun way to express my viewpoints and no one can say whether you are right or wrong. Next time I am faced with a challenge that I do not necessarily favor, I am going to try my very best to fight it back with all my might.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Recession.
We all know that the recovery from the most recent recession seems never ending. Ever since economists have stated that we are in a recession, many people have lost their jobs, lost their homes and have cut back on many spending habits. I have even been shopping in high-end stores and I have over-heard people saying, "Don't designers know that we are in a recession. Look at these prices!" The standard of living for many have gradually dropped and people are learning to live on a budget. I sympathize with the innocent people who have lost their jobs or have merely cut back on their spending habits. Ever since the recession happened, I constantly think of how I can save money and being more conscious about my spending habits. In a recent article by Social & Demographics Trends, the researchers have mentioned that the birthrates have even declined in the recession. Many feel that they do not have the investment needed to raise a child in this economy.
But, analysts have stated that the end seems closer than expected. MarketWatch agrees that the economy is growing, but it simply takes some time. The economy will not go back to it's old growth patterns, however, there should be high growth rates in the near future. Hopefully, people learn from history and we will be able to avoid future economic recessions.
But, analysts have stated that the end seems closer than expected. MarketWatch agrees that the economy is growing, but it simply takes some time. The economy will not go back to it's old growth patterns, however, there should be high growth rates in the near future. Hopefully, people learn from history and we will be able to avoid future economic recessions.
Media Today
As newspapers continue to roll in debt because of the printing costs, the internet is soaring. This fact alone is scaring a lot of American's who enjoy reading the physical paper everyday. The question is raised: What is going to happen to the future print media outlets? The people who are creating new technology, such as the I-Pad and Kindle, think that their prime audience, young adults aging from 18 to 35, demand these new technological advances. But, I was having a class discussion with my peers the other day and this is surely not the case! I am not denying that people want to stay ancient with their flip phones and large textbooks, but people in the age range of 18 to 35 don't mind doing things the old fashioned way, like flipping through a newspaper rather than reading an article online. I have to admit, I am one of those people who enjoy reading from a textbook and highlighting/writing notes and some of my colleagues are too. Having the tangible paper in my hand and reading it is all about the experience, but when you read the same article online, one does not have the same feeling.
A point that one of my classmates brought up is that people in this day and age are very possessive about their belongings, so not having a tangible book as opposed to having it on a kindle is not good enough for some people. Kimi Raikkonen, a fellow blogger, also has an interesting viewpoint on how people are possessive even with their belongings and human beings at a very young age. People want to be able to show off their possessions, but if everything is electronic or not as big anymore, will people still buy new advances in technology? This is simply my personal opinion because I was brought up in an era where students had to lug around textbooks and other forms of literature for a particular course or simply leisure. But, if this was my little sister's opinion, everything would be electronic. She is still in elementary school, but all her books and assignments are required to be online. Marketers think that my generation is the target audience for their electronic devices, however the younger generation seems to be more tech-savvy than me and my peers.
As time passes, researchers will see the new impact of the information age and how it affects future generations of print media and online media outlets.
A point that one of my classmates brought up is that people in this day and age are very possessive about their belongings, so not having a tangible book as opposed to having it on a kindle is not good enough for some people. Kimi Raikkonen, a fellow blogger, also has an interesting viewpoint on how people are possessive even with their belongings and human beings at a very young age. People want to be able to show off their possessions, but if everything is electronic or not as big anymore, will people still buy new advances in technology? This is simply my personal opinion because I was brought up in an era where students had to lug around textbooks and other forms of literature for a particular course or simply leisure. But, if this was my little sister's opinion, everything would be electronic. She is still in elementary school, but all her books and assignments are required to be online. Marketers think that my generation is the target audience for their electronic devices, however the younger generation seems to be more tech-savvy than me and my peers.
As time passes, researchers will see the new impact of the information age and how it affects future generations of print media and online media outlets.
Coachella
I was fortunate enough to go to Indio Valley this weekend for the Annual Coachella Festival and it was AMAZING!! For people who are not familiar with Coachella, it is a music festival with over 60 artists who perform all genres and have their own performances at the three day festival. This year it was held from April 16 to April 18. It was the first year that the business minds behind Coachella only sold three day pass wristbands for a whopping $300. And guess What!?!?!?!?! Coachella even SOLD OUT! That's ridiculous! People have estimated that 75,000 people showed up for Coachella, however, being an attendee of the music festival, I thought there were a lot more people there (considering the fact that many of them snuck in). I witnessed so many people sneaking in and running away from security and I even saw some young women who was unsuccessful at sneaking in that was forced to the ground by security. My favorite performance was by Jay-Z because he is a natural performer and engages his fans. He brought Beyonce as a surprise, who was PHENOMENAL, and I think I would have paid $300 just to see that. Other performers such as Pheoneix, Infected Mushrooms, Benny Bennassi, David Guetta, Caskade and many more were also great. I hope to go next year and see who the surprise guests are going to be.
Friday, April 16, 2010
"Amelia"
Here are some of my thoughts of "Amelia" the movie, which was recently released on DVD.
As you all know, Amelia Earhart is a world rewound icon who flew the first plane unaccompanied across the Pacific. Therefore, her experience is an influential and educational learning opportunity for all. This movie had stars including Richard Gere and Hilary Swank, but did not seem to do well at the box office opening weekend at all. This was an extraordinary movie that should have done well, so what went wrong? Fox Searchlight advertised in the normal media outlets they usually advertise in for their specific niche market movies and that was exactly the problem. All of Fox Searchlight's movies are catered to specific audiences and the audiences that we wanted did not attend their movie. If the marketing department had followed normal marketing guidelines for this specific movie and had followed through with the promotions that I had put in line for them, this movie would have been a hit!
First off, the target audience would be the older generation that was alive during this time, so they would automatically go and watch this movie. As for the younger generation, Fox Searchlight should have made a partnership with the local elementary schools in the area to come watch our movie at a discounted rate because of the learning aspect of the movie. This is movie has a PG rating so parents would approve for their children to watch this spectacular film. Museums could have clips of this movie in their aviation exhibits that would also inform and attract people to watch this movie. This would get more audiences through theater doors. Also, this movie should have been made in 3-D. Going digital is key today and this film has all the aspects to show in IMAX and 3-D. Children would have loved this and it would have been an interesting twist to avid moviegoers. The planes could have jumped at you and flown around the room and it would have made a great experience for everyone. Making Amelia in IMAX 3-D could have made Fox Searchlight's sales rise, but they did not.
As you all know, Amelia Earhart is a world rewound icon who flew the first plane unaccompanied across the Pacific. Therefore, her experience is an influential and educational learning opportunity for all. This movie had stars including Richard Gere and Hilary Swank, but did not seem to do well at the box office opening weekend at all. This was an extraordinary movie that should have done well, so what went wrong? Fox Searchlight advertised in the normal media outlets they usually advertise in for their specific niche market movies and that was exactly the problem. All of Fox Searchlight's movies are catered to specific audiences and the audiences that we wanted did not attend their movie. If the marketing department had followed normal marketing guidelines for this specific movie and had followed through with the promotions that I had put in line for them, this movie would have been a hit!
First off, the target audience would be the older generation that was alive during this time, so they would automatically go and watch this movie. As for the younger generation, Fox Searchlight should have made a partnership with the local elementary schools in the area to come watch our movie at a discounted rate because of the learning aspect of the movie. This is movie has a PG rating so parents would approve for their children to watch this spectacular film. Museums could have clips of this movie in their aviation exhibits that would also inform and attract people to watch this movie. This would get more audiences through theater doors. Also, this movie should have been made in 3-D. Going digital is key today and this film has all the aspects to show in IMAX and 3-D. Children would have loved this and it would have been an interesting twist to avid moviegoers. The planes could have jumped at you and flown around the room and it would have made a great experience for everyone. Making Amelia in IMAX 3-D could have made Fox Searchlight's sales rise, but they did not.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Persian Marriage
Persian weddings have become the essential factor, the all-important element, and the supreme aim for the Iranian Jewish Community. Not only is it pressured and influenced that Iranian woman marry wealthy, educated, family-oriented, and handsome men, it is presumed that this couple will live up to the overpowering expectation of their family and community, and indulge in hosting a big, extravagant, and expensive wedding. Many other reasons as to why it is that the Iranian Jewish community feels the need to host such weddings present themselves; some of them being, the reciprocity of invitations, financial pressures, and social obligations.
Irangeles, edited by Ron Kelley, explains, “There is an unspoken sense of reciprocity involved in invitations. Excluding someone from a wedding meant dealing with social consequences. Even someone who did not come from an affluent background had to throw an extravagant wedding with numerous guests. Thus, there is an obligation within the community to attend weddings and repay those who invited you by inviting them to your wedding and social functions.” The Iranian Jewish community is a very tight-knit community where everyone has a dignified respect for one another, and always feels the need to give back to the community. Thus, excluding someone from one momentous occasion within the community is akin to blacklisting that person, which then precedes that person reciprocating this action by excluding, or blacklisting you. People become very offended by this, it is seen as the most outright sign of disrespect to that person. Irangeles states, “Members of the community have the obligation to throw a social event, to attend social events, and then to repay the host back by throwing another event. It is a delicate balance between hosting, attending, and repaying. This explains how the community is obliged to reciprocate, or pay back members of the community by hosting such events, even if they didn’t have the ability to do so. They then receive a reciprocation of the invitation to attend another event, and then starting the whole process over again by repaying, or hosting another event. The balance amongst hosting, attending, and repaying is then seen as the most prominent way to give back to the community.
The Jewish Journal article titled, Iranian Jewish Couples trapped by six-figure party dilemma, Melamed Karmel writes, “Some young Iranian Jewish newlyweds say that while they did not necessarily want a large wedding, they feel pressure from their parents and extended family to put on a more lavish affair. Their parents, they say, feel an obligation to invite people whose parties they have attended.” This article professes the profound pressure and obligation to host an extravagant wedding, even if the couple didn’t want it because of the obligation in inviting people who have either reciprocated an invitation before, or so that you don’t become blacklisted. Because the Iranian Jewish community has kept reciprocating, as a custom for many years now, evading from this custom, does not present itself as a feasible option that they would be able to uphold. Irangeles states, “Engagement parties were even larger because people who were not invited to the wedding invitation were invited to the engagement party instead.” Because reciprocating is a custom that is prominent within older generations of the Iranian Jewish community, many couples today don’t believe in supporting a lavish wedding, and support the idea of having small intimate weddings instead. This is seen as an immense obstacle for Iranian parents, so they compromise with the married couple in having a bigger engagement instead, so that to not offend any members of the community.
Reciprocating has become a bigger problem nowadays, because of the disapproval of today’s generation. An article in the Jewish Journal titled, Wedding story really strikes a chord with L.A.’s Iranian Jews, Karmel Melamed states, “We as younger Iranian Jews really need to outreach and communicate this key message better to our relatives who have such high expectations of being invited to every single party or gathering nowadays.” I agree with Melamed when he basically says that we need to stop living up to the Iranian Jewish communities custom in reciprocating, because its not only about getting invited to the next party, its about celebrating this occasion with the people you love, which is something the newer generations are trying to convey to the older generations.
Many financial pressures persist in hosting a lavish wedding as the Iranian Jewish community expects you to uphold. Kelley states, “The average amount of money people pay for a wedding ranges from $60,000 to $100,000, which does not include the numerous parties that take place before the wedding. The typical Iranian Jewish wedding will have anywhere from five hundred to one thousand guests. Many wedding are held in hotels by the LAX airport because those hotels are equipped to hold business conventions—they can accommodate large groups of guests.” This information goes to show just how lavish an Iranian Jewish weddings are. Iranian Jewish weddings are also a way to make Iranian Jewish businesses flourish because of the much-needed involvement by businesses to contribute to the very extravagance of the wedding. These businesses include Iranian Jewish florists, caterers, seamstresses, photographers, musicians, etc. Melamed indicates, “For the record, I can understand the tremendous pressure young Iranian Jewish couples feel to please their parents when it comes to their weddings. Yes, we love and respect our parents. We also don’t want to let them down… yet at the same time, the sad reality is that we no longer live in Iran and cannot afford to invite so many guests.” I agree with Melamed when he says that we are not in Iran anymore, and we cannot afford these lavish weddings that are expected of us, just so we can make our parents happy! In Melamed’s article, Iranian Jewish couples trapped by six-figure party dilemma,” he tells of a man who, under family pressure, is undergoing large debts just to pay off this lavish wedding that is expected of his parents and the community. He is struggling with the idea of supporting such a wedding, and letting his family down. The article goes on to prove that the financial pressure is so high that most weddings have been called-off, or result in divorce because of this enthralling pressure. Melamed goes on to say, “There’s also concern that local Iranian Jews will marry outside of the community or outside of the faith in order to escape the mounting six-figure wedding pressure.” This statement goes to show the result of this astounding pressure of having a six-figure party, that Iranian Jews are now seen getting married outside of the community or faith, just because the financial pressure of supporting a wedding this big is so high. After reading into this problem, and why it is that the Iranian Jewish community expects such a lavish wedding, I realized that it comes down to societal pressures and the need to fit in. That leads me to an even bigger question. Who are you trying to please in your life? All these weddings simply show off someone's financial status. Having such an expensive, and exquisite wedding leads to the belief that the bride has married into a family of great financial status, and of profound elegance. These weddings also benefit the Iranian Jewish community a great deal because they obtain a feeling of relief and accomplishment, that either their son or daughter is marrying into a good, or rich family, and to show off to the community that this is indeed true, and to celebrate their efforts in marrying their son and daughter off to this type of family.
Social status is very important in the Iranian Jewish community. Therefore, many social obligations persist. Kelley portrays, “Wedding and other events are not merely social gatherings. There are social obligations and economic considerations involved in throwing and attending parties, and thus, they serve a greater function within the community.” These social obligations are seen through the reciprocity of invitations, and the financial pressures in pleasing the Iranian Jewish community. It goes beyond a social gathering, these parties uphold a person’s social status, and that is why weddings serve a greater function in the Iranian Jewish community. Kelley manifests, “Iranian Jews place a lot of emphasis on paziraeeh. It is important within the culture to always act correctly and not offend anyone.” Iranian Jews see their social obligation as a community through paziraeeh, or catering to the needs and wants of people. They use this attitude in their daily lives, the very thought of always needing to please people, is highly impacted on this community. Displeasing anyone, is simply unacceptable, because it is frowned upon to a great extent. This constitutes why it is that the Iranian Jewish community feels so constrained and committed to reciprocating invitations so that no one gets offended and everyone is pleased, spending six-figures on a party in order to show off their financial status and social position to please the Iranian Jewish community. Melamed states, “I was recently informed that one engaged Iranian Jewish couple kept putting off plans for their wedding because of their families fighting over the number of guests.” This fact coincides with that of paziraeeh, because the family was fighting over the number of guests, in order to please all their guests and to follow their custom of reciprocation. Kelley indicates, “Weddings and other events are important because they keep the community together through a network of socializing and indebtedness.” The Iranian Jewish community feel obligated to have these events in order to allow people to come and socialize, whether it be about business, or meeting people for a potential marriage, and so on, so that we keep the Iranian Jewish community alive throughout generations. This thought also adds to the reason why people throw such extravagant parties because they want their family, and their well being to appeal to their community, so that they will be noticed, for future endeavors. Kelley reaffirms this point when he proclaims that the Iranian Jewish community, feel compelled to possess these large weddings in order to maintain their social status in the community.
In conclusion, the Iranian Jewish community feels the need to host such lavish weddings in order to maintain their custom of reciprocity through invitations, show off their social status by giving into financial pressures they to uphold such parties, and because of their social obligation to please every member of the prominent Iranian Jewish community. Reciprocity of invitations holds a very delicate balance between hosting parties, attending parties, and repaying parties. This process has been adapted into the Iranian Jewish community as a prominent custom that is almost impossible to eradicate, because of the constant need to please people within the community. In the case of not upholding this custom, or not inviting others who have invited you in the past, or not inviting people who expect invitations could lead to the permanent blacklisting of the family. Jessica and Mahnaz Lavi further validate the point that one main factor in having these big weddings as Mahnaz proclaims, is because they don’t want to displease any member of the community, and they feel that they owe something to them because of the custom of reciprocity, which constitutes why these weddings are so big. The fact that they will feel embarrassed by not inviting these people to the wedding shows just how important this custom is. I agree with Melamed when he states the importance of young Iranian Jews communicating the message of doing away with the idea of reciprocity. We live in a time now where the young Iranian Jews can speak up and explain that it is their wedding, and even though their parents feel obligated to invite certain people to the wedding, the young Iranian Jews should feel obligated to express the fact that it is their wedding and they will do whatever it is to make them happy. Jessica fought for what she believed in and told her parents that the wedding is hers, she has the will to do whatever she wants with it, and the engagement was to her parents, and that is the compromise they conjured up. Throughout the financial pressures in upholding such an exquisite wedding, it is clear that the reason behind possessing these parties is for the promise of presenting the families’ social status, or financial status. Throughout these sources, I have found that affording such weddings is a great struggle, and the main concern for the newer generation is not letting down their families, but when it comes to the point where these weddings are so hard to support, that a person has to take out a loan in supporting the costs of the wedding, that person must face his family and let them know that he cant, and he wont. It is evident that Social obligation plays a big role in the Iranian Jewish community through the custom of reciprocity, and being financially pressured into upholding such weddings as a means to create the stigma that this family is indeed of great wealth and class, and their social withstanding is of great virtue. The Iranian Jewish community upholds the act of paziraeeh, in which they constantly feel the urge to please people in their community in their daily lives, this idea seeks to validate the reason why they are so committed in reciprocating invitations, and possessing these parties as a means to please their community and become noticed as a family who is worthy and upholds a great social withstanding. Reciprocity, financial pressures, and social obligations are three of the most prominent motives, as to why the Iranian Jewish community throws such lavish weddings.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
European Financing
According to Nikki Finke, Rumor has it that movie makers are going to Europe to find future financiers for their films.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Sarah Palin on The Tonight Show
We all know that Sarah Palin has been the topic of many comedic moments, so she goes ahead and even makes a little fun of herself to show her humorous side. Check this out: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/03/sarah-palin-jay-leno.html. She is known for writing notes on her hand while giving speeches and appearing at public conventions, so she shows it off on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Weekend Box Office Summary
WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
Top 10 Grossing Movies
1. Shutter Island
2. Cop Out
3. The Crazies
4. Avatar
5. Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightening Thief
6. Valentines Day
7. Dear John
8. The Wolfman
9. Tooth Fairy
10. Crazy Heart
AVATAR Controversy
Box office movie hit, Avatar, made by James Cameron, has a lot of entities and bloggers expressing their views on how the movie is a religious controversy. Avatar is one of the movies chosen to win the “Best Picture” Oscar and people are complaining!
The Massie Twins have written an adequate synopsis that is below and I think it is a good description of Avatar without giving too much away:
When his brother is killed in a robbery, paraplegic Marine Jake Sully decides to take his place in a mission on the distant world of Pandora. There he learns of greedy corporate figurehead Parker Selfridge's intentions of driving off the native humanoid "Na'vi" in order to mine for the precious material scattered throughout their rich woodland. In exchange for the spinal surgery that will fix his legs, Jake gathers intel for the cooperating military unit spearheaded by gung-ho Colonel Quaritch, while simultaneously attempting to infiltrate the Na'vi people with the use of an "avatar" identity. While Jake begins to bond with the native tribe and quickly falls in love with the beautiful alien Neytiri, the restless Colonel moves forward with his ruthless extermination tactics, forcing the soldier to take a stand - and fight back in an epic battle for the fate of Pandora.
According to CNN, the way the characters are formed and the way they live are stated to be a “pro-environment, anti-religious film.” Cameron is also accused of making a motion picture that depicts the military as the “bad guys” and that he does not respect the military culture. Well, NEWSFLASH!!!! Cameron actually has a brother who was a former marine and greatly respects the military. I strongly believe that Cameron simply wanted to make a movie out this world to blow people away and according to the reactions, he truly has. If anything, we should give Cameron a pat on the back for giving audiences such an indulging experience. Truthfully, there is one main reason why people go to movies. That reason is that people want to ESCAPE from reality and Cameron has certainly met up to that expectation.
Just because he did not give the people living on Pandora, does not mean this film is ANTI-religious. In reaction to Jonah Goldberg’s article on Avatar, I agree with him that the movie would not have been the least interesting if there was no religion addressed. The movie is not stating that one religion is better than another, however, Cameron was simply making a movie that would take audiences into another mindset and on a fantasy journey.
Blogs such as “Heresy Corner,” has attacked the film for having an underlying political message that the American troops are evil because they are trying to ruin the living environment of the Na’vi people.
Sebastian states that the Vatican believes that the movie is pantheism, which is a nature religion. It’s a movie people! Why are you personally offended by every concept of the film?!?! It’s an AMAZING and HEART WARMING film.
Brent Riggs is another blogger who feels strongly that Avatar is a left-wing movie that agrees with the fact that “white corporate America are greedy,” and that the “military is death-loving [and] peace hating.” He believes that movie goers are brainwashed and are used to movies like Avatar, so we except the messages the movie is sending to us. However, he Riggs does admit that it was a spectacular movie and I strongly agree with him.
T.A. McMahon addresses Avatar’s Shamanism, which is the belief in nature and the most widespread religion today. I agree with McMahon when he mentions that the movie is for pure enjoyment and entertainment. When you pay to watch a movie, you expect to be blown away and Avatar did just that!
Waddah Jerk mentions that the movie has a lot of relatable the Iraq war, spiritualism, and such. I believe that Cameron put these issues in his movie to make the movie relateable to the widest audience possible. A movie is trying to capture the most audience possible to make the most money on their film. Therefore, one way to do that is by making your film connect to everyone who watches it.
Carlos A. Quiroz believes that Avatar is in fact a real situation. It depicts what is going on with the rich and poor of this country and around the world. This simply proves that, once again, Avatar can be connected to many people’s lives. Quiroz connects all the characters and ideas of Avatar to real life situations and people today.
LeftWingAndBrave has gone so far as to set up a protest against Avatar because of it’s view of transgender people. I feel as if some people are taking this movie a little farther than Cameron would have expected. Perhaps he can do a press conference or release a statement addressing all these pressing issues that people are uncomfortable with.
All these blog posts and controversies simply show that audiences look into movies for more than simply enjoyment, but rather to analyze every second of it. All movies are seen from different lenses and audiences have the choice to see which lens they would like to view the movie from. We all have our own opinions and no opinion has greater significance than another because we are all equal beings. Avatar has simply set the bar for future movie making ideas. James Cameron wrote the script of Avatar over a decade ago, which simply proves that all the connections to war and politics are incongruent with the time.
The Massie Twins have written an adequate synopsis that is below and I think it is a good description of Avatar without giving too much away:
When his brother is killed in a robbery, paraplegic Marine Jake Sully decides to take his place in a mission on the distant world of Pandora. There he learns of greedy corporate figurehead Parker Selfridge's intentions of driving off the native humanoid "Na'vi" in order to mine for the precious material scattered throughout their rich woodland. In exchange for the spinal surgery that will fix his legs, Jake gathers intel for the cooperating military unit spearheaded by gung-ho Colonel Quaritch, while simultaneously attempting to infiltrate the Na'vi people with the use of an "avatar" identity. While Jake begins to bond with the native tribe and quickly falls in love with the beautiful alien Neytiri, the restless Colonel moves forward with his ruthless extermination tactics, forcing the soldier to take a stand - and fight back in an epic battle for the fate of Pandora.
According to CNN, the way the characters are formed and the way they live are stated to be a “pro-environment, anti-religious film.” Cameron is also accused of making a motion picture that depicts the military as the “bad guys” and that he does not respect the military culture. Well, NEWSFLASH!!!! Cameron actually has a brother who was a former marine and greatly respects the military. I strongly believe that Cameron simply wanted to make a movie out this world to blow people away and according to the reactions, he truly has. If anything, we should give Cameron a pat on the back for giving audiences such an indulging experience. Truthfully, there is one main reason why people go to movies. That reason is that people want to ESCAPE from reality and Cameron has certainly met up to that expectation.
Just because he did not give the people living on Pandora, does not mean this film is ANTI-religious. In reaction to Jonah Goldberg’s article on Avatar, I agree with him that the movie would not have been the least interesting if there was no religion addressed. The movie is not stating that one religion is better than another, however, Cameron was simply making a movie that would take audiences into another mindset and on a fantasy journey.
Blogs such as “Heresy Corner,” has attacked the film for having an underlying political message that the American troops are evil because they are trying to ruin the living environment of the Na’vi people.
Sebastian states that the Vatican believes that the movie is pantheism, which is a nature religion. It’s a movie people! Why are you personally offended by every concept of the film?!?! It’s an AMAZING and HEART WARMING film.
Brent Riggs is another blogger who feels strongly that Avatar is a left-wing movie that agrees with the fact that “white corporate America are greedy,” and that the “military is death-loving [and] peace hating.” He believes that movie goers are brainwashed and are used to movies like Avatar, so we except the messages the movie is sending to us. However, he Riggs does admit that it was a spectacular movie and I strongly agree with him.
T.A. McMahon addresses Avatar’s Shamanism, which is the belief in nature and the most widespread religion today. I agree with McMahon when he mentions that the movie is for pure enjoyment and entertainment. When you pay to watch a movie, you expect to be blown away and Avatar did just that!
Waddah Jerk mentions that the movie has a lot of relatable the Iraq war, spiritualism, and such. I believe that Cameron put these issues in his movie to make the movie relateable to the widest audience possible. A movie is trying to capture the most audience possible to make the most money on their film. Therefore, one way to do that is by making your film connect to everyone who watches it.
Carlos A. Quiroz believes that Avatar is in fact a real situation. It depicts what is going on with the rich and poor of this country and around the world. This simply proves that, once again, Avatar can be connected to many people’s lives. Quiroz connects all the characters and ideas of Avatar to real life situations and people today.
LeftWingAndBrave has gone so far as to set up a protest against Avatar because of it’s view of transgender people. I feel as if some people are taking this movie a little farther than Cameron would have expected. Perhaps he can do a press conference or release a statement addressing all these pressing issues that people are uncomfortable with.
All these blog posts and controversies simply show that audiences look into movies for more than simply enjoyment, but rather to analyze every second of it. All movies are seen from different lenses and audiences have the choice to see which lens they would like to view the movie from. We all have our own opinions and no opinion has greater significance than another because we are all equal beings. Avatar has simply set the bar for future movie making ideas. James Cameron wrote the script of Avatar over a decade ago, which simply proves that all the connections to war and politics are incongruent with the time.
As Richard Corless at Time Magazine mentions, "For years to come 'Avatar' will define what movies can achieve."
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Walmart Acquires Vudu!
According to the Financial Times, Walmart just acquired Vudu by buying it out on Feburary 22, 2010. Walmart is the biggest DVD supplier and getting this film download service will keep Walmart at the top of the charts. Vudu is an internet video software syatem and is now being incorporated into television sets and Blu-Ray disc players. Vudu charges a low $3.99 to get access to and rent recently released films and $19.99 to buy the film.
This brings Walmart into the competition with Netflix, Redbox, and other DVD outlets. Walmart is a DVD providor for approximately 40% of the market. Walmart belives that this ownership of Vudu will give Walmart customers a choice of versatility of the forms they want to watch their entertainment in. We will simply have to see if Walmart acquires other industries to be world leaders.
This brings Walmart into the competition with Netflix, Redbox, and other DVD outlets. Walmart is a DVD providor for approximately 40% of the market. Walmart belives that this ownership of Vudu will give Walmart customers a choice of versatility of the forms they want to watch their entertainment in. We will simply have to see if Walmart acquires other industries to be world leaders.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Ellen DeGeneres
News Just In! Warner Bros has just allowed "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" to be continued on NBC because of her amazing ratings she brought to "American Idol." She has extended her contract for another THREE YEARS! Who could have thought that Ellen would attract people to tune into "American Idol." She has been known for her unique personality that spices up any stage she might be on. Everyone who works with Ellen has mentioned that she is a true star and a pleasure to work with. "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" is ranked at #2 in terms of talk show and is simply behind Oprah in rankings. Having Ellen on "American Idol" can truly be a positive start for the show's ninth season on television. There has also been some controversy over whether Howard Stern replaces the infamous Simon Cowell on American Idol, but rumor has it that Ellen does not approve. Well, We will have to see if the rating continue to rise with her presence on the show.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
The Future of Entertainment
As technology is advancing we are able to receive digital quality movies in the comfort of our own homes, specifically speaking our computer screen. WOW! Who would have thought that one can simply purchase a movie that is fairly new on the internet, ITunes, or an official third party carrier. Media is following the society's needs and wants and conforming to what we are requesting. Media has become so fragmented so we are able to watch what we want, where we want, and when we want. This has made movie theaters lose profits because people do not want to spend more money than needed to watch a movie, especially in this recession period.
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