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I n T his I ssue: Canada’s F ilm M or e on B ar uc h A ntaly a F ilm F est T he M agic of I P T V

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T he Studios’ New A M A Z I A ’s I ntr o: A sia Challenge: D ir ec t- to- T V F or um ’s O wn T sunam i H om e M ov ie D eliv er y eow Hui Leng, project Exhibitions, is part of Reed Business director of Reed Exhibitions, Group, meaning that two divisions of the BY DOM SERAFINI Singapore, which is organi- same company are now competing for the s Hollywood quivering in fear in the face of new media? Recently, The Los Angeles zing the eighth annual Asia same audience) , and the man charged Times wrote that, “Mainstream media [is in] a digital panic,” and this is, perhaps, Television Forum ( ATF) , is with responsibility for AMAZIA, the reason behind its rush towards CINEMA happy that “the 2007 [ATF] is (Continued on Page 24) million-dollar purchases of social Martedì16Ottobre 2007 RAPPORTI www.ilsole24ore.com INRIZZARDI one hundred percent sold Cate Blanchett interpreta la Regina Elisabetta nel film Elizabeth: The Golden Age Y networking websites that are easily Direttoreresponsabile Caporedattore Supplementoal numeroodierno delSole-24 Ore- PosteItaliane FerrucciodeBortoli LauraLaPosta Sped. inA.p. -D.l. 353/2003 conv.L. 46/2004, art. 1,c.1,Dcb Milano out.” However, 2008 might Parla Goffredo Bettini. «Il nostro successo Il cartellone. Da giovedì alla Festa di Roma replicable. News Corp., Fox’s parent ha spinto Venezia a fare meglio» u pagina 6 167 pellicole di cui 14 in concorso u pagina 7 well prove to be a different Gli Studios a un bivio. È tempo di scegliere tra la difesa del business tradizionale e l’apertura al web che consente di scavalcare le sale La nuova Dolce vita company, for example, paid $580 million to Belle e supersexy F ilm m ak er s F ind T heir Hollywood porta a porta Via Veneto ritrova story, due to the threat from

I MARCO MARELLA le grandi stelle buy the social networking website MySpace, Le major vogliono Marta Cagnola troppi dolci ma perché in «Via Veneto è l’approdo dolce attesa. Gioie della T r ue Callings in M iam i obbligato sulla rotta delle famiglia, insomma, come AMAZIA, a competing portare celebrità più o meno effimere quelle di Francis Ford del nostro tempo. Kirk Coppola, che si porterà a i loro film Douglas assapora le arie Roma tutto il parentado. Non adding it to their 1 9 other Internet-based romane, sorride alla città ha paura di stare solo (anzi) direttamente eterna e concede autografi l’altro grande protagonista con simpatica bonarietà...». della sezione Extra, il regista nelle case Recitava così un cinegiornale più misterioso d’America, dell’Industria cortometraggi Terrence Malick, quattro market to be held just prior young provocatively-dressed Colombian lady degli spettatori Milano, quella «Settimana film in trent’anni di carriera. Incom» che per vent’anni, Per il suo intervento ha dal 1946 al 1965, raccontò agli chiesto che vengano italiani l’incanto di una operations. A gossip website, TMZ.com, has WEBPHOTO di Dom Serafini strada, trecento metri da Piazza Barberini a Porta ollywood, la vecchia si- Pinciana, che divenne il H gnora dell’intratteni- luogo più amato dalle stelle mento, ha timore dei del cinema. Kirk Douglas era to the AT F. hopped tables during the Florida Media nuovimedia. «Imedia tradizio- solo uno dei nomi dorati che nali si sono fatti prendere dal vi si incontravano a even become a television show produced by panico digitale», scrive il Los passeggio tutte le sere - e le Angeles Times. Ed ecco che si notti, come raccontò lanciaall’acquistodinuovipor- Federico Fellini ne La dolce taliaudio-videopagando profu- vita, nel 1960. Una vita che matamentepermezzi facilmen- ebbe il suo culmine proprio te replicabili. La News Corp., agli inizi degli anni Sessanta e If the name doesn’t yet say Market’s ( FMM) first-day lunch break, casa madre della Fox, ha paga- poi sparì. Ma nel nostro to580 milioni didollari per ilsi- immaginario Roma resta Telepictures and distributed by Warner. to di comunicazione sociale legata ai sogni di celluloide, MySpace, aggiungendolo alle forse ancora più di Venezia, sue altre 19 operazioni Inter- più di Cannes. Per questo la Le deuxième souffle, con una net. Un sito di gossip, TMZ. Festa di Roma è inedita Monica Bellucci platinata com è addirittura diventato un indissolubilmente legata alla programmatelevisivodellaTe- mondanità. E per il suo much, its backers speak pitching her project – – something that lepictures (Warner Bros.). essere "festa", e non approntate misure di Sembra insomma che i giganti "festival", porta il tappeto sicurezza rafforzate e Bros. At this point one still gets the dell’intrattenimentoabbianoti- rosso in mezzo alla folla allontanati tutti i fotografi. I more dei video girati dai dilet- dell’Auditorium e permette flash si potranno scatenare tanti (che rappresentano il di vedere le star a distanza sul cast di Lions for lambs (di 60% del materiale che circola (quasi) di comuni mortali. e con Robert Redford, e con su siti come YouTube). «Cercheremo di dimostrare Meryl Streep e Tom Cruise) Hollywood ha un rapporto che il glamour non è fine a se e sulle stelle di casa nostra. volumes: Reed Midem. apparentemente schizofreni- stesso, ma che il corpo della C’è Asia Argento, ormai A sounded, at first, like the usual documentary one often co con i nuovi media. È vero video on demand; e il 20% alla luppo di reti Tv per il cinema, pirateria dei Dvd. Infatti, nel to con Vudu per la consegna abbonati perché consumava- star spesso è il corpo del internazionale, con le sue impression that entertainment professionals che la tecnologia sta cambian- sala cinematografica (la pri- tipoHbo: la prima ad aver capi- 2005, le major americane han- porta a porta via broadband no troppo. grande attore», dichiara la nuove provocazioni, stavolta do tutto, ma è anche vero che, ma settimana, poi concede fi- to e sfruttato l’allora nuova no subito perdite valutate a 3,7 dei loro film. L’apparecchio di Per gli studio, il costo del tra- direttrice della sezione in veste di attrice e di figlia. per gli studio, cambia tutto af- no al 50%). tecnologia satellitare. Errore miliardi di dollari per colpa dei Vudu, del costo di 300 dollari, sporto di un film dai server ai Première Piera Detassis. C’è Diego Abatantuono, finchénoncambinullaperlelo- «Non vogliamo dare i nostri che ora gli studios non voglio- film piratati in tutto il mondo. permette di visionare il film al consumatoriè dicircauncente- Come a dire: non è tutto oro accanto a Gérard Depardieu, ro tasche. Mentre da una parte contenuti in deposito per otte- no replicare. Nel 2006 questa somma si èab- prezzodi 6dollari sudi untele- simo all’ora per utente. «Per gli quel che luccica, ma qui a ne L’abbuffata di Mimmo si lanciano alla cieca sui media nere una semplice commissio- Lemajor non puntano all’eli- bassata a 2,3 miliardi, grazie visore,subitodopo averlo sele- studio – spiega Kagan – il costo Roma sì. E così potremo Calopresti. E poi l’eterna e Franz Caduc, director of digitali, dall’altra sanno bene ne – spiega Gary Marenzi, co- minazione di alcun canale di all’aumento del numero dei zionato. Aggiunge Marenzi: del trasporto via banda larga è vedere se Monica Bellucci si inossidabile Sophia Loren, hears about at media market conferences. Her pitch dove vogliono arrivare: porta- presidente della Mgm – bensì sfruttamento e tantomeno in- film scaricati via Internet. Tra «La Mgm si è impegnata anche paragonabile a quellodi fabbri- presenterà nel suo consueto che l’anno scorso un po’ ci tend to be fearful of Web content made by reilorofilm direttamentenelle desideriamo creare sinergie tendonoscoraggiarel’introdu- poco costerà troppo produrre con Apple e altre piattaforme. cazione dei Dvd». Per dare alle look di mora mozzafiato rimase male per il mancato case dei consumatori e ridurre commerciali che ci assicurino zione di nuove forme di frui- Dvd piratati al confronto del Stiamo abbracciando tutte le Tv cavo un contentino, gli stu- oppure (per la prima volta) invito e che ora si merita un drasticamente i costi di produ- una giusta quota. Non possia- zione dei loro film. Gli sbagli prezzo di un film scaricato le- forme di distribuzione digita- dio stanno ora esaminando il bionda, come la Manouche di evento speciale. «Icona di zione, promozione e distribu- monemmeno ignorarelediver- dell’industria discograficaser- gittimamente. le, siano queste streaming o cosiddetto "day&date", cioè Le deuxième souffle. Lei Roma», l’ha definita il zione. «Le nuove generazioni se forme di distribuzione. È no- vono da monito. Come ha di- Tre ulteriori sviluppi gioca- per scaricamento. Siamo neu- l’uscita dei film simultanea- confessa: «L’effetto della sindaco, Walter Veltroni. non conoscono i Dvd – spiega stro dovere distribuire in mo- chiarato Edgar Bronfman del- no a favore della strategia de- trali sulla tecnologia e agnosti- mente nei cinema e per Vod. chioma bionda è stato Che un po’ icona di Roma e New Business Develop- Russell J. Kagan, consulente do efficiente i nostri contenuti la Warner Music, «l’industria gli studio: l’assenza di costi ag- ci sulle piattaforme». Cosa che, naturalmente, non sorprendente, soprattutto del suo cinema è pure lui. wasn’t clear, so many dismissed it as gobbledygook. delle major – e questo perchè si e monetizzarli». della musica sta crescendo, giuntivi per la banda larga, il La Tv cavo ha beneficiato piace ai gestori di sale cinema- sugli uomini, ma è stato per Due volumi di critica in amateurs ( essentially 60 percent of videos affidano alla banda larga». Ma Secondo Kagan, alle major quella discografica invece basso costo dei televisori piat- deiservizi Tv come Hboche gli tografiche. «Siamo in una fase una volta e mai più». La bibliografia, quattro film finché gli studio continueran- brucia ancora il fatto di esser- no!».L’esperienza della video- ti a largo schermo e le tecnolo- studiostessi hannoaiutato afar di sperimentazione – continua attendiamo così come tratti dalle sue opere no a fare soldi con i Dvd, non li sifatte sfuggire, nel 1981, lo svi- cassetta è bastata: un mezzo gieper l’accessoimmediato,ti- crescere,e oggiglistudiosigio- Marenzi –. Tra alcuni mesi aspettiamo Cate Blanchett, letterarie, nel suo passato elimineranno. che gli studios volevano elimi- po Vudu della Vudu, Inc. Tan- vano dei servizi di banda larga avremo più informazioni al ri- che ha disertato Venezia, persino il diploma all’Istituto Quello che dà fastidio alle nare nel 1984 ma che poi si è to che Mark Cuban, uno dei offerti dalla Tv cavo (assieme guardo. La Mgm valuterà le op- persino per la cerimonia di professionale CineTv. Ma major èil dover dividere le en- MAXI-INVESTIMENTI rivelato un’enorme fonte di pionieri della new economy, alle telecom e agli operatori di portunità offerte dal "day&da- premiazione alla sua Coppa per sapere chi sarà il più ment, Reed Midem ( which, trate con un intermediario: il Per colmare il divario guadagni extra. ha dichiarato: «ai consumatori Wi-Fi e Wi-Max). te"casopercaso.Sebbeneilpo- Volpi. Ci sarà anche la nuova abbagliante (di luce propria) 60% alle catene di negozi che Ad aprire la finestra del por- piace guardare i film su scher- Il prezzo fisso per la banda tenziale ci sia, esistono aspetti prezzemolina del grande e il più abbagliato (dai flash) But those who paid attention and actually asked con YouTube vengono pagati vendono i Dvd (senza contare taaporta pergli studioèla ban- mi tv di 70 pollici». Mentre per larga è ora un problema per gli negativi che potrebbero intac- schermo, sempre più amata e bisognerà aspettare la prova that show up on YouTube and other social a caro prezzo dei siti il costo di fabbricazione degli dalarga.Diquestahannogiàbe- evitare i tempi di scaricamen- operatori Tv cavo, tanto che care varie componenti del no- sempre più magra, Keira del tappeto rosso. stessi);il 50% all’operatore ca- internet di dubbio neficiato le case di produzione to, tutte le major, eccetto la unodi questi, Comcast, l’ha ad- stro business». Knightley. Sempre più tonda, All’Auditorium l’ardua vo e satellitare per il servizio valore economico cinematografiche riducendo la Sony Pictures, hanno negozia- dirittura tolta ad alcuni suoi Continua u pagina 13 invece, Halle Berry, non per sentenza. along with Reed (Continued on Page 22) ... as reported in the Italian press (Continued on Page 20)

NA T P E M ar k et P ower Now to T he I ndies

BY LEAH HOCHBAUM ROSNER rior to the upcoming National Association of Television Program Executives ( NATPE) event, which will be held January 28-3 1 , 2008 at the traditional PMandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, there was talk that this time around the studios wouldn’t just skip the floor in favor of the suites — but that they’d skip out altogether. But VideoAge has learned that these reports were somewhat unfounded. Both the domestic and international divisions of Warner Bros. Television Distribution and NBC Universal Television Distribu- tion will have booths on the convention floor. A spokesperson for Warner Bros. Domestic said that: “We don’t want it to be a big deal that we’ve chosen the floor this year because who knows what next year will bring? We might be in the suites.” Similarly, a spokesman for NBC Universal Domestic TV stated that they’d “definitely” be on the floor for the 2008 event. On the other hand, some studios are indeed leaving the floor, but aren’t taking to the suites. A rep for Sony Pictures

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ONTENTSVIDEOVIDEO AGEAGE •• NN o.6 o.6 •• NN ov ov / / Dec Dec 22 0 0 0 0 7 7 Cover stories: 1 0 . M I P CO M r ep or t. B ig Shots and B ig D eals M ak e f or a Studios’ New Challenge: H ow b r oadb and c an elim inate M er r y M ar k et. A ll wer e hap p y to sp end and m ak e lots the m iddlem an, r educ e p ir ac y and lower c osts of m oney

T he F lor ida M edia M ar k et gets f ilm m ak er s m ov ing. I t’s what M iam i has to of f er f or now and it’s p r om ising CNA T P E with f ewer U . S. studios and nada E ur op eans has to r einv ent itself — again! B ut ther e c ould b e p leasant sur p r ises!

A sia T V F or um f ac es A m az ia in 20 0 8 : I t’s K ing . . . sor r y , H ong K ong v er sus Sk ull I sland . . . sor r y , Singap or e

1 4 . T he A m er ic an F ilm M ar k et r ev iew is the usual m ix ed b ag — good and b ad. Still it m ak es f or a good r ead.

1 8 . A ntaly a F ilm F estiv al and M ar k et c onq uer s W est A sia b y k eep ing an ey e to E ur op e

4 . W or ld: M onac o’s Sp or tel, I ndia, China, U . S. L etter s. P lus, f am ous q uotes

8 . B ook R ev iew. Canadian liter atur e to f ilm . Y es, Canada has liter atur e and f ilm ! 28 . Calendar to swear and sweat b y

3 0 . M y 2¢ : T he m agic of I P T V and the lur e of elec tr onic sell- thr oughs Nov-Dec 11/14/07 2:24 PM Page 4

episodes, and will feature exclusive CEO Pradeep Guha as chairman to interviews with the top 50 Chinese explore new ways to reform the TV Sp or tel Sets Olympic gold medal contenders, as well ratings measurement system. R ec or d as the top 50 international athletes from Currently, only TAM Media Research around the globe. Each episode will — in a joint venture between AC PORTELMonaco, the international focus on the top two or three athletes in Nielsen and Kantar Media Research/ sports convention for television and each discipline, and will follow them as IMRB — measures TV ratings in India. Snew media executives, which was they prepare for the biggest event of their Its Peoplemeter TV panels are held at Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum and careers. considered to be the largest globally, ended October 1 8, played host to the CCT V ’s D eal W ith with 3 0,000 sample individuals polled biggest names in international sports R atings in I ndia weekly. It has not yet added direct-to- programming distributors, including the Sp or tsnow! home platforms or conditional access National Football League, NASCAR, the National Basketball Association, CTV Sports Promotion, the T o B e R ef or m ed systems measure-ment ratings. Major League Baseball, ESPN and the commercial arm of broadcast giant ndian advertisers and broadcasters “India has a vast topography and the PGA Tour, as well as European bigwigs C CCTV, China’s national television have proposed the creation of an number of households is increasing, so Eurosport, the International Softball network, and Puerto Rico’s Sportsnow!, I organization to make industry and we need metrics in rural places,” said Federation and RAI Trade. have reached an agreement to co-produce policy recommendations in order to Zee prez Joy Chakraborthy. “In one of In what was touted as the largest and distribute Who’s Who: The Rivals, a improve the way TV audience ratings are the fastest growing economies of the SPORTEL event ever, a total of 2,3 62 series featuring the world’s top athletes as measured. The Advertising Agencies world we have the lowest ad revenues — worth just $3 .3 billion annually. It participants representing 9 75 companies they prepare for next year’s Summer Association of India, Indian Broadcasters should be much more.” Janet Fine from 79 counties worldwide took part in Olympic Games, to be held in Beijing. Federation and Indian Society of The series will consist of 50 24 -minute Advertisers have elected Zee Telefilms SPORTELMonaco 2007. This year’s expanded market featured 1 77 stands, kiosks and exhibits, up from 1 53 in 2006. The 1 9 th annual SPORTEL- Monaco will return to the Grimaldi Forum, October 20-23, 2008.

H SH Princ e Albert II w ith RAI Trade’s M assimo M igani

T he L az ar us A r t Show f or Char ity

n the occasion of the American Film Market in Santa Monica, California, OHerb Lazarus, president, Interna- tional, Carsey-Werner, and his artist wife, Shelley ( pictured below) , organized an exhibition of Shelley’s paintings ( and fellow artist Della Rolle’s sculptures) at the nearby Tag Gallery. The proceeds of the art auction were donated to the Robert David Lazarus Pulmonary Support Group, which was started in 2003 by Herb and Shelley’s son, Robert, before his untimely death in 2005 at the age of 4 2. The event was well attended by industry representatives, including EMC’s Jim Marrinan, veteran distributor Alan Silverbach and Twentieth Century Fox president Mark 26 eps x 26’ Kaner, in addition to the trade media.

Cartoon One S.r.l. • Via Polistena 10 • 00173 Rome • Italy Tel. +39 06 45421986 • Fax +39 06 45421990 • www.cartoonone.it • [email protected]

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not the point,” explained Joe Campo. L etter to the trips, etc. “Faith, love and forgiveness, is. Material However, from my view down the things are not important to these people, E ditor hall, a short distance from his office, I because they have none. However, noticed that Ralph was always quiet, On Ralph Baruch … reliance, hope and God are very humble and guarded, and let few people important. They don’t have happiness, Let me say that I read your [Ralph into his inner circle. This may ultimately but they do have joy.” Baruch] review [in the June 2007 issue have been his downfall. I was therefore The movie was produced in-house in of VideoAge]. I thought that you were very surprised to see this insider’s book in conjunction with the Franciscan Friars of very fair and could not think of how you the twilight of his business life. I was Cam p o B r os’ the Renewal for which Joe runs a home could improve it, despite what others there during part of the “Mutiny” ( 1 9 86- U p lif ting F ilm for “young men who need a second might have said. 1 9 87) and it was ugly. chance.” Sal Campo is currently tasked I worked at Viacom from 1 9 74 to From my perspective, Ralph tells an rooklyn boy Joe Campo is an award- with searching for a distributor for 1 9 86. These years allowed me to learn accurate and interesting story. He could winning film producer and the DVD, television and, possibly, theatrical my trade from many of the Viacom have gone into more specific details but I Byounger brother of Sal Campo, a distribution for the film. executives that Ralph mentioned in his think that he wanted to take the high veteran TV and film distributor. This is Joe Campo’s 1 1 th film, but the book. My time there was wonderful, as road. In my opinion, he really was Together, they are working on Joe’s first full-length feature since his 1 9 -year the senior management from Ralph on cheated out of the opportunity to be part latest project, The Human Experience, stint at running the House for the Friars. down created a friendly family of the management buyout orchestrated an 85-minute docudrama about life’s Joe’s 25-year old son, Michael, wrote the environment. We all worked by Terry Elkes, who double-crossed him. uplifting moments from such varying script. Since the film’s overhead costs exceptionally long hours, but we were This book had to be written because no points of view as lost children in Perú , were kept low, “the money all went into treated fairly and with respect and had one in senior management at Viacom homeless people in New York and the look, which gives it a high-budget the opportunity to share personal time at stood by his side or stood up for Baruch leprosy victims in Ghana. “Misery is feel,” commented Joe. executives’ homes and at parties, fishing during this corporate mutiny, which ultimately led to the Sumner Redstone takeover. I left Viacom for greener pastures at ITC during the last 1 2 months of the siege ( 1 9 87) , so I missed much of the inside action. It is interesting to note that after many skilled years of fighting for and building the Viacom brand, the only respect and business support that Baruch received was from Redstone. This was very unfair especially after Ralph made so many Viacom executives very successful and very rich. Ralph did himself a major disservice in his pre-mutiny years by being aloof and distant to his employees. In his defense, the company had grown tremendously and he could not know everyone by name, yet I still think he might have had more support had he endeared himself to more middle management executives. The only problem with the book is his very unflattering remarks about the family and the spouse of Terry Elkes. The Baruch that I knew, was very opinionated, but I would never have expected these personal attacks. This was out of character for him. It greatly disappointed me and ultimately made his attempt to take the “high road” a failure. In summary, someone had to tell the inside story of the Viacom takeover so I am glad that he provided a bit of insight into his history and his unfair departure. His impact on the cable and entertain- ment industry was really important, but unfortunately, due to his humble profile, he will never really get credit for his impact on the industry. Jim Marrinan, Calabasas, California F am ous Q uotes “Bring back regulations.” Dom Serafini, Intermedia, December 2002 “In turnaround, industries seek U.S. regulations.” The New York Times, September 16, 2007

N OVEMBER/DECEMBER 2007 Nov-Dec Ads 11/15/07 11:04 AM Page 7 Nov-Dec 11/9/07 1:14 PM Page 8

source texts,” writes Dickinson. In other words, sometimes directors feeling the pressure to make a movie that will sell B ook R ev i ew tickets, and will often alter a movie’s setting from Canada to the U.S. Margaret Laurence’s “A Jest of God,” for example, is set in a Canadian prairie town. For Rachel, Rachel, the movie version of the book, the setting was changed to a New England hamlet. While Screening Gender provides a Canadian Literature fascinating peek into the motivations behind film adaptations of books, Dickinson’s often impenetrable prose, his Into Films. Yes, Canadians proclivity for writing out long lists of unfamiliar titles, and his occasional forays into French ( whole paragraphs are Write Books and Make Movies sometimes in French — fine, perhaps for Canadians raised in a bilingual culture, but less fine for those who were not) nce the initial shock wears off, or even literary. There are, in other love for another from a complicated case and one realizes that there are words, some things that a novel can do of gender dysphoria to a “presentation of indeed good Canadian that a film cannot, and vice versa.” teenage lesbian desire and internalized authors and movies, the In a series of bizarrely named chapters homophobia.” Additionally, the movie Dickinson examines subject of Canadian literature — including “Sex Maidens and Yankee version of the book, which tells the tale being turned into films can be Skunks: A Field Guide to Reading of friendships among three female the long history of Ofully and seriously explored. ‘ Canadian’ Movies,” “Critically Q ueenie, friends at a boarding school for girls in When a movie is adapted from a or Trans-Figuring the Prison-House of 1 9 60s Ontario, updates the setting to movies adapted beloved book, audiences often judge that Gender: Fortune and Men’s Eyes and the present day, sidelines seemingly film’s success by how faithfully it adheres After” and “Ghosts In and Out of the significant plotlines from the book such from Canadian to the original source. But that Machine: Sighting/ Citing Lesbianism in as a love affair between the school’s faithfulness ( or lack thereof) is only one Susan Swan’s The Wives of Bath and Lé a headmistress and a female teacher, and literature through small part of a film adaptation. Directors Pool’s Lost and Delirious” — Dickinson changes the ending from murder to often have many issues to contend with suicide. Why did the makers of the film the lens of gender — including casting actors who may not decide on such across-the-board closely resemble character descriptions changes? Dickinson’s not sure. But in studies, and in books, budget limitations, and trying to understand the reasoning changes that must be made to certain behind the director’s decision, he raises stories in order to make them more interesting questions about today’s discovers that cinematic… and more palatable to purportedly sophisticated movie would-be ticket buyers. In Screening audiences and how much lesbian activity filmmakers often Gender, Framing Genre: Canadian moviemakers think viewers will tolerate Literature into Film ( 2007, University on a big screen. make sweeping of Toronto Press, 280 pages, U.S., $45) , Dickinson also takes time out to author Peter Dickinson examines the consider how Canada’s close proximity changes when long history of movies adapted from to what he terms “the American media Canadian literature through the lens of behemoth” affects the country’s film adapting books gender studies, and discovers that production and distribution. “For mega- filmmakers often make sweeping chains like Famous Players, Cineplex about women, gay changes when adapting books about Odeon, and even Alliance Atlantis, women, gay men or lesbians for the which make most of their money from men or lesbians for silver screen. food concessions, and therefore need to Dickinson, who teaches in the maximize the number of bums in seats, Department of English at Canada’s programming locally made films is the silver screen. Simon Fraser University, studied an simply bad business,” he writes. He went impressively wide array of adaptations, takes an in-depth look at how gender on to say that this particular matter is including movies based on novels, plays, roles are often switched in modern made even thornier by the fact that the make this a hard book to get through. poetry and Native orature to determine Canadian films. Sometimes these Canadian film industry has managed to But true lovers of Canadian literature will why certain films are exact replicas of the changes are made to appeal to wider acquire a reputation for making art- revel in the author’s dissection of works books from which they originated and audiences. For example, Shadow of the house films with sexually enigmatic by renowned Canadian authors such as others are so entirely different — in Wolf, Jacques Dorfman’s film adaptation themes. “Molly Parker making love to a Michael Ondaatje ( “The English scope, in plot development, in character of Yves Theriault’s “Agaguk,” retains the cadaver versus Arnold Schwarzenegger Patient”) and Margaret Atwood ( “The motivations — that they seem to be novel’s basic plot, but turns the blowing up nasty Arab terrorists: the Handmaid’s Tale”) . Screening Gender completely original ideas. As Dickinson protagonist, who rapes and beats a choice would seem clear to most succeeds in explaining to readers that writes in his introduction to the book: woman in the book, into a character that moviegoers.” film treatments of books — specifically “Transforming the written word into the audiences won’t despise. Other times, The further issue of films needing to those with gay or gender-specific themes visual language of film is necessarily an the reasons for these alternations are play as well internationally as they do — often reveal lots in terms of the social open-ended process, one that involves inscrutable. For example, Lé a Pool’s Lost domestically means that “In the case of and cultural contexts of the filmmakers. the quotation and intersection of a and Delirious, an adaptation of Susan adaptation, this often means de- But most of all, Screening Gender number of different ‘ texts,’ not all of Swan’s novel, “The Wives of Bath,” emphasizing the gender, cultural, reinforces the fact that the book is always which may be recognizable as originary changes the reasoning behind one girl’s regional, and historical specificity of the better than the movie. LHR

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MIP COM R EVIEW

Big Shots and Big Deals Make for a Merry Market

commented DAIT-LA’s president Diego nce again, the annual Carlo N ardello, RAI Trade’s new CE O MIPCOM market, which Lerner, since Terra is now offering ended in mid-October and Disney-branded and non-branded D’Agostino, vice president and general was held at the Palais des content to its TV users in Latin America. manager of RCTV International. “A lot Festivals in Cannes, France, Argentina’s Telefe International and of people from Europe and Asia took the has been hailed by Reed Colombia’s RCN both announced the Midem as its biggest TV market ever. opening of offices in Russia through time to see our product,” added O Telemundo’s Karen Barroeta. The 23 rd edition of the event drew a which they hope to increase their total of 1 3 ,3 71 participants, a seven presences in the territory. The offices will MIPCOM 2007 also offered a variety percent increase over last year’s market. be run by Anastasia Korchagina, a of unique events. This year’s market Russian specialist who has a successful featured a slew of high-profile keynotes, track record in Russian television. including speeches from CBS Corp. “Being in Russia will allow us a closer president Les Moonves, Televisa’s Emilio vision of the needs of such a competitive Acarraga Jean, United Artists’ CEO Paula market,” said Alejandro Parra, director Wagner and the aforementioned Ben of International Business for Telefe. Silverman from NBC. In addition, Canada’s largest private “The international marketplace is vital broadcaster, CTV, together with 1 9 to our survival,” said Wagner, Tom Les M oonv es deliv ers his k eynote address Entertainment and dick clark Cruise’s longtime producing partner, productions, announced that they would before a packed house in the Grand key strategies is to look abroad for great produce and broadcast a Canadian Auditorium of the Palais. Silverman production partners,” said Ben version of Emmy Award-winning show concurred, saying that the global Silverman, co-chairman, NBC So You Think You Can Dance. “The joy marketplace is “a huge part of our growth Entertainment and Universal Media of dance is at the center of So You Think strategy.” Studios. “This was an opportunity that You Can Dance Canada,” said Susanne In fact, before joining NBC, Silverman made perfect sense for us.” Justin Bodle, Boyce, president, Creative, Content and had a hand in bringing both The Office founder and CEO of Power, Channels for CTV. “But it’s also about ( once a British comedy) and Ugly Betty ( a commented: “This deal is the first for the passion and energy of young dancers series based on Colombia’s Betty la Fea) to nearly 4 0 years where a British producer from across Canada and their dreams to U.S. audiences. “Our titles are built for Telev isa’s E milio Az c arraga J ean during his has received an order directly from a U.S. k eynote sp eec h excel in this art form.” the globe,” he said. At the end of the day, network. It is exciting to be producing a Just one day prior to the start of the it doesn’t matter where something comes network show for NBC, and to be News events trampled all over each market, the third edition of the from, he told attendees. All that really working with Ben and his creative team.” other. Industry superstars were forced to Telenovelas Screenings was held, and matters is: “where are the best ideas? ” Added Power’s Chris Philip: “Crusoe will split the spotlight and business deals many of the telenovoleros remain (Continued on page 12) be a valuable addition to our 2008 slate blossomed, aided by the very weak U.S. pleased with the relatively new event. and to our library for years to come.” Pow er’s p rez Chris Philip . The E nglish dollar — and all that happened in just “We were very happy with the c omp any introduc ed new drama series Disney-ABC International Television five days ( out of a seven-day market, that Screenings,” said Guadalupe Robinson Crusoe in Cannes is, if one considers Mipcom Jr., the Latin America ( DAIT-LA) inked a two- children’s program market that precedes year agreement with Venezuela’s MIPCOM, to truly be a part of it) . Venevision. “We are very happy that “This historic success for MIPCOM Venevision, the leading channel in demonstrates the importance of content Venezuela, will maximize our presence in our industry,” said Paul Johnson, and our brand locally,” said Fernando director of Television at Reed Midem. Barbosa,” senior vp of DAIT-LA. Disney “Numerous factors contributed to Latin America also struck a deal with making the 23 rd edition break records, Discovery Networks Latin America/ US including the increased presence of Hispanic for shows such as Dirt and Six companies in the technology, mobile Degrees, which will soon air on the and advertising sectors.” People+Arts network. “We trust our At MIPCOM, NBC-Universal series will generate solid ratings for our announced that the NBC network in the partners at Discovery,” said Henri U.S. acquired a new series based on the Ringel, vp, DAIT Latin America. In classic “Robinson Crusoe” masterpiece addition, DAIT closed a deal with Latin by Daniel Defoe. The show was American Internet company Terra. “This produced by U.K.-based Power with is a hugely significant agreement since it Universal Media Studios. “One of our reflects an important step forward,”

10 VIDEO • AGE N OVEMBER/DECEMBER 2007 Nov-Dec Ads 11/14/07 3:22 PM Page 11

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Group. Canada’s CHUM TV was also put to rest. Its program catalog is now handled by CTV’s EPI, which operated MIP COM R EVIEW from beneath the Discovery umbrella. For their part, the Italians introduced RAI Trade’s new CEO, Carlo Nardello, along with its new fare, while Mediaset announced the sale of nine of its series, and noted that special attention was paid

(Continued from page 10) to Teaching the Future and The Squad, as

VideoAge’s break f ast meeting to announc e the “Indep endents’ Day”

Moonves, who was also named well as Christmas movie What if Santa. MIPCOM’s Personality of the Year for Brazil’s Globo built up its booth to his contributions to the global resemble a digital forest in an effort to entertainment business, tooted CBS’s promote its new miniseries, Amazonia, horn, saying that CSI: Crime Scene and invited the series’ author, Gloria Investigation has become a $2 billion Perez, to participate in a Q & A with the treasure for the company. And, after press. praising CBS Paramount International Germany introduced a new company, TV’s president Armando Nuñez Jr. for Studio 1 00, headed by industry veteran the good job he does, Moonves told an Patrick Elmendorff. Israel’s Dori Media audience of TV execs fearful of new presented Jose Escalante as Dori Media platforms that: “We, the broadcasters, G lobo TV’s Rap hael Correa N etto and Disney- ABC International TV Latin Americ a’s America’s new CEO. And Canada are the guys who feed the world what it Amazonia sc rip tw riter G loria Perez . Diego Lerner, F ernando Barbosa and H enri introduced an up-and-coming company, wants to watch. They’re always going to Abov e: a sc ene f rom the new G lobo series. Ringel during a p ress c onf erenc e at the new QC Entertainment. Disney tent need us.” He continued: “Wireless is On the seminar front, Indian TV Day useless if hitless.” to make Televisa’s telenovelas available in the sector evolve, or it could spell the was basically ignored and as for the day During his keynote, Televisa’s top English-language versions in America. end of the indies’ participation.” devoted to Green TV, CABLEready’s executive, Emilio Azcarraga Jean — “The Spanish population is exploding in NATPE has already announced its co- Gary Lico said it best: “Every time I see a whom Reed Midem’s Paul Johnson the U.S.,” he said. “We believe we can be sponsorship of the “Independents’ Day” green TV-tagged show, I do the called “the turnaround king” for in English-speaking households in the luncheon for buyers and sellers. Brasil ecological, sensible thing and turn the remaking Televisa into a company that near future.” TV Forum is considering sponsorship of TV off.” boasts profits of over 50 percent and During the traditional VideoAge the breakfast, and the Florida Media MIPCOM also set records in terms of exports content all over the globe — breakfast meeting, editor Dom Serafini Market will be organizing a seminar. the number of participating companies, spoke about the importance of finding announced the all-new “Independents’ This MIPCOM also saw a number of number of exhibitors and countries and maintaining partnerships in the Day,” which will be held at L.A. changes, including Disney-ABC Inter- represented. Roughly 4 ,585 firms from broadcasting arena, and stated that Screenings 2008. The event will be a full national TV’s move from the Palais to a 1 05 countries were present at the Palais, Televisa had recently entered into an day of general screenings, meals, tent next to FremantleMedia’s. There, compared to 4 ,21 6 companies from 9 8 agreement to produce a novela in Russia, conferences and parties, set to replicate Disney took the opportunity to countries in 2006 — an increase of nine and has two new ventures in Indonesia the studios’ L.A. Screenings environment introduce its new global president, percent. The number of exhibiting and China in the works, as well. and will be held the day before the start Benjamin N. Pyne. Telemundo took companies rose 1 0 percent to 1 ,801 , up “We have the means and we know of the studios’ own screenings. According over Disney’s vacated spot. E! from 1 ,64 1 companies last year. In how to exploit a property,” he said. to Serafini, “This is the only way we can Entertainment changed its location ( this addition, international buyers also “We’re a content provider, so we’re make the L.A. Screenings viable for the time, it occupied the area left empty by turned out in greater numbers, with looking into going into different markets independents. After this year’s Alliance Atlantis, which seemed to have 4 ,24 2 acquisition execs this year, up from with established partners.” disappointing L.A. Screenings results for disappeared) , as well as its name — it’s 3,847 in 2006. Next up for Azcarraga Jean are plans many independents, it is important that now Comcast International Media

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AF M R EVIEW

Market Flexes Its Muscles Classic M edia’s Doug Sc hw albe ( lef t) and and Warns Digital Media M ic hael Valaire

he message from the Independent Film & Television Alliance ( IFTA) was clear: Buyers from the new technology sector have to assume some risks. This was the Tgist of the press conference held at the start of the IFTA-organized American

Film Market ( AFM) , which takes place Sc reen M edia Ventures’ Almira M alyshev , annually at the Loews Hotel in Santa Samantha Stuart, M ic hael Dw yer Monica, California. Explained IFTA’s executive vp and In any case, in the view of Italian film managing director of the AFM, executives Jef Nuyts of Intra Movies and Jonathan Wolf: “It’s not going to be like Roberto Di Girolamo of Film Export, ‘ just give us your content and we’ll run who were exhibiting at AFM, an Escobar it.’” movie would only work in Italy if a big To “assume some risks” is the code name were attached. word for either giving a minimum The AFM opened on Halloween, a guarantee or pre-buying. Lloyd time when U.S. children celebrate Kaufman, the newly elected IFTA Peac e Arc h’s K ev in Byles, Vic tor Rodriguez , Suz anne Barron, G arey H ow sam ( l. to r.) spookiness. Halloween was also the day chairman, pointed out that when buyers that the Hollywood scriptwriters’ contract from new media don’t assume some November 1. expired. Writers had been threatening to risks, they don’t have respect for content Nonetheless, the AFM posted record strike if not awarded better residuals from and tend to put the product acquired in numbers of exhibitors with 4 3 0 DVD and new technology sales, which the “back of the bus.” production/ distribution companies from are also called electronic sell-throughs Jean M. Prewitt, IFTA’s president, 3 0 countries and 1 ,628 buyers from 65 focused on illegal downloads and pirated ( downloads and VoD) . The fact that the nations. AFM opened the same day that the DVDs, stressing the fact that piracy also This AFM also revealed the market as translates into the inability to buy, and contract between writers and producers a good source for new films, as well as a expired wasn’t lost on observers who therefore it is harmful not only to venue in which to spot trends — such as producers and distributors, but to noted that, while the writers were the one currently emerging around the threatening to strike over digital rights, buyers, as well. life of Medellí n drug ringleader Pablo Even though the AFM has somewhat the IFTA was warning the digital media Escobar. Ever since U.S. Special Military industry to cough up more dough for changed its DVD focus, and gets more Forces gunned him down in Colombia of a Japanese presence, as well as larger content. in 1 9 9 3 , Hollywood has been trying to contingents from the TV buying and Because of the looming strike make a movie out of his life. Indeed, the indie distribution communities, one ( somehow not felt by the industry at difficulty in producing a movie about thing that, according to Wolf, won’t ever MIPCOM) , some international buyers Escobar inspired a recurring plot line for change, is the current market date. rushed to the AFM with the intent of HBO series Entourage. This year’s AFM Despite the fact that the AFM follows a stockpiling product — even when prices saw three Escobar projects: Killing Pablo strong MIPCOM event in Cannes, were raised, the devaluation of the U.S. ( Bob Yari producer, Joe Carnahan France ( see related story on page 1 0) , For the AFM, the strong MIPCOM dollar made for good bargains. It remains director) based on the book by Mark there is no chance, in Wolf’s mind, that showing meant the loss of some major to be seen if international buyers Bowden; Mi Hermano Pablo ( Oliver the AFM would ever return to its European players, such as RaiTrade and preferred their bargains at the Loews or at Stone, producer, with J2 Pictures) , original February-early March dates. M6DA. The reduced Italian presence in the nearby malls. In addition, this AFM But while the IFTA won’t change the Santa Monica was also attributed to the written by Escobar’s brother, Roberto; showcased a good number of new AFM’s dates, with Kaufman as its Rome Film Fest, which ended three days and Escobar ( Hanibal Pictures) . distribution companies, such as the chairman, the event will surely change before the AFM began on October 3 1 , However, the Yari Film Group cancelled Woodland Hills-based Unistar, which its tone, becoming livelier, more and included a market ( called Business a planned press conference for Killing offered an added attraction to buyers. entertaining and more attuned to the Street) . Turkey’s Antalya Golden Orange Pablo reportedly because no talent was Even though the newcomers were needs of smaller independent producers Film Festival and Eurasia Film Market, available for a film in which principal relegated below the lobby area of the and distributors. As they say in the which focused on Asia and Europe and photography is scheduled to begin in Loews or the adjacent Le Merigot Hotel industry, he has restored the “show” in which concluded just a few days prior to January 2008. –– which was opened in 2004 to show business. In his real life, Kaufman the start of the AFM, did not affect the Coincidentally, at the Florida Media accommodate the overflow– – they still serves as president of New York-based Santa Monica showcase much. Other Market in Miami, a filmmaker who was received good visibility. Troma Entertainment, a 3 3 -year-old festivals that surrounded the AFM were personally affected by Escobar’s Wolf’s warnings to the new media production and distribution company the New York Film Fest, which ended murderous streak was peddling another, sector about assuming risks, reflected the that he co-founded right after October 1 4 , and the BFI London Film similar Escobar-themed project ( see (Continued on page 16) graduating from Yale University. Fest, which went down October 1 7- front cover story) .

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AF M R EVIEW

(Continued from page 14) fact that DVD sales – – the traditional bread-and-butter of the AFM – – are dwindling due to the popularity of downloads ( indeed, as reflected by this CinemaVault’s Stev e Arroyav e, Ruby Issue’s front cover story about the Rondina, N ic k Stiliadis studios’ digital strategies, the younger generation barely knows DVDs) . It seems that digital media will be the next big thing for the independents. In the U.S. alone, online movies have become a part of everyday life with 73 percent of the online population ( or 1 20 million users) watching online movies/ video streams monthly. However, if digital media represents a big business, as well as big potential for the studios ( Disney’s Bob Iger, for example, estimated that his company’s digital revenues will be about $750 Pic tured abov e: IF TA’s J ean Prew itt, Lloyd K auf man, J onathan W olf

Pic tured lef t: Rigel E ntertainment’s J ohn Laing and Stuart G ordon

Pic tured below : the AF M ex tension at the Le M erigot hotel

...and ac tion! ’s W olf gang W ilk e, Alex ander Sc hust, Su J ing, G av in Reardon

million this year) , traditional business for the indies is still running in analog time, in the sense that from the moment a movie is acquired to the time it appears on international screens takes at least one year. As far as the aforementioned large Asian buying contingent, Tad Omiya of Japan’s TWA estimated the number of his competitors as being similar to last year. In addition, Omiya stated that, for his type of buying, MIPCOM is becoming more important. Indeed, according to Regent’s Gene George, a lot of AFM time is spent following up on MIPCOM sales. And even though the “A” titles are sold before production In addition to the buying and selling, begins, the fact that the AFM has many the movie premieres, scattered parties premieres, in the opinion of George, still and general screenings in theaters around AFM 2007 Figures at a Glance makes it a theatrical market. Santa Monica, the AFM is known for its According to Screen Media Venture’s seminars ( a total of 1 6) and, recently, for • 8,343 attendees Almira Malyshev, this AFM was slow its association with the American Film • 1,628 buyers from 65 countries because of a strong MIPCOM. Gavin Institute’s AFI Fest, an international film • 430 companies from 30 countries exhibited Reardon of … and Action! concurred, competition. • 900 screenings of over 537 films in 34 languages saying that “this AFM is very quiet, but The eight-day AFM, which ended • 104 industry world film premieres I have no understanding of why, except November 7, attracted 8,3 4 3 participants • 371 market premieres that MIPCOM is getting stronger. And from 65 countries ( compared to 8,208 • 16 seminars many attendees said that the AFM is last year) , especially from Japan, the U.S. • Top Ten Buying Contingents: U.S. (316), Japan (230), France (93), driven by a large quantity of micro- and France. Germany (82), U.K. (68), Korea (67), Italy (57), Brazil (52), Turkey (45), budget product, but the buyers show a Next year’s market dates are November Canada and Australia (42 each) lack of urgency — they all say they’re 5-1 2, which means it will once again take • Largest number of buying companies outside the U.S.: Japan (54), coming [to the AFM] but don’t commit place 1 8 days after the end of MIPCOM, France (37), Germany (35), U.K. (30) to meetings.” just like this year.

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AN TAL Y A F IL M F ES T

Turkish Movie Biz Looks to Both Asia and Europe

Above: Director Shekhar Kapur accepts the Honor Award. n a Turkish film industry that has faltered until very recently, the Left: The Eurasia jury annual Antalya Golden Orange Division lead singer Ian Curtis; Gus Van Film Festival has always lent a Sant’s Paranoid Park; and Julian glimmer of hope and a hint of Schnabel’s The Diving Bell and the glamour to the region. Butterfly. In the wake of changes to the business I Continuing its focus on all things Asia, that are finally making it seem like Eurasia featured 1 6 sections, including a Turkey might soon very well become a Hong Kong corner entitled “The major power broker in the film biz, the Dragon’s Breath.” Another segment was atmosphere at the 4 4 th edition of devoted to the booming Russian screen. Antalya, which ended October 28 and At the concluding awards ceremony, was held in the resort town of Antalya, held at the Glass Pyramid concert hall, was both festive and optimistic. which featured the music of Ilhan The Turkish film biz in general has Ersahin & Istanbul Session, celebrated been showing signs of growth in recent guitarist Erkan Ogur and clarinet months. Many attribute this to the virtuoso Barbaros Erkose, winners of Turkish Ministry of Culture, which two both Antalya and Eurasia awards were years ago made the decision to provide announced. serious funding for the Turkish film Golden Orange named Egg ( Yumurta) industry. In the last year alone, nearly number of deals were made there, projects and invited the producers and as Best Film. The Turkish-Greek co- 4 0 feature films were produced and 3 4 including the Jordan Movie Channel’s scriptwriters of the chosen scripts to the production from director Semih films were released, capturing 51 .7 purchase of a package of five Turkish festival to make presentations about Kaplanoglu, which was made for percent of the total Turkish box office. films and Turkey’s TRT selling their work and explain why their movie U.S.$500,000, also won Best Script, Best This is a large increase over the usual programming to Hungarian and Greek should win the U.S.$20,000 pot. The Cinematography, Best Art Direction and annual production of roughly 20 movies TV. winner of the International Eurasia Film Best Costume Design. TV Network just five years ago. While the 1 7 million And while many were concerned that Festival Script Development Award was Digiturk also recognized Egg with a Turkish Lira ( U.S.$1 2.5 million) having a film market that leads directly Cem Akas for 50 Reasons All In Her Eyes. special award for Best Newcomer. Fatih invested yearly by the Ministry of into the American Film Market ( AFM) German actress Hanna Schygulla was Akin took home the Best Director prize Culture may be mere peanuts compared in Santa Monica, California ( see story on on hand at the festival to accept a special for his Edge of Heaven. Best Actor and to international standards, it’s a big page 1 4 ) , it seems that Antalya’s decision Honor Award for her eclectic oeuvre Actress awards went to Murat Han and boost for Turkish films, whose budgets to peg itself as the link between East and and lifetime achievement. Schygulla has Ozgu Namal for Bliss ( Mutluluk). When average between $500,000 and $1 West, might very well be its saving grace. worked with pioneering directors of the it came time for the Eurasia portion of million each. The festival boasted a strong turnout New German Cinema movement, such the evening, Israel’s The Band’s Visit As a result of this financial aid, the from the Far East — specifically from as Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Wim ( Bikur Ha-tizmoret) was named Best Turkish box office has of late been China and Hong Kong, including China Wenders. Film. The Best Director prize went to dominated by local productions. The Film Promotion International and the Eurasia also paid homage to recently Abdellatatif Kechiche for The Secret of the top four films of 2006 were all Turkish Hong Kong Trade Development passed silver screen auteurs Ingmar Grain ( La Graine et le Mulet). The critics in origin. They included Valley of the Council. Antalya organizers even Bergman and Michelangelo Antonioni. awarded their statue to Under the Bombs Wolves, which took in the equivalent of revealed that of the 70 stands at the The festival honored the directors’ ( Sous les Bombes). A new feature of this U.S.$20 million; The Class of Chaos, market, 60 were from companies outside impressive contributions to the film year’s Eurasia festival was a special jury of Turkey. In total, more than 3 00 canon by showcasing some of their most which made U.S.$9 .4 million; The prize from the Network for the participants from 1 88 companies famous works. Bergman’s Scenes From a Magician, which made U.S.$9 .3 Promotion of Asian Cinema ( NETPAC) . attended the Turkey-based event. More Marriage and Saraband were screened million; and The Exam, which took in Egg and Under the Bombs shared this than 1 ,000 visitors, including producers for Antalya attendees, as were Antonioni U.S.$5.7 million. award. and distributors, were also present. classics Beyond the Clouds and Blow Up. Jointly organized by the Foundation No documentary award was given by For this year’s event, Antalya created Considered the Golden Orange Film of Culture and Arts in Antalya the Eurasia jury, which consisted of the Script Development Fund, a new Fest’s “international gateway to the ( AKSAV) and the Foundation of actress Shohreh Aghdashloo, director resource with the goal of encouraging world,” the Eurasia event opened with Turkish Cinema and Audiovisual John Landis, Iranian filmmaker Jafar Turkish co-production initiatives. Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution, the latest film Culture ( TÜ RSAK) , Antalya also Panahi, Russian composer Andrei Single, TURSAK ( the festival’s organizing from the Oscar-winning Brokeback played host to the third edition of the Turkish actress Lale Mansur and Chinese committee) asked that co-producers ( at Mountain director, and closed with International Eurasia Film Festival — actress Hailu Q in, because they didn’t least one of whom had to have been of Shekhar Kapur’s Elizabeth: The Golden which began as the international section feel that any of the docs up for the award Turkish origin) send in applications as Age. Kapur also accepted a special of Antalya but quickly became a major were worthy of it. LHR global draw in its own right. well as screenplay treatments to the Honor Award for his contributions to Additionally, the Eurasia Film Market, a TURSAK Foundation in order to be the film world. Other flicks that From Turkey, Deniz Ziya Temeltas business offshoot of the festival, kicked considered. An electoral body from the screened both in and out of competition contributed to this story off its second year at the 2007 event. A Antalya Festival then chose the top five included Control, a biopic about Joy

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fabulab Nov-Dec 11/15/07 9:11 AM Page 20

traumatic events. “Independents’ Day” project, which is to Florida Media A captivating tale like this that could be held May 1 5, 2008 in Los Angeles, only emerge at events like the FMM the day prior to the studios’ L.A. Market where professionals meet would-be Screenings. At the “Independents’ Day,” filmmakers, scriptwriters and directors, Maritza Guimet, president of FMM, and the former get new ideas while the will organize a seminar titled: “Selling to (Continued from Cover) latter receive good, sound advice. Upon Distributors: A Guide for Producers.” hearing Lopez’s tale, one of the panelists, The second keynote speaker was Don questions were able to find out that the Bill Block, CEO of Q ED, a film Schmeicher, who was responsible for the subject of wasn’t the Pablo is Gone financing and foreign sales company, digital work on: The Lord of the Rings: Colombian drug king Pablo Escobar, as suggested that she invest in producing a The Two Towers and The Lord of the her pitch would insist, but the would-be professional spot, similar to a movie Rings: The Return of the King. filmmaker herself. The lady who was trailer, which is easy to shop around Schmeicher also participated as a shopping her project around was Paola Hollywood. Previously, Block was the panelist in a seminar called: Lopez, daughter of a Colombian drug president of Artisan Entertainment, the “Filmmaking: The Business of a dealer, who’d been gunned down by company that launched The Blair Witch Thousand Moving Parts,” and a pitching Escobar’s hit men. Now, she wants to Project. session. Block and VideoAge editor Dom With some 58 panelists, 25 seminars, produce a film about Escobar ( who was Serafini hosted a seminar titled: “How two keynote speakers, five screening set- himself gunned down by a U.S. Army International Production and ups, two pitch sessions and a few Delta Force in 1 9 9 3 ) , although the real Distribution Really Works.” Block was exhibitors ( including an animation interest is in her own story – – coming also one of the keynote speakers, while company whose headquarters is in South from a family in the drug business and Serafini and L.A. Screenings hotel Africa) , in addition to the usual morning Pic tured on top : O ne of the many having gone through dramatic and coordinator Neal Lloyd presented the meetings ( called networking breakfasts) , netw ork ing ev ents. Below : Q E D’s CE O Bill Bloc k ( r.) and moderator, VideoAge’s Dom Seraf ini

lunch breaks and evening parties that sprinkled the three-day event at the Alexander Resort in Miami Beach, Florida, the second annual FMM has now established itself as a must-attend event. Even the selection of the venue helped the winning formula, with ample conference and meeting spaces and great accommodations — two-bedroom suites with kitchenettes — all located on the beach. The exception could be Shula’s Steak House, a restaurant located on the premises which proved to be a terrible tourist trap. The key sponsor was Venevision. Others were HBO Latin America and the Florida Film Institute. The city of Miami played a big part in the event, organizing the session moderated by Jeff Peel, Miami-Dade County’s Film Commissioner. Representing other commissioners were Carmen Grullon from the Dominican Republic and Frances Lausell from Puerto Rico. Among the participants were filmmakers from Italy and a few television programming buyers, including Vladimir Frantar from Television Slovenia, who found the FMM useful and interesting, and from Hungary, Peter Engert, president of Stone Bridge Films. In the Italian contingent there was filmmaker Claudia La Bianca, who was selected from among 1 2,000 applicants as the finalist in the competition for TV show On the Lot, produced by Steven Spielberg and Mark Burnett. If one had to point out a negative aspect of the event, it could only be the Miami Beach location, which, especially for those arriving from cold regions, presents too much of a temptation to skip out and run to the beach. Indeed, if in the month of August no one would dream of going to Miami for a visit, just two months later, when leaves up north start turning yellow and falling, this location becomes highly sought-after, even though it could cause an inner dilemma between ethics and recreation.

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“We cannot ignore Studios’ New the different Challenge distribution technologies. As a

(Continued from Cover) content provider, it’s

Web networks are made by amateurs) . our job to efficiently Hollywood is displaying a somewhat distribute and schizophrenic attitude towards new media. It’s true that technology is monetize that content. changing everything for the studios, but it’s also true that, for the majors, to We must remain paraphrase late Italian author Luigi Pirandello, everything can change as flexible, but also long as nothing changes in their pockets. While, on one hand, the studios are in a underscore our digital panic and blindly embracing all concerns about kinds of digital media; on the other, they G ary M arenz i strik es a p ose bef ore M G M ’s know perfectly well where they want to many O sc ars forms of digital distribution, both security and about go: To take advantage of digital streaming and downloading. We are technology and broadband transport in platform-agnostic and technology- being properly order to deliver their movies directly into warning. neutral.” the homes of consumers without the As Edgar Bronfman, chairman of Cable TV has benefited from TV compensated.” need of middlemen, thus lowering costs Warner Music, recently told an investors’ services like HBO’s, which the studios of production, promotion and conference in New York: “The music themselves have helped to grow. Today’s distribution. This is called a door-to- industry is growing. The record industry studios benefit from broadband services portion of what they would have been door window in the Italian press. is not growing.” offered by cable TV. paid if talent had to broadcast live for Meanwhile, as media consultant For the majors, their experience with The fixed price for broadband, different time zones. Then, in the 1 9 50s, Russell J. Kagan pointed out, “The the videocassette was enough. It was a however, is now a problem for cable TV television borrowed this residual payment younger generations don’t know DVDs, technology that the studios wanted to operators, so much that one of these, structure from radio, which later was thanks to broadband.” But until studios eliminate at its birth in 1 9 84 , but that Comcast, has even taken it away from applied to reruns and to the licensing of stop making money with DVDs, they later became one of their largest sources some of its subscribers because they international rights. Today, the won’t do away with them. of additional revenue. consumed too much. Comcast’s battleground for residuals mainly Indeed, what gives agita to the majors Broadband, more so than satellite, is aggressive way of managing its network concerns the Internet or electronic sell- is the current need to share revenues poised to open the door-to-door window is to keep traffic from swallowing too through, because it is the area in which with their middlemen: 60 percent to for the studios. They have already much bandwidth. the studios can now claim a disadvantage. chain stores that sell DVDs ( not benefited from this technology by For studios, the cost to transport a In the immediate future, however, the including manufacturing costs) , 50 reducing DVD piracy. In fact, in 2005, film from servers to consumers on elimination or reduction of these percent to satellite and cable operators the American studios were subject to broadband is about one cent per user Internet, or digital residual rights, will ( for on-demand services) , and 20 losses valued at $3 .7 billion due to the per hour. Said Kagan, “For the majors turn out to be as good as gold, since percent to movie theaters ( in the first pirating of films around the world. In the cost of transport via broadband is studios will ultimately be taking week; later it can go up to 50 percent) . 2006, this figure was reduced to $2.3 comparable to that of DVD advantage of all aspects of digital Commented Gary Marenzi, co- billion, thanks to the growth of movies manufacturing.” technology and broadband transport. president of MGM Worldwide downloaded via Internet. Soon it will To appease cable TV operators, After this overview, one can imagine, Television Distribution: “We don’t like cost too much to produce and sell studios are now examining the so-called around 201 0, how studios will make use to give our product away on pirated DVDs as compared to “day-and-date” model, that is, the of digital technology and broadband for consignment and merely share revenues, legitimately downloaded films. release of films simultaneously to the whole process of production, but we are open to building businesses Furthermore, three additional theaters and via VoD. This model promotion and distribution of their where we get our fair share. developments play in the studio’s favor: obviously does not appeal to movie movies: Scenes filmed in digital will be [Furthermore,] we cannot ignore the The virtual absence of new costs for theater owners. sent via broadband to post-production different distribution technologies. As a broadband; the low cost of widescreen Marenzi explained: “MGM will houses, cutting production time and content provider, it’s our job to flat TV sets; and technologies for evaluate day-and-date opportunities on costs. Once completed, movies are efficiently distribute and monetize that immediate playing, like Vudu, a device a market by market basis. promoted utilizing various forms of content. We must remain flexible, but developed by a Santa Clara, California- Experimentation continues in the U.S. “viral” marketing, such as websites and also underscore our concerns about based firm. For the second element, and in a few months we’ll have a much blogs ( a word-of-mouth marketing security and about being properly Internet pioneer Marc Cuban has stated better body of knowledge on the association, WOMMA, has already been compensated.” that: “Consumers prefer watching subject. [Right now] there is not enough created) saving on what currently According to Kagan, the majors are movies on 70-inch TV screens.” He then information. Some signs show that day- represents 3 0 percent of a film’s budget. still riled up for not having taken full predicted that “HDTVs will get bigger and-date potentially could stimulate Finally movies will be simultaneously control over the development of HBO- and cheaper. In six years, 1 00-inch flat- additional business, but there are other distributed directly to homes, to movie style TV networks for movies in 1 9 81 . screens will be the norm in large homes.” concerns that show it could negatively theaters and to VoD outlets in all their These networks were first to understand In order to avoid downloading wait affect various parts of our business.” forms ( Cable TV, IPTV, cell phones and and exploit the then-new satellite time, all the majors – – except Sony With the ultimate goal of a door-to- computer downloads) . technology. This is an error that the Pictures – – have negotiated with Vudu door delivery model of movies via But Marenzi took care to dampen studios would prefer not to repeat. for the door-to-door delivery of their broadband, the Hollywood-based excessive enthusiasm: “The timetable To the studios, the elimination of movies via broadband. The Vudu box, Alliance of Motion Picture and starts now. [However] it’s not a sprint, it’s some content exploitation “windows” which costs $3 00, permits viewers to, for Television Producers is declaring what a marathon. As content owners, we don’t could be inauspicious and undesirable. just $6, watch a film on a television has been called a “jihad” ( holy war) necessarily feel the pressure of the Nevertheless they fully intend to screen immediately after having selected against the Writers Guild of America for technologist.” it. the elimination of residuals, a practice encourage the introduction of new This artic le, by the same author, forms of exploitation for their Marenzi elaborated, “We are working initiated in 1 9 3 5 when radio stations originally ap p eared in the Cinema insert audiovisual products. The mistakes of with Apple in the U.S. and other started using recordings for time- of Italy’s Il Sole 24 Ore, E urop e’s largest the record industry are there to serve as a platforms and we are embracing all shifting broadcasts, and paid artists a f inanc ial daily.

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we cannot attend both. That’s certain.” “heavyweights,” as Liong called them. Bejot said that no decision has yet been Last year’s ATF also saw large made as to which event will get the nod contingents from Australia, France, Asia TV Forum from TV France, but he is clearly Spain, Singapore, South Korea and unhappy about the situation, expressing Taiwan. a desire that, “Reed [Midem] get their “This clearly reflects our international act together and sort this out.” appeal as the strategic business platform Another ATF attendee unhappy about for Asia’s media and entertainment (Continued from Cover) the clash is Sandra Carter, president, industry,” said Liong. Sandra Carter Global. “Last year we had But in the face of new competition, Midem’s new Hong Kong event, insists a fantastically successful time at the Asia will it be able to remain viable? “It’s it is entirely different from the TV Forum,” reported Carter. “In too early to say,” said Anita Barnard, Singapore-based ATF. “We spent two addition to many sales, we also launched Sales manager at the U.K.’s 3 DD. While years researching the need for an event three co-productions including Chef in a she’s discussed the possibility of that recognizes convergence and it is Sari, starring Mridula Vao Jakar, one of attending the new market with her definitely what the region wants,” he Asia’s top chefs.” Carter has already colleagues, nothing’s been decided yet. insisted. decided that two markets in the same “At this moment, ATF is our key market For Reed Midem, AMAZIA region just weeks apart is one market too in Asia.” represents their second attempt at many, but she too has yet to decide Added Guadalupe D’Agostino of infiltrating the Asian TV market, with the first being MIPAsia, which closed in 1 9 9 9 after six runs. RCTV’s G uadalup e D’Agostino has been Coincidentally, MIPAsia’s intro- attending ATF sinc e its inc ep tion duction in 1 9 9 4 in Hong Kong, caused the closing of the established Asia Pacific far, a number of Asian companies have Program Market, also in Singapore. But voiced their support for the new event, Caduc is confident that AMAZIA won’t including China’s State Administration of share the fate of MIPAsia. “AMAZIA is a Radio, Film and Television, and the very different concept than MIPAsia,” Shanghai Media Group. In addition, over said Caduc. “MIPAsia was purely 20 Chinese companies have also television. AMAZIA has stronger expressed interest in AMAZIA, including ambitions — it will cover not only CCTV, Beijing TV, Greater China Media television, but music and games, as well. and Entertainment, Guangzhou Beauty Besides,” he added, “the environment Culture, Star-DTV and Films and China has changed tremendously since 1 9 9 9 Movie Channel. what with the digital revolution and all. Celebrity c hef K ylie “AMAZIA is really very different from We believe that today’s market is much K w ong; a deal inv olv ing everything else on the market,” said bigger.” F remantleM edia, Sitting In Pic tures and M DA Caduc. “I can’t speak for the ATF, but it’s Launched with the backing of such Singap ore w as signed at a more traditional TV market with a markets as MIPCOM and MIP-TV, ATF last year f or her TV series. focus on Southeast Asia. There was AMAZIA will take place at the Hong definitely a need for this new event.” Kong Convention Centre, November Meanwhile, ATF is forging ahead with 1 7-20, 2008. In addition to the its 2007 event, which will include a focus exhibition and conferences, AMAZIA on sports content, with seminars such as: will offer four days of platform “Sports on Television: Latest Worldwide showcases and networking services. TV Trends,” “Sports Content Media AMAZIA will also host the Trends,” “Beijing 2008: Opportunities Entertainment Leadership Summit, a O ne of the ex hibiting suites at the Shangri- la and Challenges” and “Sport Planning on two-day think-tank that will bring H otel TV in Asia.” together visionary speakers from across For 2008, the organizers have the Asian and international announced that the market will expand entertainment industries. into the Suntec Centre, and will be held Caduc went on to point out that, “In December 1 0 to December 1 2. addition to people doing business in the Last year ATF was at an all-time high in traditional way, music, games, seller and buyer participation from a total advertisers and digital players will all be of 4 9 countries. The Asian presence was integral to the market as the need to strong, with 1 21 Asian sellers, including coordinate these different platforms 25 from Singapore alone. Key agreements grows.” which way to jump. RCTV International: “We’ve been at announced at the 2006 event include Caduc claimed that at MIPCOM Despite the controversy, it’s business as ATF since the beginning. We’ve found Buena Vista International Television-Asia alone “over 50 major sellers, including usual at this year’s upcoming ATF, which many good clients for us there.” Pacific’s statement that it had inked a the U.K.’s All3 Media, Spain’s RTVE, will be held November 28-3 0 at the And Raphael Correa Netto of Brazil’s multi-year movie video-on-demand Italy’s Mondo TV, Denmark’s Danish Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore. Globo TV International said, “ATF has IPTV agreement with Asia Pacific VoD Broadcasting Corporation and Israel’s channel ANYTIME and FremantleMedia “Over the years we have built a been an important tool for us in Dori Media have already signed up, as Enterprises’ exclusive international deal reputation as the leading programming building our brand and bringing our have 3 0 top regional buyers.” with celebrity chef Kylie Kwong, in market in Asia,” said Joyce Liong, senior content to the Asian market.” It is When asked by VideoAge whether partnership with Sitting In Pictures and Marketing manager of Reed Exhibitions. both events could survive just a few possible that Globo TV will more than the Media Development Authority of weeks apart, ATF’s Leng replied, “They “This is the only place where likely attend both ATF and AMAZIA Singapore, to produce nine 3 0-minute can for now, but we will see.” international sellers can meet with Asian next year to see which will better serve programs. “Asia TV Forum has been TV France International has been a buyers to sell, buy and network.” the firm’s needs, but, added Correa growing from strength to strength over long-time supporter of the Singapore Indeed, while the participants list for Netto, “For us, it’s important to be close the short seven years since its inception in market, but managing director Mathieu this year’s upcoming event wasn’t yet to the buyers, so wherever the buyers 2000,” said ATF' s Liong. “This is a clear Bejot is clear that, “in 2008 we will have finalized at press time, last year’s market are, that’s where we’ll be.” signal of strong industry support.” to choose between the two events,” drew the likes of CBS Paramount, AMAZIA director Caduc looked on adding, “Asia represents no more than Lionsgate and NBC Universal Television the bright side of things: “The reaction Bob Jenkins contributed to this story. 1 0 percent of French content exports, so Distribution, to name just a few of the to AMAZIA has been excellent.” Thus

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announced co-sponsorship of a VideoAge will be more technology companies in luncheon for the “Independents’ Day” at attendance. It’ll be a broader body NATPE Power L.A. Screenings 2008. politic.” However, the studio presence at In addition, NATPE will feature an NATPE will continue to be felt on expanded fourth annual NATPE (Continued from Cover) various levels for a many years to come, Mobile++. This one-day event, to be held first because some studio executives are January 28, and produced with Achilles Television reported that Sony wouldn’t part of the NATPE board and, secondly, Media, is designed to provide conference have a booth at this year’s NATPE — because the trade show is still a tradition attendees with a concise overview of the and that they wouldn’t be taking a suite for many in the current guard. Plus, the opportunities available in the mobile either. “We will have people there,” Las Vegas locale is close to Hollywood content marketplace. NATPE Mobile++ explained the spokesman, “but not at a and NATPE represents a venue in which will identify the major players in the booth or a suite.” A rep for CBS to spot trends, in addition to the fact mobile video market, as well as key Paramount would only say that the that, for the international TV industry trends and potentially lucrative company would be at NATPE. The community, it is important to have a business opportunities. The event will studio, however, will not be in the gathering right in the middle of the six- present representatives from more than company of its associated King World, month gap between MIPCOM and 700 members of the mobile content which opted out of the NATPE MIP-TV. realm, including content owners, mobile convention altogether. Twentieth While the schedule wasn’t yet finalized aggregators, distributors, producers and Century Fox also plans to attend, albeit at press time, NATPE 2008 is expected mobile operators. Reps from ABC, AOL, without its traditional affiliate get- to feature a slew of panel discussions, the BBC, NBC, Motorola, TiVO, togethers. NATPE prez Rick Feldman keynote addresses, workshops and Verizon, NellyMoser, CNN, Endemol, Of those studios that will be networking opportunities. Topics in Fremantle, Intel, Microsoft, Nokia, participating, some will be with smaller pipes for the new season. development include “Programming Yahoo!, Viacom, T-Mobile, Sony, booths that will forego the high- In any case, at the current rate of Goes Green: Tune In and Take Action,” Twentieth Century Fox and more will be hovering logo signage, which can cost up development, it is entirely possible that “Calling the Shots: Advertisers Take on hand to chat with NATPE attendees to $500,000. NATPE will soon mainly depend on the Back the Content,” “Anatomy of a Short about what they can do to cash in on all If, at one time, the NATPE debate was patronage of independents, which means Form Hit: Quarterlife,” “How We Got things mobile. floor versus suites, today it is the role of that the market would be missing the Here: The Talk Show from Mike Douglas Despite the studios’ challenge, Feldman studios’ domestic distribution versus magnetic power that studios exert over to Tom Green,” “Sizzling Hot: Successful said he’s looking forward to the their international counterparts and the buyers, but have less competition for Latin Formats,” “Measuring ROI in a convention. “These are turbulent times in independents. indies. At that point, large and mid-sized Multi-Platform World,” “Anatomy of a the industry,” he said. “The market has its “The [floor vs. suites debate] has been more important in years gone by,” said Rick Feldman, NATPE’s president and CEO. “The trend now is that the domestic market is more fluid than it used to be. So when domestic has more product, they’re on the floor. When they have less product, they’re in the suites.” Indeed, at NATPE 2008, NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution — which will be on the floor — will be on hand to introduce a new half-hour version of the NBC and Endemol USA hit game show Deal or No Deal, which it will be bringing to national syndication starting in fall 2008. In response to the fact that some independent distributors have also opted for the suites, Feldman said: “If everyone was on the floor, that would be nice. Buyers would most definitely appreciate it. If the sellers wanted to make the buyers happy, they’d be on the floor.” For some time now, NATPE has been a key event for the Latin American and Hispanic markets. Plus, in the past, A panel at NATPE 2007 featuring speakers NATPE’s domestic U.S. component from the Hollywood Studios. L. to r.: Hit: Entourage” and “Local Stations Ride ups and downs, its ins and outs, its goods helped the studios’ international Feldman, Marc Graboff, Gary Newman, the Internet Wave.” and bads. There have been changes in Mark Pedowitz, Bruce Rosenblum. divisions, which are now required to Jeff Zucker, president and CEO of personnel and changes in business Photo credit: SWpix Photography carry more of the burden for catering to NBC Universal will present NATPE’s models. Things are changing every single a region that doesn’t often warrant more companies such as Granada, keynote address. Other speakers include day, which makes it tough to put our than eight percent of studios’ world FremantleMedia, RHI, Power, Joe Uva, president and CEO of finger on the pulse of things.” sales. SevenOne, PeaceArch, Entertainment Univision Communications; Harvey Yet even with all the changes to the It is clear, however, that NATPE Rights, Carsey-Warner, DIC, RaiTrade, Levin, managing editor of TMZ.com; entertainment biz in recent months, remains a viable, if smaller-than-it-used- Alfred Haber, Lakeshore and Lionsgate, Doug Scott, executive director of Feldman expects 7,000-8,000 people to to-be show for the studios’ international plus the big Latin companies such as Branded Content and Entertainment, attend the convention — on par with last divisions, and a good market for Globo TV, Televisa and Telefe, in Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide; Brent year’s numbers. “It’s the first big market independents. The lower dollar addition to Hispanic groups such as Watson, CEO of 60 Frames of the year,” he said. “So it’ll really be a exchange rate also encourages added Telemundo and Univision, will have to Entertainment; Michael Eisner, founder snapshot of the TV business at this foreign participation. In addition, this step forward to bring NATPE back to of Vuguru; and Bob Pittman, founding moment in time.” time, the U.S. writers’ strike will bring the glory days of its past. And NATPE is member of The Pilot Group. more European buyers to NATPE if indeed looking to the future by shifting “There aren’t any big changes to the only to find out which are the “strike- its focus from studio dependence to market this year,” said Feldman. “In proof” shows the studios have in the independents, starting with the essence, it’s similar to last year, but there

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My Two Cents MAIN OFFICES 216 EAST 75TH STREET NEW YORK, NY 10021 TEL: (212) 288-3933 ome observers, like those at the daily newspaper USA Today, “see a downloading revolution coming FAX: (212) 734-9033 to the movie business.” Others see it as an “evolution” thanks to broadband and IPTV platforms VIDEO AGE WEBSITES: www.videoage.org which reduce piracy, increase consumption of content, and monetize every aspect of the television www.videoagelatino.com business. Prior to broadband, large-scale piracy of DVDs prospered despite the fact that setting www.videoage.it up such an operation required an organizational infrastructure, manufacturing facilities, distribution channels and lots of capital. Indeed, manufacturing costs represent 40 percent of P.O. BOX 25282 LOS ANGELES, CA 90025 DVD production. Nonetheless, a pirated movie on DVD costs less than a legitimate disc and the TEL/FAX: (310) 444-3189 means of distributing these DVDs has always been limited to furtive transactions. SLooking at figures from various sources, we found out that, in 2005, movie studios in the U.S. VIALE ABRUZZI 30 lost $3.7 billion due to worldwide DVD piracy. In 2006, this figure was reduced to $2.4 billion, 20123 MILAN, ITALY thanks to broadband. During the same period, the loss to international Internet piracy was TEL/FAX: (39 02) 204 3029 estimated at $2.3 billion, but only five percent (or $115 million) was for mainstream movie YUKARI MEDIA content. On the other hand, the 55 million U.S. homes with broadband generated legitimate YMI BLDG. 3-3-4, UCHIHIRANOMACHI download business of $43 million a year (according to Adams Media Research). CHUO-KU, OSAKA JAPAN Today, downloads and IPTV have broken the chicken and the egg riddle: To reduce piracy, the TEL: (816) 4790-2222 price of DVDs had to come down, but it couldn’t be lowered because the high level of piracy EDITOR reduced the consumer universe for legit buys. Downloads and IPTV sales also reduce distributors’ DOM SERAFINI costs since, unlike DVDs, which are returnable, with broadband there are no returns and no ONLINE EDITOR packaging. It costs more to return DVDs (from $1 to $2 each) than to manufacture them ($1.85 LEAH HOCHBAUM ROSNER each with case). Returns can reach 30 percent, and when costs are that high, they can break a company. EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Despite all the advantages of IPTV and downloads, studios were reluctant to get into this area because they did not want to alienate DIETER BROCKMEYER (GERMANY) Wal-Mart, which generates 40 percent of all DVD sales in the U.S. But now that Wal-Mart has entered the download-to-own (or DTO, ENZO CHIARULLO here another acronym for us to remember!) video business, the industry is starting to reap all the benefits of this aspect of distribution. MARINA DEL RIVERO Nevertheless, according to www.dvdinformation.com, in 2006, overall DVD shipments in North America were 1.65 billion units, the JANET FINE same as 2005. CARLOS GUROVICH Internet guru Mark Cuban is convinced that media companies are in no hurry to have the online movie business succeed: “It’s one thing BOB JENKINS (U.K.) AKIKO KOBAYACHI (JAPAN) to allow downloads of yesterday’s TV shows and create a VALERIE MILANO market and revenue that didn’t exist last year. It’s ARNOLD PETER another thing to mess with your biggest revenue LEVI SHAPIRO stream.” DAVID SHORT (EASTERN EUROPE) However, both download and IPTV platforms still ERIN SOMERS present a few technical, regulatory and licensing LIANNE STEWART problems. With downloads, problems are that, even CORPORATE AND though they are priced about the same as DVDs (from CIRCULATION OFFICE $10 to $20 for a new release movie and $2 for a TV 216 EAST 75TH STREET show), movies and TV programs take a long time to NEW YORK, NY 10021 download even with a broadband connection, and TEL: (212) 288-3933 present inferior video quality to DVDs. Plus, the FAX: (212) 734-9033 download standards vary from company to company and it costs too much for the memory to store 200 PUBLISHER MONICA GORGHETTO DVDs on a computer. The TV vs. PC is no longer a problem, due to the fact that many companies are MARKETING COORDINATOR coming up with computer-to-TV devices. Consumers CAROLINE INTERTAGLIA can also burn their downloads to a DVD for TV BUSINESS OFFICE viewing from a DVD player. LEN FINKEL For IPTV, the problem is that Telcos –– once their LEGAL OFFICE franchising dispute with MSOs is resolved –– could ROBERT ACKERMANN become the nation’s largest aggregators, leaving STEVE SCHIFFMAN “There’s TV, Cable, IPTV, Stereo, DVD, VCR, Air Conditioner, Lighting System, Burglar Alarm ...” independent platforms just the ethnic TV channel WEB MANAGER niche, as well as obscure movies. MIKE FAIVRE The major competitor against Telcos’ IPTV platforms DESIGN/LAYOUT could turn out to be satellite television, which could easily replace its satellite set-top boxes (STB) with IPTV STBs. Actually, in order not CARMINE RASPAOLO to give Telcos a headstart at becoming influential aggregators, satellite TV operators should jump on the IPTV bandwagon immediately. ILLUSTRATIONS The magic of IPTV could prove to be a boost for television stations. In a single stroke, this Internet Protocol-based TV technology –– BOB SCHOCHET which is, at the same time, a technical standard and a business model –– will solve all the problems that afflict today’s TV industry: FOUNDED IN 1981 standards confusion, audience fragmentation, ratings problems, reduced revenues, cable carriage, coverage areas and frequency allocation. MEMBER OF NBCA Currently, TV signals take different paths to get to consumers: Over the air in two standards –– NTSC for analog and ATSC for digital (CIRCULATION) or PAL and DTV. Plus: standard definition and high-definition in both interlaced and progressive forms. Cable, in analog or digital. VIDEO AGE INTERNATIONAL (ISSN 0278-5013 USPS 601-230) IS Satellite. Streaming media, in several standards, and hand-held (cellular phones) in two or three standards, one of which doesn’t work PUBLISHED EIGHT TIMES A YEAR: JANUARY, FEBRUARY/MARCH, APRIL, well indoors. MAY, JUNE/JULY, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER/DECEMBER. With IPTV, stations send one signal of the MPEG-4 type and all devices everywhere receive it. In addition, by using the VoD feature, PLUS DAILIES BY TV TRADE MEDIA, INC. SINGLE COPY U.S.$9.75. YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION U.S.$45 (U.S., CANADA, MEXICO); U.S.$60 (U.K. stations could monetize their programs even after the linear TV signal is gone, and even license their signals to IPTV platforms. The AND EUROPE). audience lost at the local level can be recouped at a national or international level (to keep the CPM stable) and advertisers can get an © TV TRADE MEDIA INC. 2007. THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF VIDEO AGE accurate count of the programs’ viewing audience. Finally, with IPTV there is no need for transmitting with over-the-air frequencies, INTERNATIONAL ARE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT IN THE U.S., U.K., AND ALL COUNTRIES SIGNATORY TO THE BERNE CONVENTION AND THE which can then be rented, for example, to Wi-Max operators, thus creating another form of income for TV stations. PAN-AMERICAN CONVENTION. SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO VIDEO AGE INTERNATIONAL, 216 EAST 75TH STREET, SUITE PW, NEW YORK, Dom Serafini NY 10021, U.S.A. PURSUANT TO THE U.S. COPYRIGHTS ACT OF 1976, THE RIGHTS OF ALL CONTENT DONE ON ASSIGNMENT FOR ALL VIDEOAGE PUBLICATIONS ARE HELD BY THE PUBLISHER OF VIDEOAGE, WHICH COMMISSIONED THEM.

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