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Cinemagoers Are Again however Theatrical Biz Nonetheless Faces Challenges

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Business representatives on the Zurich Movie Pageant are optimistic that moviegoers are returning to cinemas and indicators are aplenty that enterprise is enhancing because the worldwide theatrical sector recovers from the influence of the pandemic and two Hollywood strikes.

Discussing the disruption and present state of the sector on the Zurich Summit business discussion board have been Rebecca Kearey, head of worldwide and enterprise operations at Searchlight Photos; Neon CEO Tom Quinn; Stefanie Fahrion, head of distribution and gross sales at Film4; and MK2 Chairman Nathanaël Karmitz.

Enterprise will not be again to regular, however it’s selecting up and there are optimistic indicators, in keeping with Kearey.

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“The pressures are huge and have been huge and proceed to be pretty giant. I feel although, like every part, resilience and creativity come by way of, trumping a few of that.”

The cinema lovers are nonetheless on the market and nonetheless coming to theaters, she mentioned. “It could be taking just a little bit longer to get a few of them again, however we really feel like we’re getting them again over time.”

The influence of the COVID disaster and the strikes that adopted left the sector in a trench, she added. But issues already started to enhance a 12 months in the past.

“Final fall was the start of what I assumed was our enterprise coming again with a few of these phenomenal award season films that have been launched … and actually delivered for audiences. So I really feel like we’re popping out of this trench. We will not be absolutely out, however we’re undoubtedly popping out.”

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Kearey additionally pointed to the variations between worldwide audiences, noting that native cinema performed a component in sustaining regional markets.  

Quinn agreed: “The best approach for me as an example that focusing solely on home field workplace can be to take a look at the common gross per movie final 12 months in 2023, which was $15 million per movie. The very best mark within the final 24 years was $19 [million].” The remainder of these years noticed field workplace income vary between $16 million and $17 million, he added.

The very best complete in that interval was in 2018 with about $11.8 billion throughout 993 films, he famous. Final 12 months, complete field workplace reached $8.9 billion with solely 591 films. “So although it’s a 41% much less variety of films, it’s solely 25% much less complete field workplace. So to me, that really is sort of encouraging.”

Providing extra figures, Quinn pointed on the robust efficiency of unbiased movies this summer time, making the case that the market is certainly selecting up. Sony Classics scored its finest grossing movie since 2018 with “Depraved Little Letters”; Magnolia Photos had its finest grossing movie since 2018 with “Thelma” at $9 million; and IFC Movies loved its highest grossing movie since 2014 with “Late Night time With Satan,” which conjured up $10 million.

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“We had our largest movie ever, $74 million with ‘Longlegs,’ however we additionally had one other nice success with ‘Immaculate,’ $15 million.”

Providing a U.Okay. perspective, Fahrion likewise offered an optimistic outlook. She famous that awards movies seem to have had a barely simpler time within the U.Okay. post-pandemic and that youthful audiences have been popping out for movies.

“We noticed, for instance, with ‘The Zone of Curiosity,’ the place [people under 25] have been going to see that movie, have been going to Q and As. So I feel that sort of conventional grownup specialty awards viewers, no matter you name it, is altering and is being blended up with youthful audiences who’re coming again, or not coming again, however are simply discovering the enjoyment of going to cinemas.”

Fahrion famous that movies like “Aftersun” and “Kneecap,” each debut options, have earned robust field workplace revenues within the U.Okay. “So once more, that’s a sort of youthful viewers mixing with a specialty viewers. And I feel that at Film4 undoubtedly offers us trigger for optimism as properly.”

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For MK2, a producer-distributor that additionally operates cinemas in France and Spain, it’s been just a little more durable, mentioned Karmitz.

“It’s been very tough for the previous years as a result of it’s a fixed-cost enterprise and it’s a proposal enterprise and we don’t have sufficient films.”

There are, nonetheless, completely different conditions for the corporate, he added. “The primary one is that it’s going nice for unbiased films, unbiased cinemas. And we see that folks, common audiences for cinema are there and prepared to come back.”

On the identical time, it’s a world business and the worldwide theater business is dealing with an enormous problem in completely reworking itself, Karmitz defined. “It’s the identical factor each 20 years. You go from complicated to multiplex to all these luxurious cinemas and extras.”

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In these intervals of transformation, the place enormous investments are wanted within the theatrical enterprise, it’s a battle, he mentioned.

“So I feel persons are right here, films are coming again, the scenario just isn’t but as earlier than, however it’s coming again and there’s little doubt about it. And all of us see that youthful audiences are there regardless of every part that has been mentioned all around the world for the final 10 years.”

Whereas there’s a giant urge for food amongst cinemagoers, there may be additionally a giant want for change and funding in theaters themselves, and that’s a problem, he added.

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Ridley Scott and Paul Mescal Re-Crew on ‘The Canine Stars’

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As “Gladiator II” barrels in direction of theaters, Ridley Scott and Paul Mescal are already set to re-team on a brand new undertaking. Scott will direct “The Canine Stars” for twentieth Century, with Mescal upfront negotiations to star.

Scott will work with Steve Asbell and the twentieth Century Studios workforce to convey the movie, tailored by Mark L Smith from Peter Heller’s apocalyptic thriller, to life. Smith, Cliff Roberts and Scott’s movie and tv manufacturing automobile Scott Free are producing.

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The movie follows a civilian pilot lives a lonely life on an deserted Colorado airbase along with his canine and a troublesome ex-marine, in a close to future the place an unnamed pandemic has decimated American society. The 2 males couldn’t be extra mismatched however depend upon one another to fend off roaming invaders. When a random transmission beams by means of the radio of his 1956 Cessna, the voice ignites a hope deep contained in the pilot that a greater life exists outdoors their tightly managed perimeter. Risking every little thing, he flies previous his level of no return and follows its static-broken path.

Mescal, who performs the gladiator Lucius in Scott’s forthcoming “Gladiator II,” praised the director in an interview with Selection on the movie’s Tokyo premiere “There’s no higher director for specializing in an viewers’s sense of leisure than Ridley Scott,” he stated.

Scott was equally effusive of Mescal in an interview with The New York Occasions this week, telling the outlet, “Paul could be very sensible, so all he’s bought to do is recover from the dimensions of what I’m going to stroll him into. After I walked him onto the set of Rome in Malta, I stated, ‘You’ll recover from this in two hours. That is all for you, that is all for me. Let’s go and make this collectively.’ That was it. A part of my job is to make gentle of it.”

Deadline was first to report the information.

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‘Heretic’ Makes $1.2 Million in Thursday Previews

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Halloween could also be over, however the scares carry on coming.

A24 and Hugh Grant‘s new horror film “Heretic” is launching on the field workplace this weekend, and it’s made $1.2 million to date in Thursday previews.

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It is going to go up in opposition to Sony’s superhero threequel “Venom: The Final Dance,” which has reigned over the field workplace for the previous two weeks. The Tom Hardy-led motion film is aiming to make round $13 million to $15 million in its third body, which might be a 40%-50% from final weekend. “Heretic” is on observe to open with $8 million to $10 million, so it’ll doubtless should accept second place.

“When two missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints try to convert a reclusive Englishman, it seems to be way more harmful than they may have anticipated,” reads the plot description for “Heretic.” Grant stars because the creepy Mr. Reed, who takes the 2 younger ladies, performed by “Yellowjackets” star Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East, prisoner in his dwelling.

A24 promoted “Heretic” with some distinctive advertising and marketing and hosted particular blueberry pie-scented screenings upfront at choose theaters. As teased within the trailer, the 2 missionaries should not allowed to enter Mr. Reed’s dwelling with out one other girl current, however he assures them his spouse is dwelling and baking a blueberry pie. When the ladies enter, they slowly notice issues aren’t as they appear once they discover a blueberry-scented candle burning in the lounge.

Additionally opening this weekend is Lionsgate’s faith-based household movie “The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever,” which is aiming for $6 million to $8 million in its opening. It made $500,000 in Thursday previews.

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Ariana Grande, André 3000, and Extra

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The 2025 Grammy nominations are a far-reaching reflection of the artists who’ve formed the previous yr, with Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Charli XCX, Submit Malone, Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter main the nominees and a galaxy of different artists represented within the dozens of classes.

However as at all times, there have been surprises each glad — Andre 3000’s flute opus up for album of the yr! Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter each nominated within the prime 4 classes! — and fewer so. Eyes under…

SURPRISE: Album of the yr pits Taylor, Beyoncé and Sabrina in opposition to… André 3000? Not a knock on André 3000’s instrumental flute album in any respect, however Grammy fans could also be shocked to see his newest “New Blue Solar” contending within the prime album class in opposition to Charli XCX, Chappell Roan and Billie Eilish. If the Grammys are a reputation contest, then “New Blue Solar” is the zen anti-commercialite absorbing the vibes someplace at a sound tub. It certainly is among the largest surprises within the massive 4 classes, which frequently skew in direction of acknowledging the most well-liked music from the eligibility interval, and “New Blue Solar” was extra of an if-you-know-you-know file. That stated, Three Stacks’ newest bought love elsewhere, with noms in greatest various jazz album and greatest instrumental composition, the place the competitors feels rather more aligned (not less than musically).

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SURPRISE-ISH: Beyoncé reigns supreme throughout style strains. The discourse surrounding Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” started the second it was introduced: Is it a rustic album? An Americana file? A wholly new style? Bey’s massive swing seems to have netted her not simply probably the most nominations this yr (11, in case you have been questioning), but additionally a diffusion throughout particular style classes. Along with album of the yr and each file and tune of the yr with “Texas Maintain ‘Em,” Bey lands within the pop, nation, Americana and rap classes. Amongst her nation and Americana nods: “16 Carriages” (greatest nation solo efficiency), “II Most Needed” with Miley Cyrus (greatest nation duo/group efficiency), “Texas Maintain ‘Em” (greatest nation tune), “Ya Ya” (greatest Americana efficiency), and greatest nation album. “Spaghettii” slots into greatest melodic rap efficiency, whereas “Bodyguard” leads to greatest pop solo efficiency and “Levii’s Denims” with Submit Malone is slated for greatest pop duo/group efficiency.

It’s value noting that Beyoncé bought almost all of the nominations for which she submitted, excluding “Tyrant,” which was up for consideration in greatest R&B tune. Regardless, she now has 99 whole profession nominations, making her probably the most nominated artist in Grammy historical past (she beforehand co-held the file together with her husband Jay-Z at 88), and she or he’s additionally probably the most awarded in Grammy historical past. This yr additionally marks her first to get nominations within the Nation & Americana Roots music discipline.

SURPRISE: Chappell and Sabrina safe the large 4. Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter are arguably the breakout stars of the yr, and their nominations converse to that. Each are up for file, album and tune of the yr, plus greatest new artist, making them the third pair to get nominated throughout all 4 common classes this decade.

KIND OF A SNUB: Ariana Grande disregarded of the final fields. Amid the accelerating press blitz main as much as her function within the upcoming “Depraved” movie, Ariana Grande dropped her seventh album “Everlasting Sunshine,” however didn’t actually put it on the market like a famous person launch, presumably in an effort to keep away from overexposure forward of the movie. Maybe in consequence, she’s totally relegated to the pop classes, the place she’s nominated for greatest pop duo/group efficiency (“The Boy Is Mine” that includes Brandy and Monica), greatest pop vocal album and greatest dance pop recording (“Sure, And?”).

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SNUB: Victoria Monét and Killer Mike nowhere to be discovered. Each Monét — who received final yr’s greatest new artist prize — and Mike had headline-grabbing success earlier this yr when the previous took residence three awards and the latter swept the rap classes. This yr, Monét submitted within the R&B classes with “S.O.S.,” her steamy duet with Usher, whereas Mike submitted along with his newest “Michael & the Mighty Midnight Revival, Songs for Sinners and Saints” and the tune “Humble Me.” However regardless of each contending, they’re left off the poll for subsequent yr’s ceremony. 

NOT A SURPRISE: Zach Bryan will get no nominations. That’s, after all, as a result of Zach Bryan opted to not submit this yr. Earlier this yr, he secured three nods within the nation classes, successful for greatest nation duo/group efficiency with “I Bear in mind Every thing” that includes Kacey Musgraves. However for the 2025 Grammys, he selected to not submit totally, that means that his fifth album “The Nice American Bar Scene” that dropped on July 4 will go with out being acknowledged. In flip, Bryan joins an illustrious (and rising) group of artists who’ve little interest in the Grammys, as Drake and the Weeknd have famously withheld over the previous few years.

SURPRISE: Kendrick is competing in opposition to himself. …as when you can actually name {that a} shock, as a result of Kendrick Lamar is usually in a league of his personal. This yr, even with out an album launch, he ties for second-most nominations with seven nods (alongside Billie Eilish, Charli XCX and Submit Malone), along with his diss-track-turned-anthem “Not Like Us” getting honored in file and tune of the yr, greatest music video, greatest rap efficiency and greatest rap tune. However he’ll be contending with himself within the latter two classes, the place his characteristic on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That” is included.

SNUB: Jack Antonoff disregarded of producer of the yr. Jack Antonoff has had the producer of the yr (non-classical) class on lock for the previous three years, sweeping the class from 2022 by way of this yr. So it comes as a serious shock that he’s been left totally out of the nominees, which counts Mustard, Daniel Nigro, Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II, Alissia and Ian Fitchuk. And it’s not prefer it was a gradual yr for Antonoff, both. Along with producing Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Division,” which is up for album of the yr, he contributed to data throughout the board for Lana Del Rey, Kendrick Lamar and Gracie Abrams, the latter of whom is nominated for the tune “Us.,” that includes Swift, in greatest pop duo/group efficiency (he produced that one, too). It’s unclear why he wouldn’t make the minimize, however not less than he’s prone to decide up an award or two for his work with others.

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SURPRISE-ISH: Greatest new artist is a blended bag. Everybody who you’d anticipate to make the minimize for greatest new artist is right here this yr: Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Shaboozey, Benson Boone and Teddy Swims. However there are a couple of much less anticipated inclusions, particularly Khruangbin, Doechii and Raye, the latter of whom is the primary new-artist nominee in Grammy historical past additionally to be honored within the songwriter of the yr class for her solo work and contributions to different artists’ data.

SNUB: Wherefore artwork thou Hozier, Tyla and Doja Cat? A number of artists who appeared like shoo-ins come up empty-handed this yr. It’s a bit perplexing that Hozier, who staged a exceptional chart comeback this yr along with his single “Too Candy,” has zero nominations for the 2025 Grammys. Tyla took residence the Grammy for “Water” within the inaugural greatest African music efficiency class earlier this yr, however none of her subsequent singles are wherever to be discovered. And Doja Cat put out her final album “Scarlet” contained in the eligibility interval, although she additionally will get zilch.

SNUB: Missed alternative for variety in pop classes. Not surprisingly, Latin music stays largely restricted to its genre-specific classes. That is excluding one other consecutive nomination for songwriter Edgar Barrera within the songwriter’s class (non-classical), along with artists of Latin descent in classes not part of the primary telecast (Gustavo Dudamel will get his sixth nod in orchestral efficiency). That is odd contemplating the flood of culture-blending Spanish-language pop music launched this yr. Though the 2 most eligible (and extensively submitted) pop efforts — Shakira’s “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” and Kali Uchis’ “Orquídeas” — do seem in a stacked lineup for the Latin pop album class, there may have been the acknowledgment of Uchis and Peso Pluma’s bilingual large pop hit “Igual Que Un Ángel” within the pop duo-group efficiency class. It’s an apparent snub however not at a shock: the one Spanish-language songs to have been nominated are “Despacito” (Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber) in 2017 and “Un Día (One Day)” (J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Unhealthy Bunny and Tainy) in 2021.

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AMC Networks Acquires Full Management of BBC America for $42 Million

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AMC Networks has acquired full management of BBC America, its three way partnership with BBC Studios.

The U.S. media firm has owned a 49.9% stake within the channel since 2014, which it bought for $200 million in a take care of BBC Worldwide. With this new transaction, which closed Nov. 1, AMC Networks good points the remaining 50.1% of BBC America in trade for $42 million in money.

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Per AMC Networks’ Q3 earnings outcomes, which had been launched Friday, AMC Networks “now owns 100% of the BBC America enterprise, with full operational management, and can proceed to completely consolidate BBC America.”

Together with “Mad Males,” “The Strolling Useless” and “Breaking Dangerous,” a number of the reveals AMC Networks is finest recognized for are its previous BBC America hits and significant darlings, together with “Killing Eve,” “Orphan Black” and “Physician Who” (which moved to Disney+ in 2023).

AMC Networks says “future contractual programming commitments to BBC Studios would have been considerably lowered,” had the deal been closed by Sept. 30, the ultimate day of its final quarter, and $132.9 million of redeemable non-controlling curiosity associated to BBC America “would have been eradicated.” “Going ahead, AMC Networks will now not be making any associated money distributions to non-controlling pursuits,” the corporate says.

“We now personal 100% of this iconic channel with full operational management and sit up for what the longer term holds,” AMC Networks CEO Kristin Dolan stated in the course of the Q3 earnings name with buyers. “After all, we nonetheless preserve an in depth industrial relationship with BBC Studios, to make sure the model and programming stay prime tier. We are going to proceed to completely consolidate BBC America, as we did previous to the transaction”

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Wizards of Baking’ Lands on Prime Video within the U.Ok.

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“Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking” has been acquired by Prime Video for the U.Ok.

The present, which options pairs of bakers whipping up magical Potter-inspired creations in a contest format, is ready to air within the U.S. on Meals Community and Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming platform Max from Nov. 14. New episodes will drop weekly.

It is going to be out there on Prime Video within the U.Ok. from December, with an actual transmission date nonetheless being saved beneath wraps.

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Internationally, “Wizards of Baking” might be on Max in territories the place the streamer is obtainable.

Nevertheless, with Max not but out there within the U.Ok., partially as a consequence of WBD’s longrunning and profitable output take care of Comcast-owned broadcaster Sky, it appeared probably the present would land on Sky and its streaming platform Now.

Presently all WBD “Harry Potter” content material is obtainable on Now, together with all eight function movies and two unscripted collection, “Harry Potter twentieth Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts” and “Harry Potter: Hogwarts Match of Homes.” Different WBD content material can be out there on the platform, together with “Home of the Dragon” and “The Penguin.”

However with WBD desirous to roll out Max within the U.Ok., there was thriller over whether or not the deal might be renewed when it expires on the finish of 2025 and what it would appear like.

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Tensions between the businesses now seem like growing, significantly over the Potter franchise, after Sky filed a lawsuit in October alleging that WBD had breached their content material settlement by refusing to companion on HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” collection adaptation.

“Wizards of Baking” is hosted by James and Oliver Phelps, who performed the Weasley twins within the movie variations, with judges Carla Corridor and Jozef Youssef joined every week by one other former “Potter” solid member to help them in deciding which contestants will progress to the subsequent spherical and which should apparate him.

Reps for Sky and Warner Bros. Uncover didn’t reply by press time.

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AMC Networks Earnings Q3: Advert Gross sales, Streaming Subscribers

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AMC Networks reported its third-quarter 2024 earnings Thursday.

The quarter noticed U.S. advert gross sales drop 10% to $133 million for the media firm, however a slight improve in streaming subscribers to AMC Networks’ platforms from 11.6 million to 11.8 million.

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Wall Road forecast earnings per share (EPS) of 62 cents on $587.6 million in income, based on analyst consensus knowledge offered by LSEG. AMC Networks reported adjusted EPS of 76 cents on $600 million in income.

“As we handle this enterprise inside a fancy and altering surroundings, we stay targeted on our key strategic pillars – programming, partnerships and profitability,” CEO Kristin Dolan mentioned in a letter to shareholders. “Throughout the quarter, we made vital developments throughout all three areas. We’ve generated $293 million of free money movement yr so far and are nicely on our technique to delivering our acknowledged aim of roughly half a billion {dollars} in cumulative free money over two years. We additionally entered into new and enhanced partnerships with main corporations like Constitution, Netflix, Amazon and others that are driving our firm ahead as we proceed to offer distinctive, high-quality programming to clients throughout an increasing array of platforms.”

Extra to come back…

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Paramount Provides 3.5M Streaming Subs in Q3 Crimped by TV, Film Declines

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Paramount International added 3.5 million new subscribers to broadband companies like Paramount+ in its third quarter, however these good points didn’t offset significant declines in its bigger TV and movie companies.

The proprietor of the CBS broadcast community, the Paramount film studio and cable networks Comedy Central mentioned third quarter income fell 6% to $6.73 billion from $7.13 billion within the 12 months ancient times, crimped by a 6% decline in income from its TV properties and a 34% decline in its film companies. Income for the corporate’s direct-to-consumer operations rose 10%.

Like its rivals, Paramount is struggling to maneuver ahead in an period when extra of the customers who as soon as gathered repeatedly to look at TV mainstays like “CBS Night Information” and “The Each day Present” at particular instances and days have moved to streaming venues, the place they watch their video favorites at instances of their very own selecting. Regardless of a library of standard content material, Paramount is saddled with an array of entertainment-focused cable networks equivalent to MTV and TV Land which have seen their pull on the viewing public diminish over time.

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The corporate has in latest weeks labored to chop $500 million from its operations because it awaits a merger with Skydance Media, a manufacturing entity led by govt David Ellison. Executives there have articulated a plan to make additional cuts as soon as the deal is consummated, and Paramount on Friday mentioned it anticipated the transaction to shut within the first half of 2025

“Our DTC section efficiently delivered profitability for the second quarter in a row, enhancing by greater than $1 billion over the previous 4 quarters, and, throughout the corporate, we proceed to efficiently execute non-content value reductions that can end in $500 million in annual run charge financial savings,” mentioned the corporate’s three CEOs, George Cheeks, Chris McCarthy and Brian Robbins.

Income on the firm’s greatest unit, its TV enterprise, fell 6% to $4.3 billion, as charges it collects from cable and satellite tv for pc distributors fell 7%, owing to subscriber declines and the absence of pay-per-view boxing occasions as soon as placed on by the corporate’s Showtime. Promoting income fell 2%, regardless of upticks in political promoting tied to the latest 2024 presidential election.

Income at Paramount’s movie companies fell 34% to $590 million, with theatrical income off by 71%. The corporate attributed the decline to comparisons with the year-earlier quarter and the timing and variety of launch in every interval.

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The corporate’s direct to client operations noticed advert income rise 18%, whereas subscription income elevated 7% as a result of sturdy exercise at Paramount+.

Extra to come back….

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‘Bearcave’ Affords ‘Unseen Perspective’ on Queer Ladies in Rural Greece

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A mystical cave, a nettle pie and an surprising betrayal spur a romantic journey between two childhood pals in “Bearcave,” the feature-length debut of co-writers and -directors Stergios Dinopoulos and Krysianna Papadakis.

Starring newcomers Xara Kyriazi and Pamela Oikonomaki, the movie, which is presently in post-production, received the highest prize this week within the Works in Progress part of the Thessaloniki Movie Pageant’s trade program. It’s produced by Dinopoulos, Papadakis, Arsinoi Pilou and Thanasis Michalopoulos of Greece’s Pameligo Collective, and Emily Sky Hickin of Pucci Productions.

“Bearcave” relies on Dinopoulos and Papadakis’ 2023 quick movie of the identical identify, which received the Golden Dionysus for finest movie at Greece’s Drama Quick Movie Pageant and likewise performed on the Athens Intl. Movie Pageant and BFI Flare.

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The movie follows Argiro (Kyriazi), described by the filmmakers as a “badass farmer,” and her finest pal Anneta (Oikonomaki), a manicurist and native “It” lady dwelling in a distant mountain village in northern Greece. Earlier than Anneta begins a brand new life within the metropolis along with her cop boyfriend, they embark on a hike to a mysterious, mystical bear cave — a chunk of folklore historical past that’s captivated them since childhood.

The choice to search out the cave provides rise to an surprising sequence of betrayals, difficult the foundations of their lifelong friendship. Because the stakes are raised and their true emotions are uncovered, Argiro and Anneta should grapple with the query of whether or not they’ll find yourself collectively.

In response to the filmmakers, “Bearcave” “exhibits an unseen perspective into the lives of two younger queer ladies in Greece. It explores their relationship by way of the lens of youth, gentle and humor, in distinction to the darkness and struggling within the lives of rural queer individuals now we have come to count on.”

The movie is a collaboration born out of the friendship between Dinopoulos and Papadakis, who met whereas learning at Harvard. Each individually returned to Greece in the course of the pandemic — what Dinopoulos described as a “back-to-the-roots second” — and commenced on the lookout for a method to collaborate. “We had been actually hungry to simply shoot one thing,” he stated, including that the duo set about to movie “a very small, self-contained, experimental, straightforward, low-budget undertaking.”

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Their crowdfunded quick movie was made in underneath six weeks — a “fever dream,” in accordance with Dinopoulos. It additionally happened at a pivotal second within the filmmakers’ lives, with Papadakis “slowly transferring again [to Greece] with no actual long-term planning,” and Dinopoulos eyeing a return to the U.S. to attend graduate faculty.

Ultimately, he punted on the grasp’s program, and each discovered themselves planting roots of their native nation. “The undertaking was basically our approach of committing to dwelling in Greece,” stated Dinopoulos. “By the tip of the shoot, we each knew this was an even bigger undertaking that we wanted to proceed.”

The function was financed by Greece’s Pameligo Collective, which was based by the filmmaking group, with the help of the Greek Movie Middle’s micro-budget financing scheme. Hickin of U.Okay.-based Pucci Productions additionally got here on board as a co-producer.

The filmmakers stated the collective was established to showcase “a brand new perspective on the method and politics of filmmaking, conceived by way of a grassroots, collectivist strategy.” “It’s a gaggle of us, lots of whom put on many hats, [who] needed to create a collective of artistic individuals working in Greece,” stated Dinopoulos. “It emerged organically by way of the method of creating this film, however it’s one thing we hope to proceed constructing.”

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“It’s much like Greg Kwedar’s mannequin of parity that he used on ‘Sing Sing,’” added Hickin. “It’s very horizontal in construction and nature and really a lot about giving individuals the respect that they deserve once they’re engaged on an indie manufacturing.”

The Thessaloniki Movie Pageant runs Oct. 31 – Nov. 10.

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