Showbiz Sandbox 195: Hollywood Exploits 9/11 Imagery For Its Implosive Blockbusters

June 19, 2013

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As “Man of Steel” sets the worldwide box office aflame, the latest Superman reboot also serves as yet another example of a Hollywood blockbuster exploiting the imagery of 9/11 for apocalyptic purposes. Kyle Buchanan, the Movies Editor at New York Magazine, would like to see filmmakers stop relying on meaningless urban destruction.  He joins us to discuss his recent article calling for an end to the “orgy of gratuitous building-battering” in big budget movies.

Steven Spielberg and George Lucas are two filmmakers quite familiar with blockbuster movies.  Now, the directors who helped launch the modern day tentpole release are predicting an “implosion” for Hollywood, along with a handful of other pessimistic prognostications.  We’ll tell you what they had to say in a recent panel discussion.

Last week also saw Apple finally get into the music streaming business with the announcement of iTunes Radio.  Only time will tell whether Apple will be able to compete with Pandora, Spotify and all of the other existing players in the space, though we’re not overly impressed.

Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including a legal victory for Hollywood interns, Arnold Schwarzenegger returns to “The Terminator” and The Muppets head to Broadway.

‘Man of Steel’ Sees Huge Father’s Day Boost, Crosses $200 Mil Worldwide
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-report-man-steel-569894

Is It Possible to Make a Hollywood Blockbuster Without Evoking 9/11?
http://www.vulture.com/2013/06/hollywood-blockbusters-cant-stop-evoking-911.html

Steven Spielberg Predicts Implosion In Film Business
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/steven-spielberg-predicts-implosion-film-567604

Apple Announces iTunes Radio
http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2013/06/apple-announces-iradio-music-streaming.html

Pandora Buys South Dakota Radio Station In Attempt To Lower Royalty Payments
http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2013/06/pandora-buys-south-dakota-radio-station-in-attempt-to-lower-royalty-payments.html

Rdio Launches In 7 More Countries
http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2013/06/rdio-launches-in-7-more-countries.html

Tony Award Winners Often Reap the Benefits of Victory
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-tonys-bump-20130611,0,7053865.story

Tony Win Gives Box Office Boost to ‘Kinky Boots’
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/11/tony-win-gives-box-office-boost-to-kinky-boots/

‘King Kong’ Musical, With Eye on Broadway, Opens in Australia
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/17/king-kong-musical-with-eye-on-broadway-opens-in-australia/

‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ Movie in the Works at Fox
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/choose-your-own-adventure-movie-566228

PS4 Model Touts Consumer Friendliness
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/11/e3-2013-playstation-4-supports-used-games-dont-require-online-connection

Sony’s PS4 Has Less Stringent DRM than XboxOne
http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/13/06/11/1557213/sonys-ps4-to-have-less-stringent-drm-than-microsofts-xbox-one

Two More Producers Exit ‘Katie’
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/katie-two-more-producers-exit-565696

Arnold Talks Terminator, Triplets, Conan & Predator with TAFs!
http://www.thearnoldfans.com/news/2013/6/13/arnold-talks-terminator-triplets-conan-predator-with-tafs.html

Kung Fu Panda 3 Coming Out Dec 2015
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kung-fu-panda-3-begin-569896

Philip Pullman Leads Call For Ebook Royalty Payments for Library Loans
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/jun/12/philip-pullman-ebook-loan-campaign

Lawsuit Filed Over Whether “Happy Birthday” Is In Public Domain
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/14/nyregion/lawsuit-aims-to-strip-happy-birthday-to-you-of-its-copyright.html

Disney Theatrical Eying Muppets On Stage
http://variety.com/2013/legit/news/disney-theatrical-eyeing-muppets-on-stage-exclusive-1200495467/

Jackie Chan Interested in Jackie Chan Musical
http://www.vulture.com/2013/06/jackie-chan-interested-in-jackie-chan-musical.html

Interns Win Huge Victory in Labor Lawsuit Against Fox
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/interns-win-huge-victory-labor-566360

Talent Agency CAA Mocked In Ads By Rival WME
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-caa-mocked-by-wme-in-ads-20130611,0,2046114.story

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