Showbiz Sandbox 232: Coachella Goes Over The Top, Figuratively and Literally

April 14, 2014

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In its 15 year history the Coachella has grown from a two day event with a couple dozen bands to one of the world’s most important music festivals with so many VIP luxury amenities that some have argued the high-priced perks have begun overshadowing the actual music. At the same time, Coachella organizers have made it easier than ever for stay-at-home-fans to catch their favorite artists by streaming the whole first weekend live on YouTube.

Speaking of VIP entertainment experiences, there is a brewing battle over premium large format screens at multiplexes all over the world. You might know these types of auditoriums as IMAX, though not for long if your local cinema chain has anything to say about it.

Since it’s tax time here in the United States we uncover a few stories about how movie, television and theatre productions are not only skipping out on their taxes, but in fact getting huge subsidies courtesy of the tax man in most states.

Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including Stephen Colbert’s move to replace David Letterman, the motion picture Academy’s new high profile curator and James Cameron’s complaints about the latest blockbuster movies.

Lionsgate Splitting Third ‘Divergent’ Book ‘Allegiant’ into Two Films
https://variety.com/2014/film/news/lionsgate-splitting-third-divergent-book-allegiant-into-two-films-1201155988/

Jets Pulled Out of ‘Draft Day’ Due To Sanchez Controversy
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-new-york-jets-sanchez-smith-draft-day-movie-20140410,0,306610.story#ixzz2ypbGAHlx

Three ‘Avatar’ Sequel Scripts to Be ‘Finished’ Within Six Weeks
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/james-cameron-three-avatar-sequel-695628

‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ Adds Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-episode-vii-adds-694151

Battle for the Bigger Screen
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/12/business/media/battle-for-the-bigger-screen.html?hp

Coachella Festival’s Luxuries Eclipsing Its Music and Arts
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-resort-coachella-20140411,0,5478588.story

Coachella 2014: Chvrches Earn a Worshipful Crowd
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-coachella-2014-chvrches-earn-a-worshipful-crowd-20140412,0,150283.story

Coachella 2014: Lorde Makes Coachella Debut, Brings In The Wind
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-coachella-lorde-20140413,0,7397514.story

Coachella 2014: Pharrell Williams and Friends Fight Against The Wind
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-coachella-2014-pharrell-williams-friends-wind-20140413,0,2522429.story

China’s Foreign Movie Quota Set to Expand — For Arthouse Films
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/chinas-foreign-movie-quota-set-694473

‘Late Show’: Stephen Colbert to Replace David Letterman as Host
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/late-show-stephen-colbert-replace-695057

Conan O’Brien will host shows from Comic-Con 2015
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-conan-obrien-shows-comic-con-2015-20140407,0,4818853.story

Comcast CEO Brian Roberts Earned $31.4 Million in 2013
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/comcast-ceo-brian-roberts-earned-695535

Academy Taps Smithsonian Curator to Lead Movie Museum
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/academy-taps-smithsonian-curator-lead-694356

Weather Channel Agrees to Alter Program Lineup to Return to DirecTV
http://variety.com/2014/tv/news/weather-channel-agrees-to-alter-program-lineup-to-return-to-directv-1201154262/

Advertisers Spend More Online Than on Broadcast TV for the First Time
http://variety.com/2014/biz/news/advertisers-spend-more-online-than-on-tv-for-the-first-time-1201155840/

Sony Pictures Closes $200-million Financing Deal
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-sony-pictures-closes-200-million-financing-deal-20140409,0,2715097.story

New York Tax Credit to Encourage Theater Productions Upstate
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/01/new-york-tax-credit-to-encourage-theater-productions-upstate

Tax Proposal to Help Live Theater Brings out Stars
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/tax-proposal-live-theater-brings-stars-23224214

‘House of Cards’ Legislation Fails at the Last Minute in Maryland
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/house-of-cards-legislation-fails-at-the-last-minute-in-maryland/2014/04/08/f4afea98-be84-11e3-b574-f8748871856a_story.html

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