Showbiz Sandbox 245: Guardians of the Celluloid – Hollywood Big Shots Rally Around Film Stock
August 4, 2014
With the entertainment industry having fully embraced digital technology, the world’s only remaining motion picture film supplier was preparing to cease manufacturing 35mm stock. However, a group of influential filmmakers, Christopher Nolan and Quentin Tarantino among them, have convinced studios to enter into an agreement with Kodak that will keep celluloid alive for a few more years.
Digital technology was actually supposed to simplify the production and distribution of movies, music and television. Yet as the industry adapts to new tools and workflows the learning curve has been long and steep. The most recent example occurred when a digital content file was mislabeled and caused cinemas to play the wrong movie.
Meanwhile, the television streaming service Aereo can’t seem to catch a break. Even after tge U.S. Supreme Court ruled they are acting as a cable operator the U.S. Copyright Office refuses to issue Aereo a compulsory license claiming they are not a cable company.
Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including some controversial comments about the current conflict in Gaza, Alvin and the Chipmunks head to Broadway and the pop star Lorde curates music for the next “Hunger Games” movie.
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‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Tracking for $65M-Plus Debut
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-preview-guardians-galaxy-722053
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Astounds With $160.4 Mil Global Debut
http://variety.com/2014/film/news/box-office-guardians-of-the-galaxy-astounds-with-160-4-mil-global-debut-1201274534/
Argentina Currency Crisis Stops Hollywood from Exporting Profits
http://variety.com/2014/film/news/argentina-currency-crisis-stops-hollywood-from-exporting-profits-exclusive-1201273129/
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’: Theater Repeatedly Shows Wrong Movie to Fans
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/guardians-galaxy-theater-repeatedly-shows-722926
Zack Snyder Teases Another ‘Star Wars’/DC Crossover
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/zack-snyder-teases-star-wars-723144
Aereo Does An About-face In Latest Attempt to Stay Alive
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-aereo-cable-copyright-20140710-story.html
Copyright Office Says Aereo Doesn’t Qualify for Compulsory License
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-aereo-copyright-rejected-20140717-story.html
Javier Bardem Clarifies Open Letter on Gaza: ‘I Have Great Respect for the People of Israel’
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/javier-bardem-clarifies-open-letter-722678
Relativity’s Ryan Kavanaugh: Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz Letter on Israel ‘Makes My Blood Boil’
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/relativitys-ryan-kavanaugh-javier-bardem-723108
Jon Voight Pens Letter to ‘Ignorant’ Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz on Israel: ‘Hang Your Heads in Shame’
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jon-voight-pens-letter-ignorant-723007
Three on ‘Big Bang’ to Get $1 Million an Episode
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/06/business/media/big-bang-theory-stars-renew-their-contracts.html
Bryan Singer Accuser Served With Malicious Prosecution Lawsuit in Casino Men’s Room
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bryan-singer-accuser-served-malicious-723035
Lorde to Curate ‘Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1’ Soundtrack
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lorde-curate-hunger-games-mockingjay-722513
How Do You Top ‘Spider-Man’? With a Show Based on a Chipmunks Movie
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/28/how-do-you-top-spider-man-with-a-show-based-on-a-chipmunks-movie/
Movie Film, at Death’s Door, Gets a Reprieve
http://online.wsj.com/articles/kodak-movie-film-at-deaths-door-gets-a-reprieve-1406674752
Martin Scorsese Backs Kodak on Film Stock Production
http://variety.com/2014/film/news/martin-scorsese-backs-kodak-on-film-stock-production-1201274982/
Can Filmmakers Really Help Kodak Craft A New Image?
http://celluloidjunkie.com/2014/08/04/can-filmmakers-really-help-kodak-craft-new-image/
When will the industry acknowledge that the only storage medium that has history and tried and tested storage reliability is FILM. It is the only format that has confirmed longevity.
Lets not throw film away yet , it still gas a special place in film making
Solvitmedia.com
Paul, thanks for the very valid comment.
Actually, as we mentioned during this particular episode, we agree… and so does Martin Scorsese. I think the industry acknowledges (at least privately) that film is still required for certain aspects of their business, especially archiving. This is why when Scorsese released his statement in support of analog film there was little to no push back from industry players.