Showbiz Sandbox 367: Netflix Makes Waves At the Cannes Film Festival

May 24, 2017

 Thumbnail

If the Cannes Film Festival’s decision to premiere two Netflix films in competition was controversial when it was announced, it was all anyone could talk about once the festival actually began. It didn’t help that this year’s jury president, director Pedro Almodovar of Spain, made headlines on the first day when he was mis-translated as saying he wouldn’t award films that won’t play in cinemas with any prizes.

Just about every filmmaker and movie star attending Cannes has been asked about their opinion on the streaming versus cinema debate, though most have offered ambivalent answers, realizing that their next paycheck might be coming from Netflix or a similar service. To be sure, the discussion is far from over.

Meanwhile, after recent terrorist attacks throughout Europe, including nearby Nice, security has been tighter than ever for the more than 50,000 attendees in Cannes this year. This has caused delays at festival events for the first time in recent memory, though everyone has been very understanding. Especially this week, after bomb was set off at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England killing 22 people.

Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including how TV networks are learning to take advantage of Ramadan to boost viewership, King Kong will try to tackle Broadway and Jimmy Kimmel will return as the host of next year’s Oscar telecast.

comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of May 21, 2017
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-may-21-2017-300461144.html

Summer Box-Office Blues: Revenue Down 10 Percent So Far From 2016
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/summer-box-office-2017-alien-king-arthur-blues-guardians-galaxy-revenue-down-2016-1006020

Shuffle Off, Bollywood: It’s Time for Tollywood and Kollywood
http://www.economist.com/news/business/21722222-baahubali-2-conclusion-putting-film-making-southern-india-map-shuffle

Ted Sarandos Says Netflix Returning to Cannes Is ‘Less Attractive’ Under New Rule
https://variety.com/2017/film/news/returning-cannes-less-attractive-netflix-ted-sarandos-1202439569/

Cannes: ‘Okja’ Director Bong Joon-ho Dismisses French Controversy Over Netflix
https://variety.com/2017/film/asia/cannes-okja-bong-joon-ho-french-controversy-over-netflix-1202426750/

Cannes Film Festival Jury Answers The Netflix Question
https://celluloidjunkie.com/2017/05/17/cannes-film-festival-jury-answers-the-netflix-question/

Cannes Virtual Reality Review: Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s ‘Carne y Arena’
https://variety.com/2017/film/columns/carne-y-arena-review-alejandro-g-inarritu-1202438293/

“Wonderstruck” Director Todd Haynes Defends Amazon Studios at the Cannes Film Festival
https://celluloidjunkie.com/2017/05/18/wonderstruck-filmmaker-todd-haynes-defends-amazon-studios-cannes-film-festival/

Projection Issue Spoils Netflix Cannes Debut
https://celluloidjunkie.com/2017/05/19/projection-issues-spoil-netflixs-cannes-debut/

The Frozen Hours by Jeff Shaara – BookFilter
http://bookfilter.com/2016/08/29/the-frozen-hours/

Lady Travelers Guide to Scoundrels and Other Gentlemen by by Victoria Alexander – BookFilter
http://bookfilter.com/2016/09/28/lady-travelers-guide-to-scoundrels-and-other-gentlemen/

Australia’s ‘King Kong’ Is Bound for Broadway, a Bit Late but Just as Big
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/17/theater/king-kong-broadway.html

Broadway Rockets to a Record $1.45 Billion for 2016-17 Season
https://variety.com/2017/legit/news/broadway-sales-record-2016-17-season-hamilton-dear-evan-hansen-1202441939/

Arab TV Series Dramatizes Life Under ISIS
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/16/world/middleeast/isis-ramadan-tv-drama.html

Harry Styles Becomes 2nd One Direction Member With a Solo No. 1
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/22/arts/music/harry-styles-solo-album-billboard-chart.html

Cable News Ratings Upheaval: Maddow and Cooper Dominate, Fox Slips With Rare Week at No. 3
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cable-news-ratings-upheaval-maddow-cooper-dominate-fox-slips-rare-week-at-no-3-1006329

MSNBC-Lawrence O’Donnell Situation: “No Discussions” About Renewing Contract But He’ll Be on Tonight
http://www.showbiz411.com/2017/05/16/msnbc-lawrence-odonnell-situation-no-discussions-about-renewing-contract-but-hell-be-on-tonight

Jordan Peele Teams With Bad Robot for HBO Drama Series
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/hbo-orders-jordan-peelea-drama-lovecraft-country-bad-robot-1004446

Jimmy Kimmel Set to Host 2018 Oscars
https://variety.com/2017/tv/awards/jimmy-kimmel-2018-oscars-1202428589/

Jon Stewart and HBO Scrap Animated Project
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hbo-drops-jon-stewarts-animated-project-1007081

Disney Chief Bob Iger Says Hackers Claim to Have Stolen Upcoming Movie
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-chief-bob-iger-says-hackers-claim-have-stolen-a-disney-movie-1003949

Conan O’Brien Headed to Trial Over Claims of Stealing Jokes
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/conan-obrien-headed-trial-claims-stealing-jokes-1003727

It’s Official: Prince’s Estate Manager and Universal Music Group Move to Nullify Recorded-Music Deal
https://variety.com/2017/music/news/its-official-princes-estate-manager-and-universal-music-group-move-to-nullify-recorded-music-deal-1202436842/

Comments

Comments are closed.