Showbiz Sandbox 483: China Presents Hollywood With A Trillion Dollar Dilemma
March 2, 2020
Between intellectual property theft, forced joint ventures and strict government regulation, the entertainment industry has come to learn that doing business in China is difficult at best, complicated at worst. Chris Fenton, the CEO of Media Capital Technologies, knows a thing or two about doing film industry business in China, having worked in the Middle Kingdom on various project for decades. He joins us to explain the dilemma facing Hollywood in China as well as his upcoming memoir “Feeding the Dragon.”
China is, in fact, where the coronavirus originated before it spread to other countries throughout the world. Now, movie theaters in Italy and South Korea are joining their Chinese counterparts in shutting down, hoping to prevent further spread of the virus, and leading to what could be billions in box office losses.
Meanwhile, the CEO of Disney, Bob Iger, decided to suddenly step down last week and instead take on the role of Chairman. Disney theme park head Bob Chapek will be the company’s new CEO. We cover all the reasons for the executive shuffle.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including the winners of this year’s Berlin Film Festival, Placido Domingo apologizes for past behavior (sort of) and why YouTube can’t censor content.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
‘The Invisible Man’ Reveals $29 Million Opening Weekend
https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed3647996932/
Coronavirus Fears Hit Box Office as ‘Sonic The Hedgehog’ Rules International
https://www.screendaily.com/box-office/coronavirus-fears-hit-box-office-as-sonic-the-hedgehog-rules-international/5147746.article
China’s Box Office Plummets $1.91 Billion in Two Months Due to Coronavirus Crisis
https://variety.com/2020/film/asia/china-box-office-coronavirus-1203520600/
Disney CEO Bob Iger Steps Aside; Bob Chapek Named New Head
https://www.wsj.com/articles/disney-names-new-ceo-to-succeed-iger-11582665764
Disney Picks Bob Chapek as Next CEO
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-picks-bob-chapek-as-next-ceo-1281130
Keep Calm, It’s Just The Coronavirus (But Panic if You See Ridley Scott)
https://celluloidjunkie.com/2020/03/01/keep-calm-its-just-the-corona-virus-but-panic-if-you-see-ridley-scott/
Coronavirus: List Of Canceled Or Postponed Hollywood & Media Events
https://deadline.com/2020/02/coronavirus-canceled-postponed-hollywood-sports-entertainment-1202870762/
Demands to Cancel SXSW Grow Amid Coronavirus Fears as oOganizers Tout New Guests
https://fortune.com/2020/03/02/coronavirus-sxsw-petition-cancel-hillary-clinton/
‘Judge Judy’ To Wrap After 25 Seasons
https://deadline.com/2020/03/judge-judy-ends-25-seasons-judy-sheindlin-judy-justice-ellen-degeneres-show-1202871873/
‘There Is No Evil’ Wins Golden Bear at Berlin Film Festival
https://variety.com/2020/film/news/berlin-film-festival-2020-award-winners-1203519894/
48 Hours After Apologizing, Placido Domingo Rescinds His Statement
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/placido-domingo-rescinds-sexual-harassment-apology-958951/
West End Theatregoing Dips in 2019 Due to Dark Theatres and Renovations
https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2020/west-end-theatregoing-dips-in-2019-due-to-dark-theatres-and-renovations/
AMC Networks Passes 2M Streaming Subscribers As Digital & International Bolster Full-Year Revenues
https://deadline.com/2020/02/amc-networks-fourth-quarter-full-year-financials-2m-streaming-subscribers-1202868677/
First Amendment Doesn’t Apply on YouTube
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/02/first-amendment-doesnt-apply-on-youtube-judges-reject-prageru-lawsuit/
Musicians Algorithmically Generate Every Possible Melody, Release Them to Public Domain
https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/wxepzw/musicians-algorithmically-generate-every-possible-melody-release-them-to-public-domain
Dick Wolf Inks Massive New Deal; ‘Chicago’ Franchise, ‘SVU’ Renewed for 3 More Seasons
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/dick-wolf-inks-massive-new-deal-chicago-franchise-svu-renewed-3-more-seasons-1281440
Apple To Require Licenses for Games In China App Store
http://chinafilminsider.com/apple-to-require-licenses-for-games-in-china-app-store/
Inside Disney’s Bold $200M Gamble on ‘Mulan’: “The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher”
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/inside-disneys-bold-200m-gamble-mulan-stakes-couldnt-be-higher-1280999
Baby Peggy, Child Star of Silent Films, Dies at 101
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/baby-peggy-dead-silent-film-star-was-101-831926
Lee Phillip Bell Dies: Co-Creator Of ‘The Young And The Restless’, ‘The Bold And The Beautiful’ Was 91
https://deadline.com/2020/02/lee-phillip-bell-dead-young-and-the-restless-bold-and-the-beautiful-co-creator-was-91-1202869165/
James Lipton, Creator and Host of ‘Inside the Actors Studio,’ Dies at 93
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/james-lipton-dead-actors-studio-909382
Comments