Studios reach digital Cinema Upgrade Deal

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By Sue Zeidler

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Five Hollywood studios have reached a long-sought financing deal, estimated at over $1 billion, with a group of theater exhibitors to digitally upgrade 20,000 U.S. and Canadian cinema screens.
Travis Reid, chief executive officer, of the Digital Cinema Implementation Partners (DCIP) -- formed by Regal Entertainment Group, Cinemark Holdings Inc and AMC Entertainment Inc, told Reuters that Blackstone Group LP and JPMorgan Chase & Co will lead the financing for the conversion.
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Posted on Wed, 1 Oct 2008 17:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Hollywood Studios in a retro Mood

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By Steven Zeitchik

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - For those ready to move past the endless stream of dark dramas from fall 2007, get ready for a new barrage -- from the 1960s, the 1940s and the 1780s.
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Posted on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 01:38:39 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Universal Studios Fire sparked by Blow Torch

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By Steve Gorman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A fire that burned through a large swath of the Universal Studios Hollywood back lot during the weekend was accidentally sparked by workers using heating tools on a film set, fire officials said on Monday.
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Posted on Mon, 2 Jun 2008 22:51:33 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Fire destroys buildings at Universal Studios in L.A.

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By Sue Zeidler

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A fire that damaged iconic movie sets, a popular "King Kong" attraction and forced Universal Studios film and TV studio on Sunday to shut its popular theme park for the day, was largely under control after 12 hours of burning, fire officials said.
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Posted on Mon, 2 Jun 2008 00:04:55 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Actors Union, Studios reach new TV Labor Deal

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By Steve Gorman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Screen Actors Guild and major studios returned to the bargaining table on Wednesday from a three-week recess in contract talks after Hollywood's smaller performers union came to terms with producers on a new labor deal.
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Posted on Wed, 28 May 2008 23:30:10 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Hollywood Studios and Actors break off Labor Talks

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By Steve Gorman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Major studios and the Screen Actors Guild broke off three weeks of contract talks without agreement on Tuesday, stoking fears of renewed Hollywood labor unrest after a 100-day writers strike that ended in February.
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Posted on Tue, 6 May 2008 22:47:10 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Hollywood Actors and Studios extend Labor talks again

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By Steve Gorman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Screen Actors Guild and major Hollywood studios said on Friday they had agreed to extend their contract talks again, this time on a day-by-day basis, with the aim of closing a deal by next Tuesday.
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Posted on Sat, 3 May 2008 00:02:43 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Studios and Actors remain at odds in Labor Talks

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By Steve Gorman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - With two days left before a self-imposed deadline in contract talks with actors, major Hollywood studios said on Wednesday the two sides remained far from a deal and that excessive union demands were to blame.
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Posted on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:29:13 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Studios' viral Marketing Campaigns are vexing

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By Andrew Wallenstein

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Viral marketing has gone positively bubonic. While this unconventional approach to building buzz online is nothing new, it has achieved full-blown plague status in the walk-up to the summer movie season.
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Posted on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:58:53 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Hollywood Studios issue Warning on Actors Talks

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By Steve Gorman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - With the next round of Hollywood labor talks a week away, the major studios on Monday urged actors to avoid renewed strife by embracing the framework of deals already reached with directors and striking screenwriters.
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Posted on Tue, 8 Apr 2008 02:05:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Spielberg can negotiate with Studios May 1: Sources

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LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Hollywood director Steven Spielberg -- whose relationship with studio DreamWorks' parent, Paramount, has been the subject of much speculation -- will be free to negotiate linking up with other studios as of May 1, two sources familiar with the studio said on Thursday.
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Posted on Fri, 4 Apr 2008 00:23:06 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Hollywood Studios troubled by Labor Pains

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By Carl DiOrio

LAS VEGAS (Hollywood Reporter) - Studio executives insisted Wednesday that the Hollywood writers strike did not hurt their movie-release plans through summer 2009.
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Posted on Thu, 13 Mar 2008 02:48:26 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

All Hollywood Studios now lined up behind Blu-Ray

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By Thomas K. Arnold

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - All six major Hollywood studios are now in the Blu-ray DVD camp, a day after Toshiba pulled the plug on HD DVD and Blu-ray became effectively the only next-generation game in town. Read more

Posted on Thu, 21 Feb 2008 01:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Studios cautious as Strike nears possible End

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By Steven Zeitchik and Leslie Simmons

NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Even if Hollywood writers end their three-month-old strike soon, as the buzz seems to suggest, studios will be reluctant to ramp up development too aggressively because they must still contend with a possible walkout by actors in June. Read more

Posted on Fri, 8 Feb 2008 01:55:44 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Striking Writers, Studios eye informal Talks

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By Carl DiOrio

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Hollywood's striking writers and the major studios enter this week sharing a single resolve: once more, with feeling. Read more

Posted on Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Directors Guild, Studios reach Contract Deal

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By Steve Gorman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Hollywood directors' union reached a contract deal with major film and TV studios on Thursday in a move likely to renew momentum for settling a 10-week-old writers strike that has crippled the industry and clouded the year-end Oscar season. Read more

Posted on Thu, 17 Jan 2008 23:09:54 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Apple Premiers iTunes Movie Rentals from All Major Studios

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Apple announced its new stuff at MacWorld today with the first announcement being that all major film studios will now be renting movies via iTunes. The good news is that Apple priced the digital rentals right with older library titles renting for only $2.99 and new releases going for $3.99.

Users who have a PC or HDTV capable of displaying HD content can rent HD versions of some films for $3.99 on library titles and $4.99 for new releases. I had said before that if Apple priced the movies right and the flicks started playing very quickly rentals via iTunes could be huge.

Apple certainly priced the rentals right, I pay that same amount at my local movie store. What remains to be seen is how fast the films are ready to play. Apple says you can watch the rented movies on your PC, Mac, iPod, or on your TV with Apple TV. This could finally be the killer app that the Apple TV needs to stay alive. You get 30 days to play the movie you rent and once playback begins you have 24 hours to finish watching the film. You can watch the film multiple times in the 24 hour period if you desire. Read more

Posted on Tue, 15 Jan 2008 12:40:41 CST | by Shane McGlaun

Studios count Cost of Writers Strike

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By Carl DiOrio

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Hollywood studios have suggested all along that striking writers will be sadly surprised when they discover the high cost of their six-week-old strike. Read more

Posted on Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Striking Writers, Studios break off Talks again

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By Steve Gorman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Days after sounding a brief note of conciliation, studio bosses and striking screenwriters broke off contract talks again on Friday, dashing hopes the two sides were getting closer to settling the worst Hollywood labor crisis in two decades. Read more

Posted on Fri, 7 Dec 2007 23:23:19 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Striking Writers, Studios renew Talks as Hopes fade

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By Steve Gorman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Striking film and television writers returned to the bargaining table with studio executives on Tuesday amid fading optimism for a speedy settlement to Hollywood's worst labor crisis in 20 years. Read more

Posted on Wed, 5 Dec 2007 05:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Hollywood Writers and Studios resume Contract Talks

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By Steve Gorman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Striking screenwriters resumed contract talks with major film and TV studios on Monday for the first time since trading pens for picket signs three weeks ago in the worst Hollywood labor clash in two decades. Read more

Posted on Mon, 26 Nov 2007 23:39:59 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr