What He Said
A respected acquaintance with friends in the banking world says he's been told that barring an unlikely miracle, three Hollywood-based distributors will go under before the end of 2009. And no, he wasn't referring to the Weinstein Company. At least two financial specialists have told him this is in the cards. Partly due to huge debt and the near-collapse of the country's financial institutions in recent days, partly due to much of the industry's activity over the last two years having been financed by funny money. I could name the three studio-distributors but it might be more intriguing to ask for speculations.
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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on October 4, 2008 at 2:03 PM
comment #1
ea80gle
says ...
Hmmm...maybe MGM, IFC, and Lionsgate as a long shot.
Posted by ea80gle
at October 4, 2008 3:16 PM
comment #2
Edward Havens
says ...
I'm guessing it's three smaller distributors. I'll say:
After Dark
First Look
Senator
Posted by Edward Havens
at October 4, 2008 3:24 PM
comment #3
Wonder17
says ...
Pretty sure Paramount is out of money...
so Lionsgate and MGM are my other picks.
Posted by Wonder17
at October 4, 2008 3:36 PM
comment #4
Jay T.
says ...
I would say MGM, but I doubt it because they have a Bond movie out next month and will make a killing there.
Posted by Jay T.
at October 4, 2008 3:48 PM
comment #5
Wonder17
says ...
Yeah, but that's where it gets misleading. The Bond franchise isn't going to be all profit for MGM. Yes, it will be nice, but MGM needs more than just Mr. Bond to save them.
Posted by Wonder17
at October 4, 2008 3:56 PM
comment #6
The Hoyk
says ...
I don't think it'll be any of the majors. I'd say it will be some of the higher-profile indies. ThinkFilm is pretty much dead already.
For as much as TWILIGHT is supposed to be a huge event, I don't think Summit is going to survive - they haven't had a substantial hit since they decided to go it alone.
Senator also looks pretty sickly. If the constant delays of releasing the troubled ALL THE BOYS LOVE MANDY LANE is any indicator, they've been on life support for a long time.
And not like they've mattered much for a while, but I'll gamble that Samuel Goldwyn Films is on the way out, seeing how their partnership with Roadside Attractions, probably the one thing helping to buttress them, is now over.
Posted by The Hoyk
at October 4, 2008 4:45 PM
comment #7
lesterg
says ...
How is Magnolia doing? They seem to have a decent eye for quality and one of the most ineffective marketing arms out there.
Don't think Summit is imminent, but if Twilight doesn't score anything's possible. They've got the Highlander remake on the fast track as well.
Posted by lesterg
at October 4, 2008 5:01 PM
comment #8
moviemaniac2002
says ...
Does this mean that next year we'll be able
to watch a movie that's not preceded by an
endless and endlessly annoying parade of
production company logos? That should cut
five to ten minutes off of every film's running
time.
Posted by moviemaniac2002
at October 4, 2008 10:48 PM
comment #9
TVMCCA
says ...
lesterg wrote:
Don't think Summit is imminent, but if Twilight doesn't score anything's possible. They've got the Highlander remake on the fast track as well.
If I recall correctly, Summit's distributing SEX DRIVE and there's a possibiility of that being a hit since most current teens likely haven't seen THE SURE THING and will think the premise is fresh and new.
Posted by TVMCCA
at October 5, 2008 2:00 PM