Production - FilmTake

Death and Taxes

April 14, 2019 FilmTake Comments Off

All told, Barclays, HSBC and Bank of Ireland could face a tax bill up to £11 billion for their role in EIS tax avoidance schemes.

Largest Studio Merger In History

March 17, 2019 FilmTake Comments Off

The long-awaited buyout of Fox by Disney, which was announced in December 2017, is officially scheduled to close March 20th.

Declining Production Incentives

March 12, 2019 FilmTake Comments Off

In recent years, 13 states have ended their film incentive programs. This retreat marks a larger trend of states re-evaluating and reducing film incentive programs.

Netflix Steals Studio

February 20, 2019 FilmTake Comments Off

Netflix has finally earned film studio status after buying ABQ Studios in Albuquerque, New Mexico last October for a steal.

Alternative Film Funding

December 25, 2018 FilmTake Comments Off

There is a renewed effort by production service providers to expand their operations into financing and distributing independent films.

China’s Hollywood Love Affair is Ending

October 26, 2018 FilmTake Comments Off

After two years of running Legendary Entertainment into the ground, China’s Wanda Group is exploring a sale of the once great production company.

Studio Netflix

February 4, 2018 FilmTake Comments Off

Netflix plans to release 80 films in 2018; nearly as many as all six major studios combined.

Has Scripted Television Peaked?

January 9, 2018 FilmTake Comments Off

In 2017, 487 shows were produced, up 7% from 455 in 2016. In 2010, just 216 shows were produced. Netflix is now the largest supplier of new shows.

UPDATE: Disney Buys Fox Film and TV

December 14, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

Walt Disney Co’s deal to buy film, television and international businesses from Murdoch’s Twenty-First Century Fox is valued around $40 per share, or $75B.

UPDATE: The End of Easy Money

December 2, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

No longer will taxpayers and producers be able to use EIS structures that solely finance production tax credits, presales, and other guaranteed funds.

Production

Subscription Video Trends and Challenges [Part Four]

October 9, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

Netflix is shifting to a less-predictable and far less-profitable business model as they embark on becoming a content creator rather than aggregator.

The Latest China-Hollywood Failed Deal

August 30, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

China’s Recon Group fails to close its acquisition of Avi Lerner’s Millennium Films. All Hollywood-China deals are in peril, as many have failed to close this year.

Was Wanda Group’s Chairman Barred from Leaving China?

August 28, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

Wanda Group dismissed “vicious rumours” that its chairman Wang Jianlin and China’s richest person, was detained by authorities and forbidden to leave China.

[Part Two] Hollywood Financing is Broke

August 7, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

Tang Media is set to purchase Open Road Films for an undisclosed amount. The price might as well be one dollar, given Open Road’s massive debt load.

Production

Hollywood Financing is Broke [Part One]

July 31, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

Sony Pictures’ co-financing partner, LStar Capital, informed the studio at the last minute that they would no longer invest in Sony’s slate.

Wanda Group’s House of Cards

July 18, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

A mysterious document that appeared on social media in China places all of Wanda’s Hollywood acquisitions in jeopardy.

Production

Paramount’s China Lifeline is Gone [Update]

July 16, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

If reports from China are to be believed (clearly they cannot), a company with $19 million in revenue was going to finance $1 billion of Paramount’s slate.

Production

Is Sony Pictures for Sale?

June 28, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

Mismanagement of Sony’s film unit over the years has propelled the studio into a downward spiral. Sony is under pressure by investors to sell the film unit.

Can Trump’s Treasury Secretary Mnuchin Shake Fraud Lawsuit?

June 20, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

RKA Film Financing is suing Relativity Media for misappropriating funds meant to finance advertising budgets for future releases, into the troubled company.