Latest - FilmTake

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.

Point of No Return for North America’s Box Office

January 2, 2018 FilmTake Comments Off

In 2017, North American theatrical admissions fell to 1992 levels. Admissions in the U.S and Canada dropped 6% to 1.23 billion tickets sold.

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.

Is AMC Theaters for Sale?

December 8, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

As Cineworld prepares to buy Regal, is AMC, the world’s largest cinema owner, also for sale? Six companies have approached AMC since September.

More Screens in Fewer Hands

December 6, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

British film exhibitor Cineworld said on Tuesday it agreed to acquire the U.S.’s second largest film exhibitor Regal Entertainment for $3.6 billion.

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.

Comcast and Verizon Join Disney in Bid for Fox Assets

November 16, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

Comcast drops its bid to acquire Twenty-First Century Fox. Disney will likely purchase Fox’s film and television assets before 2017 is over.

Hollywood Studios Search For New Money [Part One]

November 14, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

A false narrative is being advanced by news outlets that the reason for multiple failed deals is China’s clampdown on foreign investment.

Distribution

Disney Attempts to Buy Fox Film and TV Assets

November 6, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

Walt Disney Co has been in talks for the last couple weeks to buy film and television assets from conglomerate Twenty-First Century Fox.

Netflix at TIFF: Film Distribution Savior or Enemy?

September 19, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

Netflix didn’t acquire as many titles as sales agents and producers were expecting, but they added to their diminished film library.

TIFF Take Three: Trouble in the UK, Sight Unseen Films…

September 12, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

CBS Films did not acquire I, Tonya after all – Neon and 30WEST will distribute in the U.S. UK’s Icon Film Distribution runs out of money, again!

TIFF Take: Hot Films, Distribution, Streaming…

September 10, 2017 FilmTake Comments Off

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is underway. There are plenty of films to wet the appetite of distributors and streamers alike.

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.