The general thread for members of The Ankler family to check in, tell us how they are getting through these times, share your thoughts on what all this means for the industry, what’s the future, the way out. Also - idle gossip, rank speculation and most of any bad virus jokes! Share it all here while the crazy times last.
Another question - love to hear thoughts on. Was considering doing an Ankler book club during the semi-quarantine. Books about Hollywood we can all read and discuss together. Maybe one a week. Would folks be interested in that?
I am cooking some really good comfort food to help me thru the bleak times and trying not to think about everything as we know it seemingly melting down.
Live action shows have taken a huge hit, but so far a lot of animation and games are still on track with artists switching to work from home since it's all done on the computer anyway. Motion performance capture and rear projection stages like Stagecraft (used for the Mandalorian) are expensive to set up, but once they're running they only need a small crew, talent and crew stay mostly local, and probably a lot better for the environment.
If I may, for the listening pleasure of people bored at home, briefly and hopefully not too obnoxiously plug my movie podcast, NitrateVille Radio, which interviews people, Fresh Air-style, who've done something to do with vintage movies (defined as pre-1980s at least, but most often silent and early sound). A lot of authors, occasionally folks involved in restoration at MoMA, the Academy, etc. I would have said festival reports (TCM, Pordenone, etc.) too, but not this year!
A lot of marketing and advertising are just gone. I think the stock prices for studios and exhibitors will continue to drop. The biggest lesson that the industry can learn, once it finally recovers is to try to "Blumhouse" their production costs for certain films for a better chance at profiting through the domestic box office. Especially, in the science fiction genre and after the success of Joker without a Chinese release.
I think more screenwriters need to embrace prose, like me. Sell books and sell rights and licensing. Producers need to look at richer and cheaper stories until they rise out of the hole. Ticket and concession prices may have to go down for awhile because audiences will need to recover financially.
For me, I will be taking another pass at a short script while doing some art direction on it. I will finally try to finish Schuyler M. Moore's The Biz. And finally, work on a novelization from a pilot I wrote last year.
Well, it's official. All movie theatres in LA are closed by executive order. Guess the choice is now taken out of exhibitors' hands...hopefully some of them reopen when all this is over.
Wouldn't this be the right time for the video streaming services to start a price war or free admission offer for a vast captive audience? Competition should be fierce right now to get subscribers.
I know my 3 year old was wanting to see Onward. It sounded like a good movie to me, too. We have a Kindle for him too and it has been a great purchase.
The Hollywood Social Distancing Open Thread
Another question - love to hear thoughts on. Was considering doing an Ankler book club during the semi-quarantine. Books about Hollywood we can all read and discuss together. Maybe one a week. Would folks be interested in that?
One question - given the weekend's box office: is it time to just scrub all releases? Is it not only a doomed mission, but irresponsible as well?
Uni breaks the window. Trolls straight to streaming. The war is over!
How on earth does Thierry think Cannes go on? What planet is he on?
I am cooking some really good comfort food to help me thru the bleak times and trying not to think about everything as we know it seemingly melting down.
Live action shows have taken a huge hit, but so far a lot of animation and games are still on track with artists switching to work from home since it's all done on the computer anyway. Motion performance capture and rear projection stages like Stagecraft (used for the Mandalorian) are expensive to set up, but once they're running they only need a small crew, talent and crew stay mostly local, and probably a lot better for the environment.
I love this idea. Keen to go with whichever book is agreed upon.
I saw a seating chart for the Arclight and they cordoned off every other row, but still had people jammed together side by side. Uhm....
If I may, for the listening pleasure of people bored at home, briefly and hopefully not too obnoxiously plug my movie podcast, NitrateVille Radio, which interviews people, Fresh Air-style, who've done something to do with vintage movies (defined as pre-1980s at least, but most often silent and early sound). A lot of authors, occasionally folks involved in restoration at MoMA, the Academy, etc. I would have said festival reports (TCM, Pordenone, etc.) too, but not this year!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nitrateville-radio/id1218406758
Zanuck: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood's Last Tycoon by Leonard Mosley. Good old Hollywood days. What happens at 4pm every day at the studio.
total bummer that people can’t see Never Rarely Sometimes Always. such and amazing and important film.
I live in Brentwood--not a lot of social distancing here! Brunch and Farmers Market were in full swing this morning.
That said, the booze section of Whole Foods has been plundered and all that's left of the soup aisle are two grim cans of low-sodium lentil.
Somehow I'm an even bigger fan of you Mr. Rush! xo Matta
Looking to add some Anklites to my twitter feed — drop @‘s below. I’ll follow first and you can check out my stuff from there. @bradybrendan1
Can’t wait to read Woody Allen memoir.
A lot of marketing and advertising are just gone. I think the stock prices for studios and exhibitors will continue to drop. The biggest lesson that the industry can learn, once it finally recovers is to try to "Blumhouse" their production costs for certain films for a better chance at profiting through the domestic box office. Especially, in the science fiction genre and after the success of Joker without a Chinese release.
I think more screenwriters need to embrace prose, like me. Sell books and sell rights and licensing. Producers need to look at richer and cheaper stories until they rise out of the hole. Ticket and concession prices may have to go down for awhile because audiences will need to recover financially.
For me, I will be taking another pass at a short script while doing some art direction on it. I will finally try to finish Schuyler M. Moore's The Biz. And finally, work on a novelization from a pilot I wrote last year.
The two most amusing and instructive links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CCW4Xnp_sQ
https://bit.ly/2xxN3YD
And this clearly explains the exponential math: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/03/10/coronavirus-what-matters-isnt-what-you-can-see-what-you-cant/?wpisrc=nl_undefined
We couldn’t get our usual groceries. Husband just told me, “Times are hard, you might have to eat meat.” -Stacey, Los Feliz
The CDC recommended that no gatherings of more than 50 take place. So how can theaters stay open? And studios release movies? At this point, aren't they risking the public health? https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/03/15/coronavirus-latest-news/
Books - I finally read 'What Makes Sammy Run?' and it's stunningly unaged. Some of the restaurants are still around and ALL of the personalities.
NETFLIX will win the CoronaVirus with Amazon and Disney+ battling for runner-up!
Well, it's official. All movie theatres in LA are closed by executive order. Guess the choice is now taken out of exhibitors' hands...hopefully some of them reopen when all this is over.
Wouldn't this be the right time for the video streaming services to start a price war or free admission offer for a vast captive audience? Competition should be fierce right now to get subscribers.
Are theater chains waiting for the first big chain to announce a month shutdown then everyone else can?
Have the Chinese or South Korean theaters reopened?
I know my 3 year old was wanting to see Onward. It sounded like a good movie to me, too. We have a Kindle for him too and it has been a great purchase.
23yo agency assistant with aspirations of being a creative content exec one day. Any must-watches or must-reads for me while I quarantine?
One day in I bought my daughter a laptop