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Sunday
- November 18, 2001
- Weekend Estimates - Harry Potter
Slaughters Competition
- Warner Bros. Could Learn
From Universal
- Trainz to Support 3D Studio Max Models
- News Link of the Day -
Indian Animated Feature Ends LA Run
Weekend
Estimates - Harry Potter Slaughters Competition
(by digitalmediafx.com) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
easily slaughtered all other movies in route to a record breaking weekend.
The FX-filled fantasy movie made an estimated $93.5 million in its first
three days of release. Monsters, Inc. took a huge hit losing greater than
50% of its audience while playing in more theaters than the previous week.
The numbers are still good for Monsters, Inc. as it brought in
an estimated $23 million. In day to day box office comparisons against
Shrek (click
here), Monsters, Inc. remains in the lead, but with
Shrek catching up by winning daily results for the past week.
Warner Bros. Could
Learn From Universal
(by digitalmediafx.com) Warner Bros. could learn a lot from Universal
Studios, which is doing a masterful job of marketing the rerelease of
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.
Universal Studios is tying the rerelease of E.T. into all its marketing venues, including a redesign of its logo that will feature E.T. and Elliot riding a bike around the Universal world logo in front of all new Universal movies. E.T. marketing campaigns will also stretch across Universal Studios theme parks, music venues, home videos, and DVDs.
Warner Bros. has been strongly criticized for dropping the ball on a wide rerelease of the classic Superman earlier this year, which has a built in franchise audience. Warner Bros. again dropped the ball on a wide rerelease of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, drawing fire from well known critics like Roger Ebert.
Universal's masterful treatment of a rerelease of E.T. should send signals to studios like Warner Bros. on how to properly market a rerelease and in the process increase revenue from additional venues like merchandise and DVD sales.
Here's more information on Universal's new logo treatment for E.T. The Extraterrestrial:
The 20th anniversary celebration begins this month and will run through the end of 2002. During this time, the image of E.T. will be an integral part of Universal’s identity and business activities, and will be featured in all film, television, home entertainment, theme parks, music, consumer products, publishing and online products. The anniversary celebration campaign will kick off in theaters on November 21, with the debut of a newly-created animated Universal Studios logo, which depicts an image of E.T. And his human friend Elliott, as their bicycle flies across the classic Universal globe. Additionally, John Williams’ famous "Flying" theme from E.T. is interpolated into the Universal musical fanfare. This special logo will first appear on Spy Game, and continue on Universal films through 2002.
"E.T. Is my most personal film," says director Steven Spielberg. "It’s a wonderful opportunity to bring the film to a new generation of moviegoers, and I’m honored that Universal takes so much pride in the picture."
Universal will also launch a special E.T. Website later this month and will create a series of special events, interviews, and interactive opportunities to celebrate the movie's rerelease. In addition, Universal has formed tie-in partnerships with several companies.
The rerelease of
E.T. hits theaters in March 2002.
Trainz to Support
3D Studio Max Models
(by digitalmediafx.com) The upcoming Trainz computer simulation will
support 3D Studio Max models according to Auran, which is creating the
game.
An exporter included with the game will allow for additional content, including locomotives, scenery, trackside objects and even track and bridges, to be created in 3DSM and imported for use in Trainz. Auran is also looking to establish an exporter for other 3D software programs for the same purpose.
Here are some new screenshots of Trainz:
News Link of the
Day - Indian Animated Feature Ends LA Run
According to Reuters:
"One of the most ambitious feature animation film projects from India, The Prince of Light, ends its one-week run in Los Angeles on Friday.
The movie did minimal
business during it first U.S. run at an art house theater in Los Angles,
but the film's producers said its screening was less about box office
gross than securing exposure that could lead to nominations for prestigious
awards..."
Click here for the full story.
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These news articles and all digitalmediafx.com content are ©copyright 2001 by Joe Tracy and may not be reused for any purpose without expressed written consent of the author and Digital Media FX. All rights reserved.
