That's what they said about the Cylons.
Warners to release entire 2021 slate to HBO Max
- Thread starter StCoop
- Start date
Patty Jenkins comments on the move to streaming
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1336731175528775680
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1336731175528775680
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/n...-streaming-service-denounces-warner-bros-plan
Here is a very negative take on this.
Here is a very negative take on this.
Right now, it looks more like the other way around, the Screen Directors' Guild is already threatening a boycott of WB. And just look at that tweet of Patty Jenkins' @Samurai8472 quoted, there's a real chance a couple of big directors could join forces to start their own new studio in competition to Warner.
We should also remember that, while the announcement was for the full year (instead of just the first six months), it was also only for the one year. This clearly is a test balloon for AT&T to see if WB still needs theatrical releases, the pandemic is more of a pretence. They're doing similar tests with DC Comics and the Direct Market. When, after that one year, they discover that with all the money they had to pay to Legendary, the directors and actors to keep them from suing (which would cost them even more), they turned less of a profit than projected for a year with normal theatrical releases, they'll go back to the traditional model again.
We should also remember that, while the announcement was for the full year (instead of just the first six months), it was also only for the one year. This clearly is a test balloon for AT&T to see if WB still needs theatrical releases, the pandemic is more of a pretence. They're doing similar tests with DC Comics and the Direct Market. When, after that one year, they discover that with all the money they had to pay to Legendary, the directors and actors to keep them from suing (which would cost them even more), they turned less of a profit than projected for a year with normal theatrical releases, they'll go back to the traditional model again.
I mean, Nolan maybe, but who really gives a crap about Villeneuve? His few more mainstream movies weren't exactly financial hits (they didn't bomb but didn't do that much, either), and he seems even more of a niche director then Nolan, and without the following Nolan has (I consider Nolan to be very overrated, but he has a lot of fans). Denis Villeneuve's bad side is a fairly safe place to be for WB, all things considered. I think that WB would also be fine without Nolan, its his pull that is more hurtful to them then him not working for them, but Villeneuve doesn't even have that, regardless of what you think of his films.
Villeneuve isn't big at the box office like Nolan is, but he's a big draw for prestige actors. They'll go out of their way to work with him if they have the opportunity. If he takes his future projects elsewhere, a lot of actors with significant clout and box office draw may be more inclined to choose to work with him over a Warner Bros. project because of this debacle.
People who recognize great cinema, that’s who.
I have to admit, doing this for all of next year's movie does seem excessive. We're already getting close to the vaccine being out in the world, so it probably won't be more than a few months before people are able to start going to the theaters again. So it really, it would have made more sense to just do go with the HBOMax releases until April or May.
Directors come and go. It is no different than any other industry. Those who fight change will either find themselves on the outside looking in or eventually going with the flow.
The cynical part of me wonders how much the directors fighting this is financial vs artistic.
The article posted above makes clear a huge part of this is financial. That and Warner did it without notifying their partners of the change.
^ I shouldn't have skipped thru the thread, working backwards I had watched that twitter video with Patty Jenkins and it makes it sound like it's all about losing the shared experience and everything of the cinema without mentioning $$$. I see there's a lot more re: the financial side in the other articles and comments.
When even Zack Snyder, who has good reason to be thankful to HBO Max and the new management at WB, comes out against it, I think there's no room for debate anymore. It was a bad move. And, considering the threats of lawsuits from producing partners, the Hollywood unions, and the largest of Hollywood talent agencies, I doubt they'll even do the one year.
On a personal level, after I heard how AT&T is screwing not just the industry giants like Nolan, but the people without the name recognition with this, I've decided not to get HBO Max when it comes to Germany later this year as I originally planned, unless they reverse their decision.
On a personal level, after I heard how AT&T is screwing not just the industry giants like Nolan, but the people without the name recognition with this, I've decided not to get HBO Max when it comes to Germany later this year as I originally planned, unless they reverse their decision.
I understand the frustration of the artists but this is difficult times. Warners has to look at what's best for them at the moment. People are simply not going to the theaters. Per BoxOfficeMojo, the top 10 grossers made $5,594,159, the majority going to a Croods sequel this past weekend. To compare, the second weekend in December of 2019 brought in $110,431,501 for the top 10 with Jumanji: The Next Level leading the pack. I would love to go to the movies. I miss it terribly. But the way that people don't know how to wear their masks and sitting still with a bunch of strangers for a few hours? Forget about it. I don't know if every release should be the way HBOMax is planning, but some of the expected lower grossers? Like has been done on other services? I don't see a problem. Hell, I would even spend $20-30 extra for a limited window with these movies at home like Disney+ did with Mulan.