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☆ 'Avatar: The Way of Water' makes the visual effects in Marvel movies and other blockbusters look amateur
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In an interview with ComicBook.com last week, the filmmaker threw shade at the visual effects in Marvel movies, comparing them to those in "Avatar: The Way of Water," his long-awaited sequel to the first "Avatar." After a year of Marvel movies and other big-budget tentpoles whose looks didn't impress me, the movie was a breath of fresh air. That same month, a VFX artist who has worked on Marvel movies wrote a scathing essay for Vulture, alleging that Marvel overworks VFX houses and demands last-minute changes. The reality is that the problems with Marvel movies are a reflection of the state of big-budget movies in general. Audiences are already realizing that these premium formats are the best way to see "The Way of Water."

☆ 'It never feels like you're out of poverty': comedian Moses Storm mines his trauma for laughs
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Most recently, he debuted in his own comedy special on HBO Max, "Trash White," produced by his childhood icon, Conan O'Brien. They're coming in with their own anger and their own life. I don't think there's a topic in comedy that's off limits because it's too sad. AN: What is it hard to pitch a comedy special about poverty? MS: If you go in like, 'I'm going to do a hilarious comedy special about the economic and generational poverty in this country,' people are like, 'Boooo.'

Hong Kong CNN —James Cameron’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” has premiered in China, 13 years after the original film took the country by storm. A poster of film 'Avatar: The Way of Water' is seen at a cinema on December 11, 2022 in Beijing, China. I immersed myself in the plot and enjoyed an unprecedented audio-visual feast.”Shot in the armThe “Way of Water” is expected to buoy China’s pandemic-depressed box office. By mid-December, China’s box office reached only 28.8 billion yuan ($4.1 billion), down nearly 40% from last year. The “Way of Water” accounted for 80% of screenings scheduled for Friday, the Maoyan data showed.

☆ James Cameron's 'Avatar: The Way of Water' looks different from every movie you've ever seen—here's why
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Nicolas Vega | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

With "Avatar: The Way of Water" hitting theaters this weekend, director James Cameron is gambling that audiences are ready to not only return to Pandora after 13 years, but that they will be open to a film shot in 48 frames per second. For virtually the entire history of film, movies have been shot and displayed at the cinematic standard of 24 frames per second. This means that 24 still images are displayed on the screen every second, creating the illusion of motion. "It came to kind of define the genre of film," Richard Miller, executive vice president of technology at Pixelworks, says of the 24 frames per second look. Newscasts, live sports and even soap operas typically hit your TV screen at 30 frames per second, which gives them their distinct visual feel.

☆ 'Avatar: The Way of Water' review roundup: See it on the biggest screen possible, critics say
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

"The Way of Water" follows Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) who are now the parents of four Na'vi children. Read more: "Avatar: The Way of Water" could be headed for a $175 million opening weekend Critics are adamant that audiences should watch "The Way of Water" on the biggest screen possible, lauding the film for its you-won't-believe-this-is-computer-generated visuals and bombastic sound design. Here's what critics thought of "Avatar: The Way of Water" before its Friday release. Avatar: The Way of Water Courtesy: Disney Co.Ma did note that "The Way of Water" is "jaw-droppingly beautiful," likening it to watching a David Attenborough documentary rather than a CGI feature. Avatar: The Way of Water Courtesy Disney Co.Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

☆ I made more than $1.3 million last year from self-publishing books on Amazon. Here's how I promote them and keep most of the profits.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Ella Hopkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Mark Dawson started publishing on Kindle Direct Publishing after his first books didn't sell well. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Mark Dawson, 49, an author from Salisbury, England, about publishing via Kindle Direct Publishing. My first two books didn't sell. I had started writing another book in 2010. I quit my job in November 2014 and started writing books full time.

☆ ‘When Harry Met Sally,’ ‘Iron Man’ and ‘Superfly’ added to National Film Registry
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —This annual list of 25 influential films to be inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress has been revealed. “Films have become absolutely central to American culture by helping tell our national story for more than 125 years. We are proud to add 25 more films by a group of vibrant and diverse filmmakers to the National Film Registry as we preserve our cinematic heritage,” Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said in a statement. The film was long thought to be lost but recently discovered in a museum in the Netherlands. ET to screen a selection of the films added to the registry this year.

☆ 'The Whale' reaches the big screen after a decadelong journey from the stage
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Rendy Jones | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

“‘The Whale’ was seminal for me, both in my career but also, kind of, for me personally. It was the first time that I had … really personal stuff from my own history and put it into a play,” Hunter said. The story is set in Moscow, Idaho, where Hunter grew up, and, like Charlie, Hunter said he, too, had a fraught relationship with religious fundamentalism and self-medicated his depression with food. “I’m out of the closet, I’m fine now, but that masks a lot of stuff that I just had not processed. I think it’s worth talking about.”While “The Whale” deals with heavy subject matter, Hunter said it’s still a hopeful film.

Timothy York knows what works to treat his decadeslong opioid addiction: Suboxone, a medication that effectively quiets cravings. Since York arrived in federal prison in 2008, he has been held in a series of facilities awash with contraband drugs and violence. Yet the federal prisons are treating only a fraction — less than 10% — of the roughly 15,000 prisoners who need it, according to the bureau’s estimates. Some say the issues stem from a culture at the bureau that is skeptical of addiction medication and pits staff against prisoners. He was using an underground supply of Suboxone at USP-Coleman, the federal prison in Florida where he was incarcerated, but it was erratic.

☆ Golden Globe Awards 2023: See the full list of nominees
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The nominees for the 80th Golden Globe Awards were announced on Monday. Mayan Lopez and Selenis Leyva, two of the stars from “Lopez vs. Lopez,” announced the range of film and television nominees as selected by members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). Favored Oscars contender “The Banshees of Inisherin” led the film categories, with nominations including best musical or comedy film. It stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. The ceremony, which was not broadcast last January over controversy surrounding the HFPA, will return to NBC on Jan. 10.

☆ 'It's A Wonderful Life': See the classic Christmas film on the big screen this month
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Jeanne Bonner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Karolyn Grimes and James Stewart in "It's A Wonderful Life." Fathom has long wanted to revive showings of “It’s A Wonderful Life,” Carey said, noting that fans have been asking for it. No film is a failure if it has fansWhat’s long delighted film historians is the fact that when “It’s a Wonderful Life” debuted, it was largely deemed a wash. As film historian Jeanine Basinger writes in her compendium, “The It’s A Wonderful Life Book,” the original idea for the film languished for years before the studio RKO sold it to Capra in 1945 for a mere $10,000. William Edmunds and James Stewart in 1946's "It's A Wonderful Life."

Editor’s note: This article includes spoilers for “The White Lotus” season 2. “He kept saying, ‘Sabrina, the more bitchy you are, the more it’s going to work.’ And I really trusted him.”Sabrina Impacciatore in "The White Lotus." Jennifer Coolidge accepts the Emmy for her performance in season 1 of "The White Lotus." The brief, moan-filled love scene that follows gets about as close to a life-affirming event as an overnight stay at the White Lotus can. I was inventing magic rituals — literally, inventing rituals to get the role, to have Mike White in my life.

The stop-motion musical reimagines the classic tale through the unique lens of filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. How to watch 'Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio'You can watch "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio" at home exclusively on Netflix. Is 'Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio' worth watching? "Guillermo del Toro's "Pinocchio" has received critical acclaim. What is 'Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio' based on?

☆ 'The Whale' review: Brendan Fraser's standout performance can't keep Darren Aronofsky's film afloat
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The love showered on Brendan Fraser out of film festivals inflates expectations for “The Whale” wildly out of proportion, in a movie based on a play that occurs almost entirely within a lone apartment. Weighted down not by its morbidly obese protagonist but rather its stick-thin supporting players, Fraser deserves praise for his buried-under-makeup performance, but that’s not enough to keep the movie afloat. Adapted by Samuel D. Hunter from his play, “The Whale” actually derives its title from the book “Moby Dick,” although the convincing enormity of Charlie’s physique obviously provides another meaning. As poignant and heartbreaking as Charlie’s plight is, “The Whale” can’t transcend the line between theater and film. While it’s easy to root for Fraser to earn accolades, in the annual hunt for award-worthy movies, consider this another one that got away.

☆ A strong China open for 'Avatar' lays the ground for a film stock rally, Morgan Stanley says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Christina Cheddar Berk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Chinese audiences appear eager to see Disney's "Avatar: The Way of Water," according to initial ticket sales ahead of the film's Dec. 16 opening. In 2009, China accounted for only $910 million in ticket sales, but 10 years later its box office receipts swelled to $8 billion. Stage set for box office recovery Morgan Stanley's Xu expects China's box office to rebound 50% in 2023, to Rmb51 billion, with the assumption that China's reopening gains momentum in the spring. In China, there is a "rich slate of blockbuster films" ready to come to theaters, Xu said. With this in mind, Xu raised her price targets for IMAX China, Ali Pictures, Wanda Film , Enlight and China Film.

☆ Brad Pitt sells 60% of his Plan B production company to French media conglomerate Mediawan, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Brad Pitt is selling 60% of his production company, Plan B Entertainment, to French media conglomerate Mediawan in a deal that's set to be announced this weekend, according to people familiar with the matter. Neither Plan B nor Mediawan responded to requests for comment. For TV, Plan B's productions have included HBO's 2014 adaptation of "The Normal Heart," directed by Ryan Murphy, and Amazon Prime Video's 2021 miniseries "The Underground Railroad." Candle Media also acquired a minority stake in Westbrook Inc. — the production company founded by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith – earlier this year. The boutique investment bank Moelis led the sale for Plan B.

☆ Sundance Film Festival lineup revealed
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Megan Thomas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The Sundance Institute revealed on Wednesday the slate of films that will screen during the 2023 Sundance Film Festival in January. Some of the noteworthy films selected include a prison thriller starring Anne Hathaway called “Eileen” and two documentaries about the lives and careers of Michael J. Fox Movie,' an official selection of the Premieres program at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance InstituteThe projects selected from nearly 16,000 submissions include 101 feature-length films representing 23 countries. His film “Shortcomings,” starring Justin H. Min, Sherry Cola and Ally Maki, will debut in the U.S. dramatic competition.

☆ From Apple and Disney to Warner Bros. Discovery, here's the 2023 media deal outlook for Hollywood's biggest companies, according to 13 bankers and industry experts
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Lucia Moses | Claire Atkinson | Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Continued pressure to get bigger has big media companies in Hollywood looking to scale up. Media bankers and investors predicted to Insider that dealmaking will rebound in 2023 as companies big and small size up their options for possible tie-ups. Pressure on big media companies to get bigger hasn't gone away. Apple: Could eye a big content prizeTim Cook. Paramount's library could help a streaming company bulk up its content; Netflix for one has explored Paramount's studio business before.

☆ 17-year-old 'Shark Tank' contestant made slime in his garage, sold it to his friends, brought in $1 million in just 3 years
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Since 2020, Mark Lin has brought in at least $1.2 million selling food-scented slime from his garage in Burbank, California. Lin's company Sliimeyhoney was profitable almost from its inception, despite being run by a high school student at the time. Lin made the slime himself, hired 11 friends to help package and ship it, and sold $50,000 worth of product in his first year, he said on the show. Wonderful," said he'd invest $150,000 for 30% of the company if Lin could create a "Wonder Slime" flavor for his followers. John suggested that Lin stick with $150,000, because Sliimeyhoney already had a healthy cash flow.

☆ Katherine Heigl: Hollywood has changed, and so have I — it's easier to speak up now
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Eboni Boykin-Patterson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Katherine Heigl, 44, says there's a delicateness in Hollywood that didn't use to exist. She said "Firefly Lane" gave freedom to actors and showrunners and helped her focus her career. Hollywood is really different from how it used to beThe industry has really changed since I first started out. An example: For "Firefly Lane," we had an intimacy coordinator on set — a person whose job it is to ensure that actors feel comfortable during intimate scenes. The emergence of original streamer content is pushing some of the changeFilming for a streamer is a totally different kind of experience than filming for linear television.

☆ The incredible true story of the time an astronaut played golf on the moon
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

The resulting creation, a Wilson Staff Dyna-Power 6-iron head, was tucked away in Shepard’s space suit for launch, with a few balls hidden in a sock. “Miles and miles and miles,” the jubilant astronaut remarked as the ball sailed out of his view, swallowed by the infinite blackness of space. What does any of that have to do with an astronaut playing golf on the moon? Saunders believed Shepard’s “miles and miles” remark to have been made tongue-in-cheek, an almost instinctive reflex of his hyper-competitive, “fighter-jock” nature. “We always talk about getting to the moon, landing on the moon, returning back to Earth – that’s how we think of the moon,” Odom said.

☆ The small but mighty love for ‘Willow’ that led to a shiny new series
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

It’s a refreshing turn against recent trends that a cult classic without the sizable built-in fanbase of, say, a “Star Wars” or Marvel property would receive the fancy reboot treatment. “You could be walking around a convention floor, and in a sea of Harley Quinns, you’ll spot a Willow,” Delaney observed. High hopesThe arrival of the new 8-episode series comes with high hopes from the small but mighty fanbase. Bob Dolman, who wrote the screenplay for the original film, also acted as supervising producer on the first episode. Kilmer’s ex-wife Joanne Whalley, who he met on the original film, will be back in the series as warrior Sorsha.

In 2019, Martin Scorsese said that Marvel movies were “not cinema” and worried cinema was being “invaded” by them. As it happens, I’m not a fan of Marvel films either. For almost the entire history of movies, women haven’t had access to the capital required to make them. There were at least 15 women directors in the commercial film industry during that time. That’s dismal but more than twice as high as the number of female film directors of the same era.

☆ Thanksgiving used to be a movie feast. This year? Slim pickings
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Frank Pallotta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN Business —Thanksgiving weekend has historically offered a cornucopia of films, letting moviegoers get out of the house and kick back after eating copious amounts of turkey, mashed potatoes and pie. The North American box office has few new films this weekend that are likely to draw tons of moviegoers. Another Disney film, Marvel’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” is now in its second week and is set to win the holiday weekend with around $40 million domestically. For example, films like “Creed,” “Moana,” and “Knives Out” opened on Thanksgiving weekends and did well. As for Thanksgiving, Dergarabedian hopes that as the theater industry normalizes, the holiday will make a comeback.

Cinemas stocks got a boost Wednesday after a report said Amazon plans to spend $1 billion a year on theatrical film releases. The tech company plans to make between 12 and 15 movies for movie theaters each year, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. A smaller number of films will be produced in 2023 as Amazon builds up its output, the report said. Amazon has deepened its investments in original content over the years through its Prime Video streaming unit, as well as its movie and television studios. Earlier this year, the e-retailer bolstered its media ambitions when it acquired legendary movie maker MGM Studios for $8.45 billion.

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