UK Movie Industry Claiming Losses While Profits Soaring

It is widely known that rights owners prefer keeping quiet when talking about online piracy. Those listening attentively could notice many times how movies raked in record breaking profits, but at the same time the entertainment industry kept arguing that it’s facing total collapse and blaming illegal downloading for that.

The movie industry sticks to the old argument to justify excessively strict copyright laws, blaming piracy for “killing” the entertainment industry and calling the government to stop it or face the collapse of the movie industry. The surveys carried out by the industry prove it is losing millions if not billions dollars in profits. However, this figure should be reconsidered from another point of view – different from the premise of each download meaning one lost sale, as it have repeatedly been acknowledged a flawed argument.

Industry executives might wonder why there are no headlines screaming that the industry is doing quite well, and the answer to that was given above – it keeps quiet.

The story is similar in all other countries – for example, the United Kingdom. The information from the UK Film Council is the following: the movie industry grossed $2 billion at box office in 2009, with takings at record-breaking levels of about £1 billion in the country last year, which is up 62% as compared to decade ago. Moreover, the total of territory box office for the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland altogether surpassed £1 billion for the first time last year.

If we look at the investments in UK movies, they seem to be hugely successful, as every £1 invested has generated £5 at the box office. People are interested in visiting cinemas more than before – more that 170 million people visited theaters in the UK last year, which is up 30 million from decade ago and the highest figure since 2002.

As we can see, the British movie industry breaks revenue records by striking £1 billion at the box office, experiencing an increase in 62% over the last decade. And at the same time it dares to complain that it’s dying because of billions in losses (of course, estimated by the flawed logic of each download meaning one lost sale). How that came that we have to be sympathetic for the entertainment industry over money now – the industry, pushing lawmakers to pass excessively restrictive legislation like “three-strikes” regime in the country?

Bond Screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz Passes Away at Age 68

Tom mankiewicz, best recognized for his work as a screenwriter on several of James Bond's 1970s films, passed away on July 31st after losing a struggle with cancer. Mankiewicz, son of All About Eve screenwriter Joseph Mankiewicz, has his name on the screenplays for Diamonds Are Forever, Live and Let Die, The Man With the Golden Gun, Ladyhawke, and Dragnet, but that was hardly the extent of his career. In addition to being a regular Bond writer, the L.A. Native was also a television writer and director who worked on such projects as Bob Hope Presents, Movin' With Nancy, Hart to Hart, and Tales From the Crypt.

Mankiewicz was also one of Hollywood's great script fixers, often lending his talents to movies without official receiving an official, on-screen credit. As a "creative consultant," he was responsible for various duties on The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, Superman 1 & 2, Gremlins, War Games, and Batman.

The Bond-enthusiast fansite MI6.co.uk has a rather extensive and loving remembrance of Tom Mankiewicz, a definite read for fans. Our best wishes go out to his friends and family.

Lohan Walks Free From Jail

 
Lindsay Lohan is a free woman again - the troubled actress was released from jail on Monday after serving just 13 days of her three-month sentence.
The Mean Girls star, who was sentenced to 90 days behind bars for violating her probation relating to a 2007 DUI arrest, was freed from the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, California in the early hours of Monday morning.
Lohan was released at approximately 1.30am local time (Pst), according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
The actress is expected to report to a rehab clinic within 24 hours to begin a court-ordered 90-day treatment program.

Bebo, Ranbir to act together?

 
The race is on in Bollywood between filmmaker Sajid Nadiadwala and director Rohit Jugraj to see who can get Kareena Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor in a film together first.
The fact that the two cousins, Bollywood’s hottest properties, cannot romance each other on screen has gone down very well indeed with Imran Khan — the new sensation after the success of I Hate Luv Storys. Exploiting the situation, Imran began an ‘I Love Bebo’ campaign that has worked, and the young actor is already signed on to do a film for Karan Johar opposite Kareena. But there is hope for the cousins, yet.

Sajid Nadidwala, whose Anjaana Anjaani Kareena had to opt out of because it starred Ranbir, is planning a film with the two. “We don’t have to think of a romantic pair all the time. There are so many wonderful films where the lead pair is not romantically involved, like Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in Sadma and Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore in Amar Prem,” said Sajid.
And there’s Rohit Jugraj who is currently writing a script called Cousins which he has designed specially for Kareena and Ranbir. At the moment, all he will reveal is that it’s the story of first cousins who get together to fight for a common cause. Kareena had once said, “I would like to work with Ranbir. He is so talented. I know we can work magic together. But he is my brother. How can I star opposite him? Maybe it was never meant to be.” But, in Bollywood you never say never…

Aish to shoot with Kate Winslet

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan seems to be reaching new heights with each passing day. The scintillating beauty, who has been gathering accolades for her mesmerising act in ‘Raavan’, will now be seen rubbing shoulders with Hollywood stunner Kate Winslet.
Believe it or not, but the two divas will be seen in a commercial for a brand that they both endorse.
Confirming the news, a source said, “Aishwarya will be working with British actress Kate Winslet in a commercial, to be shot in Italy. This is for a brand Ash endorses.”

However, this isn’t the first time Ash will be seen opposite a Hollywood biggie. The actress has been seen with actors like Jean Reno, Steve Martin and Emily Mortimer in the past.
Talking about Ash’s excitement over the ad, a source close to the actress said, “Aishwarya is very excited to meet Kate and moreover shoot with her for the ad. Ash is headed to Italy sometime next week. The ad will be shot over two days.”
As for Aishwarya, the actress has met Kate in the past and was reported to have said that she finds her “very pretty”. Shooting with Kate is something Ash is eagerly waiting for, says a source close to the latter.

Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan in Rome