All the talk was on distribution, old v. new school, and everyone seems to be clamoring for a new direction. Old platforms must go and more innovation must be developed. Professor Presti still feels holographic technology will be forthcoming in the next 6 quarters depending on the overall economy. In the interim, major media players are scaling back costs and trying to maximize ROI through "reconstituting" well-known franchises.
Tomorrow is a new day. DVDs are so 1990s and need an effective replacement vehicle. One suspects, just suspects either Apple or Microsoft, will be stepping up to the plate in generating new media viewing habits. However, my sources tell me that Google has not sunk all that cash into YouTube without a big return down the road. Pretty soon, movie trailers will be distributed over the phone in personalized voice mail messages to consumers. Imagine, a movie star will be calling you and then sending you a personalized video clip to your email account..
Avatar and the 3D thing will be a trendy fade for immediate revenue boosts, but Wall Street and Silicon Valley VCs are sitting on the sidelines waiting for the next media wave. Let's all catch it this time.
On a somber note, those hedge fund slate deals are gone. So movie festival lovers take heed, Sundance may be VERY trite and mediocre this year-- best case scenario. The lack of deal juice at Toronto sealed that coffin. It appears Cannes or bust for the real product.
P.S. To all my media newbies, whatever you do, make sure your movie concept has a TV component. It does not have to be network. You must have ancillary revenue potential to get anything funded over $5 million. Interactivity also seems burgeoning on the horizon too . . . .
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