Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and IMAX Corporation (NASDAQ: IMAX; TSX: IMX) today announced that the highly anticipated The Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience, directed by Bruce Hendricks (Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour), will be released for a one week engagement in select IMAX(R) 3D theatres, simultaneously with the film's wide release in 3D on February 27, 2009. The IMAX(R) 3D release will be digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R) with IMAX DMR(R) (Digital Re-Mastering) technology.
Commenting on the announcement, Mark Zoradi, president, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group, said, "Seeing the Disney Digital 3D(TM) Jonas Bros film in IMAX 3D is the ultimate way to experience the excitement and exhilaration of the group's sensational 'Burning Up Tour.' The Disney Digital 3D(TM) experience gives moviegoers a whole new appreciation for the music, performances, and personalities of the incredibly popular Jonas Brothers. This special limited engagement IMAX 3D presentation combines the company's world-famous surround sound with impressive imagery to supercharge the concert experience, and take it to a whole new level of entertainment."
"Our ability to add this exciting limited engagement to our 2009 lineup was made possible thanks to the successful rollout of our IMAX digital projection system, which gives IMAX, exhibitors and studios increased program flexibility," said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. "We're very happy to be expanding our relationship with Disney and we look forward to bringing together our two great brands to deliver a very special and immersive movie experience for Jonas Brothers fans."
"We're delighted to be a part of Disney's next big 3D film event and this special one-week run is a great way to jump-start the five-picture deal our companies announced last year," added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "With IMAX's amazing digital sound and crystal-clear images, The IMAX 3D Experience(R) will transport moviegoers and fans on to the stage with the Jonas Brothers and into their high energy performance."
This high-energy Walt Disney Pictures rockumentary 3D feature film event from director Bruce Hendricks ("Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour"), blends excerpts from the Brothers' red-hot "Burning Up" concert tour, including guest performances from Demi Lovato and Taylor Swift. The film also includes exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, off-the-wall segments, a never-before-heard song ("Love Is On Its Way"), swarming fans and a lot of JB-style humor-giving fans never-before-seen insights into the lives of Kevin, Joe and Nick.
SOURCE IMAX Corporation
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Friday, February 6, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
In Recession, Imax Shines
The key to Imax's weathering the economic storm has been its transition from a film-based platform to digital and to a business that relies on joint ventures as opposed to sales.
Imax will go from 150 commercial theaters showing Hollywood blockbusters on giant screens to 350 in the next three years. Each projector costs Imax about $500,000, while theater owners contribute $150,000.
But Imax gets a 12.5 percent cut of box-office grosses, so cash flow from earlier screens are paying for the installation of future ones. Plus, a $50 million financing package already in place is especially helpful during the current credit crunch.
"KNIGHT'S" HEROIC PERFORMANCE
Having "The Dark Knight" in its corner has helped as well. The second most commercially successful title in global film history has racked up $63 million in ticket sales at 130 Imax screens, not counting the current re-release of the Batman feature. That's an Imax record for a Hollywood blockbuster.
Barring a drop-off in theater attendance, this year ought to be a stellar one for Imax, with potential giant-screen hits "Watchmen," "Star Trek," "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" and "Avatar," among others.
Coming to Imax in March is "Monsters vs. Aliens" from DreamWorks Animation, another business doing well despite the economy.
Unlike many of the major studio conglomerates, which are invested heavily in the television station business, "DWA has zero advertising exposure," says Steve Birenberg of Northlake Capital Management.
"Earnings should be flat to higher in 2009," Birenberg says of DWA. "Very few other media companies can come anywhere near to flat in 2009."
Plus, DWA and Imax hold key stakes in one of the more bullish areas in the entertainment industry: 3-D movies.
A 60-page report issued in January by Piper Jaffray says 3-D upgrades could help the exhibition business buck a recession into 2010 and 2011. Such theater chains as Regal, Cinemark and Carmike stand to benefit significantly from transitioning as many as 20 percent of their theaters to the format.
Some 3D Projects Noted:
Of the 40 planned 3D projects, a few of them you may have already heard of:
There’s already been Journey to the Center of the Earth, the previously mentioned Disney’s Pixar computer-animated film Monsters vs. Aliens which is due out next March and James Cameron’s Avatar.
Journey to the Center of the Earth was the first ever live-action film that’s been shot entirely in 3D, but it also had a 2D version out. Pixar studio is now making all of its computer-animated films in 3D.
On top of that, in the “Is Nothing Sacred” category, Disney’s Pixar is redoing Toy Story (I & II) in 3D, and George Lucas is hoping to keep his Star Wars franchise alive by redoing that in 3D.
The Home Viewing Industry:
With the home viewing industry being a nearly $36 billion industry, some big names are looking at how to get 3D into your home. Some of the companies include Disney, Universal, Philips, Samsung, Sony, Thomson and IMAX.
Some sports telecasts have already taken place in 3D and there’s a push to develop TVs where you won’t need glasses at all. (That confuses all three of me.)
The idea is that since Hi-Def made such an impact, 3D HD will be even bigger. Right now we already have some 3D products in the home. An estimated 1 million 3D-ready HDTVs made by Mitsubishi and Samsung are already in U.S. homes. The basic concept from the Philips brand is to place a lens over the screen to create the effect.
Read more...
Imax will go from 150 commercial theaters showing Hollywood blockbusters on giant screens to 350 in the next three years. Each projector costs Imax about $500,000, while theater owners contribute $150,000.
But Imax gets a 12.5 percent cut of box-office grosses, so cash flow from earlier screens are paying for the installation of future ones. Plus, a $50 million financing package already in place is especially helpful during the current credit crunch.
"KNIGHT'S" HEROIC PERFORMANCE
Having "The Dark Knight" in its corner has helped as well. The second most commercially successful title in global film history has racked up $63 million in ticket sales at 130 Imax screens, not counting the current re-release of the Batman feature. That's an Imax record for a Hollywood blockbuster.
Barring a drop-off in theater attendance, this year ought to be a stellar one for Imax, with potential giant-screen hits "Watchmen," "Star Trek," "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" and "Avatar," among others.
Coming to Imax in March is "Monsters vs. Aliens" from DreamWorks Animation, another business doing well despite the economy.
Unlike many of the major studio conglomerates, which are invested heavily in the television station business, "DWA has zero advertising exposure," says Steve Birenberg of Northlake Capital Management.
"Earnings should be flat to higher in 2009," Birenberg says of DWA. "Very few other media companies can come anywhere near to flat in 2009."
Plus, DWA and Imax hold key stakes in one of the more bullish areas in the entertainment industry: 3-D movies.
A 60-page report issued in January by Piper Jaffray says 3-D upgrades could help the exhibition business buck a recession into 2010 and 2011. Such theater chains as Regal, Cinemark and Carmike stand to benefit significantly from transitioning as many as 20 percent of their theaters to the format.
Some 3D Projects Noted:
Of the 40 planned 3D projects, a few of them you may have already heard of:
There’s already been Journey to the Center of the Earth, the previously mentioned Disney’s Pixar computer-animated film Monsters vs. Aliens which is due out next March and James Cameron’s Avatar.
Journey to the Center of the Earth was the first ever live-action film that’s been shot entirely in 3D, but it also had a 2D version out. Pixar studio is now making all of its computer-animated films in 3D.
On top of that, in the “Is Nothing Sacred” category, Disney’s Pixar is redoing Toy Story (I & II) in 3D, and George Lucas is hoping to keep his Star Wars franchise alive by redoing that in 3D.
The Home Viewing Industry:
With the home viewing industry being a nearly $36 billion industry, some big names are looking at how to get 3D into your home. Some of the companies include Disney, Universal, Philips, Samsung, Sony, Thomson and IMAX.
Some sports telecasts have already taken place in 3D and there’s a push to develop TVs where you won’t need glasses at all. (That confuses all three of me.)
The idea is that since Hi-Def made such an impact, 3D HD will be even bigger. Right now we already have some 3D products in the home. An estimated 1 million 3D-ready HDTVs made by Mitsubishi and Samsung are already in U.S. homes. The basic concept from the Philips brand is to place a lens over the screen to create the effect.
Read more...
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