Capability

Netflix Is Going to Do Documentaries, Comedy Specials

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Sounds like they have plans and are building on their success – and others.

I’m not really into “Arrested Development” (funny, but just didn’t get into it) or “House of Cards” (also a lot of talent, but not my thing) but they sound pretty good.  So Netflix branching out is a good idea for them.

However, I’d note one thing – they’re really moving into being a kind of, well, channel.  Part HBO, part Amazon. That’s going to get very interesting, and I wonder who will see them as competition – and as an ally.

I also wonder if Netflix is going to try and cultivate indie talent.  That could work out well – especially as we watch what appear to be the first phases of the predicted Hollywood meltdown.

– Steven

“Turbo” Isn’t Doing So Hot. Insert Your Own “Slow” Joke Here.

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Adjusted for inflation?  Worst Dreamworks opening ever.

I think there’s several factors here:

  1. The general movie meltdown occurring.
  2. It’s a new property that  . . . is about snails.  
  3. It’s also competing against animated sequels to well-loved properties – Despicable Me 2 and Monsters University.  I can also say that DM2 is excellent and deserves it’s praise.
  4. I can’t say the marketing campaign seemed effective (after seeing Pacific Rim‘s dismal campaign I wonder if this another Hollywood Problem).

But another sounds-sure/sounds-big property doing so hot.  I feel kind of bad for Ryan Reynolds, who just cannot catch a break here.

– Steven

 

Have Some Dismal Economic Truths!

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Law firms are in trouble, so it’s not a guaranteed fallback: http://www.newrepublic.com/article/113941/big-law-firms-trouble-when-money-dries#

Publicly funding a stadium is a losing proposition: http://www.psmag.com/business-economics/america-has-a-stadium-problem-62665/.  In fact, we’re spending more on them to date, and bankrupt Detroit is still building  a Hockey Stadium.  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130619/BIZ/306190075/

– Steven