Rich Ross has been listening in on Business of Media or something because now he's trying to convince Hollywood they have to completely rethink traditional distribution methods to compensate for the internet as a growing platform for entertainment. This involves more targeted marketing (as we've seen with Facebook and Hulu) and a shorter window between theater release and home-viewing. (I'm still ambivalent and curious for the future on this last point. Will a shorter window mean higher DVD-or in the future, KeyChest- sales as the movie will be fresh in audiences minds? Will this be at the expense of box office sales since audiences know they won't have to wait long to just own the movie? Will exhibitors than have to fight to stress the importance of a theater-going experience? Stay tuned.)More changes come from the previously mentioned staff changes. The booting of Daniel Battsek (of specialty label Miramax) exemplifies Ross and Bob Iger's growing emphasis on safe family-friendly movies and franchises/sequels which are more easily recognizable and marketable. Unfortunately, they seem to know and don't care that this will come at the expense of original ideas and stories, which is extremely disappointing. (If only there were more people like my man, John Lasseter who'd try to make them see the light.)
Now, according to Ross, "it's brand over everything else." Sad.
More marketing recognition* comes to the need for "more movies that appeal to women." Given their stereotypical penchant for doing things in groups (like trips to the bathroom), it seems to make more sense that women are more likely to want to see a movie in theaters. At least online, women 25 to 54 are "heavy online ticket buyers" and movie ticket purchasers are 39% more likely to be female." This is why we have Twilight movies.
*This should count as like, 3 blog posts right? :]
