A Box Office Roundup – A Flop for Every Success.

This week, Stealth Media Films gives you a roundup of box offices on both sides of the Atlantic; as whilst one film rides high in the UK, another flops in the US.

What Works At the Box Office?

As a film finance company, Stealth Media Films takes box office numbers very seriously. Box office numbers are the most useful tool that we have to hand to determine how an audience has received the latest projects making a splash in the world of film.

Film audiences are funny things. You can put millions into a film and they hate it, whilst they take like a duck to water to a low budget indie flick that nobody expected to even make up its production costs. That wasn’t quite the case over the past seven days, but the numbers certainly were interesting.

Those Inbetweeners do it Again!

As far as UK markets go – you guessed it – the second Inbetweeners film still reigns supreme. This is the comedy film’s second consecutive week at the top of the UK box office.

According to Digital Spy, the second film instalment of the rude coming-of-age franchise raked in an impressive £4.3 million this week to once again top the UK box office. It pulled in more than Hollywood blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy and latest release, Expendables 3 – also considered a heavyweight.

Whilst Galaxy Rode High, Sin City 2 Monumentally Flopped

Meanwhile, the US markets certainly proved fascinating to watch over the past seven days. Whilst Guardians of the Galaxy did manage to top that market (they really love a big-budget flick over there) – similar Hollywood heavyweight Sin City 2, flopped so hard you could hear it from China!

The Sin City sequel – Sin City 2: A Dame to Kill, pulled in a paltry $6 million at the US box office. It came eighth in the list of top ten. Guardians meanwhile, pulled in almost three times as much – over $17 million.

There is no Proven Recipe for Success

These numbers have once again shown Stealth Media Films that it’s hard to predict what’ll prove a hit at the box office. Both films – the Inbetweeners and Sin City, were seen as proven recipes for success; yet only one was. Why that was, we can only speculate. 

A Tribute to Menahem Golan

This week Stealth Media Films pay tribute to acclaimed film maker Menahem Golan, who died last Friday in Tel-Aviv.

It’s the People behind the Camera who Make the Movie

There are people in this world who define what we see on the silver screen. Often we think of A-list actors as those behind bringing a movie to life. The Brad Pitts, Angelina Jolies, George Clooneys and Jennifer Anistons of this world.

But in actual fact, they are only a small part of it. The people really responsible for bringing the script to life are behind the camera; the directors, producers, script writers etc. That is why this week, Stealth Media Films wants to pay tribute to the passing of a truly talented film maker. This was the Israeli producer, Menahem Golan, who passed away last Friday in Tel Aviv.

Menahem Golan has an Impressive CV as a Film Producer

You might not know the name but you should. Menahem Golan has worked with some of the most recognise names in Hollywood. These include Jean-Claude Van Damme, Chuck Norris and Sylvester Stalone. Menahem is remembered for directing two Sylvester Stalone projects; Over the Top and Cobra.

With cousin and business partner Yoram Globus, he produced extremely ambitious projects such as Superman IV: The Quest for Peace alongside Christopher Reeve. The two also famously owned Elstree studios for some time. Golan was also known for his work on 1980’s action films such as Missing in Action, The Delta Force and Bloodsport.

Golan Changed the Cinematic Landscape as We Know It

According to the BBC, several of the stars that worked with Menahem have already spoken out in tribute. Van Damme tweeted "RIP, Menahem Golan." He went on to tweet "I love you and will always do." Chuck Norris also noted Menahem’s “faith” in him, for giving him his start in Hollywood.

Norris hit the nail on the head here. Yes, the actor may play the character, but we would never get the chance to see them in the role, if it weren’t for the people behind the camera. To produce such a stellar body of work, and collaborate with some of the most acclaimed names in the action movie world, suggests Golan was a truly talented film maker, who changed the cinematic landscape as we know it. 

Courtney Love Calls For Kurt Cobain Biopic

Perennial tabloid stalwart Courtney Love has called for a biopic of the life of her husband; iconic Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, Stealth Media Films has learned.

Stealth Media Films Knows How to Spot an Opportunity

Here at Stealth Media Films we have grown, through our international operations, based in cinematic hubs such as Los Angeles, London and Munich, to become a key film finance firm on a global level.

We have evolved to become a player in international film finance, quite simply, because we know how to spot an opportunity; we know what works in film, what’ll rock the box office, and what’s flop harder than a tourist belly flopping into the hotel pool in Majorca.

Will this go the Way of Love’s Other Media Stunts?

That’s why we felt we had to comment on this latest move by everlasting publicity hound Courtney Love. It could provide an epic window into the life of one of rock and roll’s last true icons. Or, it could be a disaster of proportions usually reserved for Love’s latest media stunt.

We’re fans of the biopic to be sure; we think, if done right, it can shed new light on the people who have shaped the world in which we live. Unfortunately, biopics can be tenuous. Look at the recent ones about Dianna and Grace of Monaco.

What Are the Plans for a Kurt Cobain Biopic?

So what has Love actually said? Well, according to Digital Spy, Love has claimed that she herself is hoping to create a biopic of the life of the legendary Nirvana singer. Inquirer further reported that Love is currently looking into casting the flick.

Love commented that the biopic should start within the next year or so. She went on to talk about casting, saying: "I won't name names because I don't want to jinx it for anyone but these are 25-year-olds who are blonde, gorgeous and the new Brad Pitts. There's a ton of those. Some are really good actors, not just pretty faces... I don't want to be the person who makes that decision.”

At Stealth Media Films, We’ll Reserve Judgement

The thing is, at Stealth Media Films, we really want to be excited about this. We think a glimpse into the life of the 90’s most elusive rocker could be fascinating. However, it’s a project run by Courtney Love; human disaster machine. We’ll hold our judgement until we know more!

Who Are the Top Five Stars of Tomorrow?

It’s an exciting time to be an up and comer in Hollywood, and Stealth Media Films believes that’s especially true for these five emerging Hollywood stars.

Lupita Nyong’o

This woman is all anyone can talk about at the moment. Why is that? Well she’s pretty darned impressive. She rose to fame in a supporting role in film epic 12 Years a Slave, after graduating from the Yale School of Drama, and off the bat, she won an OSCAR.

You’d think that most people would stop and take a breath after such a stunning achievement, but Lupita is not most people, and she’s determined to become a Hollywood legend, clinching an upcoming role in the latest Star Wars movie! We so can’t wait!

Adam Driver

Another up and comer in Hollywood who’s slated to take a trip to a galaxy far far away in the next outing of the Star Wars franchise is Adam Driver; an acting talent set to take Hollywood by storm.

Driver first came to our (and the world’s attention) in massively popular HBO television series Girls, and has since gone on to appear in a number of prestige projects over the last two years, including Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln and the Coen brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis, cementing his position as one of tinsel town’s most credible rising talents.

Karen Gillan

Whoever would have believed that little Amy Pond would have ever gone so far without the help of that flying blue box. Increasingly, Gillan is establishing a presence in Hollywood, and is set to take the US by storm.

She’s done a few projects since saying goodbye to the Doctor, including creepy horror flick Oculus and fluffy rom-com Not another Happy Ending. Now, she’s slated to appear in blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy, and new US television series Selfie; it looks as though Karen is rising through the ranks faster than ever.

John Boyega

Go back six months and it’s unlikely you’d have ever heard of this emerging star. Boyega’s turn in Joe Cornish’s alien adventure flick Attack the Block had put him on some people radars, but since then, he’d kept a low profile with unremarkable TV roles.

What a difference a few months makes. First, he appeared in the first episode of Fox’s highly anticipated series, 24: Live Another Day, then was cast in what is believed to be a main role in the latest Star Wars movie. Suddenly, his future is brighter than the sun on Tattooine.

Stacy Martin

This British actress pretty much was thrown in at the deep end with Lars Von Trier’s four hour erotic epic Nymphomaniac, but she rose to the occasion, enchanting audiences and critics alike. Now she’s clinched a role in Ben Wheatley’s anticipated adaptation of JG Bellard’s High Rise, and is set to make a splash in Hollywood circles. 

Stealth Media Films Believe These Five Pop Stars Should Never Have Gone Into Movies!

Don’t you groan with despair when a pop star decides to act? Stealth Media Films does, and in our opinion, here are five pop stars, who really never should have tried.

Pop Stars, Please Stick To Singing

We love pop stars here at Stealth Media Films. We think they’re amazing and we’re so thankful that they’re making music. Emphasis on the music. What we don’t love is when they forsake music for an attempted career in Hollywood.

That’s because – and we know you’re all thinking it – the vast majority of pop stars can’t act. Admittedly, some can, and they’re pretty damned fantastic. Most of them though, are just so wooden there’s no possible way you can believe they’re even playing a human, never mind a complex character that’s supposed to be someone we can actually identify with.

Stealth Media Films’ Top Five

Of course some pop stars stand out more for their abysmal performances than others, and in our opinion, here are the top five pop stars who had no business transitioning to the big screen:

Britney Spears: The one time Britney tried acting resulted in the blight on humanity that was Crossroads. We still shudder every time we even think about it.

Madonna: Admittedly, she’s had some success with flicks like Desperately Seeking Susan and Evita, however she’s had a hell of a lot of stinkers too. Madonna, you’re never going to get an OSCAR, please stop trying.

Snoop Dog: Yes Snoop Dog or Snoop Lion or whatever moniker he’s going by these days tried acting in 2004 comedy Soul Plane. The lesson we learned here; Snoop Dog’s only funny when he’s not actually trying to be.

Christina Aguilera: It actually seemed that XTina would be able to pull off her performance in 2010’s Burlesque. In actuality, it just left you feeling slightly uncomfortable. We’re thankful she’s stuck to singing since.

Jennifer Lopez: She’s always going on about how she’s still so real, but the truth is, her performances in films like Maids of Manhattan and Gigli, couldn’t have been less real.

So let that be a lesson to any pop star out there who’s thinking of trying their hand at acting. You’re great at singing, why don’t you just stick to belting out the pop tunes we fell in love with you for?

Could the political situation impact UK Film-Making?

Stealth Media Group were interested to read this week about how politics can sometimes have an impact on film production. As the industry bible Variety reported, the rise of UKIP in the UK may have a direct impact on the UK film industry.  UKIP wants an exit from the European Union and they were heavily supported in the European Union election last week.

UKIP grabbed 27.5% of the votes cast, this compares with 25.4% for Labour and 23.9% for the Conservatives.  It was the first time for over 100 years that a party other than Labour or Conservative came first in a national election.

But what will an exit from Europe mean for the UK film industry?

In the last seven years alone the EU’s Media Program granted over 100 million Euros to UK film companies and UK film production. In Cannes this year, two British films Ken Loach’s “Jimmy Hall” and Mike Leigh’s “Mr. Turner” both received funds from the EU programme.

Funds from the EU also help UK productions with distribution and often help with theatrically released films which have in the past included such hits as “Slumdog Millionaire” and “The King’s Speech”.

Funding for education

EU initiatives also give funding in some forms to various film and media education institutes, these include; London Film School and the National Film and Television School. The acclaimed Sheffield Doc/Fest also receives an amount of funding via European initiatives.

These sources of funding play a vital role in the UK and the chance this ending will be causing many headaches across the UK film industry.

Creative Europe

Moving forward, the EU’s Creative Europe scheme has a budget of $1.99 billion over the next seven years. An exit from Europe would deprive the UK of access to these funds. 

Even if UKIP don’t win and the Conservatives gain office, they themselves have committed to a referendum on Europe. Based on the current mood this could still mean that the UK could exit the EU.

Funding for all kinds of film

Film funding can come from all kinds of sources and politics has impacted film funding in the recent past. Government schemes and sources of money can always come and go under different political ideologies.

Stealth Media Film Investments doesn’t just work with funding from Europe, our films our financed from a variety of sources from all over the world. If you’re interested in finding out more please contact Stealth Media Group now.

Stealth Media on British Palme D’Or hopeful Mike Leigh

Stealth Media is tipping UK film-maker Mike Leigh to bag the Palme D’Or in this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Leigh’s film Mr. Turner is a front runner for the prestigious award that Leigh previous won in 1996 for his classic film Secrets and Lies.

Timothy Spall plays the artist JMW Turner (1775-1851) as a grunting Dickensian character, his performance is being lauded in this richly detailed character study that features the best of Leigh’s own unique style of film-making.

The camera work by Dick Pope captures the storms, clouds and vistas that the real life Turner loved to paint. The costumes and set design add to a wonderful recreation of the period. Leigh and Pope even manage to recreate some of Turner’s best known paintings.

Visual flights of fancy

Mr Turner features some great visuals but also concentrates on the mundane aspects of the artist’s life. Unlike other artist biopics there are no great affairs or scandal. Turner seems like an ordinary man with a great gift. Scenes showing his callousness towards his family stem from his preoccupation with his art.

Mike Leigh

Spall is always reliable as an actor, but this film showcases his ability to bring a historical figure to very real life on screen. Turner is often a bumbling figure, but he also possess a great intellectual curiosity and a single mindedness that explains his great work.

Geniuses are strange

Spall himself has commented about the film "It's about how genius is not in always the most romantic of packages," said Spall. "Most geniuses are strange." Leigh confirmed that two years before starting his famous lengthy rehearsal process for the film he urged Spall to work on his painting skills.

Leigh’s famous rehearsal process that helps put the film together (and often eschews a scripted blueprint) has resulted in many actors giving their greatest performances.

From Abigail to JMW Turner

Leigh’s career as a director began back in the 1970s working in television. His career really took off with the classic TV play Abigail’s Party. Originally done for the theatre the famous play was entirely improvised with Leigh working with each actor on their character.

Leigh worked on character background mostly, it’s been written in the past that Leigh and his actors worked on backgrounds from birth to the present day. The actors were given so much backstory that during the play they often appear preoppupied with other things. These preoccupations are never revealed to the audience but add to the tensions of the play and the performances.

The Palme D’Or

Competition for the Palme D’Or is always fierce but Mr Turner is definitely making the front running. It would be a deserved winner and another feather in the film-making cap of one of Britain’s best, and most unique directors.

For more information coming from Cannes, why not follow us on Twitter or visit our Steal Media Group News website.

You’ll Find These Fantastic Beasts on the Silver Screen!

It’s Official! This week saw the announcement of the release date for the movie version of Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. When is it coming to a screen near you and what can we expect from the next installment of the Harry Potter series?

Harry Potter: A Global Brand

Harry Potter is a global phenomenon. The books themselves saw epic success; to date over 400 million editions have been sold around the world. JK Rowling’s epic fantasy has since spawned spin-off books, a theme park, masses of merchandise and most importantly, an equally successful movie franchise.

If the books saw the Harry Potter franchise arrive, the films launched them into the stratosphere. Collectively, they have pulled in over $7 billion to date and they launched the careers of Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, who have since gone on to achieve A-List success in tinsel town.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

So what can we expect from this latest installment? The movie is officially slated to be released 18th November 2016 – a long wait for rabid fans eager to find out just what Rowling, who is currently adapting the novel for the big screen – has in store this time around.

Notably Beasts won’t see the return of stars like Radcliffe and Watson – we’ve seen their story. Instead it will focus on the spin-off novels fictional author, Newt Scamander, and his life long quest to discover and catalogue the fantastic beasts of the fictional Harry Potter world.

The film itself further deviates from its parent series as we move away from the hallowed halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and take a look at the magical underbelly of New York City 70 years before the arrival of the Boy Who Lived.

Furthermore, we know this next step into the magical world has been left in good hands. Not only is Rowling herself involved, but David Heyman – the man who served as producer on every single one of the eight Harry Potter films – is set to return as a producer for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Stealth Media Comments

At Stealth Media we recognise the sheer might of the Harry Potter series and value the contributions it has delivered to the UK film industry. We know that Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will be just as much of a success and we can’t wait to see what the magical world’s creator has in store for us this time around!