LOS ANGELES, April 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ – IMAX Corporation and Warner Bros. Pictures today announced that they have crossed the $400 million mark at the IMAX box office with films released through the partnership between the two companies. Since June 2003, Warner Bros. Pictures has released 16 movie titles in IMAX’s format, five of which were in IMAX(R) 3D, including two live action pictures that were partially converted into 3D with IMAX’s proprietary 2D to 3D conversion technology. All titles were digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R) using IMAX’s proprietary IMAX DMR(R) (Digital Re-Mastering) technology. Also included in the tally are the studio’s two original IMAX 3D co-productions.

     “Our successful partnership with IMAX has helped to shape an entirely new distribution window and a completely new form of premium cinematic entertainment,” said Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures. “The IMAX(R) theatre network has enabled us to generate incremental box office returns, and we are very enthusiastic about our upcoming film slate, which will include both original IMAX 3D programming and our tent-pole releases.”

     “The IMAX release adds a layer of excitement to major titles, and with more audiences looking for something special at the movies, we anticipate continued strong box office returns from these theatres internationally,” said Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

     “Warner Bros. Pictures’ dedication to the IMAX film business, their talent for making great films and their enthusiastic endorsement of IMAX DMR and original programming has enabled our partnership to reach this impressive milestone,” said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. “With our digital projection system on the verge of rapidly expanding the IMAX network worldwide, we are confident that we’ll reach many more milestones with Warner Bros. Pictures.”

     The studio’s Hollywood IMAX releases that contributed to the $400 million milestone and helped shape the IMAX network as a new distribution platform include The Matrix Revolutions, The Matrix Reloaded, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Polar Express (in IMAX 3D), Batman Begins, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, V for Vendetta, Poseidon, Superman Returns (in IMAX 3D), The Ant Bully (in IMAX 3D), Happy Feet, 300, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (in IMAX 3D), Beowulf (international) and I Am Legend.

     The original IMAX 3D films co-produced and released with Warner Bros. Pictures include NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience (2003), which has grossed nearly $24 million at the IMAX box office, and Deep Sea 3D (2006), which has grossed an impressive $64 million at the IMAX box office on a limited number of screens, and it is still playing well throughout the IMAX network.

     “Warner Bros. Pictures has been instrumental in bringing The IMAX Experience into mainstream,” added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. “They were the first studio to release a feature film in IMAX 3D, the first studio to release a live action film that had been converted into 3D, and they introduced the world to a whole new brand of original IMAX 3D programming that is both educational and entertaining. We look forward to continued success with them and their incredible filmmakers as we collaborate in the release of a broad range of pictures over the next few years.”

     The 2008, 2009 and 2010 lineup for Warner Bros. Pictures and IMAX currently include Speed Racer (May 9), The Dark Night (July 18), Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (November 21), Under the Sea 3D (February 2009) and Hubble 3D (February 2010).

     About IMAX Corporation

     IMAX Corporation is one of the world’s leading digital entertainment and technology companies. The worldwide IMAX network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event Hollywood films around the globe, with IMAX theatres delivering the world’s best cinematic presentations using proprietary IMAX, IMAX 3D, and IMAX DMR technology. IMAX DMR is the Company’s groundbreaking digital remastering technology that allows it to digitally transform virtually any conventional motion picture into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience. IMAX’s renowned projectors and new digital systems display crystal-clear images on the world’s biggest screens. The IMAX brand is recognized throughout the world for extraordinary and immersive entertainment experiences for consumers. As of December 31, 2007, there were 299 IMAX theatres operating in 39 countries.

     IMAX(R), IMAX(R) 3D, IMAX DMR(R), IMAX MPX(R), and The IMAX Experience(R) are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information on the Company can be found at http://www.imax.com .

     This press release contains forward looking statements that are based on management’s assumptions and existing information and involve certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Important factors that could affect these statements include ongoing discussions with the SEC and OSC relating to their ongoing inquiries, the timing of theatre system deliveries, the mix of theatre systems shipped, the timing of the recognition of revenues and expenses on film production and distribution agreements, the performance of films, the viability of new businesses and products, risks arising from potential material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting and fluctuations in foreign currency and in the large format and general commercial exhibition market. These factors and other risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and in the subsequent reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Tags: batman, harry potter, hollywood, imax, matrix, warner bros

Earnings were solid but the DVD rental site’s lower profit forecast, due to the cost of shifting to downloads and Blu-ray, sends shareholders scurrying

BusinessWeek reports that the once thriving Netflix may be in for a bit of a bumpy road ahead.

It has been a good year for Netflix shareholders, until now that is. After riding a 50% spike in the DVD-by-mail company’s shares, investors fled in droves on a first-quarter report that showed record sales and profits, but warned of slowing growth and higher costs.

Netflix had found a nice increase in subscribers after the recent rising of Blockbuster rates and ended the first quarter with 8.2 million subscribers, a 21% surge from the prior year.  However, with increasing technologies and costs that cut into profit margins, the company is treading ahead with careful footing aware that profits are clearly still under pressure.

While higher prices on Blu-ray rentals might scare some customers away, the effect on overall growth may be minimal. Analyst Jim Friedland of Cowen & Co. (COWN) pointed out in a research note published Apr. 22, “Blu-ray subscribers account for a low single-digit percentage of subscribers.”

In terms of movie downloads—currently offered free for PC viewing to existing subscribers—Netflix has nearly doubled the selection of titles from 5,000 at the end of 2007, to roughly 9,000 now. This rapid expansion means that costs to build-out the online channel are rising, Friedland says. “Netflix indicated that it eventually plans to charge for its online instant viewing service, but we expect it to remain free until the number of digital titles increases and a number of Netflix-to-TV devices become available,” he wrote. Netflix plans to release a set-top box made by South Korea’s LG Electronics later this year, and similar partnerships with other consumer electronics companies are expected.

 

Tags: blockbuster, blu-ray, dvd, movie, netflix, rentals

The ever beautiful Jennifer Aniston seems to be getting a great deal of attention during her time in Miami shooting for her upcoming film Marley and Me.  It appears she She one of the very best from her itsy bitsy teeny weenie bikini collection so she could soak up a few rays during some down time.  
Tags: bikini, jennifer aniston, marley and me, miami

I know what you’re thinking: “Two Pamela Anderson posts in one day? Is it my birthday?” No, and you were an accident. It’s just proof that I know how to journal the ism like Gamera on crack. Here’s photos of Pamela Anderson spending Easter with her ex Tommy Lee and their son who has a name, but who cares, my gosh look at that rack. I dunno if Pamela is wearing a towel or a sheet or what, but I’m campaigning to make it illegal for her to wear anything else.