Although the numbers are a little below predictions, there was nothing small about Marvel’s Ant-Man and The Wasp’s weekend gross as the sequel did rake in $76.5 million at the domestic box office. This is still 33% higher than the original back in 2015. Globally, Peyton Reed’s film currently sits at $161 million. This all … Continue reading “‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ give Marvel 20 #1 consecutive debuts”
Chomp. Chomp. Chomp. Chomp. That’s the sound of Universal Pictures’ and Amblin Entertainment’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom eating up initial box office predictions and digesting $150 million last weekend. The franchise, showing no sign of extinction, completely dominated even though critical reception was mixed, earning a 50% splat on Rotten Tomatoes. However, audiences enthusiastically went … Continue reading “‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ chomps up box office”
Incredible. That’s the only way to describe what Disney-Pixar’s 14-year-old-in-the-making superhero sequel did to the domestic and worldwide box office this weekend. Early estimates had predicted an opening weekend between $160 and $170 million (up from the original conservative estimate of $140M), which still would’ve been enough to overtake 2016’s Finding Dory ($135M) for highest … Continue reading “‘Incredibles 2’ shatters box office estimates with incredible $180m opening”
The Sandra Bullock-led Ocean’s 8 pulled off the biggest job of all – setting a new bar as the Gary Ross female-led film had the biggest opening of any of the Ocean’s films. The film topped the box office this weekend with $41.6 million over its Fri-Sun debut. That’s both the biggest weekend gross ever … Continue reading “‘Ocean’s 8’ sets new benchmark for franchise with record domestic opening”
The numbers for Solo: A Star Wars Story were well… not force-worthy. The film is now projected to make $29.3 million this weekend, a 64 percent drop from its $84.7 million launch. The REEL360 team can hear Chewie crying. This amount would push the 10-day total for “Solo” up to $148.9 million, according to comScore, … Continue reading “New low for ‘Solo’ as new ‘Star Wars’ film crashes”
Best in Show presented to Editor Jim Haygood of Union Editorial for Taco Bell’s Web of Fries, making him the show’s most-awarded winner. (Culver City — 10 May 2018) Editor Jim Haygood of Union Editorial won the Best in Show at tonight’s 2018 AICE Awards for excellence in the post production arts. Haygood was … Continue reading “AICE Awards — 2018 winners”
A while back, a guest writer on AdAge, Lauren Warner, took some heat for an essay she wrote about the briefing process. Among other things, she claimed one should address “creatives on your shop’s team like they’re in kindergarten.” Others may have been offended, but the story made me smile. I recall an evening spent … Continue reading “Steffan Postaer on connecting to the inner-fantastic”
(LOS ANGELES – 02 May 2018) Following the show’s recent season-two premiere, HBO has renewed the Emmy®-winning drama series Westworld for a third season, it was announced today by Casey Bloys, president, HBO Programming. “It’s been an extraordinary pleasure to work with the exceptionally talented Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, as well as their gifted … Continue reading “HBO renews “Westworld” for a third season”
(Los Angeles — 24 April 2018) ThinkLA has announced the finalists for the 2018 IDEA Awards. For the eighth year, the association celebrates Southern California’s advertising, marketing, and media superstars and pay tribute to Los Angeles as a hotbed of creativity and brand building. Over the past few months, hundreds of submissions were received from … Continue reading “ThinkLA announces 2018 IDEA awards finalists”
Attorney Jay B. Ross passed away on March 1. A beloved member of Chicago’s media community, Ross’s former client list reads like a who’s who of American music. James Brown, Ray Charles, Muddy Waters, Woody Guthrie, Jerry “The Iceman” Butler, Koko Taylor, Albertina Walker, and Willie Dixon were among the legends who relied on his … Continue reading “Tribute to a legend: Jay B. Ross, Entertainment Lawyer”
CAA’s Geoff Edwards to helm R/GA Ad Age reports that Geoff Edwards, co-creator of peace coalition Saturday Morning and former CAA Marketing co-head of creative, has joined R/GA as VP Executive Creative Director of LA. Edwards, who spent a good deal of time in Chicago at DDB, FCB and Element79, is said to have a … Continue reading “Geoff Edwards tops busy week of moves in LA”
The Colonie has promoted and hired several employees to accommodate a surge in broadcast and social media work that began in 2017, according to a press release issued today. “There’s been an increase in commercial and social media projects, as well as integrated broadcast and online campaigns,” explains Mary Caddy, Executive Producer and Partner. “The … Continue reading “Yearlong spike in business fuels expansion at The Colonie”
SAG Awards tee up “Three Billboards” for Oscar run Sunday night, the SAG Awards made it very clear that Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is a frontrunner for the Oscars. Chicago-born Frances McDormand was named Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Motion Picture. In the film, McDormand portrays Mildred Hayes, a distraught mother … Continue reading “SAG Awards, PGA Awards, Midnight Oil, Halo in the news”
United Airlines’ new advertising campaign for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic team is a fantastic combination of marketing, production, and support. Superheroes, created by mcgarrybowen’s New York office, celebrates the efforts of six employees and six athletes who will help the U.S. travel to and compete in the 2018 Winter Games, beginning on February 9 … Continue reading “United debuts Olympic / Paralympic campaign”
As social media has grown in relevance, so has the cacophony of voices supporting or disapproving their favorite films and TV series. A scroll through various YouTube videos of Star Wars: The Last Jedi shows how extreme the love and hate for the film has become. In that spirit, Justice League fans have mounted online … Continue reading “YouTuber demands ‘Justice’ for Zack Snyder fans”
The 50th annual American Film Institute Festival came to a resounding close last Thursday night with a moving tribute at The Chinese Theater for writer/director Aaron Sorkin and his new (and directorial debut) film, Molly’s Game. AFI programming director, Jacqueline Lyanga, kicked off the tribute with a moving speech. “As Sorkin embarks on this next … Continue reading “AFI Closes with tribute to Aaron Sorkin”
Last July, we reported that Chicago agency O’Keefe Reinhard & Paul had won an assignment from Dallas-based Chili’s. Well, the agency, and the baby back ribs, are back with a twist. OKRP has updated the classic Chili’s jingle — “I want my baby back, baby back, baby back…” — to include menu items that made … Continue reading “OKRP serves up first new work for Chili’s”
Over the second weekend of the month, more than one million Destiny 2 players conducted virtual warfare inside an audiovisual theater that was built with help from NoiseFloor Ltd. The Chicago-based company handled sound design and mixing for the game’s Bellevue, WA-based developer, Bungie. A first-person shooter spectacle where players serve as one of humanity’s … Continue reading “NoiseFloor Ltd. brings AAA game to “Destiny 2””
Just when we thought we all could breathe again after the WGA and the studios and networks came to terms on a new contract, The Wrap, Variety and Hollywood Reporter all report that talks have broken down over a new three-year contract between SAG-AFTRA and the AMTMP. SAG-AFTRA’s current master contract for film and primetime TV expires June 30. The union has about 160,000 members.
Writers Guild members who voted overwhelmingly, on both coasts, to authorize a strike, now wait with baited breath as the negotiating committee meets today with AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) after talks broke down two weeks ago.
