Film Industry Struggles to Hold Steady on Shaky Ground

 

Film Industry Struggles to Hold Steady on Shaky Ground (360)
(NewsUSA) - Most associate the movie industry with red carpets and multi-million dollar paychecks. But in reality, few industry workers see large paychecks or even have full-time employment.
Major and independent studios know that they will lose money on 80 percent of the films produced. According to the Motion Picture Association of America, in 2007, the average studio movie cost $106.7 million dollars to produce and distribute, the average studio-related independent movie $74.9 million. As a result, films must generate astronomically high revenues just to break even.
Major studios rely on the "Tent Pole System," whereby the profits from one or two hits hopefully pay for all the losses. The result is that even with worldwide revenues exceeding $50 billion dollars, investors lose billions of dollars, studios teeter on the brink, independents fail at an alarming rate and survivors struggle to cover their operating budgets.
Despite the amount of money being generated and spent, those making the movies bear the brunt of the studio's faulty financial structure. For the majority of those working on films, full-time employment does not exist. A crew member typically works on one film and then becomes unemployed while searching for another job.
With the increasing globalization of the film industry, runaway production and tough economic times, even for an industry normally considered recession-proof, rampant unemployment is the norm, affecting not only Hollywood, but also the economy at large. Now, some companies are looking to revolutionize the studio structure. One of those companies, Camelot Entertainment Group, incorporates the best of the old studio system with the technology and opportunity of the 21st century.
"We can provide workforce development, full-time employment and financial transparency while delivering profitable films," says company chairman Robert Atwell. "We can create opportunities where the creative teams can unleash their talent while providing a platform for sustained economic growth. We just need to use the opportunities and tools available to change the way movies are put together, which will set the stage for Hollywood to become the dream factory for all involved, not just for the few at the top."
For more information, visit www.camelotfilms.com.

Budget-Friendly Gifts Made at Home

Budget-Friendly Gifts Made at Home (333)
(NewsUSA) - With prices on the rise, gift-giving might seem too expensive for many Americans. But there's no reason to skimp on birthdays or stop surprising loved ones with spontaneous little-somethings. With a little creativity and some craft supplies, you can create economical, pleasing gifts for anyone, no matter the occasion.
Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza (www.cathieandsteve.com), Emmy-nominated lifestyle hosts of the popular shows Creative Juice and Witch Crafts on the HGTV and DIY networks, have recently teamed up with Plaid Enterprises, Inc., a leading craft manufacturer. Together, they offer these creative and fun craft ideas which can be made from recycled materials around the house:
- Monogrammed box. Take an old wooden cigar box, use acrylic paints and Mod Podge, an all-in-one glue and sealer, which can be found at www.plaidonline.com/news, to create a personalized holder for precious keepsakes.
- Make your own cards. Instead of buying cards for your co-workers, use recycled materials to make your own. You can use Mod Podge to attach fabric or paper cut-outs to card stock for a personalized greeting.
- Decoupage picture frames. A nice photograph in a homemade frame always makes for a heartfelt gift. Using colorful scraps of paper or gift wrap and acrylic paint, turn a generic, thrift-store frame into a personalized gift that brings up good memories.
- Vintage postcard mini lamp. Find a small, old lamp with a paper shade. Create a template from its original shade and, using decorative paper, cut out your template. Apply the cutout to the original lampshade using Mod Podge. After it has dried, fasten your postcards or paper images to the shade in overlapping fashion.
- Denim wine bag. Use the leg from an old pair of jeans to make a wine bag. Embellish it with FolkArt Fabric paint for a personal touch. Give it to a hostess, complete with a bottle of wine, and you are sure to make an impression.
For additional craft tips and gift ideas or to find the latest crafting supplies, visit www.plaidonline.com/news.

Home Projects Becoming Real Entertainment

Home Projects Becoming Real Entertainment (299)
(NewsUSA) - As the recession tightens pocketbooks, Americans will begin to look for inexpensive entertainment at home. Movie ticket sales are down, DVD rentals and TV viewership are up. Libraries are enjoying increased popularity, and many people are now viewing home improvement as a form of entertainment.
Many homeowners are being drawn to landscaping, not only to improve their homes' aesthetics, but also to engage in a rewarding activity that boosts property values and creates entertainment space. With some savvy plant choices and a few accessories, Americans can turn their lawns into outdoor theaters, camping grounds or picturesque picnic spots. Outdoor grilling baskets, marshmallow forks and a firepit allow for parties and at-home camping.
Garden Artisans, a Web site that specializes in distinctive and high-quality handcrafted products, offers many ideas for creating outdoor entertaining spaces. Larger structural items, like wall trellises, can form sequestered areas for private dining or gardening. Planters, landscape lighting, ponds and outdoor sculptures can create peaceful walkways. Outdoor candle holders and windchimes can set a whimsical or romantic mood.
But gardening does more than beautify your yard -- it carries real health benefits. Gardening is a low-impact physical activity. Just a half-hour of gardening three times a week can improve health and fitness levels dramatically, and some studies suggest that working in nature decreases stress levels and improves mental clarity.
As food becomes less affordable, many families will turn to gardening to grow fresh fruits and vegetables at costs well below supermarket prices. Even a few tomato, pepper and zucchini plants can help families enjoy fresh produce through the summer. One organic pepper can cost $2.00 or more at a grocery store. For the same price, home gardeners can purchase a whole package of seeds.
For more information about landscaping or starting a garden, visit www.gardenartisans.us.

Getting Your Wiggle Back

Getting Your Wiggle Back (177)
(NewsUSA) - He's the original "Blue Wiggle," which probably makes him about the last man on earth you'd think ever suffered from clinical depression.
But that's exactly what Anthony Field, founder and co-star of the popular children's musical group The Wiggles, says was at the root of a slew of health problems that lasted years, and -- parents, brace yourselves -- threatened to end his wiggling for good.
"I was troubled by chronic back and neck pain, as well as a string of digestive and food sensitivity issues that extenuated my general ill health, fueled by clinical depression, to the point that I could no longer continue," he says.
It's what turned things around, though, that's perhaps even more surprising.
"Chiropractic care saved my career," Field proclaims.
In fact, his new book, "How I Got My Wiggle Back," describes how a certain chiropractor helped him morph from an overweight, pain-racked mess into the muscled Adonis he is today. "His turnaround has been inspirational," says Kent S. Greenawalt, chairman of the not-for-profit Foundation for Chiropractic Progress.
For more information, visit www.yes2chiropractic.com.

Film Industry Will Thrive With E-Distribution, According to Analysts

Film Industry Will Thrive With E-Distribution, According to Analysts (317)
(NewsUSA) - From backroom meetings in Hollywood to studio lots in Burbank, distribution has been the buzzword for entertainment executives.
Although it has been a long time coming, digital distribution -- the downloading and streaming of movies and television shows to consumers' computers, Internet-enabled televisions and mobile devices -- film executives have turned a somewhat blind eye to the phenom.
And this, says Peter Hoffman, CEO of Los Angeles-based Seven Arts Pictures, may be Hollywood's biggest downfall, if not undoing.
"Whether studios like it or not, consumers would now much rather stream their movies to their electronic devices than rent a DVD," said Hoffman. "We have strategically positioned Seven Arts Entertainment, both in terms of motion pictures and musical content, to deliver entertainment directly to consumers," he added.
Bolstering Hoffman's assessment of the industry is a report released last year by accounting giant PwC, which remains bullish about growth in the film industry, projecting that electronic delivery of movies by various entities such as Apple and Netflix will grow from $4.8 billion last year to $7.6 billion in 2015.
One has only to point to Microsoft as the epitome of a company that has used technology to its advantage -- and profited from it.
Even as music companies were battling piracy issues in court in the late 1990s and early 2000, Apple began slowly amassing an overwhelming presence in the digital music market via iTunes -- and movie executives should use that as a teachable moment, said Hoffman.
"The film industry needs to take note of the lessons learned by the music industry and try to foster cross-platform competition, instead of focusing on one channel of distribution," he said.
While some in Hollywood are still wrapping their heads around this new direction, others are looking at it as an opportunity and potential boon for growth, marketing and, yes, the almighty and important bottom line.
For more information, visit www.7artspictures.com.