News and Updates

Before we talk about the indie film Target Practice, I first want to recall a big-budget action picture from this past summer called The Expendables. The Expendables had a great deal going for it: major studio backing; every big-name action star of the last 30 years; several A-list actors in major roles; a multi-million dollar budget; and a huge marketing campaign. So why was the movie so flat? Perhaps because the actors were sleepwalking through their roles. Or perhaps because the film used so many clichés it was predictable from the opening scene. Or maybe I was just tired of watching overpaid actors portraying cardboard cutout characters bumbling through a lame plot while huge explosions try to pull my attention away from all the flaws in the film.

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Best known for a plethora of low-budget direct-to-video scare flicks, scream queen Tiffany Shepis (NYMPHA, NIGHTMARE MAN, THE GHOULS, TROMEO & JULIET, etc.) has now turned a corner in her career where she finds her name attached to genre films of growing quality and intelligence. Movies like the dark drama RULE OF THREE (see feature here), the Butcher Brothers’ 2010 festival hit THE VIOLENT KIND and this year’s Arizona-lensed THE FRANKENSTEIN SYNDROME. Shepis spoke to Fango about (and we got exclusive pics from) the latter mad-scientist tale, written and directed by THE GREAT AMERICAN SNUFF FILM’s Sean Tretta.

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First things first check out the new video from the Deka Bros.  Also continue reading about the upcoming BSEG management and talent division.

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From: Box Office Mojo,

For the four-day Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, Avatar pulled in an estimated $54.6 million, eclipsing Cloverfield's $46.1 million as the biggest gross the holiday period has ever seen. Debuting in second place,The Book of Eli was no slouch either, grossing an estimated $38 million four-day, which was the holiday's fourth-biggest ever. As busy as the weekend was, it couldn't match last year's MLK record, which saw five movies gross over $20 million, led by the debut of Paul Blart: Mall Cop.

Avatar hovered atop the box office for the fifth weekend in a row, the first time that's happened since The Sixth Sense back in 1999, and it racked up several other milestones in the process. Its total stands at a monumental $505.1 million in 32 days, making it the fastest picture to cross the $500 million mark. The Dark Knight did it in 45 days, while Titanic took 98 days (or 50 days adjusted for ticket price inflation). With a $42.8 million Friday-to-Sunday take, Avatar not only had the smallest decline of the weekend (15 percent), but it broke the record for highest-grossing fifth weekend, formerly held by Titanic's $30 million (though it still retains the crown in terms of attendance).

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New info about Avatar breaking Hollywood records click title to view video.  You can always see news from around Hollywood and the entertainment industry every week by using the menu on top as well.

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From Box Office Mojo

This New Year's weekend was the biggest-grossing ever, fueled by the highest gross ever posted by a single movie on the holiday. Easing ten percent, Avatar generated a whopping estimated $68.3 million, claiming the New Year's record from Meet the Fockers' $41.7 million. More importantly, it delivered the highest-grossing third weekend ever, surpassing the first Spider-Man's $45 million, and it raced past the $350 million mark in just 17 days, second only to The Dark Knight's two-week sprint.

Among 2009 releases, Avatar already ranks second to Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen' $402.1 million, which it will soon eclipse. Avatar's performance is so monumental that picture has shot up to the 15th spot on the all time chart and it's likely to give The Dark Knight and Titanic a run for their money. Avatar's costlier 3D tickets help its cause but do not diminish its achievements, and it has blown the roof off the format's previous highs. 3D presentations again accounted for 75 percent of the gross (including another estimated $8.4 million from IMAX).

On the foreign front, Avatar grossed an enormous estimated $133 million, down around 13 percent from last weekend, and its total soared to $666.7 million in just 21 days, which is the fourth biggest haul ever. Throw in domestic's $352.1 million, and the picture's worldwide take crested the billion dollar mark. With $1.02 billion, it's the fourth highest-grossing picture ever worldwide, surpassing The Dark Knight, and, in a matter of days, it will leap frog over The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest to claim second place behind Titanic's $1.84 billion.

Below Avatar business was booming as well. The Blind Side crossed the $200 million line, a remarkable feat for a sports-themed drama (or any drama for that matter), and, adjusted for ticket price inflation, only the first four Rocky movies would rate higher. For the weekend, Blind business was up ten percent to an estimated $12.7 million, and the tally is $209.1 million in 45 days.

Last weekend's big launches, Sherlock Holmes and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, continued to bustle despite slowing at a faster rate. Sherlock dipped 38 percent to an estimated $38.4 million, lifting its total to $140.7 million in ten days or more than National Treasure: Book of Secrets at the same point. Off 25 percent, Alvin churned out an estimated $36.6 million, and it sits well ahead of its predecessor: The Squeakquel has made $157.3 million in 12 days, a tally that the first Alvin and the Chipmunks took 20 days to hit.

Though not as rambunctious as Sherlock and Alvin, It's Complicated notched a solid estimated $18.7 million, down 15 percent for a potent $59.1 million total in ten days. On par with last weekend, Up in the Air continued to fare pretty well, earning an estimated $11.4 million and raising its tally to $45 million. Meanwhile, The Princess and the Frog had a slight holiday bump, up 11 percent to an estimated $10 million for an $86.1 million total.

- Brandon Gray