LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Big Screen Entertainment (OTC:BSEG), bigscreenentgroup.com, has announced its investment in The Intimacy Coordinator, a striking new short film recently spotlighted in Variety. BSEG Chief Executive Kimberley Kates will serve as Executive Producer on the project, which begins shooting shortly. The film dives into the shadowy world of intimacy coordination on film sets, reimagined through a tense and unsettling psychological thriller filled with unexpected twists. Le. ...

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Director Scarlett Johansson on the set of her "Eleanor the Great" film.Sony Pictures Classics“I am taking a little bit of time to have some perspective to understand, not only what is going to be fulfilling for me as an artist, but also what audiences want to see - how audiences want to watch movies.” That is how today’s top movie star Scarlett Johansson feels about her ever-evolving Hollywood career. Starting out in the business at a rather young age, she has remained a consistent box office draw - from he ...

Group 1 - The National Day film market is bustling with 14 films scheduled for release, but the pre-sale box office is disappointing, only reaching 750 million+ as of September 24 [1][5] - The pre-sale box office for the National Day period is only 768 million, with the top three films being "Assassination Novelist 2," "Three Kingdoms: The First Sky," and "Volunteers: Blood and Peace" [5][12] - The competition among the films is intense, but the overall market performance is lackluster, indicating a potentially bleak outcome for the National Day box office [12][13] Group 2 - The films scheduled for National Day showcase a diverse range of genres, moving away from a focus on patriotic themes, with only one war film present [3][17] - Major film companies such as Huace, Light Media, and China Film are involved, which enhances the quality and marketing of the films [3][4] - The audience's interest appears low, with many viewers still hesitant to commit to watching films, influenced by both the films' appeal and competing entertainment options [14][16] Group 3 - "Assassination Novelist 2" is positioned as a strong contender for box office success due to its established IP and star-studded cast [5][10] - "Three Kingdoms: The First Sky" is the first officially announced animated film based on the Three Kingdoms, but it may face challenges in attracting a broad audience [8][10] - The only patriotic film, "Volunteers: Blood and Peace," has some market potential but may struggle due to the declining interest in such themes [10][13] Group 4 - The National Day holiday coincides with various outdoor events, such as music festivals, which may divert potential moviegoers [16] - Historical trends suggest that pre-sale figures do not always predict final box office performance, as seen in previous successful films that gained traction post-release [16][17] - The overall sentiment indicates that despite a rich variety of films, the current audience engagement is low, and the market outlook for the National Day box office remains uncertain [17]

Group 1 - The National Day film market will feature 13 new films and 1 re-release, with a diverse range of genres including war history, fantasy, comedy, animation, and crime, indicating a trend towards audience segmentation and personalized consumption [1] - The overall trend for this year's National Day film market suggests that high-quality films will outperform star-studded blockbusters, reflecting a shift in audience preferences towards quality and reputation [1][2] - The competition for box office leadership is expected to be between "The Volunteer Army: Blood and Peace" and "Assassination of the Novelist 2," with the animated film "The Stars of the Three Kingdoms: Part One" also having a chance to compete due to its strong IP [1][3] Group 2 - "The Volunteer Army: Blood and Peace" is the concluding chapter of Chen Kaige's trilogy, focusing on the Korean War's fifth campaign and the subsequent peace negotiations, featuring a dual narrative structure of military and diplomatic battles [2] - "Assassination of the Novelist 2" returns after four years, with a new story that diverges from the original, featuring advanced production techniques and a significant number of visual effects [3] - "The Stars of the Three Kingdoms: Part One" is the first animated film based on the Three Kingdoms IP, aiming for a series development and emphasizing historical accuracy with the involvement of scholar Yi Zhongtian [4] Group 3 - Comedy films are essential for the National Day box office, with a notable increase in family viewing demand, particularly among audiences aged 35 and above [5] - The comedy lineup includes "Panda Plan 2," "Life of a Dog," and "The Proof of Bi Zhengming," each targeting family audiences with unique storylines and humor [5] - The animated film market is also competitive, with titles like "The Stars of the Three Kingdoms: Part One" and "Extreme City" appealing to younger audiences and families [6] Group 4 - "Thunderous" is a crime drama that follows a deaf lawyer involved in a fraud case, utilizing sign language and low-frequency sound effects to enhance the viewing experience for audiences [7]

Italian actress and star of The Leopard Claudia Cardinale dies aged 87 https://t.co/4xVJXVZZeN ...

Core Insights - The North American box office experienced a significant slowdown after a strong September, with overall ticket sales down nearly 50% from the previous weekend [2][5] Box Office Performance - "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle" led the box office with $17.3 million, bringing its total to $104.7 million, making it the highest-grossing anime film in North America [2][10] - The new horror film "Him" opened in second place with an estimated $13.5 million, while "The Conjuring: Last Rites" earned $13 million in its third weekend, reaching a global total of $400 million [3][4][10] - The horror genre has generated $1.1 billion in domestic box office receipts this year, approaching the 2017 record [5] Audience Reception - "Him" received poor reviews, with a 29% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a C- CinemaScore from audiences, indicating a lack of interest despite its promising premise [4][6] - "A Big Bold Beautiful Journey," another new release, earned only $3.5 million and also received negative reviews, with a 37% rating on Rotten Tomatoes [5][10] Upcoming Releases - Anticipation surrounds the new Paul Thomas Anderson film "One Battle After Another," while AMC Theaters is set to host a release party for Taylor Swift's album, showcasing diverse cinema experiences [7][8]

Summary of the Conference Call on China Interactive Media & Entertainment Industry Overview - The focus is on the Chinese film industry, particularly the upcoming National Holiday box office performance during the 8-day holiday from October 1 to October 8, 2025 - A total of 11 movies are confirmed for release, compared to 8 movies in the previous year, indicating a growth in content availability Key Companies Mentioned - **Maoyan Entertainment**: Expected to benefit significantly from the holiday box office due to its involvement in the top four popular movies - **Enlight Media**: Set to release "Three Kingdoms" during the holiday - **Damai Entertainment**: Participated in "The Volunteers" and "Sons of the Neon Night" Core Insights and Arguments - The projected box office for the National Holiday is estimated to be between RMB 2.2 billion and RMB 2.5 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 5% to 19% [1][2] - Maoyan is positioned to capture market share in movie distribution, especially as the market rebounds [1] - The previous year's box office during the National Holiday was RMB 2.1 billion, which was a decline of 23% year-on-year, primarily due to a lack of major blockbusters [2][4] - The average ticket price is expected to decline year-on-year, similar to trends observed during the summer holiday, but potential subsidies from local governments may support movie consumption [2] Movie Pipeline and Popularity - The top four movies by Maoyan's popularity index include: 1. "A Writer's Odyssey 2" 2. "Panda Plan 2" 3. "The Volunteers" 4. "Row to Win" - Maoyan is a key producer/distributor for all four movies, indicating strong involvement in high-potential content [2][5] Financial Projections and Valuations - **Enlight Media**: Target price set at RMB 23.0 based on a P/E ratio of 28x for FY2025E EPS, reflecting a re-rating in the media sector [7] - **Damai Entertainment**: Target price of HK$1.4 based on a sum of the parts valuation, assuming a 40% net margin [9] - **Maoyan Entertainment**: Target price of HK$9.30 based on a P/E of 14x for FY2026E adjusted EPS, reflecting growth momentum [13] Risks Identified - **Enlight Media**: High risk rating due to potential box office performance falling below expectations, integration issues, and competition in TV variety shows [8] - **Damai Entertainment**: Risks include market share pressure, softer movie content performance, and intensified competition in ticketing [12] - **Maoyan Entertainment**: Risks include worse-than-expected box office results, tightening regulations, and reliance on strategic shareholders for traffic [14] Additional Insights - The increase in the number of movies released during the National Holiday suggests a recovery in the film industry, which could lead to improved box office performance compared to the previous year [2] - The participation of major players like Maoyan in popular films positions them favorably for capturing market share as consumer interest in cinema potentially rebounds [1][2]

Box Office Performance - "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle" opened at No. 1 in North American theaters with $70.6 million in ticket sales from 3,315 venues during the weekend of Sept. 12-14 [3] - The film is projected to earn an additional $17.3 million in its second weekend, bringing the North American box office total to $104.7 million [3] - The film has achieved a worldwide box office total of $555 million, with nearly $450.3 million coming from international markets [4] Upcoming Releases - "Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc" is set to be released in theaters on Oct. 25, distributed by Crunchyroll/Sony Pictures Entertainment [5] - The film continues the popular anime series and features Denji, a Devil Hunter, in a new adventure [5][6] - "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle" is the first in a trilogy, indicating further potential for sequels and continued audience engagement [4]

Core Insights - The total box office for September 2025 has surpassed 2 billion, marking a significant milestone in the Chinese film industry [1] - The films "731," "Chasing the Wind," and "Little Monster of Langlang Mountain" are the top three earners for the month [1] - "731" has achieved a total box office of over 1.078 billion within just four days of its release, including pre-sales [1] - "731" has set two records in Chinese film history, becoming the champion for both single-day total screenings and premiere day total screenings [1]