Hollywood on Thames: How the U.K. became the European home of the blockbuster

Apr 3, 2023
A generous tax break has attracted American moviemakers to the U.K., but the measure has its critics.
Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, is greeted by Chewbacca during a 2016 tour of the Star Wars sets at Pinewood studios in Iver Heath, west of London.
Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images

With the Sundance Festival finally back in person, filmmakers have high hopes for distribution deals

Jan 20, 2023
The majority of films debuting at Sundance are still in need of wide distribution. Some believe having the festival in person for the first time since 2020 will help.
Filmmaker Ebs Burnough and Sundance Institute CEO Joana Vicente speak onstage at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.
Vivien Killilea/Getty Images

Streaming has its own allure, but movie theaters still offer "a little bit of joy"

Dec 9, 2022
Between surprise hits and the push and pull of streaming, Stephanie Silverman says theaters still have lessons to learn.
Despite the convenience of streaming services, moviegoers are back at theaters.
Getty Images

The film industry needs customs brokers too

Sep 30, 2022
Olivia Van Dyke, CEO of Film Logic Customs Brokers, talks about the unique challenges of shipping the things that make movie magic happen.
"We ship camera equipment, we ship props, wardrobe, sound equipment," said Olivia Van Dyke of Film Logic Customs Brokers.
Sakis Mitrolidis/AFP via Getty Images

An independent movie theater eyes “momentum” heading into 2022

Nov 23, 2021
“It really is beginning to look — dare I say it — a little normal,” said the executive director of Nashville’s Belcourt Theatre.
“It finally feels like we might walk into 2022 and see some consistency,” said Stephanie Silverman, executive director of the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville.
Photo by Tom Gatlin, courtesy Belcourt Theatre

When studios delay films, that comes with a price tag

Nov 19, 2021
Between multiple waves of promotions and interest on financing, some films may be able to recoup the cost of delays.
"['No Time to Die' is] the third highest-grossing Bond film in history. And yet, it doesn’t seem like it’s going to reach profitability," says Chris Lee of Vulture.
Mladen Antonov /AFP via Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

The future of the Hollywood-China romance

Aug 27, 2021
Despite restrictions on imported films in China, Hollywood movies easily topped the Chinese box office for more than two decades. Not anymore.
The Chinese blockbuster "Detective Chinatown 2" was filmed in New York. Movies made in China and other countries have become very competitive with Hollywood offerings in the Chinese market.
Courtesy Mtime

Howard U hopes to "put a major dent" in Hollywood's diversity problem

Jun 1, 2021
The HBCU is naming its reestablished school of fine arts after late actor and Howard alumnus Chadwick Boseman.
Howard University has made several moves in recent years to try to make Hollywood more diverse. In 2019, it launched a partnership with Amazon Studios. Pictured: Howard President (second from left) and Amazon Studio's Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Latasha Gillespie (second from right).
Brian Stukes/Getty Images for Amazon Studios

China's movie post-production companies feel the pinch

May 19, 2021
How one visual effects and animation firm that services Hollywood and China productions is weathering the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dachang Movie Town near Beijing is where reality shows and feature films are shot.
Jennifer Pak/Marketplace