Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Why the movie business is in trouble

Газета


(Link to the article on Variety's site, with all charts and graphics. Link to PDF version of article.)

This is a long text, and we suggest that you concentrate mostly on the first half of the article, before the author gets into details about the negotiations with specific companies and studios. The last couple of paragraphs are also important.

Here are some questions for discussion:
  1. Overall, what does this article seek to provide the reader?
  2. How does the author organize his analysis? What are the major elements, and how does he arrange them?
  3. What are the two major challenges facing the film industry?
  4. Who are the two “sides” mentioned on page two, second column (“At the very least the two sides are talking.”) Why are their interests supposedly in conflict?
  5. Do you have personal experiences or observations concerning this analysis?
  6. What argument or insight will you remember from this article after you have forgotten the details?
  7. Who is the author’s intended audience?
Which of these words and expressions are new to you?

scared stiff
to usher in
to dazzle
cavernous
to scramble (intrans.)
existential dread
exhibitor
to release
debut
to come to pass
shakeup
windfall
to pull it off
antiquated
to choreograph
“cover my ass”
Zeitgeist
underpinnings
smart money
to be put off
to dry up
slate financing
player
virtual reality
box office
mogul
sprawling
tax credit

to greenlight
bottom line
grand bargain
to fade
to prop up
to condition
impulse buy
to tinker (with)
to kibosh
to wade (into)
on demand, on-demand
exhibition chain
stiff spine
to interface (with)
screen count
to hit
to cannibalize
thorny
myriad
to grandfather
to invite to the table
to differentiate
gargantuan
to reboot
dicey
diminishing returns
tentpole
to snap up



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