Why the movie business is in trouble

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(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?

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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