...The price tag for 3D glasses is no laughing matter — studios can spend $5 million to $10 million worldwide for a tentpole, but most of the cost is incurred in the North American marketplace (studios pay after the fact, based on how many glasses were actually used). Sony has two high-profile 3D tentpoles headed to theaters next summer — Men in Black III and The Amazing Spider-Man. Glasses for smaller films can cost $1.5 million to $2 million. Translated, 3D glasses account for about 50 cents of a theater ticket.
So a lot of people - theater owners in particular - are upset because SONY announced that they wouldn't pay for 3D glasses beginning next May, right when the summer movie season kicks off. I think everyone's looking at this the wrong way, though. What about SONY's needs? I mean, $5-10 million may not seem like a lot for a major movie studio/entertainment empire, but times are tough! Besides, when you consider some of the things SONY can put that extra money towards, why, a child could see how useful it can be in the long run. Just look at some of these examples of what SONY could do with the money they'll save:
- They can buy every copy of the original Swedish version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo movie and lock them in a vault. Because no one watches foreign movies, and anyway, the new version is AMERICAN, automatically making it the definitive one. Any leftover money will go towards the monsoon of advertising and more piercings for Rooney Mara.
- They can take out full-page ads in every major newspaper and banner ads on every major movie website apologizing for Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star. Because when you can't find a single film critic anywhere who liked this turd, you need to go around with a bag over your head at the very least. Not that "star" Nick Swardson will admit to any culpability.
- They can launch an Oscar campaign for Attack the Block. Only half-joking here, but some people don't think it's such a crazy idea.
- They can pay for Beyonce's baby shower. And since it'll be open by then, they can hold the baby's first birthday party at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
- They can invest the money into finally developing a virtual reality Playstation. Have you seen some of the video games they have in Japan that never make it over here? It's mind-boggling. We need to take the next step.
Further suggestions are welcome as always.
Maybe this will put an end to the 3D binge and movie studios will become wiser about what movies they will decide to release in the format! One can only hope...
ReplyDeleteHard to say for sure. 'Lion King 3D' has done very well, and there are gonna be more re-releases in 3D coming soon. Still, it's a long way to go between now and next May. The theater owners and SONY could come to some kind of deal.
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