Digital
Media FX News Archives
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Tuesday
- October 30, 2001
- DreamWorks Shrek Surprise
Fails to Materialize
- Footage From Monsters,
Inc. Premiere
- Final Weekend Box Office
Numbers - Animated / FX Films
- News Link of the Day
- Monsters Grabs With Sight Gags
DreamWorks
Shrek Surprise Fails to Materialize
(by digitalmediafx.com) DreamWorks attempts to interfere with
the box office and promotional success of Monsters, Inc.
have failed again as word leaks that a secret project with THX
has been axed at the last minute.
DreamWorks,
according to The Hollywood Reporter, convinced THX to use Shrek
characters in the THX promo that airs in theaters using the THX
sound system. Part of the deal was that the THX spot with Shrek
characters would air beginning November 2, when Monsters, Inc.
opens.
The move backfired.
"THX
had a mysterious last-minute change of heart, shelving the trailer
and igniting suspicion that Pixar and the Walt Disney Co. might
have blackballed it," reports The Hollywood Reporter.
This was DreamWorks
second attack against Pixar's Monsters, Inc. The first
was purposely releasing the Shrek 2-disc DVD on the same
day as Monsters, Inc. - November 2, 2001. Disney had a
magic bullet of its own, announcing that the first trailer for
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones would be attached to Monsters,
Inc. Further promoting Monsters, Inc. was George Lucas
with the following quote:
"I have
great respect for Pixar and deep admiration for John Lasseter
and his team. I'm thrilled to be able to show audiences their
first glimpse of Episode II with Monsters, Inc.
It gives me an immense sense of pride to see our companies working
together."
DreamWorks
has begun emulating past marketing tactics of Disney by trying
to interfere with Disney/Pixar animated releases and as a result
is beginning to earn a "bully" attitude among many in
the animation industry that was once reserved for Disney. In this
case, however, both efforts by DreamWorks have failed to draw
attention away from Monsters, Inc. which is expected to
have a huge opening this Friday amongst acclaim from movie critics,
high public interest, and the Star Wars: Episode 2 teaser.
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Footage
From Monsters, Inc. Premiere
(by digitalmediafx.com) Sunday night's Monsters, Inc.
premiere at the historic El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood went
off without a hitch as stars, Disney/Pixar management, and guests
enjoyed Pixar's latest creation.
Monsters,
Inc. opens this Friday in over 3,000 theaters nationwide.
Subscribers to the Digital Media FX newsletter will get an extensive
look at Digital Media FX coverage of Monsters, Inc. on
Thursday. To subscribe, click
here.
Click
here to view unedited footage from the Monsters,
Inc. world premiere!
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Final
Weekend Box Office Numbers - FX & Animation Movies
(by digitalmediafx.com) Final weekend box office numbers are
in and here are the results for the top animated and visual effects
movies:
Movie
|
Rank
|
Weekend
Total
|
Gain/Loss |
Overall
Total
|
Shrek
|
# 25
|
$261,875
|
-4% |
$267.0
Million
|
Waking
Life |
#
26 |
$215,506 |
142%
gain |
$368,296 |
Jurassic
Park 3 |
#
28 |
$132,225 |
-4% |
$180.4
Million |
Atlantis:
The Lost Empire
|
# 34
|
$104,651
|
-32% |
$83.7
Million
|
Planet
of the Apes |
#
35 |
$104,278 |
-29% |
$178.7
Million |
Pearl
Harbor
|
# 42
|
$63,749
|
-40% |
$198.3
Million
|
Cats
& Dogs |
#
43 |
$61,919 |
-32% |
$93.3
Million |
Dr. Doolittle
2 completed its box office run with a final total of $113 million
The gain/loss
represents the movie's performance when compared to last weekend.
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News Link
of the Day - Monsters Grabs With Sight Gags
According to USA Today:
"The
creators of Monsters, Inc. are keeping mum about whether
they will add so-called 'outtakes' to the end credits during the
theatrical run of the computer-animated comedy, opening Friday.
Disney and Pixar, the studios behind the cartoon feature about
colorful creatures who make their living by eliciting screams
from youngsters, have made the fake flub reel a trademark..."
Click
here for the full story.
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