Hollywood
China fuels record global box-office revenue in 2014: MPAA
MUMBAI: China’s fillip in ticket sales saw the Hollywood box office touching a new high in 2014.
The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA) released its annual Theatrical Market Statistics Report for 2014, which shows that global box office receipts for all films released around the world reached $36.4 billion in 2014, an increase of one per cent over the previous record in 2013.
Growth continued to be driven by a dramatic expansion in the Asia Pacific region, which was up by 12 per cent overall, including China, which jumped 34 per cent and became the first international market to exceed $4 billion in box office ($4.8 billion total). The global growth occurred despite a drop in the US/Canada box office, which at $10.4 billion was down five per cent.
“In the past few years, more people than ever before around the world are going to their local cinemas to see movies made by filmmakers in the United States and all around the globe. This is not just an American story of success, but a worldwide story about the value of craft, creativity and the importance of a story well told. We tell stories that transcend borders and transform individual experiences into shared ones. 2014 was a strong year, and 2015 is starting out tremendously, with box office in the US/Canada up 11 per cent in the first two months of this year,” said MPAA chairman and CEO Senator Chris Dodd.
Additionally, the report showed that films released in the US/Canada by MPAA member studios increased for the first time in five years, reaching 136 in 2014. Total films and total films released by non- MPAA member studios also increased from 2013 (up seven per cent and five per cent, respectively).
In the US and Canadian marketplace, more than two-thirds of the population (68 per cent) – or 229.7 million people – went to a cinema at least once in 2014, comparable to the previous year. Frequent moviegoers who go to the cinema once a month or more continue to drive the movie industry, accounting for 51 per cent of all tickets sold.
Hollywood
David Zaslav could net up to $887m as Warner Bros Discovery sells up
Media mogul strikes gold as Paramount Skydance deal triggers massive windfall
NEW YORK: While the average office worker might hope for a nice clock and a round of applause upon leaving, David Zaslav is looking at a slightly more substantial parting gift. The chief executive officer of Warner Bros Discovery is positioned to receive a windfall of up to $887 million following the company’s blockbuster $110 billion sale to Paramount Skydance.
In a twist of corporate fate that feels scripted for the big screen, the deal marks the finale of a high-stakes bidding war. It comes after Netflix, once the frontrunner, decided to exit stage left and abandon its pursuit of the HBO Max parent company.
While most people receive a standard final paycheck, the filing released on Monday suggests Zaslav’s exit package is built a little differently. If the deal closes as expected in the third quarter of 2026, the numbers break down like this:
The cash out: A severance package of $34.2 million, covering his salary and bonuses.
The equity: $115.8 million in vested shares he already owns.
The future fortune: A massive $517.2 million in unvested share awards, essentially “future stock” that turns into real money the moment the ink dries on the merger.
Perhaps the most eye-catching figure is the $335 million earmarked for tax reimbursements. However, this particular pot of gold has an expiration date.
The company noted that these reimbursements are tied to specific tax-code rules that significantly decline as time passes. If the deal hits a snag and drags into 2027, that tax payout drops to zero. With hundreds of millions on the line, the chief executive officer likely has every incentive to ensure the closing process moves at double-speed.
