Aug 30, 2014

The accountants in Hollywood don’t have to believe in heaven to notice the box office numbers on recent movies with religious themes. “Heaven Is for Real” opened in the days before Easter and grossed more than $22 million, coming in second for the weekend, just $3 million behind the latest “Captain America” blockbuster. The movie’s per-screen average – $8,895 – was far above the rest of the top five. “Heaven Is for Real,” like many movies, is based on a best-selling book. It’s a real-life story about 4-year-old Colton Burpo and his visions of heaven after an emergency surgery in 2003. Within three weeks of its November 2010 release, the book debuted at No. 3 on the New York Times best-seller list. Eventually, it made its way to No. 1. Box Office Mojo reported, “Sony targeted their marketing towards Christian audiences, and placed an emphasis on calling ahead for group ticket sales.” Stop the presses. Breaking news. There is a Christian audience, and it has wallets that open. This has happened repeatedly this year. It happened in mid-March, when “God’s Not Dead” opened at No. 4 with a $9 million gross, and then surprised the ticket-watchers by persistently drawing an audience, as it now approaches $50 million at the box office. This comes despite film critics trashing it, and one insisting, “Even by the rather lax standards of the Christian film industry, ‘God’s Not Dead’ is a disaster.” This was not a studio movie, but a production of the Arizona-based Christian company Pure Flix. At the center of the plot is a debate between a college philosophy professor and a freshman student over the existence of God. No, it’s not your usual popcorn fare, but there is an audience that surely enjoys the rare occasion of a script strongly striking back at Richard Dawkins and Charles Darwin, offering rebuttal to the usual atheist arrogance of most pop culture products. Interestingly, there is also this: In the corners of the plot are several Christian product placements — appearances testifying to Jesus by “Duck Dynasty” stars Willie and Korie Robertson, and the Christian-rock band, the Newsboys. Jesus sells. One can easily see how the word of...

Aug 19, 2013

While part of Hollywood focus their attention on big budget, graphic, violent films and TV shows, many Hollywood stars are switching to more wholesome films, and they think that viewers agree. Andie MacDowell, star of numerous films like Groundhog Day and Four Weddings and A Funeral, has just signed on with the Hallmark Channel for an original television series. The truth is, heartwarming, wholesome stories with a message are outperforming violent films, and playing those kind of roles, frankly make them personally feel good. Which is not to suggest that One Lousy Angel will be a Hallmark movie, but it fits the model of Hallmark, Disney, and a lot of bankable stars, and a large audience share that is easy to reach through the Internet with today’s technology. Read...

Aug 19, 2013

Empowered Films is about to select one of several casting agents who have worked with virtually all of the actors who would be suitable for leading roles in the upcoming film, One Lousy Angel. Empowered is looking for the type of actor, and director, who they feel would fit this project – actors who are loved by the film’s target audience, and who are felt to share the same core values. Although a final decision has not been made at this time, the producers at Empowered Films already have a short list of stars, and a few directors in mind who would make this...

Aug 19, 2013

Location scouting has begun for Empowered Films’ production of One Lousy Angel.  The original screenplay was set in Kentucky, where The American Saddlebred was developed as a horse breed from the United States, descended from riding-type horses bred at the time of the American Revolution. The film centers around a young girl who, at age 13, has lost almost everything that matters to her. She knows she can’t get her mother back, who died when Fay was eight, or their family farm that was foreclosed on. But maybe life will be better if she can find her beloved horse, Cinder. Fay’s father had to sell the American Saddlebred along with the rest of their possessions at auction. Interestingly, the breed is a part of film history. Many film and television horses of the Golden Age of Hollywood were also Saddlebreds, including the horses used in lead roles in My Friend Flicka, National Velvet, Fury and one version of Black Beauty. A half-Saddlebred played the lead role in the TV series Mr. Ed, and a Saddlebred was used in a prominent role in Giant. Empowered Films is currently weighing the overall aesthetics of the Kentucky locations against production costs, as well as incentives offered by states competing for film...

Aug 19, 2013

Empowered Films has optioned an original screenplay titled One Lousy Angel, written by Joel Kauffmann, whose prior scripts were produced for the Disney Channel. One Lousy Angel was chosen by Empowered Films for its high entertainment and inspirational family values, with elements reminiscent of It’s A Wonderful Life, Black Beauty, and War Horse. The film will capitalize on both the mainstream audience for coming of age drama, as well as the core audience that supports films with American family values. The film has many elements which have proven to draw both of these core audiences. Empowered Films has the funds required for project development committed to the project, and has begun project...

Aug 18, 2013

Empowered Films is an independent motion picture and television production company organized by a production and distribution team with successful track records in both studio and independent film and television production. The Company’s operating philosophy and distribution strategy center around the increase in filmed entertainment revenues being projected as a result of the growth of the Internet, and the creation of numerous avenues through which films can be distributed to a wider audience than ever before. These projections highlight the need for media and entertainment companies in the digital age to create content that can be made available on multiple platforms, which in turn create multiple opportunities for monetization. Nearly 60% of the worldwide industry growth over the next five years is predicted to be driven by digital products and services. Empowered’s strategy is to independently produce and distribute lower budget, commercially-viable feature films, whose value can produce revenues for its partners over many years through all means of distribution. Empowered expects to achieve its goals due to its management and production team’s vast network of contacts and relationships at the highest level of the motion picture industry. Their team and its co-production partners’ films have been backed and distributed by virtually every major entertainment company in the industry, which should increase its ability to attract stars and directors with greater name recognition, which will increase the financial feasibility and the probability of success of any film or television...

Aug 18, 2013

The film industry has changed. But except for some great classic films, the industry itself is changing for the better. The demand for filmed entertainment is projected to grow at an accelerated rate over at least the next 5 years. PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) film industry statistics, provided in their annual Global Entertainment and Media Outlook, offer a consistent, comprehensive online source of global analysis for consumer/end-user and advertising spending. The 2011-2015 PwC Entertainment and Media Outlook projects the following: Filmed Entertainment will grow from $36.8 billion in 2011 to $45.7 billion in 2015. Video-on-demand (VOD) spending will pass pay-per-view in 2011 and reach $4.7 billion in 2015, a 9.8% compound annual increase from $2.9 billion in 2010. From 2011-2015, aggregate Entertainment and Media global spending will rise to $1.9 trillion in 2015, a 5.7% compound annual advance driven by economic growth. These substantial projected increases in filmed entertainment revenues are the result of the growth of the Internet, and the creation of numerous avenues through which filmed entertainment and other media can be distributed to a wider audience than has ever been possible before. In the PwC statistics, the filmed entertainment market consists of consumer spending at the box office for theatrical motion pictures, plus spending on rentals of videos at video stores and other retail outlets (the in-store rental market) and the purchase of home video products in retail outlets and through online stores (the sell-through market). It also includes online film rental subscription services, such as those in which physical DVDs are delivered via overnight mail, and streaming services whereby films are downloaded via a broadband Internet connection. The figures, however, do not include video-on-demand, pay-per-view, or movie distribution by cable, satellite, or telephone companies. Nor do they include “ancillary” revenues earned by cinemas, such as cinema advertising and sales of beverages and refreshments. As far as the filmed entertainment global market is concerned, PwC expects overall positive growth, with revenues expected to increase at a 4.8% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR), reaching $108 billion in 2014. These projections highlight a growing need for media and entertainment companies in the ‘new’ digital age to create content that can be made available on multiple...

Aug 18, 2013

Although Empowered Films can provide film and video services for any corporate, commercial, industrial or training product or project, we focus on this website on the four basic stages involved in the production of motion pictures: project development, project financing, film production, and film distribution. Project Development In the development process, a literary property is acquired or optioned or a writer engaged to finalize a screenplay, sufficiently detailed to provide enough information to estimate the cost of production. A director and key actors will normally be contacted about the project to determine their interest and availability, and in some cases will be engaged during the development process. Project Financing Although one of the key elements of Empowered Film’s services and production capability is financing, the second basic stage of production is Pre-Production. In Pre-Production, the actors and production personnel not chosen during the development stage are selected and contracted, the budget finalized, shooting schedules prepared, locations and other logistical matters determined, and most important, the necessary project financing is secured. In addition to private investment, distribution and pre-sales are typically a project element accomplished by Empowered during Project Development and Pre-Production, in order to secure film financing. Film Production Production usually begins with rehearsals just prior to the beginning of Principal Photography, the actual filming of the motion picture. Principal Photography usually lasts from four weeks to three months, depending on the film. Film Distribution Again, although one of the vital elements of our services and production capability is distribution, the fourth basic stage of production is Post-Production. Post-Production includes editing and soundtrack synchronization, as well as the addition of optical effects and titles.  The completion of this process yields the final edited negative, which is used to create release prints for theatrical exhibition and masters for home video/DVD and other electronic delivery methods and uses. Also in the post-production phase, materials that are to be used in the distribution process are prepared. Finally, project marketing, film distribution, and the negotiation and sale of other ancillary rights is finalized. Production Services during the Project Development, Financing, Film Production, and Distribution phases of each project include the following project services and elements: Aquisition of Literary Property/Screenplay Prepare Production Budget and Schedule...