Thursday, July 26, 2012

MGM sets plans for IPO - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety

MGM sets plans for IPO - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety

MGM, the fabled studio that's made some folks piles of money and cost others their shirts, is heading back to the stock market -- news that left potential investors seeking clarity on MGM strategy beyond several big films and a TV library that may be mostly spoken for.
"If they really want to get back into the ranks of the major studios, they're going to need a huge infusion of capital and a rather ambitious production and distribution plan," said Larry Ulman, a partner at Gibson Dunn who specializes in entertainment finance. Gibson Dunn worked on MGM's last IPO, which raised more than $300 million in 1997. IPO proceeds, he said, could help MGM ramp up its slate, churning out the quality and perhaps quantity of pics that could put the Lion back on top. "If you were just going to continue to release a 'Bond' film and maybe a 'Hobbit,' it wouldn't make sense to go through all of that," he said.
There are likely to be more questions than answers for a while as MGM is the first entertainment company to pursue an IPO under new legislation effective in April that allows companies with under $1 billion in revenue to keep the process confidential until 21 days before a roadshow. Part of the JOBS Act (Jumpstart Our Business Startups), the legislation reduces public scrutiny and keeps key operating stats out of the hands of competitors for much of the IPO process.
The company is said to have hired Goldman Sachs as lead underwriter.

Monday, July 16, 2012

James Bond and Skyfall - Movie Looks As Expected, Trailer Sucks | Movies With Butter

James Bond and Skyfall - Movie Looks As Expected, Trailer Sucks | Movies With Butter

 The Skyfall teaser trailer to the next installment of a long movie franchise – Bond, James Bond is unimpressively annoying. It flashes couple second scenes played to annoying double gunshot “dun-dun” sounds, and ended with only 15 seconds of good Bond action. Though these couple second bits neither build plot anticipation nor excitement for the movie, it does show a high gadgetry, high tech/CGI and beautifully shot Bond movie with its core intact -- a movie full of action, explosions, gun shots and of course, beautiful seductive women. What’s a James Bond movie without the pussycats?

James Bond and Skyfall - Movie Looks As Expected, Trailer Sucks | Movies With Butter

James Bond and Skyfall - Movie Looks As Expected, Trailer Sucks | Movies With Butter

 The Skyfall teaser trailer to the next installment of a long movie franchise – Bond, James Bond is unimpressively annoying. It flashes couple second scenes played to annoying double gunshot “dun-dun” sounds, and ended with only 15 seconds of good Bond action. Though these couple second bits neither build plot anticipation nor excitement for the movie, it does show a high gadgetry, high tech/CGI and beautifully shot Bond movie with its core intact -- a movie full of action, explosions, gun shots and of course, beautiful seductive women. What’s a James Bond movie without the pussycats?