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May 23, 2006
New York Times Editors Staying Away From Positive Box Office Stories In Droves
The New York Times couldn't be bothered to write a story on the success of The Da Vinci Code last weekend. They did pick up a Reuters and an International Herald Tribune wire stories.
This just continues the record-shattering 29 week slump in box office reporting (aside from Arts, Briefly) in the New York Times, from Oct 8, 2005's reporting of the absurdly off-the-mark OTX study, entitled "Study Finds Young Men Attending Fewer Films" until May 8, 2006's "New 'Mission' Opens Weaker Than Expected."
There were two "up" weeks in those 29 weeks. After months of "slump" reporting, Lorne Manly wrote, "Doing the Hollywood Math: What Slump?" on Dec 11. This was followed by Sharon Waxman, who took a moment to write "A Good, but Not Great Start For Kong" on Dec 19, 2005.
But after that, nothing all winter and spring, as the box office trended up.
This phenomenon could be explained by a BSX study that shows that middle aged editors don't like going to the movies anymore and don't want to edit any stories that show that exhibition is back up this year and that Home Entertainment is now "inexplicably" slumping.
Fortunately, Ms. Waxman and her editors did find the time to question the release strategy of The Da Vinci Code just one week ago. If the BSX figures are right, don’t expect a NYT story about just how right Team Sony was in their strategy.
And what will it take to get The Paper of Record to write a story about the box office year trending up? Maybe they’ll wake up and smell the Pirates. Or maybe they’ll just wait for another film they can paint as disappointing before they break the ongoing slump.
(And on a side note, as of noon on Monday, The Drudge Report as gotten out of the Da Vinci Code business... not only no new info, but the weekend's hyperactive links to Nikki Finke & Box Office Mojo are gone. Did someone send out a memo?)
Posted by poland at May 23, 2006 01:16 PM
Comments
LOL. I guess the Times thinks sinking ships sell but rising tides do not. Who wants to read that rich Hollywood studios are doing well? We want to hear about boardroom bloodbaths, executive head-chopping and preening stars losing their backend. Don't give us this "strong sudio growth" BS. We want budget slashing and weeping studio heads!!
Posted by: Wrecktum ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.mcnblogs.com/thehotblog/nav-commenters.gif)
at May 23, 2006 02:01 PM
They need more column inches to inspect Hilary Clinton's knickers.
Posted by: prideray at May 23, 2006 02:40 PM
For whatever it is worth, the NYT also did not report on any of the positive BO for The Passion as I seem to recall.
DaVinci is a hit but I think a lot of the curiosity on a media level now has dwindled.
It is performing at the level of a huge summer blockbuster but not at the level of a meta-blockbuster such as a LOTR, Spiderman, Pirates, Passion etc. (at least in domestic)
Hence, some of the reporting falling off is somewhat expected with X-3 around the pike.
Posted by: Nicol D at May 24, 2006 09:16 AM
I would say, if you are going to write about the "mysterious missing screnings," you are responsible to write about the success that comes as a result... or doesn't... but do the story.
Same with "The Slump." If you are going to write weekly abuot how bad things are, the message when things improve is only fair. To only write box office when things sucks, sucks.
Posted by: David Poland at May 24, 2006 10:40 AM
Writing about the one cat in the tree is more interesting than the twenty cats on the ground. That's how all of journalism works.
In fact, if DVC had found huge, record-breaking success, they surely would have written about it. But they're only going to publish a story when something is out of the ordinary, and DVC's big-but-not-unprecedented opening was expected by everyone.
...well, almost everyone. ;-)
Posted by: Eric at May 24, 2006 01:36 PM
They need more column inches to inspect Hilary Clinton's knickers.
Or more space to run the latest U.S. government fantasies about Iran.
DVC's big-but-not-unprecedented opening was expected by everyone.
The Newark Star-Ledger had such a story on Monday. Their resident Film Snob wrote the piece and used only one source (the industry hack who's always quoted by AP).
Posted by: Chucky in Jersey at May 24, 2006 04:41 PM
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