Fact Of The Day

[BoyScoutKevin]

You ask. He answers.
Someone here was asking about a book series by Ransom Riggs.
So far, there are 4 books in the series + a collection of short stories.

BK1 Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
BK2 Hollow City
BK3 Library of Souls
BK4 Map of Days
+ short story collection Tales of the Peculiar

While I have not read any of the books, I have read the graphic novels based on the books. Both BK1 and BK2 being in that format.

And if you want to see it, rather then read it, BK1 was made into a film. And while the idea was to make films based on the other books in the series, my understanding was that the 1st one did not generate enough at the box office to continue. Not seeing the film, but seeing the trailer for it, my guess was the film was altered from the book to attract a larger audience. Unfortunately, this seems not to have attracted a wider audience, but only to have alienated the book's fans.

We'll have to see whether this year's Artemis Fowl, based on the book series by Eoin Colfer, which consists so far of 8 books, does any better, as there has already been some changes in the characters. Butler is now a black man. Root is now a female elf. Though, from what little I have seen of the film so far, they did get the part of Artemis right, even if it took them 1200 auditions to do so. At least he looks like what I expect Artemis to look like.

Next time: Success at the Oscars does not equate success at the box office.

[Svengoolie 3]

Given that many peolle now walk around with 2 smart phones in their hands now (I have seen this)  smart phone makers are teaming with drone maker to make phone drones that will hover in front of their owners enabling them to use 3 smaprtphones at a time.

[ER]

James Callis drew on Neil Gaiman for inspiration in how he played Gaius Baltar, and said in many of the early scenes, he was doing his best to straight-up channel Gaiman. Gaiman was said to have been flattered.

[BoyScoutKevin]

Success at the Oscars does not = success at the box office.

"More stars than there are in the sky."
MGM
Even 50 years ago, if one would have picked the most likely movie studio to survive into this century unchanged, one would have picked MGM, except one would have been wrong. For the most part, if not totally, it has ceased to produce films. It survives now mostly by being a facilitator for other film producers.
Oscars 5

And then there were 6.
Paramount Pictures
To survive it became part and parcel of Viacom, which they became part and parcel of National Amusements.
Divisions and subsidiaries, at least, in part.
comedy central -- insurge pictures -- mtv -- mickelodeon -- republic pictures -- and maybe in the future, CBS.
Oscars 3

And then there were 5
Columbia Pictures
To survive it became part and parcel of Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Oscars 2

And then there were 4
Warner Brothers
To survive, it merged with Time, Inc., and then to further its chance of survival, it became part and parcel of AT&T.
Division and subsidiaries, at least, in part
castle rock -- the cw -- dc -- fandango media -- hbo -- machinima, inc. -- new line cinema -- tbs -- turner entertainment -- water tower music
Oscars 2

And then there were 3
Universal Pictures
To survive, it merged with NBC, and then to further its chance of survival, it became part and parcel of Comcast.
Divisions and subsidiaries, at least, in part
amblin -- dreamworks -- focus features -- gramercy pictures -- high top releasing -- illuminations -- ntl releasing -- rede television -- united international pictures -- working title films
Oscar 1

Next time: and then there were 2, minor studios, and nominations vs. wins

And since we are talking about the Oscars, if one has not watched them in the past, one may be interested in watching them this year, as they are finding it so hard to find someone to host them, apparently, the last person chose had made some homophobic remarks in the past, which made him ineligible to host this year's Oscars, that there is some talk of doing something different this year, and letting the characters from Marvel Entertainment host the Oscars.

And we will see what we will see.

[AoTFan]

The Spanish word 'esposas' means both 'handcuffs' and 'wives'

[BoyScoutKevin]

And then there were 2.
20th Century Fox

After the merger of 20th Century Pictures and Fox in the 1st half of the last century, this is the most unchanged of the major Hollywood studios going into this century, when it saw the writing of the wall and merged with the Walt Disney Company.

Divisions and subsidiaries, at least, in part.
Blue Sky Studios -- New Regency Productions
Oscars 4


And then there was 1.
Walt Disney Company

Which started out, less than a century ago, as 2 brothers making black-and-white, silent cartoons in the uncle's garage in L.A.

Divisions and subsidiaries, at least, in part.
A and E Network -- ABC -- BAMTech -- ESPN -- Hulu -- Lucas Films -- Marvel Entertainment -- The Muppet Studio -- Pixar.
0 Oscars

It has also morphed into one of the most dominant studios in Hollywood. We don't know how long this will last, but it will last into this year. When almost half of the movie tickets purchased will be for one of their films or for one of Comcast/NBC/Universal films. Comcast/NBC/Universal also coming out with their own streaming service sometime in 2020.

Their dominance will also like continue into the next decade with live action films like . . .
Pinocchio with Tom Hanks as Geppeto -- Snow White -- Peter Pan -- The Little Mermaid -- and James and the Giant Peach.

And while Pinocchio has been temporarily shelved, we can expect individual films for . . .
Maleficent 2 -- Prince Charming -- Rose Red (Snow's little sister) -- and Tinker Bell.

Their dominance is also due in part to the fact that they can provide that Hollywood rarity, the steady pay check. "When you are done here, then go o'er there, and we'll have a job for you." For example: Pixar's next film is Onward. In a world inhabited by trolls, sprites, and elves, two teen elven brothers leave home to seek the magic in their world and to seek anyone who remembers their father, for they have no rememberance of him. The teen elven brothers, of course, are voiced by Chris Pratt and Tom Holland.

Next time: the minor studios and percentages of nominations versus wins.

[AoTFan]

Today I learned...

Poutine is a dish originating from the Canadian province of Quebec, consisting of French fries and cheese curds topped with a brown gravy.

[BoyScoutKevin]

Minor Studios

While none of these existed for any great length of time, they did have some success, at the Oscars for Best Film, while they were in existance.

Selznick
2 Oscars
Goldwyn
1 Oscar
J. Arthur Rank
1 Oscar
RKO
1 Oscar

And as for percentages = nonimations divided by wins

Selznick 40%
J. Arthur Rank 33%
Universal 25%
Columbia 16.7%
20th Century Fox 15.4%
Goldwyn 12.5%
MGM 12.5%
Paramount 12.5%
RKO 9%
Warner Brothers 8%
Disney 0%

Next time: I guesseth. He knoweth.

[AoTFan]

Netflix has an hour long "movie" of a fireplace.  They call it Fireplace For Your Home.

[Alex]

Do they still have the fishtank too?

[Svengoolie 3]

No ant farm?

[AoTFan]

Do they still have the fishtank too?

No clue, I actually don't even have Netflix, I just read that fact somewhere and thought it was worth sharing. 

Personally, I think they should do a "waterfall" movie and a "ocean surf" movie (assuming they don't have them already. 

[Alex]

You can starve to death on a full belly if you eat nothing but rabbit.

[Svengoolie 3]

red peanuts are an excellent source of nutrition.

[Svengoolie 3]

Steak knives are intentionally made handle heavy so if accidentally dropped they will hit the floor handle first nor point first.