We will look at the reasons why studios shelve movies and what its implications are for the industry. Firstly though let’s contextualise this phenomenon.

Warner Bros

Recently Warner Bros has made several headlines relating to the shelving of complete or almost complete films. Famously in 2022, the studio shelved Batgirl, which was almost finished. The $90 million production was intended for release on HBO Max before its release was cancelled. Then earlier in November, they shelved the animation/live-action hybrid movie Coyote vs. Acme, based on the Looney Tunes franchise. Which cost around $70 million. This film was going to be released on streaming before being upgraded to a theatrical release and then cancelled. Only allowing the filmmakers to shop the project around after significant backlash.

Why?

So why would a studio that spent so much on these films not release them? Historically studios have shelved movies to protect the studio’s image, due to internal politics like mergers, changing rights etc., or to wait for better release opportunities. Among other reasons. But Warner Bros. permanent shelving is reportedly purely financial. Warner Bros. Discovery planned to cut $3 billion in debt within two years of the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery. 

As a result, Coyote vs. Acme was shelved for a tax write-off of around $30 million. Meanwhile, Batgirl was part of a package of cuts that saw $2-2.5 billion written off.

Several factors may explain Warner Bros. decision to sacrifice these films. These films did not have comparatively big budgets but with Batgirl originally going to be released on streaming it may have been harder to make its budget back. Cinema distribution could have remedied this but the studio would have had to spend money on marketing. Which could increase costs by up to 50%. Additionally, as Batgirl has not led a live-action feature before and Looney Tunes films have struggled to make huge profits recently the studio may have feared for their box office performance. So they could have viewed the write-off money as more beneficial in the long run. 

Art and Business

However, these claims do stretch credibility when we factor in a few things. Firstly considering these movies were both part of well-known franchises with big actors involved it’s easy to see them making their money back with the right amount of marketing. Some may point to the diminishing numbers for the most recent DC superhero movies and the last Looney Tunes-related feature (Space Jam: A New Legacy) as a point against releasing the films. However, Space Jam was released during the aftermath of the pandemic and the last two DC films encountered problems from bad press and releasing during a strike where union members weren’t doing marketing promotion. It’s easy to see smaller-budget films performing well given ample marketing opportunities and release territory. 

Beyond the money calculations though it also raises grave questions about the trustworthiness of studios. Considering that actors and writers spent months fighting with studios for adequate recognition of their value in the industry locking away projects that many artists put a lot of hard work into, so studios can make their money back, will not encourage artists to work with Warner Bros. And it also makes a bad impression on audiences as it robs them of the chance to see something they may have wanted to see.

Conclusion

This is not the first time we have seen movies shelved for financial reasons. But these permanent shelving attempts feel more pronounced given the time in which they come.

In the aftermath of a pandemic that saw many turning to entertainment for comfort and historic strikes that saw actors and writers taking studios to task for undervaluing them for a studio to wipe away many artists’ hard work, potentially severely denting the confidence of the artists and viewers whose support they need to make and buy their projects, can’t be seen as a business-savvy move.

The post The Maths Behind Studios Shelving Movies appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

To ensure we don’t continually focus on the same properties and characters each selected fan film will be from a different comic company. We will look at the narrative of each film and explain what makes them special.

2000AD – Rogue Trooper: The Quartz Massacre

When Genetic Infantrymen (artificial soldiers) are airdropped onto Nu-Earth they are ambushed by an army of Norts. Only one GI remains with his body intact, Rogue. Can he escape the ambush alive? 

This brief adaptation of a 2000AD staple makes up for its short length with amazing action and effective economic storytelling. Within five minutes the narration and visuals demonstrate the conflict’s scale and why we should root for Rogue, as he navigates the hostile battlefield which killed many of his comrades. The use of interesting sci-fi ideas such as storing the personalities of fallen GIs on microchips that can be stored on army items adds humour and uniqueness to the story. But it’s the exciting well-staged, nicely shot, and superbly edited action that provides the reason to watch this short. If you want a must-see action fan film, watch this.

DC – New Wings: A Batgirl Fan-Film

After fighting Clayface, Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) is visited by Bruce Wayne. Bruce tells Barbara she must stop being Batgirl. However, both must put their differences aside when a part of Clayface that Barbara brought home comes to life. Can they fix the problem without Barbara’s father, Jim Gordon, finding out?

New Wings is incredibly fun. The dialogue between the characters is hilarious and the cast perfectly fit their roles, with their chemistry making them a joy to watch. Emma Catharine effortlessly captures Barbara Gordon’s youthful eagerness; Anthony Paderewski pulls off a terrific balancing act as a Bruce Wayne that pivots between dark and humorous, and David H. Horne is charming as the oblivious Jim Gordon. Couple that with some wonderful direction, impressive effects work, and perfectly timed editing, and New Wings becomes, to date, the best live-action Batgirl interpretation. 

Image – Spawn: The Recall

After young Michael disappears in a supermarket his mother tries to find him but discovers dark forces at work around her. What do they want with her and her child? 

The Recall is not just a great Spawn adaptation but a moody, horror tale that succeeds thanks to the acting of the central cast. Johanna Genet as the mother really sells her desperation as she searches for her child. Tom Maurice also does a pretty good job as the innocent Michael and Gregory Paris is a terrifying Spawn. Apart from the cast, it is also helped along by its use of dark atmospheric visuals (with mostly well-done CGI helping to realise some creative spooky images) and an eerie score that enhances the film’s tone.

Marvel – Truth in Journalism

Journalist Eddie Brock takes a documentary film crew on a tour of his life but gradually the crew realise that life around Brock is more dangerous than they anticipated. Especially considering the secret he is hiding.

Clearly inspired by Man Bites Dog, Truth in Journalism makes the Marvel universe feel disturbingly grounded through its pseudo-documentary framing. Which combined with the grainy black and white, cinema verité style presentation makes the grim story hit much harder. And Ryan Kwanten’s central performance makes Eddie Brock into an equal parts sleazily watchable and horrifying presence.  

Vertigo – Fabletown

Deputy Mayor of Fabletown Snow White and former sheriff Bigby Wolf must reunite when someone from the real world sees the Beast’s (from Beauty and the Beast) true form. Can Bigby and Snow solve the problem?

Fabletown feels like a quality network TV show. The series’ visuals are very professional. In addition, the narrative is engaging and well-paced. With a fantastic mixture of wit, mystery, action, and heart always keeping viewers invested. But the diverse characters are Fabletown’s biggest strength. All the actors do superb work and the writing gives everyone a nice amount of depth. Above all special mention must go to Emma Van Lare as the commanding Snow White, Holly Day as the sarcastic Cindy, and Jordan O’Neal as the anti-heroic Bigby Wolf. All of whom bring enthusiasm and humanity to their roles. Fabletown deserves to be your next binge-watch.

So ends our list of must-see comic book fan films. Let us know your thoughts and please tell us any comic fan films you would recommend.

Also Read: Holy Fan Films, Batman

The post Five Must-See Comic Book Fan Films appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.