Author: Bert Ehrmann

In an effort to freshen its image and lift revenue, the Public Broadcasting Service is trying to be more like HBO — without the monthly cable bill.

via PBS Shifts Tactics to Reach Wider Audience – NYTimes.com.

Film franchises are a tricky thing. Hollywood loves to jump on bandwagons, and every time a book series is turned into a “Harry Potter”-sized juggernaut or an old TV show becomes the basis for a megahit like “Transformers,” the studios begin scouring previously published material for potential franchises. However, for every “Batman” or “Twilight,” there’s a “Jonah Hex” or a “Sahara.” Here, we take a look at 20 potential franchises that stalled after just one film.

via 20 movie franchises that never were – HitFix.com.

This poster for a showing of the movie Dracula is pretty nice.

With five days left in 2011, ticket sales in North America are running about $500 million behind last year — despite higher prices — prompting a round of soul searching by studios trying to determine what went wrong and how best to proceed.

via A Year of Disappointment for Hollywood – NYTimes.com.