1). FORM 10 – Final review is
occurring this weekend, covering all of the revisions that have been drafted
and incorporated into the Form 10 document over the past few weeks. Schedule wise, the company plans to upload to
the S.E.C. by Tuesday; we do not know
how long it might take for the Form to appear onto the Edgar database. However,
we will post to this blog the confirmation email from the S.E.C. regarding the
filing.
2). RELEASE UPDATES – Here’s a
quick recap of current and upcoming releases, relative to the schedule of key
retail placements.
b)
AMERICAN JUSTICE – Initial release
into Walmart Canada in October was successful.
Title will hit Walmart USA Stores (and
Best Buy) on Feb. 10 – and Redbox on Feb. 17.
c)
DINOSAURS OF THE JURASSIC –
Production delays (talent schedules) required
that this title be moved to February for Walmart Canada and April for Walmart,
Best Buy and Target locations in the U.S.A.
Primary “expert” utilized is Dr. Scott Sampson, otherwise known
as “Dr. Scott The Paleontologist”
from the hit PBS series, “Dinosaur Train.” As owner of the film and 95% profit
participant, this title is positioned to be extremely profitable for Hannover
House.
d)
ON ANY SUNDAY: THE NEXT CHAPTER –
The support of Redbull Media House continues to be epic. The Feb. 10 home video release will be
supported with a national TV ad campaign (valued at over $800,000), and tagged
with “buy it now at Walmart, Target Stores or Best Buy locations.” Rarely is the release of an independent video
title supported with a national television ad campaign; we’re grateful and
thankful that Redbull sees the success of this film and video as being a part
of their overall corporate branding.
e) THE
WEATHER STATION – The planned December release into a single theatre in
New York City (specifically, the
heavily-Russian neighborhood of Brighton Beach), has been expanded due to
an enthusiastic response from Regal Entertainment Group. There are over 3.1-million self-reported
Russians living in the USA, and Regal has found them to be responsive attendees
for movies shot in their native land. The
film will now be opening January 30 in
New York, Los Angeles, Chicago,
Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Detroit, Portland and
Seattle-Tacoma. Opening the film via
Regal, Cinemark and Laemmle locations in these markets will make the film “eligible”
for a Netflix Streaming contract (which
can be lucrative if obtained).
f)
BORRAR DE LA MEMORIA – Also slated
for December, but moved into a less competitive window for theatrical screens
in February. Cloud 19 Labs in Los
Angeles was able to fix certain technical problems with the 4k master that was
delivered to Hannover House, thus enabling the film’s release to proceed.
g)
BLACK EYED DOG – Due to a breakdown
in negotiations with the counsel for the production company (including issues of music licenses and
their request to significantly increase the advance M.G. that had previously
been agreed to), we have removed this title from our Q1 (2015) release
plans. If these deal points can be
resolved, we would be pleased to proceed with the release; as predicted the
visibility / star-stature of young Mackenzie Foy has benefited tremendously
from her starring role in the current hit, “Interstellar.”
h)
GABRIELLE – the thriller starring
Michael Madsen, will be released in the USA and Canada simultaneously on April
7, 2015 (including Blu-Ray).
i)
GRIM – The revenge film that pits
oppressed minorities against corrupt cops, will be released in May. It’s a timely story in the wake of Ferguson,
Missouri and Staten Island New York,
police activities; but May is the fastest release window that we can service
for Walmart on this title.
j)
VALLEY OF THE WITCH / SPRING BREAK MURDERS /
POSSESSION: THE INGLODA WITHIN and MIDNIGHT HORROR SHOW all have
staggered release dates beginning in January (Possession in Canada) and finishing in May with Midnight Horror
Show in the USA.
k)
MEDALLION – There will be a separate
press release on Dec. 15 listing the first three “label” suppliers for the
Medallion Releasing / Multi-Studio Label venture. The initial new releases under Medallion
labels will begin in March, 2015, and we anticipate two or three new release
titles each month thereafter;
additionally, one of the supplier studios is turning over their entire
catalog (over 100 titles!) for
Medallion to represent in the U.S.A.
3). VODWIZ – The company has signed-up a significant theatrical
distributor to the VODWIZ family of supplier studios. A major effort will be implemented this month
to launch this venture; HHSE Management
has been focused on release activities and the Form 10 document, and frankly,
the roll-out of VODWIZ has taken a second seat.
However, with the credibility of some current theatrical titles to
launch the website and IPTV channel, the consumer roll-out is better positioned
for initial success.
4). CORPORATE
FINANCING – The company is working with a Canadian-based investor group
to create an asset-based credit facility for general and theatrical releasing
costs. The company is also working with
a U.S. bank on a similarly structured credit line, but based on eligible
accounts receivable. The Company is
finalizing a settlement offer with the counsel for the National Bank of
California (regarding the “All’s Faire In
Love” release), which could be very beneficial if completed as presently
structured. The Company believes that the Fantastic Film, Intl. matter will
finally be fully paid out this month (including
the legal fees and interest), and will be seeking a “Satisfaction of Judgment” release from their attorney.
5). PENDING ACQUISITIONS –
Although neither deal is currently “signed,” it appears likely that Hannover
House / Medallion will be handling both “VALLEY INN” and “THE
ALGERIAN” for worldwide sales.
Both titles will be launched to theatres in February (2015), with home
video / V.O.D. dates planned for June and July.
The Company expects the agreements to be finalized on Tuesday or
Wednesday of this coming week. Both
titles will be enjoy theatrical release support at a level which will also make
them eligible for the lucrative Netflix SVOD license.
6). PRODUCTIONS – Principal
photography has been completed on “WILD OATS” starring Demi Moore,
Shirley MacLaine, Jessica Lange and Bill Connolly. Hannover House controls the USA Home Video
rights, with an option to Wild Pictures and The Weinstein Company to “buy out”
these rights from HHSE. “THE
UNWELCOME” is being retitled
(likely to “THE SUMMONING”), and is set for principal photography in
February in Louisiana. “MOTHER
GOOSE: JOURNEY TO UTOPIA” has received a major private investor funding
commitment, which will enable HHSE to move this title into active production
mode in February. “LEGEND OF BELLE STARR” is
undergoing script changes / polish; it’s possible that this title will be ready
for filming in June. “WITHIN
SCREAMING DISTANCE” is also set for production in March, but HHSE is
only a passive entity with that venture (a
presale for North American rights). A major director (and STAR!) have
attached to the company’s urban-redemption film, “SHUCK AND JIVE,” with an
announcement of all creative elements and schedule planned for early January. The script for "CLOWN TOWN" reads like a classic horror tale, and we're hopeful to get this film into production in the Spring, with a promo reel ready for the Cannes Market, 2015.
On a personal note, I want to thank the many of you who have
wished me well this week. I had a
somewhat freakish accident Tuesday morning – slipping on ice from my second
story deck, and breaking two ribs in my fall to the patio below. There was some modest internal soft-tissue
damage, but I’m finally (as of
Saturday!), back to strength and back on point. It only hurts when I breathe. But I'm definitely back in action now, and feeling strong.
THANKS – ERIC PARKINSON / C.E.O.
