Actors Making Bank - The Latest On Hollywood's Earners & Burners
Winston Roth
In Hollywood money is tossed around like it was being printed by Milton Bradley. Top actors and actresses are making 8-figure salaries up front, with a piece of the action on the backend if the film makes money. Sometimes those salary figures make people crazy, but when put into perspective they somehow – almost – make sense.
Will Smith tops Hollywood’s list of highest paid actors, making $80 million from his last four studio films. More than just a small pile of cash by any standard. However, those four films – Seven Pounds, Hancock, I Am Legend, and The Pursuit of Happyness – made nearly $1.7 BILLION dollars at the box office, worldwide. This does not include DVD sales, which can be as much as three times box office figures!
Here’s the bottom line: you, me, and everyone we know would invest $80 million to get a return of $1.7 billion every day of the week if we could, because that’s a massive return on investment, and that’s the business of Hollywood studios. Will Smith’s $80 million paycheck wound up being less than 5% of his films’ grosses. Any way you slice it, he’s a bargain and probably underpaid.
You can catch tons of Will Smith films, including those mentioned above, on DISH Network, on channels ranging from DISH On Demand, Pay-Per-View, HBO, FX, and TBS. He’s definitely the mark of success!
On the flipside of that coin is the most overpaid actor in Hollywood. Those honors go to Will Farrell. What is it with all these Wills? Seems that Farrell makes $1 for every $3 his films make at the box office. That’d be the mark of smashing success if the films in which he stars actually made money. Will Farrell made $20 million for Land of the Lost, which, well, lost at the box office. The film barely grossed $65 million, worldwide, which wouldn't be too bad if it hadn’t cost more than $100 to make.
So, what would earning $1 for every $3 made at the box office mean for Will Smith? Add another zero to the end of his $80 million and you’d be right on track. See, now doesn’t the math of Hollywood actually add up? Well, it makes sense to me. I just gotta figure out how to get a piece of it now!
Easter Weekend - Here Are Some Top Easter Movies For The Entire Family
Winston Roth
Movies have been made to commemorate every imaginable holiday or event since the invention of movies, and movies celebrating Easter are among the very best ever made. One thing never goes out of style when it comes to movies, and that’s good writing. Here is a list of some excellent Easter movies, all of which have that in common.
1942 brought us an excellent movie in which Easter, and virtually every other holiday, are prominently placed. Holiday Inn with Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby is the story of a pair of old vaudeville performers who team up to purchase a rustic farmhouse in New England. Here’s the catch: it will only be open on major holidays. It’s a terrific film and quite suitable for your entire family on Easter Sunday.
Another great musical starring Fred Astaire is Easter Parade from 1948. This lighthearted musical also stars Judy Garland, and you will be amazed at her stunning vocals, as well as some dance routines from Astaire. This movie is largely considered the ultimate Easter movie classic.
Two films of a more religious nature are also included among the greatest Easter films ever made. From 1965 is The Greatest Story Ever Told. Max Von Sydow gives a brilliant performance as Jesus. The film also includes Charlton Heston as John the Baptist, and a young Angela Lansbury as Claudia. This film is a must for any traditional Easter.
Prior to The Greatest Story Ever Told, however, was 1961’s King of Kings. What makes this film special among Easter films is the relationship between Jesus and Barabbas, who has really only ever been featured as a minor character in other epic films on the subject. Also, take into account when you watch the Sermon on the Mount scene is that it pre-dates computer assisted film making, which means every one of those extras you see were actually live people hired for the film. This is a truly great Easter film, and it places a special emphasis on the miracles performed by Jesus during his life.
Possibly the best Easter movie ever made is from 1953. The Robe, starring Richard Burton, Jean Simmons, and Victor Mature is great story telling on any level. Burton, who plays a Roman guard, wins the robe of Jesus in a dice game. At first the robe has quite an eerie effect on him, but as the film progresses we watch Burton’s character adopt a whole new outlook on life. This is a top recommendation for any traditional Easter weekend.
Be sure to check your DISH Network channels this weekend to see which of the greatest Easter movies of all time are playing for you and your family’s entertainment and enrichment.
Top 5 Scariest Scenes in Film History
Winston Roth
Anyone who knows me knows I’m a film nut. I’ve even postponed a vacation by a couple of hours just to watch the 1699 Japanese classic, Godzilla Versus the Sea Monster. I love movies of every kind, but I'm partial to good horror films. There's nothing like the feeling that you might actually die while sitting in front of the TV, or in most cases, later that night in your bed. Any movie that scares the living breath out of a grown man is a cinematic masterpiece in my opinion, and unfortunately, I have been the screaming, jumping, trembling victim of a few, whether or not I'll admit it in person. In this space, however, I've decided to share. Here are a few horror film gems that really got me going.
After watching 2002’s The Ring I had nightmares for weeks. On the whole it’s not the scariest movie I’ve ever seen, but there is one particular scene that I will never forget. At the end of the movie a simple video on a television set in an apartment and a young girl with long, stringy black hair crawling out of a well really freaked me out. Her body, mechanical and disjointed, moves creepily toward the screen until she is crawling right through the television set, and into the living room of the apartment just as the film fades to black. For a split second I thought she'd do it again, right into my living room. That one scene alone made a good movie something special (and horrifically disturbing), and continues to haunt me when I think about it too much…like I am right now.
Many horror film fans offer up The Exorcist as the scariest movie of all time and it's easy to see why. The film definitely has its charm, I agree, but there is one scene in a version not everyone has seen that is so much better than anything else in the original. At a dinner party Regan, played by Linda Blair, scampers down the staircase just like a spider, upside down with her hands leading the way and her belly pointed up in the air. It is one of the creepiest, most effective horror scenes in cinematic history, and sends shivers down my spine to this day. I've suddenly realized that I have a deep fear of weird, contorted movements...
I was recently fortunate enough to catch Paranormal Activity on DISH On Demand, and have to admit that it was very effective as a modern horror film. One of the very best horror scenes of all time comes near the end of the film, when Katie, led by her foot, gets dragged out of bed and down the hallway by a totally unseen force. I was actually afraid that night that if I accidentally let my foot hang off of the side of the bed while sleeping I'd be done for, I spent most of the night in a rigid plank position in the middle of the bed. I'm still bothered to this day by that scene.
When Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver, comes face-to-face with one very nasty alien in 1979’s Alien, I honestly thought I could feel the alien's breath on me. This was incredibly effective because most sci-fi films are not very horrific, and most horror films are not sci-fi. The blending of the two genres was brilliant pioneering, and made the prospect of space very, very scary. When E.T. came out three years later I still wasn't quite over it.
Hellraiser, from 1987, will forever stand out in my mind and for one very particular scene. I actually felt like I was becoming possessed at the moment Pinhead, the lead Cenobite, says, “The box. You opened it. We came.” Seven little words uttered with the sound of what could only be total oblivion reverberating through every syllable was enough to get me thinking I needed a blanket and a sucker. Don't judge me. In that moment I knew something very special was unfolding on the screen.
Well, there you have it. Possibly five of my worst moments and five of TV horror's best. For the greatest in horror films, check out all of the premium movie channels on DISH Network. Get the latest in Hollywood blockbusters on HBO, Cinemax, Starz, and Showtime, on Pay-Per-View, and of course with DISH On Demand, which lets you watch the movies you want when you’re ready to watch them available in many DISH Network Packages.
Olympic Figure Skating - South Korea's Kim Yu-Na Smashes Olympic Figure Skating Record
A lot of drama surrounded the women’s figure skating competition at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. But it was a drama that lent to the overall prestige, importance, and fan anticipation of the event. Much like the Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan drama did, except in a good way. I caught the performances last night on my local NBC channel, which is included in my DISH Network package.
Heading into the competition were reports of the tremendous amount of pressure South Korean skater Kim Yu-Na was under, even before the games officially got under way. She had all the makings of a gold medalist, but was criticized in her own country for spending a fair amount of her free time participating in every type of modeling, acting, and advertising. Kim is literally the most readily recognized person in South Korea and it’s because she is the most prominent product endorser in her home country. Critics in South Korea basically made it known that anything less than a gold medal would not only be a failure, but it would reinforce all the open speculation that Kim was more focused on all the extracurricular activity than she was on her quest for Olympic gold.
So, how did all the Kim Yu-Na drama unfold? After the short program, Kim had nearly a 5-point lead over Japan’s Mao Asada, and more than a 7-point lead over Canadian Joanne Rochette. Kim was absolutely poised for gold and heading into the free skate program probably wouldn’t even have to skate a perfect performance to win. However, in the true style of any world class champion, Kim skated a flawless program that was filled with poise, beauty, grace, and some extremely technical elements, all of which she effortlessly nailed.
The final result? A score of 150.06 for a total score of 228.56. Do you really want to ask if that’s any good or not? Well, it’s the highest score in Olympic history, and more than one television commentator said that it was the finest performance ever, as in the entire history of the Olympic games. So, any questions from you South Korean critics about where Kim placed her focus leading up to her Vancouver performances? No? Didn’t think so.
Mao Asada skated a beautiful free skate performance and secured the silver medal, but possibly the most heartwarming story surrounds Joanne Rochette, the Canadian skater who did hold on for the bronze medal. See, just four days ago her mother died quite unexpectedly of a heart attack while attending the games in support of her daughter. I don’t know how Joanne could even find the strength to press on, let alone perform at such a level as to secure 3rd place in the world, but she did, and she was graceful and beautiful the entire time. She is truly a champion, and I hope in some way her mother was able to share in her glory.
Props to all the Olympic athletes, and especially to these champion female ice skaters for bringing us one of the greatest events in Olympic history.
China Skates to 2010 Olympic Gold - Pair Ends Russian Dominance in Pairs Figure Skating
Chinese pairs skaters Shen Xue and husband Hongbo Zhao skated to victory at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, becoming the first-ever figure skating pair from China to win Olympic gold. Your DISH Network packages will deliver all the Olympic action right into your home; it's like having front-row seats at every event!
Equally remarkable is the fact that this was the first time in 50 years that the pair's Olympic gold medal didn't go to a Russian team.
Ready for even more amazing facts on ice? Xue is 31 (a bit past the female figure skater's prime) but Zhao is a distinctly over the hill (by skating standards) 36. The well-seasoned couple has been skating together since 1992 and married after their third world title in 2007.
They came away with an impressive lead after the short program, receiving the highest short program score in the history of the sport (based on the current scoring system, which is rumored to be understood solely by Stephen Hawking and an unnamed robotic associate of the IOC).
Russia entirely lost out in the pair's figure skating medal count this time around. Their hopeful pair of Kavaguti and Smirnov (don't worry; I haven't heard of them either) ended up in fourth place, following German skaters Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy who edged out the Russians for the bronze.
China was on fire, with their second pair grabbing the Olympic silver; Pang and Tong glided onto the podium with a total score of 213.31, compared to the champion's world-record high point total of 216.57.
The best U.S. showing in the 2010 Olympic pair's showdown came from figure skaters Amanda Evora and partner Mark Ladwig. They finished in 10th place with a score of 171.92. The U.S. National champions Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett ended up in 13th with a score of 158.33.
This was the worst showing by American figure skaters in the pair's competition over the past 40+ years (or 11 winter Olympics). The poor results will mean that the United States will be allowed to send only one pair to the next Olympic Games. Pairs who place in the top are allowed to send two or three pairs, respectively. Be sure to watch the rest of the events (more figure skating to come) on one of many DISH Network channels.
The reason for the downfall in U.S. figure skating accomplishment? It could be the economy; it's far from an affordable sport. Equipment requires an investment of roughly $1,000 or more each year for boots and blades, competitive costumes can carry a price tag that looks like the invoice for a royal wedding, ice time costs anywhere from $200 - $500 each month depending on the facility and coaching usually adds up to an estimated $1,000 per month.
With annual costs approaching at least 30k, on up to 80k or more if one demands designer duds and we factor in the sometimes extensive travel, it's not a stretch to imagine that a struggling economy could detract from an athlete's ability to remain competitive without lucrative sponsorship (unlikely, as accepting such donations can harm or eliminate one's amateur status).
Ironic that the country that currently owns the U.S. purse strings now owns the Olympic ice as well. What a coincidence.
