John
09-05-2010, 08:33 PM
USA Today published a weekend story on WWE Studios's shift to producing "indie films" on low budgets aimed at families. The story includes quotes from John Cena and Triple H talking about the new direction of the division.
The first of the nine movies slated for release over the next few years under the new model is John Cena's "Legendary" movie due on on Friday. The movie is slated for a "limited release," with WWE trying to add more theaters prior to the release.
"These are good character-driven stories," WWE Studios president Mike Pavone told USA Today. "We're not blowing up buildings and we get wonderful people in the mix of our ensemble casts. It really elevates the project and makes a big difference."
Triple H echoed comments from Pavone that they're moving away from the typical WWE Studios movie that has a "bunch of things blowing up" to story-driven, family-oriented comedies/dramas.
"The movies we do are not what people would stereotypically think. The stereotype goes 'WWE, the wrestling guys, they blow stuff up and beat up people and there's going to be a big car chase and 100 cars are going to get ruined,'" Hunter said. "People don't care about that. They care about good stories."
Caldwell's Analysis: It's funny how WWE talent and management were saying the exact opposite when they were promoting action movies in the infancy of the WWE Studios division. Now, after realizing - through poor box office returns - the unsuccessful marketing approach of selling action movies to a PG kids & family audience, they've changed the theatrical releases to family-oriented movies produced at a low cost. It's a smart move with WWE trying to establish credibility in the films industry; they were trying to run before they could walk.
Source - PWI.
The first of the nine movies slated for release over the next few years under the new model is John Cena's "Legendary" movie due on on Friday. The movie is slated for a "limited release," with WWE trying to add more theaters prior to the release.
"These are good character-driven stories," WWE Studios president Mike Pavone told USA Today. "We're not blowing up buildings and we get wonderful people in the mix of our ensemble casts. It really elevates the project and makes a big difference."
Triple H echoed comments from Pavone that they're moving away from the typical WWE Studios movie that has a "bunch of things blowing up" to story-driven, family-oriented comedies/dramas.
"The movies we do are not what people would stereotypically think. The stereotype goes 'WWE, the wrestling guys, they blow stuff up and beat up people and there's going to be a big car chase and 100 cars are going to get ruined,'" Hunter said. "People don't care about that. They care about good stories."
Caldwell's Analysis: It's funny how WWE talent and management were saying the exact opposite when they were promoting action movies in the infancy of the WWE Studios division. Now, after realizing - through poor box office returns - the unsuccessful marketing approach of selling action movies to a PG kids & family audience, they've changed the theatrical releases to family-oriented movies produced at a low cost. It's a smart move with WWE trying to establish credibility in the films industry; they were trying to run before they could walk.
Source - PWI.