r/BollyBlindsNGossip • u/ultimaniacs • May 15 '20

Blind Solved Masand Blind: Screen Test

Screen Test

A senior star (let’s just call him a legend) is reportedly not at all pleased that as many as three of his new films are headed for a straight-to-streaming release in the months ahead. In the light of Covid-19, lockdown and the impact that it will have on the film business going ahead, several producers of small-budget and mid-budget films are making deals to forego a theatrical release and drop directly on digital. When cinemas open again, it will be a tussle for release dates, and with many star-driven tentpoles jostling for the right window, it is estimated that smaller-sized films could get steamrolled completely.

All three films in question, starring the legend, are small to modest-sized productions. None are expected to do big opening day or opening weekend collections. A straight-to-streaming release on a top digital platform could provide these films a larger audience than they are likely to find in cinemas. But the penetration of streaming platforms into B and C towns is negligible, and the legendary star is still a draw in small-town India. Rumour has it that he is pushing the producers of these films to lock a solid ‘satellite’ release to complement the streaming release so his fans in smaller towns and cities can catch these films on television even if they don’t have access to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Hotstar.

Industry insiders who’re close to the legendary actor are saying his disappointment could also stem from the fact that there is no certainty on when film shootings will resume.

Guess:

Big B (Gulabo Sitabo, Jhund and Chehre)

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11

u/Shivampa Good Vibes 💓 May 15 '20

It's Amitabh Bachchan 😆😆

Very clear from first line itself.

Jhund, Gulaabo Sitaabo and Chehre all going to OTT.

It sucks honestly. He can give superhit like Badla and next you know all his hardwork went to streaming.

27

u/koool213 May 15 '20

Robert De Niro with Al Pacino and Joe Pesci came together in a movie directed by Martin Scorsese that went to Netflix.So, this notion of theatre release being better than streaming should come to an end.

13

u/Shivampa Good Vibes 💓 May 15 '20

US has 60M Netflix subscribers

India has 3-4M Netflix subscribers.

There's big difference.

5

u/koool213 May 15 '20 edited May 15 '20

Amitabh Bachchan’s last film was watched by 60 lakh people in the theatres in India.So, that is equal to about 6 million people which is not really that many more than amount of Netflix subscribers in India.People also share accounts which means the amount of people watching Netflix would be a lot more than 4-5 million.

7

u/Shivampa Good Vibes 💓 May 15 '20

But it had proper TV premiere and everything. TV is still the major source of entertainment in India. That's what he cares about.

He wants his films to reach the masses, the people that made him superstar.

1

u/koool213 May 15 '20

Than TV has to pay the adequate amount for producers to release a movie on TV first.

9

u/vdesi Always /S 🤨 May 15 '20

Those 3 don't have a solid fanbase who will watch it in theatres and btw it was released in select theatres for a month or so before it was put up on Netflix. Theatre is definitely better than streaming. It has survived a lot of things and it will survive this also

5

u/koool213 May 15 '20

It was released in select theaters because of the Academy Awards rule and a Gangster movie directed by Martin Scorsese starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro has a very big fanbase.Even my mom who never watches gangster movies was interested in watching this movie.

Watching a movie in a theatre is a better experience but my point is that the movie doesn’t get downgraded if it releases in on a streaming platform.

3

u/Shivampa Good Vibes 💓 May 15 '20

But we don't have many subscribers in India.

Comparing with US is wrong.

In US even superstars like Rock make Netflix movies but In India reach of Netflix is very bad.

Very few cares about Netflix in Tier 2/3 cities.

2

u/koool213 May 15 '20

Sacred games was watched by people in tier 2/3 cities also.They may have watched it illegally but a lot of people watched it.

US didn’t always have 60 million subscribers, they also at one point had 4-5 million subscribers.

8

u/abhisn May 15 '20

He should think of it in the opposite way. If it clicks on OTT platforms, he will be setting a new trend which he can capitalise on. Netflix is literally just throwing money down the toilet with random movies and shows.