Former Creative Member Speaks, Triple H Talks Katie Vick Angle, WWE Studios Struggling
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- Source: The LAW
Former WWE creative team member Brian Mann was a recent guest with John Pollock and Wai Ting on The LAW chatting about his time with the team from this past summer through his exit in October. Here are the highlights, transcribed by Chris Maffei:
The chain of command on the team: “At the end of the day, the show has one writer, and that’s Vince. So, you can have a team of 12-15 people, and they’re being delegated certain responsibilities at certain times, but ultimately what ends up on TV is, of all the ideas and everything that Vince hears, what he decides to go with. Ultimately, when it goes to Vince, there’s no writer credit, nothing like that. As far as the hierarchy, it sort of gets thrown out the window. People have various responsibilities, but it’s nothing that interesting to really talk about. As far as the creative aspects, at the end of the day, the show has one writer. A lot of the preconceived notions that I had going into it, as far as various egos and why certain things are done, I was wrong about a lot of it. Just coming out of the experience, I certainly view the product much differently, and I would certainly say that I left the process having a whole lot more respect for everybody involved.
“I’d say one of the biggest misconceptions that goes out there, and this is something I felt sometimes the Internet communities are a little too harsh on the creative team…being able to look at it from the scripting phase and the brainstorming phase, and finally what ends up on television, the things that are on TV that maybe sometimes don’t necessarily come across as the best written are rarely due to poor writing. A lot of times I’d say it can be poor execution, sometimes it can be just be simply poor response. Other times, you have a really great, solid idea, and when you just get so many opinions and ideas being thrown it, it waters it down. This is something I was told in the very beginning – for every idea that comes up, there’s a fantastic reason to do it, and a fantastic reason not to do it.”
The CM Punk angle coming out of ‘Money in the Bank’: “I certainly heard tons of stories afterwards, because everyone who was on the writing team was obviously there during that. I started two weeks afterwards. I’ll certainly say that everyone involved in that angle was extremely proud of it. Everyone on the team just could not say enough, as far as just saying how electric it felt to be in the room. As far as being in Chicago, just how it really felt that you were a part of something huge. They were all so incredibly excited for it.
“I don’t know who it was on the writing team, but a couple people were feeling a little down, as great as it was, because it was like, ‘Oh great, how are we gonna mess this up?’ Knowing that, whenever something huge like this happens, it’s the follow-up. Again, I think a large part of that is not necessarily the writing team, it’s the way the show is produced that makes it so hard to get an idea and stick with it.
“I remember one of the big stories that was all over the Internet that (Dave) Meltzer was pushing a lot was the story about when Punk came back, there was this whole thing where Hunter was supposed to Pedigree him, that was one of the story ideas. Now, without going into that full story idea, because I later heard what the full idea was, this is just kinda the thing of half-judging something knowing only a portion of the story that leaks on the Internet. That other storyline, that would have culminated with Triple H Pedigreeing him that evening, I think would have been much better for his character. Knowing the full context surrounding it, I think it would have been much, much better.”
- Triple H discussed the infamous Katie Vick storyline during an interview this morning with 790theticket.com – he said that he had to stop at one point and ask “What are we doing?” But they went ahead regardless.
He also noted that at this point in his career, he sometimes just wants to entertain himself. “There have been times where I’ll say something get crickets from the crowd but I got Shawn to crack so it was worth it.”
- Entertainment Journal Variety has an article looking at WWE’s struggling Movie division. They wrote:
WWE received a reminder during the third quarter of why it needs to pin down plans to make its film division profitable.
The studio division alone saw revenue plummet 51% to $3.7 million due to poor B.O. and homevideo sales.
The company’s WWE Studios division took a $5.1 million writedown from three films, “Knucklehead,” “The Chaperone” and “Inside Out,” during the period that ended Sept. 30, dragging down overall results for WWE, which saw revenue fall 9.5% to $108 million and profits drop 26.1% to $10.6 million.
As a result, WWE’s chairman and CEO Vince McMahon said the company was going to “monitor and refine to improve future performance” of the film business.
WWE already has started overhauling its film biz, tapping Michael Luisi in September to oversee WWE Studios. Under Luisi, WWE will focus more on partnering with outside producers and picking up projects at film festivals. It acquired post-apocalyptic thriller “The Day,” at the Toronto Intl. Film Festival. and paired with Pathe UK to make the thriller “No One Lives.”
The studio division still has three films to release as part of its old model over the next six months.
Films will play a key part of the programming WWE plans to air on a new cable channel it will launch sometime next year. Network will be owned by WWE. It has yet to reveal who will carry the channel, however.
Vince on WWE Studios' Future, Update on NXT and Superstars, Official PPV Numbers
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- WWE revealed during today's shareholders call that WrestleMania 27 had 65,000 "incremental buys" added in the third quarter, which helped pay-per-view revenue. Here are official pay-per-view numbers from the third quarter:
* Money in the Bank - 195,000 buys, up from 165,000 in 2010
* SummerSlam - 296,000 buys, down from 350,000 in 2010
* Night of Champions - 161,000 buys, down from 165,000 in 2010
- WWE Studios will be releasing the final three movies that were part of the new business model over the next six months. Regarding the future of WWE Studios, Vince McMahon said during today's conference call that "there is an adjustment and an ongoing evaluation with this category."
- WWE is not planning on adding NXT and Superstars back to their TV line-up before the year is over, despite rumors earlier this year. WWE has lost $9 million in TV rights revenue this year due to not having the shows on TV for months.
DIRECT LINK: Very Hot New Pics of AJ Lee and Kaitlyn Goofing Off & Posing Together!
Source: PWTorch.com
Trailer for New WWE Studios Movie, WrestleMania 28 Travel Packages, More
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- This Wednesday at 12 noon EST, WWE will release more Silver WrestleMania 28 travel packages on their website. WWE is releasing the limited quantity due to a high demand.
- WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart will be at the Central Canada Comic Con in Winnipeg, MB on October 29th and 30th. E-mail wrestlingfigscanada@live.ca for more information.
- Wrestling legend Arn Anderson turns 52 years old today while WWE Hall of Famer Greg "The Hammer" Valentine turns 61 years old.
- As noted before, WWE Studios recently acquired US distribution rights to Douglas Aarniokoski's post apocalyptic thriller The Day. Below is the teaser trailer for the movie:
DIRECT LINK: Sexy New Shots of AJ Lee Posing in Her Ring Gear!
WWE Studios Interested In MMA Star Gina Carano, But Not CM Punk?
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WWE Studios held a focus group session yesterday in Buffalo, New York prior to Night of Champions. The group screened footage of the upcoming John Cena film The Reunion and were subsequently asked for feedback. The group was also asked to fill out a survey.
* One question listed the bulk of the WWE roster and asked participants to place a check mark next to the names of Superstars he or she would like to see in an upcoming film. Despite his recent rants of not being promoted enough by WWE, CM Punk was noticeably absent from the ballot.
* Mixed martial arts fighter Gina Carano was listed on the survey three times. The survey asked participants if her name was recognizable and if he or she would want to see her in an upcoming WWE Studios film.
* Those attending the focus group session were paid $20.
See photos of Gina Carano ->
source: PWInsider.com
Several changes revealed by WWE Studios under the direction of Michael Luisi
- As noted earlier, WWE has promoted Michael Luisi at the head of studies of the WWE. Los Angeles Times wrote about a Division Luisi and WWE yesterday for films and revealed some changes to come.
The LA Times reports that Luisi seeks to increase the production of WWE Studios with 6 to 8 movies per year. In addition to creating films, Luisi plans to seek actively to acquire WWE Films release. Luisi is headed for the next Film Festival in Toronto to find movies that can buy WWE Studios.
Luisi also said that from here to the WWE Studios films did not always have a superstar in the lead role. He said, "the creative will determine if or makes no sense having WWE talent in the film".
Finally, under the direction of Luisi, WWE will seek to release his movies through other platforms as well as movie theaters. "Everyone is aware of that is changing the landscape, we seek to create content that could potentially circumvent the theatrical window," Luisi, said.
New forms of WWE used the rock revealed, update of Undertaker, the Bella Twins exposed!
Master in Anti-WWE Tour Maxine back to WWE NXT WWE Studios, plans more
-Chris Masters is directed at Portugal today to go on tour to promote world stars of Wrestling. Masters wrote the following on Twitter: "Gettn ready for the first stop on the Tour Masters Anti-WWE!""Portugal here I come!"
-Several readers sent a message this month of November while WWE will be on a tour of the United Kingdom and Mick Foley will be there doing comedy, Chris Jericho will also in the country with Fozzy.
-Search for WWE Studios to comply with the release of films in the genres of comedy, horror and action at the moment.
- As seen on WWE NXT on Tuesday, Maxine made his return to the arguments. He finished with one much lower than expected role originally as she was introduced to debut on SmackDown in the role currently played by Aksana. As mentioned earlier, Maxine lost ground SmackDown because of what was described as a "violation of the label".
Direct link: new sexy HQ action photos of Maxine back to NXT against AJ Lee!
Partial source: PWInsider
Illustration disclosed for the new WWE Studios horror film
Published in: WWE
Illustration disclosed for the new WWE Studios horror film
Marc Middleton
August 15, 2011 - 1: 27: 52 PM - down is the first work of art for WWE Studios "Nobody lives," which recently finished filming in New Orleans. This will be the next film of terror under WWE Studios and will feature Superstar Brodus Clay:
Great news behind the scenes at the new WWE champion...
Preview for an Upcoming WWE DVD, WWE Studios Movie Changed, Mysterio
- WWE's shop website has released a new American Flag themed Rey Mysterio mask.
- As noted before, WWE will be releasing a new DVD called "The 50 Most Shocking, Surprising and Amazing Moments in WWE History" on August 23rd of this year. It will be released via three-discs on DVD and two-discs on Blu-ray. The official synopsis reads like this:
"The 50 Most Shocking, Surprising, Amazing Moments in WWE History counts down the most outrageous moments in the history of WWE. What moments will make the cut, the top 10, and what is the greatest moment of all time? Is it the King of the Ring tournament where Austin 3:16 was born? Mick Foley’s devastating fall of the top of the Hell in a Cell cage? The Montreal Screwjob? The explosion that consumed Mr. McMahon’s limo? This three-disc set is the perfect release for fans that love to debate which moments were their favorites."
- Variety reports that WWE Studios has changed the name of John Cena's upcoming movie Blood Brothers. The new name is Family Reunion.
WWE Planning Something Big for John Cena, CM Punk's Future, Backstage Vince News....
List of Locations to Watch WWE Studios' Movie with Randy Orton Next Weekend
- WWE Studios will release That's What I Am on April 29th in select markets. The movie stars Ed Harris, Amy Madigan and WWE Superstar Randy Orton. Here's where you can catch the movie:
Peoria, Arizona
Harkins Arrowhead Fountains 18
Chino Hills, California
The Chino Hills 18
Denver, Colorado
Harkins Northfield 18
Washington, D.C.
West End Cinema
Tampa, Florida
Channelside Cinemas Stadium 9 & IMAX
Chicago, Illinois
Chatham 14
Bloomington, Minnesota
Mall of America
New York City
Quad Cinemas 4
Shaker Heights, Ohio
Shaker Square Cinemas
Southlake, Texas
Southlake Town Square 14
DIRECT LINK: Very Hot! 30+ Sexy New Pics of Trish Stratus Bending In Her Yoga Positions!
WWE Studios Signs Deal With Wal-Mart
WWE Studios and Vivendi Entertainment Sign Exclusive Deal with Walmart
WWE? and Vivendi Entertainment announced today they are extending their relationship and as part of the deal, Walmart will be the exclusive retailer for WWE Studios' films. Vivendi Entertainment will continue to be WWE's North American retail and rental distribution partner.
This exclusive deal will cover WWE Studios' next five theatrical releases and will run through 2012. The partnership gives Walmart, Sam's Club and Walmart.com the exclusive right to sell DVD and Blu-ray versions of the films for the first 90 days of release. The Chaperone" starring WWE Superstar Paul "Triple H" Levesque, Ariel Winter ("Modern Family") and Kevin Corrigan ("American Gangster"), which was just released, is the first film of the deal.
"We're delighted to be extending our relationship with the WWE and offering fans the renowned entertainment which the company has come to represent," stated Mitch Budin, Executive VP & General Manager of Vivendi Entertainment. "We look forward to continuing to help WWE and Walmart grow their brand presence in the home media market through such innovative deals."
"WWE is thrilled to further its relationships with Vivendi and Walmart with this exclusive deal," said Jim Connelly, SVP, Consumer Products, WWE. "With the combination of Walmart's retail strength, Vivendi's distribution rights, and WWE Studios' family-friendly movies, consumers and families across America will have greater access to quality at-home entertainment."
As part of the partnership, Walmart will be integrated into WWE's multi-million dollar marketing campaign for each retail release across all WWE platforms. The partnership comes on the heels of the successful release plan and performance of "Legendary," starring Patricia Clarkson, Danny Glover and WWE Superstar John Cena, which was exclusively available at Walmart and distributed through Vivendi last fall.
