Showbiz Sandbox 261: Sony Hack Gives New Meaning To The Term Box Office Bomb
December 16, 2014
As if Sony Pictures didn’t have enough to worry about with all their corporate emails and documents being leaked by hackers, now the perpetrators of the cybercrime have threatened movie theaters showing “The Interview” with terrorist attacks. What started out as a voyeuristic peek at the inner workings of a Hollywood studio has turned into a far more serious international incident. This has left the media questioning their own ethics and culpability for originally publishing portions of Sony’s stolen data.
With Sony’s dilemma getting so much attention, the announcement of this year’s Golden Globe and SAG Award nominations seemed rather subdued and tame by comparison. Maybe that’s because an awards season front runner has yet to emerge, or possibly because everyone is just tired of award shows.
Thanks to a listener email, we also discuss why the difference between screens and theaters matters when tallying up box office. The two words are often improperly used interchangeably.
Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including David Letterman’s final show, the latest inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and this year’s lack of platinum albums.
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Global Box Office: Final ‘Hobbit’ Film Earns Stellar $117.6 Million in Early Foreign Launch
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/global-box-office-final-hobbit-757523
Aaron Sorkin: The Press Shouldn’t Help the Sony Hackers
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/15/opinion/aaron-sorkin-journalists-shouldnt-help-the-sony-hackers.html
Why Publishing Stolen Sony Data Is Problematic But Necessary
http://variety.com/2014/biz/opinion/why-publishing-stolen-sony-data-is-problematic-but-necessary-1201377166/
Amy Pascal Issues Apology Over Leaked Email Exchange
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/amy-pascal-issues-apology-leaked-756574
Project Goliath: Inside Hollywood’s Secret War Against Google
http://www.theverge.com/2014/12/12/7382287/project-goliath
Sony Lawyers Warn Press to Destroy Documents from Hack
http://variety.com/2014/film/news/sony-lawyers-warn-press-to-destroy-documents-from-hack-1201379298/
Leaked Sony Emails Reveal Nasty Exchanges and Insults
http://variety.com/2014/film/news/leaked-sony-emails-reveal-nasty-exchanges-and-insults-1201375511/
Gawker Releases Amy Pascal’s Fiery Email Exchange With Producer Scott Rudin
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gawker-releases-amy-pascals-fiery-755658
Sony Emails Reveal Failed Efforts to Recruit ‘Lego’ Directors to Run Animation Unit
http://variety.com/2014/artisans/news/sony-emails-reveal-failed-efforts-to-recruit-lego-directors-to-run-animation-unit-1201378259/
Sony Pictures CEO at Town Hall Meeting: ‘This Will Not Take Us Down’
http://variety.com/2014/film/news/sony-pictures-ceo-at-town-hall-meeting-this-will-not-take-us-down-1201379958/
Leaked Sony Emails Reveal Jokes About Obama and Race
http://variety.com/2014/biz/news/leaked-sony-emails-reveal-jokes-about-obama-and-race-1201376676/
Furious Google Ended MPAA Anti-Piracy Cooperation
http://torrentfreak.com/furious-google-ended-mpaa-antipiracy-cooperation-141212/
Golden Globe Awards Nominations: The Complete List
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/golden-globe-awards-nominations-complete-756441
Golden Globe Nominations: 26 Biggest Snubs and Surprises
http://variety.com/2014/film/news/golden-globe-nominations-26-biggest-snubs-and-surprises-1201377032/
Golden Globe Nominations: 26 Biggest Snubs and Surprises
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/golden-globes-2015-24-biggest-756517
‘Birdman,’ ‘Modern Family’ Lead SAG Awards Nominations with Four
https://variety.com/2014/film/news/sag-awards-nominations-birdman-boyhood-1201375775/
David Letterman’s Final ‘Late Show’ Date Set
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/david-lettermans-final-late-show-755800
Another E-book Dip
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/retailing/article/65053-another-e-book-dip.html
Jason Aldean Scores Only Platinum-Certified Country Album of 2014
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/jason-aldean-has-only-platinum-selling-2014-country-album-20141208
Roman Polanski’s Attorneys Seek to Close Sex Abuse Case
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/roman-polanskis-attorneys-seek-close-758284
Bill Cosby’s Wife Defends Comedian: “He Is the Man You Thought You Knew”
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bill-cosbys-wife-defends-comedian-758012
Theater Owner Pushes ‘Side Show’ to Close
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/13/theater/side-show-reportedly-to-end-broadway-run-in-january.html
Green Day, Lou Reed, Joan Jett, Ringo Starr Lead 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/green-day-lou-reed-joan-jett-ringo-starr-lead-2015-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-20141216
Box Office Key Terminology
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/about/boxoffice.htm
Phil Stern, Photographer Who Shot Top Stars, Dies at 95
http://variety.com/2014/film/news/phil-stern-dead-photographer-1201379157/
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