Cynopsis: Kids!

08/11/08

Good morning. It’s Monday, August 11, 2008, and this is your first early morning Kids briefing.

As Warner Bros.‘ The Dark Knight rides high on its fourth weekend topping the box office take (domestically $441.5 million), making number three in biggest domestic grosses behind Star Wars (1977/$460.9 million) and Titanic (1997/$600.8 million), there is concern by some in the UK, including politicians, about the rating the movie received there from the British Board of Film Classification, per just about every news outlet there.  In the UK, where The Dark Knight opened on July 25, the BBFC gave the movie a rating of 12A, which means that the movie is “suitable for [people] 12 years and older,” and an adult must accompany those under 12, rather than a 15 rating that indicates the movie is suitable for those 15+ years old.  In its first week in UK release the BBFC has received some 80+ complaints about the movie’s rating, according to BBC News. The BBC also looked at ratings the movie has received around the world, which include: Australia, M  Mature, unrestricted but recommended for audiences 16 years and up; Denmark, 15  for people 15 and older years; Finland, K-13, for people 13 years and up; France, Tous publics (u–universal) for all audiences; Hong Kong, IIB – not suitable for young people of children; Malaysia, U – all audiences; Netherlands, 16; here in the US the movie is rated PG-13, which cautions parents that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.  Even with these ratings, many of which are considered guidelines, some countries allow kids 7 and up to see any movie as long as accompanied by an adult, while other countries strictly enforce ratings.

NEW PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Imagi International (TMNT, and the upcoming Astro Boy and Gatchaman) breathes new life into DreamWorks Animation’s animated movie Tusker, about a young elephant in India, per Variety.  Currently slated for release in 2011, Tusker will feature a screenplay by Ted Tally and will be produced by, Brooke Breton.  DreamWorks had originally planned to release Tusker for holiday 2002, but then focus switched to Shrek 2 and Madagascar.  Additionally, according to the report, Imagi is developing a movie called Cat Tale, a story about a cat raised by a dog that is being written by Aaron Mendelsohn and produced by Galen Walker.

Sony Pictures inks a deal with writers Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless to pen a screenplay for new live-action movie version of the Flash Gordon comics, per The Hollywood Reporter.  Breck Eisner will direct the project with Neal Moritz producing; the two have been attached to the project since it was initially set up at Universal.

MORE KIDS STUFF

The WWE star, hip hop musician and actor, John Cena, has been tapped to co-host Nickelodeon’s Australian Kids’ Choice Awards 2008, which will be held Saturday October 11 at the Hisense Arena in Melbourne Park.  Cena’s co-host for the screamfest is actress, singer, author, Natalie Bassingthwaighte.  Cena is also a nominee for favorite Sports Star at this year’s awards, up against Australian sports stars Casey Stoner and Grant Hackett and the US skater Ryan Sheckler.  Kids down under begin voting today through Sunday, September 21, online (www.nickelodeon.com.au) for their favorites in 19 categories, or they can vote by pushing the red button on their Foxtel remotes.

Raggs, the preschool targeted property that airs on public TV, teams with Kidtoons, to feature Raggs as part of Kidtoons’ family centric matinee theatrical screenings and mall events across the US.  Under the 15-month pact, which begins October 2008, a new Raggs’ 3-minute music shorts will debut at 150 movie theaters participating in the Kidtoons program.  Additional support will help build awareness of the national Kidtoons’ sponsored tour of Raggs Live! Dance Party launching this month and running throughout 2009.  Raggs is presented by public television’s San Francisco’s KQED.  Kidtoons is a division of The Bigger Pictures, which in turn is an AccessIT company.

MARKETING/LICENSING

Marvel Studios and Paramount’s movie Iron Man (PG-13), which earned $315+ million in domestic box office receipts, arrives on DVD and Blu-ray on September 30, 2008.  Paramount Home Entertainment will release Iron Man the Ultimate Edition, two-disc sets on both DVD and Blu-ray, as well as in a single-disc DVD.  The Ultimate Editions feature a host of special material including a combination of featurettes, documentaries, deleted and extended scenes, 3-D schematics, a web application for movie quizzes, among other things

Chapman Entertainment inks deals with several new licensees in the UK and one in South Korea for its preschool property Roary the Racing Car:  Interactive software company GSP, which sings on to create Nintendo DS and a PC Rom Activity pack based on the property for release in 2009; GB Eye is producing Roary posters for back-to-school; and Big Badge Company is developing themed zip pulls that will be sold in Halifax Building Societies to support The Children’s Trust charity.  Additionally, Chapman names JNH as the Master Toy licensee for the series in South Korea, where the series will air on EBS.

BabyFirst TV is set to release DVDs for three of its series for holiday 2008: Baby D.I.Y, offers arts and crafts projects for parents and their kids; My Gym at Home, features age-appropriate fitness information for toddlers and parents; Shushybye will feature kid/family-targeted artists and music.

For those who were wondering, the New York Jets’ new teammate Brett Favre will indeed be featured on the new season of NFL player trading cards  the answer is you betcha.

• Upper Deck will feature Favre in its new 2008 NFL SP Rookie Edition available from November.  Additionally, the company will include a limited edition “exchange cards for ‘Immortal Letterman,'” in its 2008 NFL Icons, which releases later this month.  Those who are able to assemble the whole set of letter patches will then be able to spell out ‘Broadway Brett.’  Upper Deck says it will still produce cards of Favre in his Green Bay uniform as well, focusing on his achievements with that team.
• When Donruss, a manufacturer of sports trading cards, releases its Playoff Absolute Memorabilia product in stores the first week of September, Favre will be there as a NY Jets player.  The card will, however, only be available only in the retail product version (available at stores such as Target, K-Mart and Wal-Mart etc.), because the pricier version for hobby stores is already packed up and set for distribution.  If you are a Kellen Clemens fan, sorry but the Favre card replaces Clemens’ card, just as he takes over his spot on the Jets, in those retail products.  The photo on the card features a photo of Favre holding his new #4 NY Jets jersey at a press conference last week.

STONE SOUP

Weekend Box Office Estimates for kids/tweens/teens rated G, PG or PG-13; August 8-10, 2008:
The Dark Knight (Warner Bros.) PG-13                                      $26.0m-4 wk total $441.5m
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (Universal) PG-13      $16.1m-2 wk total $70.7m
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (Warner Bros.) PG-13     Opening Weekend $19.7m
Mamma Mia! (Universal) PG-13                                                 $8.1m-4 wk total $104.0m
Journey to the Center of the Earth (Warner Bros. (New Line)) PG $4.9m-5 wk total $81.8m
Hancock (Sony / Columbia) PG-13                                             $3.3m-6 wk total $221.7m
Swing Vote (Buena Vista) PG-13                                                $3.1m-2 wk total $12.0m
Wall-E (Buena Vista) G                                                             $3.0m-7 wk total $210.1m
Space Chimps (Fox) G                                                              $1.7m-4 wk total $25.4m
Hellboy II: The Golden Army (Universal) PG-13                          $1.3m-5 wk total $73.5m
Source: Box Office Mojo

EXECUTIVE MOVES

The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) names two executives to spearhead the overall expansion of the association and the simultaneous move of the Licensing Expo to Las Vegas for 2009.

• Martin Brochstein joins LIMA as SVP/Industry Related & Information on August 18.  Most recently, Brochstein was with EPM Communications, where he served as Executive Editor of The Licensing Letter for 12 years.  Previously he was Sr. Editor of Television Digest and a founding editor of Consumer Multimedia Report.
• Jennifer Coleman moves from a consulting role to SVP/Marketing & New Business Development.  Previously, Coleman founded her consulting firm GEEVentures Inc.  She has served as Head of Marketing for Gullane Entertainment (now HIT Entertainment).
• Additionally, LIMA names GLA Communications as its PR agency of record.

RATINGS

Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Thursday, August 7, 2008, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON:          K2-11 1263; K6-11 755; TWEENS 9-14 605
DISNEY CHANNEL:     K2-11   942; K6-11 696; TWEENS 9-14 587
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11   761; K6-11 522; TWEENS 9-14 388
TOON DISNEY:           K2-11   182; K6-11   99; TWEENS 9-14   42
Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:  What object does Pinky Dinky Doo’s little brother Tyler have on the front of his shirt?  AN ACORN Kudos to: Tamra Knepfer-American Greetings Properties/NY; Christopher Byrne-Byrne Communications, Inc./The Toy Guy/NY; Kristen McGregor- Kids’ CBC/Toronto

Today’s Trivia Question:  What was the name of the nosy neighbor who wrote the advice column for The All New Zoo Gazette on the ’70s children’s show The New Zoo Revue? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: Only the second four correct answers from each time zone will be mentioned; and once you’ve been mentioned in any of the Cynopsis editions, you can’t be mentioned again that calendar week.)

Later — Gwen
 Gwen Billings for Cynopsis Kids!
08.11.08

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