REMINISCENCE : Promotion and Release (SPOILER ALERT)

[jo]

It seems REMINISCENCE has already been submitted for MPAA Rating.

From the PARENTS GUIDE Page on IMDB --

www.imdb.com/title/tt3272066/parentalguide?ref_=tt_stry_pg

Certification

MPAA : Rated PG-13 for strong violence, drug material throughout, sexual content and some strong language

Certification

United States:PG-13 (certificate #52921)

Sex & Nudity
Violence & Gore
Profanity
Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking
Frightening & Intense Scenes

Ha - not a typical romance, as some may have wishfully wished for

But sounds exciting!


Jo

[jo]

Rating confirmed on the MPAA related website --

www.filmratings.com/Search?filmTitle=reminiscence&x=21&y=14


Hope it develops the same level of interest that PRISONERS and THE PRESTIGE film audiences have expressed over the years.

It is not a typical romance story, as some may have thought -- but an intense drama involving a "film noir romance" ( in the words of Hugh Jackman). Maybe that was why he teased about the sex scene in that clip re discussion with other actresses and actors?

Will this surprise like Hugh's other dramatic movies?

Maybe the first trailer will be due out soon? Maybe it was just waiting for the WarnerBros official announcement of the dual release schedule?


Jo

[jo]

Now I fully appreciate the series of "burning flame" emojis on this tweet --

[jo]

Posted this on BWW --

jo
Send PM
Broadway Legend
joined:5/15/03
In the Heights on HBO Max?#45
Posted: 12/11/20 at 4:00pm

What happens when there is a dual release - day/date opening for both theaters and streaming services. Are MPAA classifications generally observed for streaming? Or do they edit the movies ( like Disney+ did for an old movie, SPLASH)? I am keen to see a forthcoming WB release ( part of the 17), a movie called REMINISCENCE ( a romantic sci-fi thriller with Greatest Showman stars Jackman & Ferguson), via streaming if I could. It has received its MPAA rating, thus:

"MPAA : Rated PG-13 for strong violence, drug material throughout, sexual content and some strong language "

[jo]

Patrick Whitesell, Hugh's longtime agent and co-Head of WME/ENDEAVOR has expressed his reaction to the WarnerBros/WarnerMedia move to send original film slate to its streaming service ( HBO-MAX) --



deadline.com/2020/12/wme-patrick-whitesell-warnermedia-hbo-max-move-blatant-attempt-to-self-deal-use-our-clients-work-to-build-their-hbo-max-streaming-service-1234655268/

Endeavor’s Patrick Whitesell On WarnerMedia: ‘Blatant Attempt To Self-Deal And Use Our Clients Work To Build Their HBO Max Streaming Service’

By Mike Fleming Jr

Mike Fleming Jr
Co-Editor-in-Chief, Film


December 11, 2020 1:23pm


EXCLUSIVE: Endeavor Executive Chairman Patrick Whitesell today updated the agents at WME on how egregious he felt last week’s blindside by WarnerMedia was, when the studio announced that Warner Bros’ entire 2021 slate would play HBO Max as the films open in theaters. Here is the note Whitesell sent to staff. The agency is heavily invested in the 2021 WB slate. Aside from repping Tenet’s Christopher Nolan, WME reps Gal Gadot on Wonder Woman 1984, The Little Things‘ stars Denzel Washington, Rami Malek and Jared Leto, Reminiscence‘s Hugh Jackman and Lisa Joy, as well as Millie Bobby Brown in Godzilla Vs Kong, and Lin-Manuel Miranda on In The Heights, among others. This adds to the chorus of ire between talent advocates and the studio/streamer.

From: Patrick Whitesell
Date: Friday, December 11, 2020 at 12:56 PM
To: WME Agents
Subject: Important Update Regarding Warner Bros./HBO Max Negotiations


I’m writing to everyone today to provide an update on where we are with our negotiations with Warner Bros. As I made clear to the Motion Picture group last week and will reiterate now: WME rejects their unilateral decision out of hand.

When Warner Bros. called us to inform us that they were going to announce their decision to simultaneously release movies in theaters and on HBO Max last Thursday, we immediately told them that we are disappointed with this decision, and quickly gathered the Motion Picture group for a call. Since then, we have engaged in follow up discussions with the highest levels at Warner Bros. and we are setting up a meeting today to work toward reaching a solution that protects the creative and economic interests of our clients.

We have already been at work on the movie “The Little Things” – the first film on Warner Bros. release schedule and one that includes multiple WME clients. We have the most business with Warner Bros. out of any of the agencies and we are aggressively working to ensure that our clients are protected.

As I stated last week and will reiterate here:

Warner Bros. announced a strategy across an entire slate of 2021 movies without consulting with their partners (our clients), not only disregarding our clients’ feelings about the strategy but in many cases constituting a contractual violation.

This is a blatant attempt to self-deal and use our clients work to build their HBO Max streaming service, which our clients have no financial interest in.

The simultaneous release on HBO Max will cannibalize the domestic box office and torpedo the traditional waterfall of economics that make movies profitable in the near and long-term for the studio and for our clients (a point our client Chris Nolan very articulately made this week: “Long-term, I think all of the studios know that the movie theater experience will bounce back and be a very important part of the ecosystem long-term. What you have right now in our business is a lot of the use of the pandemic as an excuse for sort of grappling for short-term advantage. And it’s really unfortunate. It’s not the way to do business and it’s not the best thing for the health of our industry”).

In the current environment with COVID, studios by and large have been delaying releases, or with clients’ consent and inclusion in the process, selling the movies to streaming platforms. But what Warner Bros. has decided to do is push forward with a theatrical release in the darkest days of COVID. At a time where our own government leaders are telling us to stay home and away from loved ones, Warner Bros. is doubling down on ensuring box office failure and even worse, putting movie-goers who want to see a movie in a theater at risk.


This decision is even more baffling and egregious knowing that a vaccine is here, eventually putting an end to the incredibly challenging storm we have all been living through the past nine months.

Moreover, we don’t see this decision as a lifeline to the exhibitors or a way of supporting the existing business. Rather, we see this as a purely opportunistic attempt to re-write the rules of windowing to WarnerMedia’s favor, while the theater owners themselves have been brought to their knees due to COVID.

Given that every movie is unique in how it is financially put together for our artists, and given that inside each movie there are unique characteristics from artist to artist, we will not accept a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
Lastly, we take seriously the notion that moving our clients’ work to the HBO Max platform is effectively a free advertisement for HBO Max and we expect and will negotiate that consideration for our clients.

Again, these are all the points that we made last week and have been reinforcing since then. Going forward, we will engage with Warner Bros. on a movie by movie basis, and we will not stop until our clients’ creative and financial needs are satisfied.

Obviously, there is a lot of press attention around this—especially with public statements from other agencies and prominent artists—but we have a fiduciary responsibility to our clients to do our negotiating work in the confidential manner we always do to protect our clients’ privacy and interests.

We will continue to keep you informed as our negotiations progress. Please feel free to share this letter or use the content as talking points with your clients.

Thanks,

Patrick

[jo]

I have seen this image once or twice as if to suggest it is the official image. But most major film sites say that the official poster has not been released. It is striking and forces the mind to imagine what could be behind such a stark image.

We'll see.


Jo

[mamaleh]

So annoying—looks like the release date will be pushed back.

www.screendaily.com/news/hugh-jackman-sci-fi-reminiscence-moved-off-april-2021-release-date/5155688.article

Ellen

[jo]

Thanks, Ellen!

Not totally unexpected after that memo from Patrick Whitesell ( Exec Chairman of WME/Endeavor)that he is renegotiating with WarnerBros on the impact on his agency talent's compensation ( and whatever else) after the recent Warner Bros announcement of film slate release coinciding for both theatrical and streaming releases. This is likely involving movie lead Hugh Jackman and writer/director Lisa Joy Nolan!


variety.com/2020/film/news/warner-bros-mortal-kombat-tom-jerry-release-dates-1234842476/


I am in favor of this move. It probably came about after the discussions with Whitesell.

If they push it for a summer release ( assuming theaters will start coming back) --

*the film may draw more audience appeal because it has different themes that may appeal to difference audiences ( sci-fi, action, romance). And its PG-13 rating ( including the explicit reasons for the rating) will also appeal to more mature audiences.

TITLE:
Reminiscence (2020)
RATING:
PG-13
Rated PG-13 for strong violence, drug material throughout, sexual content and some strong language

If they are going to push it to mid to late fall --

*even better chances of being seen in a cinema

*the possibility of joining the festival circuit ( Telluride, Venice, Toronto, Tribeca)

*it will be seen during the awards season ( and maybe with that rating, it will have a good chance of getting awards notice)

*they can build the promotion for it - unlike now where nothing on the promo side has been released.


JO

[mamaleh]

I hadn’t thought of the beneficial aspects of moving it to a time when more theaters will be open. I guess I’m just impatient to see this movie after all these delays. When it finally opens, the principal photography will have been completed nearly 2 years prior!

Ellen

[jo]

[jo]

Dec 15, 2020 1:01:19 GMT -5 mamaleh said:

I hadn’t thought of the beneficial aspects of moving it to a time when more theaters will be open. I guess I’m just impatient to see this movie after all these delays. When it finally opens, the principal photography will have been completed nearly 2 years prior!

Ellen

LOL!

It looks like we all need the patience of the Biblical Job --

*The Music Man has been delayed from September 2019 to December 2021

*Reminiscence will be moved from April 2016 to sometime in the future ( hope it is also 2021).



*But Vacccines arrived as predicted


Jo

[jo]

From the Variety report on the rescheduling --

Warner Bros.' 2021 Domestic Theatrical Slate

Film Release
The Little Things Jan 29
Tom and Jerry Feb 26
The Many Saints of Newark Mar 12
Mortal Kombat Apr 16
Godzilla vs. Kong May 21
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It Jun 4
In the Heights Jun 18
Space Jam: A New Legacy Jul 16
The Suicide Squad Aug 6
Dune Oct 1
Elvis Nov 5
King Richard Nov 19
Matrix 4 Dec 22
Judas and the Black Messiah TBA
Malignant TBA

Reminiscence TBA

Those Who Wish Me Dead TBA

It looks like WB does not have any slotted release for September ( start of festival circuit -- Prisoners was brought to the Toronto Filmfest by Warner Bros in September 2013 and won 2nd Best Loved Movie award from fans - no official awards are given). Hope this renegotiation is positive and WB tries to do justice to REMINISCENCE.


Jo

[jo]

But someone is pessimistic as to what might have caused the change ?

But from these excerpts from Whitesell's internal memo to WME/Endeavor --

When Warner Bros. called us to inform us that they were going to announce their decision to simultaneously release movies in theaters and on HBO Max last Thursday, we immediately told them that we are disappointed with this decision, and quickly gathered the Motion Picture group for a call. Since then, we have engaged in follow up discussions with the highest levels at Warner Bros. and we are setting up a meeting today to work toward reaching a solution that protects the creative and economic interests of our clients.

We have already been at work on the movie “The Little Things” – the first film on Warner Bros. release schedule and one that includes multiple WME clients. We have the most business with Warner Bros. out of any of the agencies and we are aggressively working to ensure that our clients are protected...

I doubt that Warner Bros will blot its copybook with the public or the film industry if they do not behave in a professional manner. Let's hope the negotiations for REMINISCENCE actually yield a better outlook for the film's reception chances!

Besides, if WME (one of top 2 talent agencies in Hollywood) is a topmost and major source of talent ( filmmakers, creatives and actors) for WB, why will they shut off the source of where their new and fresh content will come from beyond 2021. They are probably also mending fences with the likes of Nolan, Villeneuve, etc.?


Jo

[jo]

www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/mortal-kombat-delays-release-amid-hbo-max-shift

Excerpts --

Monday's follow-up announcement also included new dates for Tim Story's family film Tom and Jerry, which is moving up from March 5, 2021, to Feb. 26, 2021, and filmmaker Lisa Joy's sci-fi drama Reminiscence, which has been taken off the calendar. It previously was dated for April 16, 2021, and is expected to find a new home at some point in 2021.

Reminiscence marks the feature directorial debut of Joy — known for HBO's Westworld — and stars Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, Thandie Newton, Daniel Wu and Cliff Curtis.

Joy is married to filmmaker Jonathan Nolan, the brother of Christopher Nolan, who has been vocal in his criticism of the studio's decision to shatter the theatrical window and send its 2021 slate to HBO Max.

[jo]

www.thewrap.com/hugh-jackmans-reminiscence-bumped-from-warner-bros-release-slate-mortal-kombat-shifted-3-months-to-april-2021/

‘Mortal Kombat’ Reboot Shifted 3 Months to April 2021
“Reminiscence” with Hugh Jackman will also get a new release date in 2021

Brian Welk | December 14, 2020 @ 3:24 PM
Last Updated: December 14, 2020 @ 4:18 PM


Warner Bros.’ reboot of “Mortal Kombat,” based on the popular fighting game franchise, will now debut three months later than expected, on April 16, 2021.

“Mortal Kombat” was meant to be released Jan. 15, but will now open in a slot previously held by the Hugh Jackman sci-fi movie “Reminiscence,” which will soon be rescheduled for another time in 2021.

“Tom & Jerry” will also open one week earlier, on Feb. 26, 2021.

None of the changes affect Warner Bros.’ plans to release its entire 2021 slate in theaters and on HBO Max the same day, with the studio saying from the beginning that its lineup was subject to changes. That release strategy — which also applies to films such as “The Matrix 4,” “Dune” and the upcoming “Wonder Woman 1984” on Christmas Day — has earned Warner Bros. enormous backlash over the last few weeks, with filmmakers like Christopher Nolan, Denis Villeneuve and Judd Apatow publicly slamming the decision.
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“Reminiscence” stars Thandie Newton and Rebecca Ferguson alongside Jackson, and is directed by “Westworld” creator Lisa Joy. The film is about a scientist who discovers a way to relive the past and uses his new technology to search for his long lost love.
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For the record: A previous version of this story stated that “Reminiscence” was “bumped” from the release slate. It will be redated shortly.

[jo]

Rumors have cropped up because there was no definite replacement date, like this one --

Google translation --

The release date of Lisa Joy's movie Reminiscence, featuring Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Ferguson, has been postponed to an uncertain day.

According to rumors, Warner may release the movie before it is released on HBO Max due to the contract.

Not sure how credible that rumor is -- because all the other films, especially the blockbusters, will demand the same commitment from WB. This would defeat the whole purpose of the WarnerMedia/WarnerBros strategy to beef up HBO-MAX by allowing a simultaneous release for the streaming service.

The major trade paper like Hollywood Reporter and film sites like The Wrap have assured that a new date will be announced fairly soon.

We will see -- let's hope that the change will work for the benefit of REMINISCENCE!


Jo

[jo]

From the immediately preceding post --

The release date of Lisa Joy's movie Reminiscence, featuring Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Ferguson, has been postponed to an uncertain day.

According to rumors, Warner may release the movie before it is released on HBO Max due to the contract.

I picked this up from a Rebecca Ferguson fan site --

Lucky that Reminiscence had a theatrical exclusive condition in their contract as is obviously that’s not a given and we see how other directors are, well, f*cked.

It’s ironic how it should be Reminiscence that might get a theatrical only release as we have doubts it would do well financially at the BO but we really hope to be surprised and proved wrong! Rebecca was so excited about this film and we are excited to see the result! So yeh, we know what you mean:)

Not sure where this rumor came from -- that the Reminiscence film rights distribution was limited only to cinemas, but if it is true -- that means it can negotiate eventually where it can stream the movie ( not just exclusively with HBO-MAX).

In the above speculation - both came from Ferguson sites -- so it could have come from the same source?

But... how can WarnerBros not know that limited rights distribution contractual provision? Or did they just disregard it and hoped that the producers and WME will sit down with them to negotiate that aspect... but after giving priority to HBO-MAX over the other streamers since they claimed it first?

Jo

[jo]

IMDB has now put this image up as the Official Poster -- looks more like a teaser poster within a forthcoming series.






Stark...and intriguing!

Suggests that everything starts blank...when we search back for our memories ?


Jo( guessing)

[jo]

The sad reality of WarnerMedia's decision to stream new movies on day of theatrical release!

www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/warner-bros-streaming-plan-may-invite-piracy-bonanza

Warner Bros.’ Streaming Plan May Invite Piracy "Bonanza"
7:23 AM PST 12/18/2020 by Patrick Brzeski
FACEBOOK
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Warner Bros.’ Streaming Plan May Invite Piracy ‘Bonanza’
Godzilla: Courtesy of LEGENDARY AND WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. Matrix: Warner Brothers/Courtesy Everett Collection.

The studio’s decision to smash its theatrical windows for 2021 films could result in "high-quality" counterfeit versions of the titles "available on every pirate service in the world" the same day the features hit HBO Max.
The industry remains up in arms about Warner Bros.’ decision to send its biggest 2021 movies directly to HBO Max on the same day the titles hit U.S. theaters. But one group is probably pleased with the plan: Film pirates. “For sure, pirates are celebrating WarnerMedia’s decision,” says Abigail De Kosnik, director of the Berkeley Center for New Media and an associate professor at UC Berkeley.

Traditionally, the theatrical window has provided some buffer against piracy’s erosion of a film’s earnings. Usually, during the early days of a theatrical release the only pirate copies that become available are low-quality “cam” versions, surreptitiously recorded via phone or tablet by someone in a cinema. Law-breaking consumers in some territories have demonstrated a willingness to watch these copies — especially in places like Russia and Turkey, according to experts — but pirates throughout the West and among the more developed major markets of East Asia, such as Japan, South Korea and China’s major urban centers, tend to prefer to wait for the film to hit streaming services, whereupon a high-definition copy can be “ripped” and disseminated.

Warner Bros.’ hybrid plan of dropping next year’s film slate on HBO Max in the U.S. — the only territory where the service has fully launched so far — while simultaneously marketing and releasing the movies in cinemas overseas will likely erode international box office earnings of titles like Dune, The Matrix 4 and Godzilla vs. Kong. “If a film is made available in the U.S. on HBO Max, a high-quality pirate copy is going to be available on every pirate service in the world that same day,” notes Andy Chatterley, CEO of U.K.-based piracy data and analytics company Muso.

Those dynamics were on display when Disney opted to release its big-budget, live-action remake of Mulan over Disney+ in select territories this fall, while also opening it theatrically in the countries where the streaming service hasn’t yet launched (such as the enormous China market, crucially). The film attracted 21.4 million illegal downloads in the 12 weeks after it released, according to De Kosnik’s research, one of the highest totals she has observed since she began measuring pirate consumption in 2017. “Pirates will enjoy a real bonanza next year because of the WarnerMedia decision,” she adds.

Because piracy is such a complicated consumer decision, involving sensitivity to price, content availability, personal ethics and government efforts at deterrence, projecting its impact on box office earnings is difficult to do, explains Neil Gane, general manager of the Asia Video Industry Association’s Coalition Against Piracy. But thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, he says, pirates in many places are better poised to strike than at most moments in recent memory.

Gane says lockdowns and stay-at-home orders have boosted the fortunes of piracy syndicates in the same way that they have driven subscription gains on legitimate streaming platforms. "For example, during the peak lockdown period in Southeast Asia from the end of March to mid-May," he explains, "we saw a proportionate spike there in usage of both pirate streaming and legal streaming platforms." (Indonesia and Malaysia were rare exceptions in the region, thanks to recent government efforts to block access to piracy sites.)

Adds Muso’s Chatterley: “We’ve never seen so many big-budget movies hit pirate networks so quickly. The piracy rates are going to be staggering — that’s just inevitable.”

[jo]

What will the deal be for REMINISCENCE?


Reset it to a new date when theaters are hoping to begin to operate normally ( maybe mid-to end of fall?)...

or work out a new deal now? Such as mentioned in the new process that WarnerBros and HBO-MAX are working out now for the film slate announced for 2021?


www.darkhorizons.com/warners-adjusting-hbo-max-payouts/

[jo]

NOT OFFICIALLY confirmed (yet!) -- but there is an indication of possible theatrical release date from this post!

Maybe September 17, 2021! We guessed this right as that is the month in the WarnerBros slate where there has been no dated film for release. This is also festival season - Telluride, Venice, Toronto. Also, there could be side negotiations for Lisa Joy and Hugh Jackman ( as they did for WONDER WOMEN) that will now allow a dual release - theatrical simultaneous with streaming release.

Let's hope they submit the move for the any of the fall festivals! The festival season is also the start of the awards season!

http://instagram.com/p/CKWC1-6guRF

[jo]

My previous post speculating on possible new release date --

Dec 15, 2020 1:13:31 GMT -5 jo said:

From the Variety report on the rescheduling --

Warner Bros.' 2021 Domestic Theatrical Slate

Film Release
The Little Things Jan 29
Tom and Jerry Feb 26
The Many Saints of Newark Mar 12
Mortal Kombat Apr 16
Godzilla vs. Kong May 21
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It Jun 4
In the Heights Jun 18
Space Jam: A New Legacy Jul 16
The Suicide Squad Aug 6
Dune Oct 1
Elvis Nov 5
King Richard Nov 19
Matrix 4 Dec 22
Judas and the Black Messiah TBA
Malignant TBA

Reminiscence TBA

Those Who Wish Me Dead TBA

It looks like WB does not have any slotted release for September ( start of festival circuit -- Prisoners was brought to the Toronto Filmfest by Warner Bros in September 2013 and won 2nd Best Loved Movie award from fans - no official awards are given). Hope this renegotiation is positive and WB tries to do justice to REMINISCENCE.


Jo

[jo]

[jo]

Someone updated the Wikipedia notes on REMINISCENCE to reflect the new release date of September 17, 2021.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reminiscence_(2021_film)

Reminiscence is an upcoming American science fiction drama thriller film written and directed by Lisa Joy in her feature directorial debut. The film stars Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, Thandie Newton, Daniel Wu, and Cliff Curtis.

It is scheduled to be released on September 17, 2021 by Warner Bros. Pictures, as well as a month-long simultaneous release on the HBO Max streaming service.[2]

Still no official announcement that has been published.


On the same date, it will go against an ANIMATION movie to be released by Universal Pictures --

The Boss Baby: Family Business Universal Pictures Wide Mar 26, 2021 → Sep 17, 2021

Also slated for release on that date is 20th Century Studios' ( formerly 20th Century Fox) DEATH ON THE NILE, helmed by Kenneth Branagh with Gal Gadot and Armie Hammer. This is based on an Agatha Christie novel.

[jo]

The entry on Wikipedia re a new release date has been removed!


So, we wait again for an official announcement as to the revised release date.

I am hoping what was shared was inside info, which maybe should not have been shared publicly in advance?


Jo