Two cinematographers repped by Dattner Dispoto and Associates (DDA) had features released this month. Maryse Alberti lensed David Frankel’s Collateral Beauty, starring Will Smith as Howard Inlet, a successful New York advertising executive who experiences a traumatic loss, causing him to retreat from life. Alberti is known for her work on Creed, The Wrestler, Wikileaks: We Steal Secrets, Velvet Goldmine and Happiness. Meanwhile DDA DP Kris Kachikis shot Why Him? Starring Bryan Cranston, James Franco and Zoey Deutch, the “R-rated family comedy” centers around a Midwest father who discovers his daughter is dating an internet millionaire, forming a bitter rivalry between the two. Kachikis shot the film on Arri Alexa XT Raw with Primo V Prime and Angeniuex Optimo Zoom lenses along with Arri skypanels and Chimera lights….
“Sonic the Hedgehog 3” Tops Weekend Box Office
In the holiday season battle of big-budget family movies, Paramount Pictures' "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" sped past the Walt Disney Co.'s "Mufasa: The Lion King" to take the top spot at the box office ahead of the lucrative Christmas corridor in theaters.
"Sonic the Hedgehog 3" debuted with $62 million in ticket sales over the weekend, according to studio estimates. With strong reviews (86% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and a high score from audiences (an "A" on CinemaScore), "Sonic 3" is well positioned to be the top choice in cinemas during the busiest moviegoing period of the year.
It was telling of some wider trends that "Sonic 3" — made for $122 million — bested one of Disney's top properties. Videogame adaptations, once among the most derided movie genres, have emerged as one of the most dependable box office forces in recent years. The two previous "Sonic" movies together grossed more $700 million worldwide and the third installment appears likely to do better than both of them. A fourth "Sonic" movie is already in development.
"Mufasa," however, was humbled in its opening weekend, with its $35 million in domestic ticket sales coming in notably shy of expectations . The photorealistic "Lion King" prequel even opened wider than "Sonic 3," launching on 4,100 theaters and gobbling up most IMAX screens, compared with 3,761 locations for "Sonic 3."
Though "Mufasa's" reviews were poor (56% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences gave it an "A-" CinemaScore.
"Sonic 3" nearly doubled the haul for "Mufasa," which cost more than $200 million to make. Disney could look to $87.2 million in international sales to help make up the difference. The third "Sonic" will rollout in most overseas markets in the coming weeks.
In director Jeff... Read More