Function Magazine

On April 15, 2012 it will be 100 years since the sinking of the infamous RMS Titanic. On her maiden voyage from Southampton, United Kingdom to New York City, United States, the RMS Titanic carrying 2,223 people hit an iceberg and several short hours later began to sink. 1,514 people died on that day. At the time of the sinking of the Titanic, it was the largest passenger ship on the planet and cost $7.5 million to build it.

The epic romantic movie, Titanic first screened in 1997 directed, written, co-produced and co-edited by James Cameron. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet starred the epic romantic love story that depicted the class conflict inside the ship. The cost of production of the movie estimated to be over $200 million.

Titanic 3D was released for worldwide audience in April 2012. During the first two weeks of screening in several countries, the 3D version is setting box office records. After 12 days in theaters, 3D movie had made over $200 million in ticket sales. It had become a runaway hit in China.

Overall, both movie versions worldwide gross revenue is estimated to be over $802 million making it one of the successful movie releases.

It appears that the era of celluloid projection movie theaters are numbered. More and more existing theaters are converting to digital media. Approximately 26,000 of the 40,000 strong U.S. movie theaters are already converted to new digital system which is far superior quality to old celluloid. The cost of the conversion to new digital media is about $75,000. The major chains are expected to complete their theater conversion to new format by early 2013.

The conversion to new digital media may not be profitable for most of the smaller theaters because it doesn’t add any new capacity or revenue. Therefore, several thousand existing smaller theaters are expected to be closed down by 2013 when the industry is expected to go totally digital. However, industry has not set a deadline for conversion to digital media at this time.

Smaller theater owners are worried that the pace of the technology may make their converted theaters obsolete in a year or two costing them to replace equipment again with hardly any new income. Hollywood is working with investors who are willing to modernize existing theaters with new equipment and the owners will pay a monthly charge for leasing new ly installed equipment.

Lovers of the action packed James Bond movie series will be happy know that the latest film will be released in 2012. Fifty years after the release of the first Bond movie “Dr. No” in 1962, the new movie which is yet to be named but known as “James Bond 23” will be released in London on October 26 and in the US on November 9. This will be the Twenty Third movie of the series.

Daniel Craig will return as steely agent 007. This will be his third Bond movie after starring in Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. It is expected that Dame Judi Dench will be returning as “M” despite her advancing years.

Director Sam Mendes is expected to direct the film. He is the director behind successful films like “American Beauty”, Revolutionary Road” and “Road to Perdition”.

No announcement has been made as to who the Bond girl would be, but rumor has it that it could be actress Naomi Harris who played the role of Tia Dalma in two Pirates of the Carribean movies. There is also speculation that Javier Bardmen will star in the film as well.

American Idol has decided its Top 24. 12 girls and 12 boys were chosen to go to the next round live for the public to vote. It has been an interesting season with many good singers and interesting characters.  Some favorites like 15-year-old Jacee went home, while some other favorites that made it were: Brett Loewenstern (long red haired guy), Jovany Barreto (the guy who showed his abs), Paul Mcdonald, James Durbin (the punk that delivers pizza), and Scotty McCreery (the country singer), Lauren Alaina.

Here is a list of remaining Top 24:

• Thia Megia
• Naima Adedapo
• Ashthon Jones
• Karen Rodriguez
• Pia Toscano
• Robbie Rosen
• Stefano Langone
• Casey Abrams
• Julie Zorrilla
• Tim Halperin
• Tatynisa Wilson
• Jordan Dorsey
• Jacob Lusk
• Rachel Zevita
• Kendra Chantelle
• Paul McDonald
• Clint Jun Gamboa
• Lauren Turner
• Haley Reinhart