Showing how important global distribution is today, Sony extended their contract with Vice Chairman Jeff Blake until at least 2012.

“Jeff has built an unparalleled global marketing and distribution network, which is recognized as the best in the business. His leadership [...] has been critical to the success of Sony’s biggest hits. When it comes to knowing how films will play in different corners of the world, Jeff’s opinion and counsel matters — not only to us but to the filmmakers and talent, who respect and rely on his guidance.”

You got to give it to him, his track record is pretty great. Overseeing all world-wide releases he was responsible for films like Spider-man (all 50 of them), Casino Royale and The DaVinci Code. Doing respectively $1.4 billion, $426 million and $540 million outside the US.

Failing to get a good distribution deal at the Sundance Film Festival, Robert De Niro and Bruce Willis are getting another chance as the closing film at Cannes.

After the initial hype before the screening, ‘What Just Happened?’ got mixed reviews and didn’t get the deal everyone was expecting. The comedy shows similarities with shows like Entourage, featuring Robert De Niro as a Hollywood producer whose life takes a turn for the worse.

One of the scenes in the movie actually takes place at the Cannes Film Festival, so it will be interesting to see if this will benefit the movie. It might also do the opposite of course.