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Author Topic: Having a look at the Paramount direct VPF contract.. Chase Taylor Expert Film Handler Posts: 175 From: Troy, Alabama, USA Registered: Mar 2001 posted 03-12-2009 09:30 AM                        Mark that is the smartest thing you have said.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 03-12-2009 10:05 AM                        I don't know. . . .discussing the sanity of lawyers is itself somewhat insane. IF obsolensence was not a factor, then Mark would be almost right. Louis  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-12-2009 12:07 PM                        So if I was to win the lottery and install a digital system tomorrow, and a year from now (let's say) Universal started paying VPFs to indies, would I get those payments? Or does it only work for "future" installs?  |  IP: Logged Chase Taylor Expert Film Handler Posts: 175 From: Troy, Alabama, USA Registered: Mar 2001 posted 03-12-2009 03:35 PM                        Mike You would start getting VPF's from Paramount when you sign the contract now or later no matter when you install the equipment as long as it is DCI complaint. Once you sign you will have from that date to February 28, 2019. Who knows what Universal or any other studio for that matter will say or do? I'm hoping that at ShoWest there will be announcements of other studios doing this. IMO let there be no mistake about this, this will be the only viable way for independents to convert to digital. If you thank this agreement is bad business than you should check out some of the integrators out there. By the time you pay the up front cost, alternative content fees, maintenance agreements (something that most independents around me are not use to paying, especially at that amount of money), and bulb cost because they decide to replace every bulb in the complex (before their warranty is up) because they are all close to needing replacing and it will be awhile before they get back to you. These things add up. And through all of that you lose control of your booth. Their equipment not yours. While I understand that Digital Cinema is not something that someone can just dive into and be able to take care of these projectors and servers just from knowledge that they already have it is something that is readily available to cinema owners or their representative to learn. I encourage all independent cinema owners to take the time to thank about going off and learning how to take care of these pieces of equipment themselves. Chase  |  IP: Logged John T. Hendrickson, Jr Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 889 From: Freehold, NJ, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 03-13-2009 03:57 PM                     I'm speculating that Paramount jumped on this VPF deal in the hope of getting independents to quickly convert screens in time for the 3D release of Monsters v. Aliens. I'm wondering how successful the effort was. Anyone with information on the increased number of screens going digital 3D since they came out with the announcement? As far as other studios announcing VPFs, I don't think I would hold my breath, but we should know more after Show West. I get the feeling that most folks are holding out until they see how this all shakes out over the next few months. No one in our area seems hell bent to jump on the digital 3D bandwagon and pitch their 35mm equipment. I think exhibitors are worried that if they convert, they will never earn back their investment.  |  IP: Logged Geena Phillips Expert Film Handler Posts: 198 From: Norcross, GA / USA Registered: Apr 2006 posted 03-13-2009 05:32 PM                        quote: John T. Hendrickson, Jr I'm speculating that Paramount jumped on this VPF deal in the hope of getting independents to quickly convert screens in time for the 3D release of Monsters v. Aliens. I think you're probably right. Studios are clearly using 3D as a wedge to push more theatres into adoption of digital, but Monsters Vs. Aliens is not quite the slam-dunk in this regard that, say, UP will be (our theatres' very poor performance for the film, non-3D version of Bolt is, I think an example of this); any theatre running the film version of UP in a market where someone else has the 3D version is almost certain to take a beating this summer.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-13-2009 05:42 PM                        Paramount did not announce the possibility of this deal until late January and probably didn't have a draft of this deal ready until early February. I find it difficult to believe that any significant number of theatres and/or chains would be able to read the deal, agree to it, work out financing, order equipment, and do the installation in the six weeks (or so) provided. Therefore, I doubt that this had much (if anything) to do with the MvA release. How much lead time is required for a install in an existing theatre? If I call up Mark or Steve or some other dealer and have cash, can I get a full setup (server, projector, installation, etc.) delivered and installed in a week? Two weeks? What if I want 3D and need a new screen and/or dishwasher installed, too?  |  IP: Logged Julio Roberto Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 938 From: Madrid, Madrid, Spain Registered: Oct 2008 posted 03-13-2009 05:52 PM                    Some hotshot at Dreamworks I think it was (or some other major studio) said that 3D was the "only carrot instead of a stick they had to get theaters to convert to digital". It couldn't be more clear. They could be doing 3D with film easily and cheaply for everyone, BTW, but obviously don't want to.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 03-14-2009 08:44 AM                     Scott...it all depends on where you are in the ordering process, like any other piece of equipment. If you get behind others, it can take a small amount of time...generally, I'm seeing orders within 2-weeks. However, from the theatre side, once your serial numbers are known, getting into the system I've heard it can also take a couple of weeks. I don't know if this is for the first unit for a complex and subsequent ones go faster or not. Steve  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-14-2009 09:29 AM                     quote: Louis Bornwasser IF obsolensence was not a factor, then Mark would be almost right. Louis Louis, Let us not forget we are facing film's obsolescence in the very near future as well. Unfortunately the ball is rolling there and at this point it can't be stopped. Everything becomes obsolete eventually... even you and I! ONce DCIP get one more studio to pay VPF's film is basically finished... Mark  |  IP: Logged Geena Phillips Expert Film Handler Posts: 198 From: Norcross, GA / USA Registered: Apr 2006 posted 03-14-2009 07:33 PM                        I'm sorry if I wasn't clear, Scott. I agree that the 3D release of Monsters Vs. Aliens has probably nothing to do with the VPF agreement Paramount's offering; I was just using it as an example of how the studios are using 3D as an inducement for theatres to convert to digital.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 03-14-2009 11:52 PM                     Steve, I started getting test KDMs only a couple of days after I submitted the paperwork with the serial numbers.  |  IP: Logged James B Gardiner Film Handler Posts: 91 From: North Altona, Victoria, Ausrtalia Registered: Feb 2009 posted 03-15-2009 03:42 AM                     Paramount going alone on VPF could also be a result of issues with AccessIT. (Ro cinedgim or something) Go look at there public announcements and details on there profit and loss. There stock went down a long way. (And probably for good reason) Recently it has improved. And as such, I hope for everyone.  |  IP: Logged Julio Roberto Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 938 From: Madrid, Madrid, Spain Registered: Oct 2008 posted 03-15-2009 05:05 AM                    I never quite understood the appearance of these so-called aggregators in the whole Digital Cinema picture. I get that they are a company with the intention of earning money out of the "brief" period of cinemas transition from analog to digital by offering something similar to financing or leasing capabilities for the expensive equipment. The fact that distributors are willing to share profits with them by paying them a VPF only shows that distributors know it's to their interest in the long run to pay, at least in part, for DCinema. The studios not doing it straight with the exhibitor instead of going through these "revenue sucking" intermediaries waiving "legal complexity issues" as the excuse is what drives me mad. Paramount has proven that direct-to-exhibitors VPF agreements in reasonalbe terms can exist. They can probably be even further simplified and refined if they wanted. No intermediaries are needed. Same thing with RealD. If they want to be an equipment supplier, fine. They can make their money out of selling 3D glasses or whatever. But to become yet another intermediary, not only sucking money out of the circuit but telling you what you can or can not put in your booth and what you can and can not show in your screens and for how long .... it's an obstrusive intermediary who is also making you earn less money. I would never recommend these intermediaries. Specially once distributors start offering straight VPF deals. Wide digital transition is NOT going to happen in Europe until these intermediaries are gone. Money for this whole Digital thing is already thin, so no need for extra people outside the industry getting rich in times of recession.  |  IP: Logged James B Gardiner Film Handler Posts: 91 From: North Altona, Victoria, Ausrtalia Registered: Feb 2009 posted 03-15-2009 07:16 AM                     Julio, I agree/disagree 50/50%. We do need to reduce the middle men, but at the same time, the Integrator, as it is called, is a valuable concept that cinema owners need to get their heads around. Just as you need a computer infrastructure company to look after all your POS (point of Sale) systems and POS database, Email etc. You need some type of company to supply integrated services for that which running a DCI cinema requires. They do not necessarily need to be connected with the VPF contract, however, this also makes a lot of sense. (Ie one but to kick if for some reason you cannot keep conditions for VPF approval.Ie loss of sessions etc. Otherwise,expect finger pointing in a big way. Considering the total self running cinema complex that cinema owners expect this technology to supply one day. This type of "navana" comes with a few strings attached. James  |  IP: Logged

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