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Author Topic: Chicago Sneaks 1/25 and 1/26 Darryl Spicer Film God Posts: 3250 From: Lexington, KY, USA Registered: Dec 2000 posted 01-27-2003 06:24 PM                    More sneaks this weekend. We are playing it at 7:00pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday. No 7:00pm Confessions. Not a stay and see spill and fill only. Has it's own tracking number for it's totals.  |  IP: Logged Gracia L. Babbidge Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 709 From: Bowdoin, Maine Registered: Aug 2000 posted 01-28-2003 01:51 AM                        We ran a 4:05 'sneak' on Saturday, and a 7:05 'sneak' on Sunday, all factors considered, both shows did well, so this weekend we have 7:05 'sneaks' Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. All of the above shows play instead of Confessions of A Dangerous Mind. It's weird. *shrugs* But I'm the projectionist, not the film booker.  |  IP: Logged David Stambaugh Film God Posts: 4021 From: Eugene, Oregon Registered: Jan 2002 posted 01-28-2003 10:58 AM                        Although it's probably a nuisance for exhibitors to deal with these "sneaks", I have to give Miramax credit for trying something creative to boost the film's word-of-mouth.  |  IP: Logged John T. Hendrickson, Jr Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 889 From: Freehold, NJ, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 01-28-2003 06:46 PM                     Ah yes- the sneaks continue. We too have one at 7:30PM this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Then TES picks up the print on Monday.  |  IP: Logged Franklin Armstrong Expert Film Handler Posts: 106 From: Orlando, FL, USA Registered: Sep 2002 posted 01-28-2003 11:40 PM                     I Have It FRI. SAT. SUN. @ 7:00 PM  |  IP: Logged Gracia L. Babbidge Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 709 From: Bowdoin, Maine Registered: Aug 2000 posted 01-29-2003 04:47 PM                        I think that this whole deal of 'sneak' showings of Chicago has only further befuddled people at Technicolor! So, they dropped off print #1563, on Friday, it got built Friday, so there would be a chance to screen in before it had to play Saturday. Saturday morning, we had a staff meeting, and in the middle of the meeting, we notice a vehicle pull up outside, and some dude hops out, and brings a pair of orange cans to the (still locked) doors. He had print #785 of Chicago. We already had a print, that ran fine, no call had been made for a replacement! We 'detained' the courier whilst making a call to TES. For some reason they thought there was a problem with the print we had - no idea why they thought that; nice that they would be so quick to get a replacement out to us, just dumb because we didn't need it. As it turned out, Technicolor had no clue what to do with the 'extra' print, and essentially asked us to babysit it until they figured out where it needed to be. So the courier left. Within the next hour, they decided to have the same courier fetch the print & bring it to and airport, then wait until he had the print and was on the road, before contacting him, and had him bring it back to our theater again! (Still, just for us to 'babysit' the freaking thing!) Last night, we got a call from Technicolor, about picking up the extra print we were holding for them ... they wanted #1563! What the...? That was the print we received first, built & ran! We hadn't even opened the cans of #785, which was delivered in error - why didn't they want that one? At their suggestion, they had a print in the cans marked #1563 available to pick up first thing today ... and that print was never introduced to my rewind bench, house reels, or splicer! Hey, they asked for it!  |  IP: Logged Coleman L. Zatarain Film Handler Posts: 27 From: Alabama - USA Registered: Jan 2003 posted 01-29-2003 05:37 PM                        Showing it again this Fri. - Sun. in Alabama. Seven o'clock set only.  |  IP: Logged Bill Carter Expert Film Handler Posts: 162 From: Minneapolis, Minnesota Registered: Sep 1999 posted 01-30-2003 12:28 AM                     I also have it, Fri-Sun. 7pm set only.  |  IP: Logged Franklin Armstrong Expert Film Handler Posts: 106 From: Orlando, FL, USA Registered: Sep 2002 posted 01-30-2003 12:49 AM                     it opens wide at my theater 2/7  |  IP: Logged Jim Casterioto Film Handler Posts: 32 From: Wilmington, DE, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 01-30-2003 11:49 AM                        Chicago has been playing a full set of shows at one theater in my area, another theater has had the sneaks the past two weeks. Next Friday, February 7, our theater is scheduled to open it To Miramax.  |  IP: Logged Paul Linfesty Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1383 From: Bakersfield, CA, USA Registered: Nov 1999 posted 01-31-2003 10:07 AM                     From today's L.A. Times: By Anita M. Busch, Times Staff Writer In a move that bolsters the fortunes of its other films, Miramax Films is using its award-winning musical "Chicago" to increase box office of "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" and Oscar hopeful "Gangs of New York." Last weekend, in addition to the 616 regular engagements, Miramax piggybacked "Chicago" with "Confessions" on 500 screens. In such a case, ticket buyers for "Confessions" were entitled to see "Chicago." The practice, known as "sneaking" a film, usually takes place when a yet-to-open movie needs an extra marketing push through word-of-mouth. Miramax has been rolling out "Chicago" slowly to build interest. Miramax's strategy has raised eyebrows among seasoned distribution executives. "It's obvious that all they are doing is pumping up the grosses on 'Confessions,' " said one veteran distribution executive. "It's tough to break out how much 'Confessions' got out of last weekend, but the sneak certainly helped....What they are trying to do is capitalize on the success of 'Chicago' and spread it around the rest of the release schedule." "Regardless of what people say, the sneaks are all about 'Chicago,' " countered Miramax Chief Operating Officer Rick Sands. He said people in smaller towns are hesitant to see musicals "and that needs to be overcome." He said Miramax also wants to maintain the soundtrack's sales momentum. Beginning today for three days, Miramax is sneaking "Chicago" on a significant number of screens -- 1,200 -- with "Confessions" and "Gangs," which have not performed up to expectations. Because there is no revenue sharing, the other films, not "Chicago," benefit financially. As for how much of a bump in box office "Confessions" received last weekend, Sands said, "it's hard to say ... what it would have done on its own." The strategy may affect compensation deals made for "Chicago's" filmmakers and on-screen talent. "Chicago" was made for an estimated $45 million. Usually, on a film with such star value -- in this case, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger and Richard Gere -- a moderate budget may indicate that its talent could have forgone their usual fees in exchange for a share in receipts. What's striking is that Miramax is sneaking "Chicago" in some of the same cities where it has already opened. While sneaking is a normal part of movie marketing, it is unusual when a film has already opened in other theaters in the same city and to stretch it over three days. It is also not done when the film has already achieved such a high profile. The critically acclaimed "Chicago" has won the Golden Globe for best picture/musical or comedy. This weekend, the musical, which has taken in more than $40 million, will "officially" be in about 620 theaters and will expand to more than 1,800 play dates Feb. 7.  |  IP: Logged Charles Everett Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1470 From: New Jersey Registered: May 2001 posted 01-31-2003 11:14 AM                     Those sneaks of Chicago today, tomorrow and Sunday? Miramax all but concedes that Confessions of a Dangerous Mind has tanked. To see how badly Miramax has bungled Chicago just look to the Hamptons. UA has a 6 in East Hampton, a 4 in Southampton and a 5 in Hampton Bays. Generally the studios treat UA in the Hamptons as one 15-screen -- UA places the product wherever it will do the best. East Hampton gets a full run of Chicago starting today. Southampton holds over Dangerous Mind and gets the sneaks of Chicago. WTF? Also, this means 2 separate stack ads in each newspaper -- great way to waste advertising dollars and confuse the public. As per Miramax policy the stack ads omit any reference to DTS and SDDS.  |  IP: Logged Paul Linfesty Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1383 From: Bakersfield, CA, USA Registered: Nov 1999 posted 01-31-2003 11:32 AM                     quote: As per Miramax policy the stack ads omit any reference to DTS and SDDS. Not a blanket policy, apparently. The L.A. Times for Miramax show all thre digital formats with indications of what theatre is showing what. Can't verify accuracy, but all studio ads seem to have this problem (could be lack of communication, no conspiracy, though). quote: To see how badly Miramax has bungled Chicago just look to the Hamptons. Have they bungled it? It's a little early to tell. The message the public is getting is that this might be an important film they are being "teased" with. The fact is the film has performed exceptionally well in the relatively small number of theatres it has been released in (40 plus mil so far). Not all films should be treated the same. And one thing this industry needs is to learn to find different marketing approaches for different films. There have been a lot of films that, based on huge opening week business in a few theatres have expanded too quickly and died opening week. Maybe Miramax is afraid of this happening here. And they're waiting until Oscar will give a boost for the second week of tis wide release. At least, that's what they're saying in Conspiracy Monthly.  |  IP: Logged David Stambaugh Film God Posts: 4021 From: Eugene, Oregon Registered: Jan 2002 posted 01-31-2003 11:40 AM                        Miramax's ads placed here for "Dangerous Mind" have all 3 digital sound logos (not sure about "Chicago"). "Dangerous Mind" is a tough sell. The audience I saw it with seemed to like it though. And it's way too soon to tell if they've bungled "Chicago".  |  IP: Logged Bill Carter Expert Film Handler Posts: 162 From: Minneapolis, Minnesota Registered: Sep 1999 posted 02-03-2003 01:40 PM                     Interesting... When EDI called me for grosses this weekend, they asked me to add together the numbers for Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, and the Chicago sneak. They only wanted one number for the both of them.  |  IP: Logged

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