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Author Topic: Bookings Question - "Doubled Up Films" Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 11-02-2004 02:55 AM                        Single and a 7 plex in a town of 18,000. Sounds like you'd better warm up to the folks at Universal. If you run all of their stuff they might keep you in (their) first run product. Although, if the 7 plex hasn't obliterated the single's customer base you should be able to get decent product throughout most of the year. You're correct though, you won't be playing the same films at the same time though.  |  IP: Logged John Hegel Expert Film Handler Posts: 166 From: Lake Mills, Iowa Registered: Sep 2000 posted 11-02-2004 03:40 AM                        Is there any way around this issue? For an example another single screen in the area runs product 1 or two weeks of the break, but they only run 3 nights a week. If I can work an agreement to pick up their films (Sunday) will the film companies still not allow me to play the same product in the same town?  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 11-02-2004 04:14 AM                        Anything's possible. I can't see picking up a film Sunday or Monday being more profitable than picking something else up a week or two off the break, though. Your best bet is to find a booker in the area who controls at least 100 screens. They'll be able to give you an idea of the situation in your area and will have a better chance getting product than you would yourself, in the event you go through with your plans.  |  IP: Logged Barry Martin Expert Film Handler Posts: 203 From: Newington, CT USA Registered: Jul 2002 posted 11-02-2004 10:41 AM                        Depends on print availability and if you want to compete with the 7. As was described above, most "good" movies are limited in print quantiy and of course the 20-30 plexes HAVE to have 3-5 copies so there could be next to none available. However, "kids" or even "teen" films usually have a larger production and you'll be able to get those fairly easily. Good example on this: Paramount called ME and asked if I wanted Lemony Snicket's for opening weekend and Buena Vista called ME and asked if I wanted Incredibles for opening weekend. BUT Miramax gave me a bit of a runaround with Shall We Dance saying they MIGHT be able to fit my town in on the break, but I'd have to wait until the Monday before the release to find out. Well, most of my newspapers need ads by Friday but were willing to give me till Monday at noon. Miramax calls before noon and says sorry, can't fit it. Calls back at 3pm, wait, yes we can! Of course my newspapers couldn't change lisitings at that time so I had to go with my backup plan. I much preferred Universals' answer when I inquired about Ray, just got a "sorry, it's only medium-wide, perhaps a couple weeks after opening". I can handle that, and I appreciate the up-front attitude. I can understand why distributors don't want to pay to produce a number of prints that are only going to be used for one month and then shelved waiting to be re-run in coming years, especially since it's rare that we do enough tickets to give the distributor enough just to pay for the copy itself.  |  IP: Logged Brad Allen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 688 From: Evansville, IN, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 11-02-2004 12:14 PM                     John H, in short your going to have one heck of an up hill battle. As Daryl suggested, a good booker that handles 100 screens or more, "may" be able to help.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-02-2004 07:03 PM                        John H. - Can you give us some more details about your idea? Is this 7-plex a crap-hole that nobody wants to go to anymore? Is your single an old theatre that you're refurbishing, or are you building new? If the 7-plex is a fairly new, well-run place with good presentation, you might have trouble. But if the 7 is a dump, I think you could compete IF you make the single as absolutely nice as possible and IF you have the most awesome presentation possible. Don't skimp on ANYTHING. It will pay off. As far as getting product: I agree, talk to a good booker. I know a town near here where a single competes with a 4-screen, and the single does play some of the blockbusters, but they get stuck in those long contracts for something like 4 weeks, and while they're playing "Matrix 3" or something similar for 4 weeks, the 4-plex is running all the other blockbusters in the meantime.  |  IP: Logged John Hegel Expert Film Handler Posts: 166 From: Lake Mills, Iowa Registered: Sep 2000 posted 11-03-2004 02:17 AM                        The details are what makes everyone nervous. The building as it stands today is virtually turn key. It is an old high school auditorium with 2000 seats. The whole property is getting ready to be revitalized as a multi-use building (office space, small retail, fitness center etc.) The auditorium has a lot of things going for it. In 1995 the school put a lot of resources into the auditorium some of these items are a new roof, all new lighting, new fly system, carpets, updated electrical, tuck pointing. Since the building was closed in 2000 the public has had a silent cry about losing one of it big attractions, but no one has stepped up to use it but me. I can lease the auditorium, full basement (could be converted to 3 more screens) and the kitchen area (in the basement) for 7-8% of income. Since a public discussion forum is not a good place judge the competitor, we can simply call it a typical 1980's mall theater. It has a reported draw of 115,000 people per year. It has no digital sound, no stadium seating, and no screen bigger then 28'. I feel I can put on a heck of a good presentation in this place, but I do quote "it is what it is" I can't help the fact that it is 2000 seats.  |  IP: Logged

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