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Author Topic: Sub-Run theatres Dave Williams Wet nipple scene Posts: 1836 From: Salt Lake City, UT, USA Registered: Jan 2000 posted 11-28-2004 01:30 PM                        quote: Chris Erwin I can imagine the prints you may get. In fact even a subrun theater can get great prints, even new ones! If they are bad, all you have to do is bitch about it and you get a replacement print, one that has either been completely reviewed and certified for archiving, or a new print altogether. The distributors are required to do so by the film companies they service. So you sub runs out there, bitch and moan until you get great prints, and if you can't get great prints, have your buyer contact the film companies and bitch to them about the prints. Bitching always works. I love bitching alot. Ciao babe Dave  |  IP: Logged Ed Inman Expert Film Handler Posts: 103 From: Jackson, Mississippi USA Registered: Jul 2004 posted 11-29-2004 03:57 PM                        I'm curious if anyone is involved with sub-run theaters in smaller cities that specialize in limited platform, independent and foreign films once the major "arthouse" theaters in big cities are done with them. Also whether anyone has experience with multi-use theaters that only screen films part-time but are also used for concerts, plays, community meetings, bars, coffee shops, etc. Is there a viable market for these kinds of venues in small cities? Ed  |  IP: Logged Ray Kaufman Film Handler Posts: 16 From: San Pedro, CA, USA Registered: Apr 2004 posted 11-29-2004 06:18 PM                        Ed, It all depends on the demographic. AND, the education level. Live theatre is a wholely different animal. I'd say the more versatile the venue, especially the smaller, independent ones, the better. A larger college town whould be at the top of my list as a possibility likely to be successful. A decidely rural town on the other hand, well.  |  IP: Logged Barry Martin Expert Film Handler Posts: 203 From: Newington, CT USA Registered: Jul 2002 posted 11-29-2004 11:13 PM                        I run a twin in a small rural town with a population of about 10,000 and drawing area of about 50,000 or more. We try and run first run most of the time, when there is good product. If there is a week where we cannot get a "new" release or the only thing out is something we don't anticipate will do well, we opt for something we missed a few weeks prior doubled up with an independent/foreign film. For the most part we've made a little off this formula, and are hoping as the news spreads we are running these "better quality" films the audience will come steadily to see it. We are also partnering with area schools to book repertory titles that relate to education (ie books they are reading turned movie) for private screenings.  |  IP: Logged William Hooper Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1879 From: Mobile, AL USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-30-2004 01:45 AM                        Isn't the Byrd sub-run? The Tampa runs films between bus & trucks & other stage fare. Both are in larger-size towns. The Tampa's films are paid for by a sponsor, as is typical of most PAC's running movies. PAC's often run films, but generally as part of a regular summer or midnight movie series. The main thing is that people start getting into the frame of mind & habit to going to the venue: admissions pick up as the series progresses (if the shows are good), & drop off when there's an interruption of film programming for some other programming. A lot of non-profit PAC's put on crappy shows & don't get return customers (& then blame the market & discontinue running movies). Those cafe-type "eat a pizza & drink beer while you watch a movie" kind of theaters used to be more common in college-type towns & did well enough with sub-run fare. Getting into the restaurant business is probably another kettle of fish. Often what's killed the restaurant-with-movie or restaurant-with-theatre-organ combo places has been mediocre or bad food.  |  IP: Logged Bill Enos Film God Posts: 2081 From: Richmond, Virginia, USA Registered: Apr 2000 posted 11-30-2004 07:53 AM                     Yes the Byrd is sub-run, and turning enough bucks to keep itself open. We're open 365 days with Saturday midnights, frequent daytime rentals and occasional evening rentals. I guess we are whores, we'll do almost anything for a dollar. Operation by a non-profit is still years away. Our fare is mainstream sub-run, artsy stuff doesn't play well here. The Byrd Theatre Foundation, if and when it is ever able to assume operation plans to continue with the same. Performing arts centers (whatever that means) in old theatres are dime a dozen and can't break even doing it.  |  IP: Logged Nicholas Roznovsky Expert Film Handler Posts: 156 From: College Station, TX, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 11-30-2004 01:33 PM                        quote: Bill Enos I guess we are whores, we'll do almost anything for a dollar. That's the ticket to success in this business!  |  IP: Logged Richard C. Wolfe Master Film Handler Posts: 250 From: Northampton, PA, USA Registered: Apr 2000 posted 11-30-2004 09:50 PM                        My theatre operates very similar to the Byrd. Mainstream subrun for the most part. Only a few art titles once in a while. I also do whatever it takes to stay open... film festivals, company meetings, birthday parties, bachelor parties... you name it. However, since my theatre has full stage facilities it is also often used for live theatre, concerts, dance recitals, political debates, weddings, recording sessions, photo ops, holiday onstage parties etc. Even so, 85 to 90% of the time I'm showing movies. While the movies still make up the lions share of the income, the other uses help a great deal in getting through the otherwise slow periods.  |  IP: Logged Bill Enos Film God Posts: 2081 From: Richmond, Virginia, USA Registered: Apr 2000 posted 12-01-2004 01:13 AM                     Political debates? This fall there was a 4 man race for mayor. A political group wanted to have a debate between the 4 on our stage on a Saturday night for free, and didn't want the concession open either. Our fee for any Sat. night would be at least $5000. The chairman of the committee was pissed when our GM declined their request. They were offered any Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday for $800 but they were not interested. They don't seem to realize that not only does it cost to operate the building but money is lost from tickets not sold and concessions.  |  IP: Logged William Hooper Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1879 From: Mobile, AL USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-01-2004 01:46 AM                        quote: Bill Enos I guess we are whores, we'll do almost anything for a dollar. Whores = professionals? You hear folks in every profession make this joking disparaging comparison about themselves at some time. quote: Bill Enos Operation by a non-profit is still years away. Enjoy these times while you can. There are stellar exceptions, but in my experience & observation, in a statistcal concentration near 90%, the for-profits are better theaters & better-run, too. It gets very different when you replace a management & staff with a BOARD, management & staff. Quite a few non-profits are dark most if not all of the year. Somehow, through various & different ways, with a non-profit, the incentive is often no longer to put butts in the seats & pay the bills. There are quite a few for-profit big PAC's in historic houses. Without exception they look at the non-profits as dreams come true, & wish THEY had that non-profit money (from grants, etc.) But the vast majority of non-profits don't have anything approaching the amount of programming that the for-profits maintain. All that non-profit grant money often goes to bizarre, non-revenue generating projects or salaries. And most of the staff at the for-profits enjoy their jobs more, since the objective is plain, always easily understood, & not subject to weird whimsical changes. A lot of theaters when they become non-profits are operated in ways that are not competent, & not even rational.  |  IP: Logged

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