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This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3
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Topic: Running classics -expensive!
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Carsten Kurz
Film God
Posts: 4340
From: Cologne, NRW, Germany
Registered: Aug 2009
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posted 12-15-2011 08:48 AM
Well, the singalong versions might explain the extra cost.
The singalong versions, be it 35mm or DCP, need special prints/CineCanvas subtitles or rendered versions, so the upfront cost is very high for a rather limited spread. However I'm really wondering how anyone could create any profit from singalong presentations under these conditions. Do they expect 2000 patrons to gather for such an event?
I have never seen or heard of any singalong prints in germany, so I have no idea wether that is normal.
Elise, if you want to do these singalongs more often at reasonable cost, you may need to think about another ways to do it, like having ordinary prints/BluRays and do your own subtitling or handout paper lyrics. In fact, there may be some copyright issues involved with these approaches, too, but I guess you will find ways to get this working. For presentation rights, first try to dig-up the distributor of the normal 35mm/DCP, then simply ask them for a BluRay/DVD option. Not always do the same companies have rights for 35mm and DVD/BluRay, but at least you should give it a try. We do get away with a flat-rate of 100-200 Euros for a classic from time to time. Some will still want a percentage or minimum guarantee, but usually in the same range as with current mainstream features.
- Carsten
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Carsten Kurz
Film God
Posts: 4340
From: Cologne, NRW, Germany
Registered: Aug 2009
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posted 12-15-2011 12:30 PM
It's not a straight procedure here as well. There is a rental catalog where you research first, it will usually show you the current right holder, sometimes more than one. Sometimes one of these offers you 35mm or DVD or BluRay. Sometimes they say we have a print, but it is very bad. Sometimes the information in the catalog is outdated and you're at a dead end. Then there is a german forum just like film-tech where you can ask around who played that feature recently and where to get it.
For a lot of classics, there seem to be a few individual parties like film houses, university film-clubs etc. with their own rights to rent out and present their prints.
I recently inquired at a german 'film institute' for 'It’s a Wonderful Life' - and they told me 'We have the rights to grant, but we have no copy'. Ooops...
But all that is still strictly national, so I doubt it is too useful for you.
We also recently discussed the MPLC as an option - they seem to have an office in Finland as well, but their licensing model might not be suitable for a normal cinema - you may still get in contact with them.
http://www.mplc-gmbh.de/index/worldwide
(Yes, seems these links are dead, but you may send them an email and inquire for your local office)
- Carsten
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Frank Angel
Film God
Posts: 5305
From: Brooklyn NY USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 12-15-2011 12:44 PM
Elise, I can't help you with sources in your neck of the woods but over here it is either book directly thru the studio's classics department if they have one or in the case of Fox, some secondary company they contract with to handle their old titles. Fox never saw fit to bother with any of their older titles -- I mean like 6 months to a year to them is OLD and the don't want to have anything to do with them, except litigate if they think someone is showing them and not paying their pound of flesh. Or, depending on your situation, book through the non-theatrical sublicensees. I have the luxury to straddle the fence on theatrical/non-theatrical and I can go whichever way gets us prints and/or the best deal. Non-theatrical is almost always more expensive, but at least they will talk to you about older titless.
As for the sing-alongs, personally I think they are pretty much a bastardization and if I weren't such a whore, I would refuse to maul a film in that fashion; a good film shouldn't be messed with, but that's personal, people really do seem to like them.
And Scott, yes the reason they charge $1500 is because they can given the popularity in any venue that has a high enough seat cap, they can really pull in the butts. Plus, usually if a venue that plays classics usually charges around the $6-7 ticket range, they can pump up the price for the sing-along version, touting it as a "special event." You know, "surcharge" for special event! So if they charge 8-9 bucks and pull in say 1000 sales, at 1500 against 45%, they are still ahead of the game. You just have to have the seating capacity, which, believe me, usually is a handicap, except in situations like this one.
Now, doing what we did -- doing a $250 rental, and then bringing in 4000 people, well the math makes my eyes water...hehe. There was the hiring a PowerPoint operator who knew the songs well enough to keep pace (oh wait -- she was a VOLUNTEER; yah, that's the other thing, people LOVE to volunteer for these sing-alongs). You can do well, but it's promotion, promotion, promotion.
But I say, if you are going to go that route, anyone can get themselves a video projector (usually they have an e-cinema unit already) and with a bit of extra work and marketing, turn any mu$ical into a $$$ing-along. ![[thumbsup]](graemlins/thumbsup.gif)
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Frank Angel
Film God
Posts: 5305
From: Brooklyn NY USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 12-15-2011 05:42 PM
quote: Bill Gabel
Back in June of 2003 the Gershwin Theatre in NYC, booked the Sing-A-Long version of "The Wizard of Oz" for 14 performances. The theatre is one of the largest of the Broadway houses with 1935 seats.
Not for nuthin, Bill, it was the URIS Theatre long before they usruped the Gershwin name while WE are the ORIGINAL George Gershwin Theatre in NYC (Brooklyn being just as much NYC as Manhattan) going back decades. For years now we call ourselves The REAL George Gershwin Theatre. And FYI, our complex can seat 2900. This from our website:
quote:
Brooklyn Center's Gershwin Theatre was so named from its inception in 1953 -- from the time the first cornerstone was laid and long before the Uris Theatre in Manhattan was even a thought in some developer's mind, we were presenting music, dance, film and live theatre on the George Gershwin Theatre stage. And long after our inaugural concert by Leontyne Price, did the management at the Uris Theater decide to usurp the Gershwin name for its own, renaming itself the "The Gershwin Theater."
Over the years this has caused unnecessary confusion even to this day and quite frankly, it is a move that is considered untoward in the theatre business. Nevertheless, we wish them nothing but good will, confident that "Wicked" will play there for another dozen years (how boring must it be to work on that staff?)
We are happy in the knowledge that although they may call themselves by our name (while disrespecting Mr. Gershwin by dropping his first name), we will always be the first George Gershwin Theatre in New York City, Borough of Brooklyn, County of Kings -- and we think we're always the more exciting and diverse a venue, predating those Manhattan upstarts by decades.
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![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
but I only know of Hollywood Classics to book from. Who do you use for classic bookings, Carsten? I'm fixating on you because of your European status.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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