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Author Topic: Theatre's Kickstarter Fundraiser Mark Hajducki Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 500 From: Edinburgh, UK Registered: May 2003 posted 07-29-2012 09:27 AM                     I still find it a bit odd being asked to make a donation/investment to a (venture capital) owned company (for a family or charity owned venue it would seem more reasonable). Strangely the only local (live) theatre which seems to have a compulsory refurbishment levy is the commercially owned one (who's owners have almost 40 sites nationwide). It has also received substantially less refurbishment compared with some of the other historic theatres.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-29-2012 12:22 PM                        Every business has a "refurbishment charge" built into its prices. It's all part of the profit generated. Some businesses just "call it out" where others would just add a dollar on without stating a reason. The first way is good when a sudden (or substantial) price increase needs to be justified with the customers. The only thing is, if you have a "refurbishment charge" called out in your prices, you darn well better be doing occasional refurbishments!  |  IP: Logged Michael Putlack Expert Film Handler Posts: 187 From: Fort Collins, Colorado Registered: Sep 2011 posted 07-29-2012 03:14 PM                        quote: Mike Frese As far as competition goes, a quick google search shows a Cinemark, Carmike, & an AMC in town. The Lyric seems to be playing the arthouse films which it probably should. VPFs are not as easily available for this type of theater. We also have a successful 2 screen drive-in in town and a 14 screen Metropolitan Theatre close enough to draw business from the south of town. It looks like another theatre, the Catlow in Illinois, is trying this too, and they've already met half their goal in just a few days!  |  IP: Logged Mike Frese Master Film Handler Posts: 465 From: Holts Summit, MO Registered: Jun 2007 posted 07-29-2012 07:05 PM                        quote: It looks like another theatre, the Catlow in Illinois, is trying this too, and they've already met half their goal in just a few days! $100,000 to convert one screen. Does that seem to be a bit high to anyone?  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 07-29-2012 07:40 PM                     The final number all depends on just what is being done. For instance, we did a twin art-house and that was about what it was. BUT...they wanted projectors with a 4K upgradable path...they wanted Dolby 3D on one, they wanted to keep film on the other (with changeovers, no less) and there had to be alternate content scalers on each screen to deal with their wide and varied alternate content sources (picture and sound). Due to the nature of the booth...most of the cables were cut/fabricate on site and pull through conduit. Keeping the film meant that they needed an electrician to pull in new power/conduit, HVAC to add another exhaust with a possible roof penetration...and the list goes on. If it was just a typical mall-plex conversion to the cheapest thing that does the job...then yes, it can be much less than 100K/screen...but when you want flexibility and you don't get to reuse existing infrastructure (and even the sound was upgraded)...you are going to tiptoe up into that 100K mark, pretty easily...once you add everything up. There is another aspect...the installation doesn't go nearly as fast as a typical plex (as in about twice as long). For singles/twins and even triples...the load-in/out is a much larger portion of the total installation cost than when you get into the real multis.  |  IP: Logged Michael Putlack Expert Film Handler Posts: 187 From: Fort Collins, Colorado Registered: Sep 2011 posted 07-31-2012 06:25 PM                        To update everyone, we're just under $114,000 with 6 days left in the campaign! I totally think we're going to make it!  |  IP: Logged Bill Enos Film God Posts: 2081 From: Richmond, Virginia, USA Registered: Apr 2000 posted 08-07-2012 07:23 PM                     I.'m amazed. About those "donation charges", if you collect them with the ticket sale it will be considered part of the price by the distributors and you will have to include it in the percentage owed. If you are not non profit it's taxable income. There are no non taxable "donations" to a for profit. Better ante up on the tax on that $114,000 or the IRS and your state tax departments will be knocking on your door. there are no  |  IP: Logged Ben Mozer Film Handler Posts: 12 From: Fort Collins, CO Registered: Oct 2005 posted 08-09-2012 03:31 PM                     Hey Bill, You just seem to know everything don't you? We ended up raising over 170k on Kickstarter in memberships (discounts on tickets and beer), advertising, merch, and fun, non-taxable services. Income tax needs to be declared but I will have spent the money on capital expense before the end of the year. You skepticism was, perhaps, previously warranted, but I will guarantee that just because you know a lot about projection doesn't mean you know my business or my city.  |  IP: Logged Frank Cox Film God Posts: 2234 From: Melville Saskatchewan Canada Registered: Apr 2011 posted 08-09-2012 03:46 PM                        How do the film companies handle discounts on tickets via such things as "memberships" anyway? Do they get a percentage of the presumably paid membership fee? How is it calculated and allocated between the different film companies?  |  IP: Logged Mark Hajducki Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 500 From: Edinburgh, UK Registered: May 2003 posted 08-11-2012 06:03 AM                     quote: Bill Enos I.'m amazed. About those "donation charges", if you collect them with the ticket sale it will be considered part of the price by the distributors and you will have to include it in the percentage owed. If it is (truly) optional then this would not be an issue as it would be the same as selling a popcorn or similar. How much this has to be disclosed to the customers at the time of purchase is up for debate. There is a (charitably run) visitor attraction that gives the customers the option of treating their donation as a donation (for no difference in cost). For UK taxpayers the charity is able to reclaim the income tax (25%) paid by the customer. I wonder how this would work for a cinema, even if just on membership schemes?  |  IP: Logged Scott Jentsch Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1061 From: New Berlin, WI, USA Registered: Apr 2003 posted 08-17-2012 05:36 PM                        I have to admit that I was quite skeptical about the chances of theaters being able to raise the funds they were looking for on Kickstarter. I did think that it was a novel way of raising funds, as it was a way to keep people from shelling out the money even if the entire goal wasn't reached (like they would with direct "save this theater" donations). A quick look shows that the Lyric in Fort Collins, CO, the Catlow in Barrington, IL, and the Patio in Park Ridge, IL all met their goals! Color me suitably impressed... Of course the cynical part of me fears that the donations won't have a lasting impact and the theaters end up closing anyway. I hope that's not the case, but I've seen it happen.  |  IP: Logged

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