quote: Tim Massett

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the 5 screen closed because it was a dump.

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So will you have to spend more to make it "not a dump" than it's worth? And, how long will it take to educate the people around that area that it's no longer a dump? You'll have to be prepared to lose money for a while while you work on the place's image.

Also - just because you explained what your title meant, doesn't cut it. You have to CHANGE IT to something people can tell what the hell it is without having to look. Suggestion:
"Opening a closed 5-screen: Need suggestions"
 

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-13-2006, 09:29 PM:
 
Tim, you will be booted on your next post if you do not comply with the rules regarding teaser subject titles. Fix it before you post again.
 

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Posted by Ron Curran (Member # 3631) on 10-13-2006, 11:09 PM:
 
Tim, don't be too proud to ask HOW to fix your title.
 

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-14-2006, 04:56 AM:
 
Nope, he can read the freakin' FAQ/rules page to get that info.
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 10-14-2006, 07:07 AM:
 

quote: Aaron Sisemore

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The five screen closed for a very good reason.
And I seriously doubt that it was because the previous operator simply grew tired of running it and simply closed the doors.

walk away. Quickly.

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Aaron,
Thats really poor advice and comming from a man whose chain just signed to go digial and now runs super platters and Cinecitta's! First you need to study the demographics of your area and be sure the population can and will support the theater. Alot of the info you need to put together a sound buisness plan is available from local government and NATO. Have a buisness plan going in that is solid and you'll stay in buisness and become profitable. I've seen a MANY a poorly run location shutter and close down only to be re-opened by someone else that had good plans gong in and stuck to them. Almost all of my customers that have re-opened a location have done very well. Some of them were Carmikes that had the worst of reputations. There are places that existing theaters were built that will not fly but if there is a movie going population base there and the place is nice and has unique things other local theaters don't have then people will come.

Experiment with unique concessions and find out what people want... but also stock the ones that everyone else does so there are familiar goodies too. Cater to kids and build up a matinee base with kids shows on weelends.... you'll sell lots of concessions once you build that up!

Re: Projection equipment... Don't waste your $$ on all new gear. In the very near future some of it will be hauled to the dump anyway. Definately invest in new sound equipment that is top notch, used projection gear that is also top notch and the best new seating your dollar can buy. Sight, sound, and seats are the three most important ingredients. Select a dealer VERY CAREFULLY... there are alot of fly by nights and scheisters very near you! Lastly keep your place spotless...clean enough to eat off the floor!

Mark
 

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Posted by Tim Massett (Member # 3512) on 10-14-2006, 09:39 AM:
 
not only did i make the error in my title but i forgot to log out as well. apologies to all.

thanks for the info...

do you folks find that iceco are a reasonable company to buy from?

to address mike's concern regarding how long it would take the community to be aware that a new company has moved in...
i have been running a single screen in town for the last two years, programming for the film festival here for the last 4 and am very close with all the media folks. they are all super anxious to see this happen. it wouldn't take more than a month to get the word out. i can't imagine that it would even take that long because the two papers here would be putting out teaser articles during the renvovation process. the beach community doesn't have a theatre now and the income level out there is very high. the theatre closed just a month ago. it was the dickenson theatre chain. what a sad little company that is. they bought the dump from another evil cinema destroyer STARNET cinemas 3-4 years ago and i guess just didn't have any interest in that theatre.

from the lobby to presentation to the food/drink choices this will not only be a new experience for folks in this cinema, that was formerly a dump but it will re-define what attending the cinema should be compared to the mega-mart plexes that, to me, are simply soul crushing entities.
cheers,
tim
 

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Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 10-14-2006, 09:53 AM:
 
You need to provide more information. Are you just interested in the equipment costs, or are you including installation and a service contract? Are you including the costs of screens, screen frames, and masking systems? What about acoustical treatment for the auditoria?

What types of films will you be showing? If you are an art house, then digital sound is probably not a necessity, but support for Academy and 1.66 aspect ratios is. Do you need video and/or 16mm and/or 70mm capability, or will you be running 35mm only? Do you want changeover capability on one or more screens, or do you want platters for everything? Presumably you will want some sort of automation system for every screen, and there is a wide variety of equipment with a similar variety of capabilities and costs.

In addition to the equipment for each screen, you will also need some general booth equipment (rewind benches, splicers, reels, reel cabinets, etc.) and spare parts. You will probably also want a service contract for the equipment.
 

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Posted by Tim Massett (Member # 3512) on 10-14-2006, 10:09 AM:
 
You need to provide more information.

like i said before i know this is a loaded topic and i apologize for asking in such a vague way.

The screens in the auditoriums seem fine to me. The prior company ripped out all the projection and sound equipment so i am just interested in getting a approximate cost per screen. like i said, i had read that a 100 grand for each auditorium was the standard but that was in a publication written years ago.

the only additions to the auditoriums i need are tables, surround speakers and front speakers. the booths need everything from 6 projection heads, 6 lamphouses, 6 soundheads, 6 pedestals and 5 sound systems. i hear dts is a reasonable way to go. the theatre i run now just has dolby sr audio and it isn't too bad. it's not going to be a art house. well...i guess so but 4 screens will be full on studio fare and one screen for the smaller specialty film. films from the warner independents, fox searchlight et al. i will also be providing special retrospectives, midnights, and original programming such as THE BUFFY SING ALONGS and such.

i have a couple old timers that will be working with me to install everything.

i do want changeover capability for one auditorium, i do have a nice eiki 16mm 2000 watt pedestal projector to screen the occasional print, video will be in all screens as well .i have not looked into the big digital video systems and i know that will be something that i will have to get into down the line but it all seems up in the air, no?

again, apologies for giving everyone a headache with my naive query. i guess there is no reasonable way to estimate the costs.

cheers,
tim
 

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Posted by Demetris Thoupis (Member # 833) on 10-14-2006, 02:06 PM:
 
Well,
If you want to be really economical you could try the following solution:

DTS XD10P or USL JSD80 Processors (Both equally the same features) which are quite cheap and offer good sound reproduction in analog and if happy you can upgrade in Digital later either via DA20s for Dolby Digital or DTS 6D (used) or XD10 (new)for DTS.

JBL 2 way Screen Array series with 3310 surrounds. They can give pretty damn good sound when properly equalised (find a guy from these forums to do it for you. I am sure they will make a damn better job than any installation company in regards to service,installation,equalisation).

Crown Series Amps which are very good combined with JBLs. Of course if you want the best go for QSC amps. You pay for quality and reliability although Crown amps are very very good.

Kinoton FP20A projectors with lamphouses which are economical and very good quality or Cinemeccanicas V5's new or Used. Actually any Cinemeccanica projector will keep running long after we are all dead! You will compromise a bit on the supposed shaky picture on the Victoria projectors but no one will be able to see it except Mark

And for starters you can either get used platters or skip them and get your projectors with tower options. The Cinemeccanica has the V5-BS version which allows you to incorporate up to 5000m reels at each side of the projector with optional rewind capability. The Kinoton you would have to go with the FP25D series to accomodate that.

Well for starters I think that is about half the price you have read for each screen and considering mainly of new equipment. Don't spare expenses on the lenses, lamphouse and speakers. Especially these prefer to buy new ones. Well good luck to you.
Best Regards

Demetris
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 10-14-2006, 04:30 PM:
 

quote: Demetris Thoupis

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DTS XD10P or USL JSD80 Processors (Both equally the same features) which are quite cheap and offer good sound reproduction in analog and if happy you can upgrade in Digital later either via DA20s for Dolby Digital or DTS 6D (used) or XD10 (new)for DTS.

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quote: Demetris Thoupis

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Crown Series Amps which are very good combined with JBLs.

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quote: Mark Gulbrandsen

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DA-20's are long sold out and no more are being made.

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