Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Auckland IMAX to reopen

This is topic Auckland IMAX to reopen in forum Large Format Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=14;t=000141

Posted by Paul Cassidy (Member # 951) on 06-16-2006, 11:52 PM:

Well the big screen is about to light up again after spending much of the time as a MEGA screen showing the 35m prints blown up , but the real deal is back with the first movie "Superman Returns 3D" , "Open Season" , "Aunt Bully" and "Happy Feet" [beer]

Posted by Phillip Jackson (Member # 489) on 07-01-2006, 03:19 AM:

So the Imax projector has been there the whole time?
and if they gonna use it for Superman then why can't they keep screening Imax films?

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 07-02-2006, 08:33 PM:

Didn't Cinema-Plus used to own IMAx in NZ?

There's your answer right there. [puke]

Posted by Paul Cassidy (Member # 951) on 07-12-2006, 12:28 AM:

Yes looks like everything was still there , from the close . It did look abit strange when it was the Mega , as the screen remianed and the sound system , The IMAX is now run by Village Sky City , in the jointly run Hoyts and Village Queen Street complex . http://www.village.co.nz

This IMAX will continue , as a IMAX Experience .... but I guess when the numbers fall , they just run 35mm again , as it was the most popular place to watch the Blockbuster releases , for the same price as the other cinemas in the complex .

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 07-12-2006, 12:53 AM:

How's Superman going there Paul?

Posted by Paul Cassidy (Member # 951) on 07-13-2006, 03:41 AM:

TW LW Title Studio Wknd Gross% Change Count Av Total Gross Wk #
1 - Superman Returns WB $379,461 - 82 $4,628 $379,461 1
2 1 Click Sony $209,177 -38% 48 $4,358 $640,958 2
3 - Take the Lead Roadshow $190,683 - 31 $6,151 $190,683 1
4 2 Over the Hedge UIP $186,888 -31% 80 $2,336 $514,871 2
5 4 Cars BVI $107,862 -45% 82 $1,315 $1,292,312 4
6 3 The Fast Furious: UIP $99,998 -52% 56 $1,786 $896,009 3
7 5 The Break-Up UIP $39,052 -57% 41 $952 $608,967 4
8 6 The Da Vinci Code Sony $34,290 -49% 42 $816 $3,117,541 7
9 - Mistress of Spices Rialto $27,659 - 14 $1,976 $27,659 1
10 8 On Clear Day Hoyts $26,701 -17% 20 $1,335 $323,684 6
11 9 Tsotsi Rialto $21,430 -7% 16 $1,339 $172,073 5
12 7 X-Men: Last Stand Fox $16,538 -61% 34 $486 $1,794,014 6
13 - Aquamarine Fox $12,199 - 40 $305 $12,199 1
14 14 Kinky Boots BVI $10,122 -11% 18 $562 $408,031 13
15 12 Tara Road Rialto $10,007 -30% 12 $834 $104,724 5
16 15 Sione's Wedding Sony $6,242 -45% 23 $271 $2,455,182 14
17 17 Mrs. Henderson Hopscotch $5,159 -26% 24 $215 $897,657 14
18 19 Oyster Farmer Dendy $4,921 -27% 21 $234 $80,147 12
19 16 March Penguins Roadshow $4,639 -46% 20 $232 $642,364 14
20 18 Candy Dendy $3,531 -48% 7 $504 $67,082 5
$1,396,559 -38.7% 711 $1,531.87

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 07-13-2006, 04:36 AM:

Sorry, I meant at IMAX.

Posted by Paul Cassidy (Member # 951) on 07-13-2006, 05:08 AM:

Sorry John ..... I will need to talk to someone on the inside to find out .... this is a Press release about the reopening of the IMAX .
IMAX signs and opens theatre with SKYCITY Cinemas in Auckland, New Zealand
IMAX(R) Theatre to Open in Time for Day and Date Release of Superman
Returns: An IMAX 3D Experience

TORONTO, June 22 /CNW/ - IMAX Corporation (NASDAQ: IMAX; TSX: IMX), and
Village SKYCITY Cinemas, today announced an agreement to open an IMAX(R)
theatre in the Village SKYCITY Cinemas, Queen Street in Auckland, New Zealand.
Village SKYCITY Cinemas is a joint venture between SKYCITY Leisure - a
subsidiary of SKYCITY Entertainment Group, one of Australia's leading
entertainment and leisure companies, and Village Roadshow. The theatre is
scheduled to open in time to capitalize on the highly anticipated day and date
release of Superman Returns: An IMAX 3D Experience on June 28.
The opening of the IMAX theatre will mark the first time that moviegoers
in New Zealand will be able to see Hollywood movies that have been transformed
into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R).
"The unique combination of big Hollywood movies and The IMAX Experience
is getting people out of their homes and back into theatres worldwide," said
Joseph Moodabe, Chief Executive Officer of Village SKYCITY Cinemas. "The IMAX
theatre will improve bottom-line results for our business by drawing
incremental attendance to our multiplex with A-list movies presented in a way
that can't be replicated anywhere else in New Zealand."
"Our exciting summer film slate continues to drive exhibitor interest and
accelerate the expansion of the IMAX theatre network worldwide," said IMAX
Co-Chief Executive Officers Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler.
"Village SKYCITY Cinemas is recognized as a market leader for introducing new
technologies and presentation standards into its multiplexes in New Zealand.
We are thrilled to enter into a partnership with this innovative exhibitor to
offer moviegoers in New Zealand the most powerful and immersive cinematic
experience in the world."
The Queen Street IMAX theatre will be an upgraded version of an existing
IMAX theatre that was previously operating in the same location until early
2002. Now under the vision and management of a new operator, the theatre will
take advantage of an exciting pipeline of digitally re-mastered Hollywood
movies in both 2D and IMAX(R) 3D, to serve as THE premiere moviegoing
destination in Auckland.

About Village SKYCITY Cinemas
Village SKYCITY Cinemas is a 50/50 joint venture between SKYCITY Leisure,
a subsidiary of SKYCITY Entertainment Limited, one of Australasia's leading
entertainment and leisure companies; and Village Roadshow - one of the largest
exhibitors and distributors of movie titles in Australia.
Village SKYCITY Cinemas opened Gold Class cinemas in Auckland in December
2005, the first cinemas of this type in New Zealand. Village SKYCITY Cinemas
currently operate 68 screens throughout New Zealand and are eagerly awaiting
the opening of new cinemas in Queensgate (Lower Hutt, Wellington) and
Chartwell Square in Hamilton.

Posted by Paul Cassidy (Member # 951) on 09-03-2006, 04:10 AM:

As I thought , the IMAX is not a true IMAX but used only as a IMAX when they have new releases but when they get quiet , it turns into a MEGA Screen showing 35mm blown up to half the IMAX screen height "Snakes on a Plane" is currently taking most of the sessions with "Superman Returns: An IMAX 3D Experience" showing just one session .
web page

Posted by John Koutsoumis (Member # 1855) on 09-03-2006, 05:50 AM:

Paul at least you get to see Superman in IMAX unlike here in Melbourne where apart from 2 (Robots & Polar Express) we miss out on all the other full length features in 15/70 format [Frown]

Posted by Paul Cassidy (Member # 951) on 09-04-2006, 04:59 AM:

Yep ..... I guess at least we are able to get the IMAX experience again , and it is wise to use the quiet times to use the cinema as a Block Buster release cinema as well , as it is the largest cinema in the complex .

Posted by Darren Powell (Member # 3914) on 01-02-2007, 04:31 PM:

i must go check out this monster of a projector. iv been meanin to for a while now, just havnt been able to get there at a sutiable time [Razz]

Posted by Paul Cassidy (Member # 951) on 01-06-2007, 10:04 PM:

Good one Darren , I'm not too sure who is running the shows there , last I knew it was Steve Hensure (forgot how to spell his name)used to work at the Civic , but seems only to show 3D Imax , with "Polar Express" cuurently .

Posted by Darren Powell (Member # 3914) on 01-07-2007, 03:24 PM:

Bruce is running it [Smile]

i had an opertunity to go out there and work full time for Queen St and be an imax opperator but i decided to work for berkeley instead [Razz]

now workin at m.bay, wow there are some nice views out here hahaha. its gr8 to finnish a shift and walk up and down in the sun [Smile]

Posted by Paul Cassidy (Member # 951) on 01-09-2007, 10:51 PM:

Wow , Mission Bay is awesome , the best little theatre in town and sorry it was Steve Henshaw I was thinking of ,last I heard he was in the Fox film vault and working the Civic , but this is many moons ago , did you see the last pictures I took of the Mission Bay single on its last night , it is in the pictures link here in Film-Tech , it was me and the owner of the Crystal Palace who visited the last session of "Titanic" there . [thumbsup]

Posted by Darren Powell (Member # 3914) on 01-11-2007, 07:16 PM:

yeh awsome pics, thats dennis keith in the captains uniform, he has only just left the company. and yes, i have no idea y they have a 5 deck strong either, but its a pain in the ass. wen they re-opened they decided to get 2 3 deck so we have strong platters, YAY (not [Frown]

) they cause problem after problem for me.
omg i checked out the IMAX on monday, it was awsome ! def worth a look !

Posted by Dave Ritchie (Member # 4030) on 01-12-2007, 02:46 PM:

I am looking at going to Auckland and Imax after the school holidays i would love to have a look in the projection room does anyone know how ( or who i could call ) I could arrange this

Posted by Paul Cassidy (Member # 951) on 01-13-2007, 10:10 PM:

Hi Dave , best contact Darren [thumbsup]

Posted by Darren Powell (Member # 3914) on 01-14-2007, 12:15 AM:

hi, well i dont know if they let just any n e 1 up there. i know the guy thats how i knew i would b able to have a look. i would say the best thing to do is go in and just ask 2 speak to the seniour projectionist and say you are realy interested and wish see how it works. nothing wrong with asking.

Posted by Dave Ritchie (Member # 4030) on 01-14-2007, 01:46 AM:

Sounds good, i'll give it a go

Posted by Dave Ritchie (Member # 4030) on 02-08-2007, 02:24 AM:

I went to imax today for the first time and i must say i was impressed, went and asked to have a look in the projection room after the movie and got a guided tour, omg i would love to have a go at setting one of those beasts up one day,

Posted by Paul Cassidy (Member # 951) on 02-08-2007, 10:51 PM:

Well done Dave .... I would like to visit your cinema someday as well , will let you know when I'm coming down that way [beer]

Posted by Dave Ritchie (Member # 4030) on 02-09-2007, 05:17 AM:

Anytime Paul, Do you still have your ernemann 9's ?

Posted by Paul Cassidy (Member # 951) on 02-20-2007, 12:02 PM:

Yes Dave still got them , they came from the Mt Albert "De Luxe" cinema , which is now an apartment building , then went to the "westside" they have been great machines , I like the change over on them , still have the old rectifiers and screen , curtains , curtain runners etc and various other things from the "Westside" some bits are stored at the "Crystal Palace" cinema in Mt Eden Crystal Palace [beer]

Posted by Darren Powell (Member # 3914) on 04-18-2007, 06:59 PM:

thames theater. is that the little one inside the mall ? would love 2 have a look sum time aswell [Big Grin]

Posted by Dave Ritchie (Member # 4030) on 04-20-2007, 05:09 AM:

No we in the main street the one in the mall closed about 2 and a half years ago (was a grot hole by the end) The cinema i run has been open since 1913 if you want a look round let me know a few days before hand to make sure im around

Posted by Darren Powell (Member # 3914) on 04-23-2007, 04:53 PM:

awesome.. cheers 4 that [Smile]

Posted by Darren Powell (Member # 3914) on 04-25-2007, 06:01 PM:

ha who woulda fort i would have come down next day.. cheers 4 the tour dave [Big Grin]