This is topic Are some chains gun-shy on Columbine? in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 11-02-2002, 11:36 AM:
Bowling for Columbine is doing well for a limited release but you wouldn't know it from the bookings.Either MGM is not aggressive enough in getting this movie into theaters or -- this is what I fear -- some chains are gun-shy about showing it.
Loews is playing Columbine but not in their New Jersey megaplexes (New Brunswick, Jersey Gardens, Cherry Hill). National Amusements is playing Columbine but not in New Jersey. Regal is playing Columbine but not in New Jersey or southeast Pennsylvania. AMC apparently is not playing Columbine at all.
I can see why the New York-area chains opened Auto Focus and/or Comedian yesterday -- The Core got pushed back to early 2003. Why would these theaters pass on Columbine when that movie had the highest per-theater average in the national top 20 last week? Are the chains afraid of being targeted by the right wing?
Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 11-02-2002, 12:55 PM:
We aren't a chain. We were pretty agressive about booking Bowling for Columbine. I saw Bowling for Columbine at the Telluride Film Festival and found that there wasn't anything objectionable in it. MGM had a hard time commiting to our date but they relented in the end.Last week was it's first week here and we did over $11,000 on it. This week looks like a repeat.
Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 11-02-2002, 07:00 PM:
Cinemark Tinseltown Plano, TX opens the picture on 11/8.
Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 11-02-2002, 08:47 PM:
If the film is selling tickets, the chains will book it more widely.
Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 11-04-2002, 09:55 AM:
Only ONE theater showing it in the Orlando area -- the Regal Winter Park Village. This was the same theater that was the only one scheduled to open One Hour Photo when that was still slated as limited. Perhaps "Bowling" will go wider, or expand when Oscar Fever catches on.=TMP=
Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 11-05-2002, 02:46 AM:
The film's UK release is next Friday. Michael Moore was interviewed on BBC radio's Start the Week programme yesterday: you can hear it by clicking here.
Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 11-05-2002, 06:57 PM:
Two Regal megaplexes near Philadelphia -- Marketplace at Oaks (Norristown), Warrington Crossing -- go Bowling for Columbine on Friday.No Regals in New Jersey are getting Columbine. Neither are the AMC Hamilton (methinks AMC has banned the movie) and Loews New Brunswick (holding 3 prints of Jackass in its 3rd week).
Posted by Ky Boyd (Member # 23) on 11-07-2002, 02:22 PM:
As of last weekend there are only about 150 prints of Bowling for Columbine playing around the country. Unless you are pursuing a strictly regional release strategy, you don't do multiples in narrow areas with only 150 prints. Also FYI, the film is working much better at dedicated arthouses and multi's that consistently play art product than it is at the megas. Thus MGM is handpicking where they go to get maximum value out of limited prints. It's a smart strategy. Rather than blowing the film out in a couple of weeks they are creating demand by having limited availability. For theatres this is a good thing too. It translates into longer runs.
Posted by Darren Briggs (Member # 1071) on 11-07-2002, 04:26 PM:
Were showing it later this month, looks good form the trailers.
Posted by Mathew Molloy (Member # 666) on 11-08-2002, 09:54 AM:
We were one of the few theatres in the country who opened this film, unfortunately our buyer didn't think it would have legs and pushed back it's three-week run to two weeks. What a loss! We went from sell-out shows to nearly no-shows for the film that replaced it (that being Roger Dodger).I'm finding this tactic of opening films like Columbine and One Hour Photo slowly at select theatres to be a good one.
It's a pretty well done film even though Michael Moore has a tendancy to bring up issues without offering any reasonable solutions. Sometimes he looks more foolish than those he's questioning, but I'm glad to see it's doing business.
Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 11-13-2002, 11:02 AM:
AMC will go Bowling for Columbine after all. In Times Square the pic will move this Friday from the Loews E-Walk to the AMC Empire (Loews needs the screen for Harry Potter).Ky: Columbine is on fewer screens than Frida, Comedian or Auto Focus. Most megaplexes that run upmarket/arthouse product won't go near Columbine for political reasons. That looks small-minded since Comedian is stiffing and Auto Focus has tanked.
Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 11-14-2002, 01:48 PM:
I have numerous high school groups calling me up to arrange screenings of Bowling for Columbine for their classes. I have one running now. I have one scheduled for tomorrow morning, Monday morning, Wednesday during regular show times, Thursday morning and I just had one more call who may want to piggyback on to one of my other screenings.I also have another high school class in watching Frida at the moment. I have now scheduled 1 class for Frida and 4 or 5 classes for Columbine. This is without any marketing on my part.
My standard deal is $5 per student. Teacher collects the cash and presents me with a student count and a check or cash. Teachers get in for free. So far we have done these without a contract or anything formal. This morning I have made $650 before opening my doors to the public.
Both of these movies are rated R and I ask the teachers to make sure they have permission slips from the parents. I don't need to see the permission slips; I just make sure the teachers have them.
Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 4594) on 11-16-2002, 12:49 AM:
We're not a chain but have been running it for a few weeks now. The attendance is fairly good, I believe our #3 movie behind Greek Wedding and Frida. Like Ian and Ky's theater we have also had many schools calling us up wanting to book shows. We have not yet made any definate plans but 2 of the local colleges are looking into it, both for film students.
I peeked in the theater a few times and it looks very interesting, definatly something I want to see.
Posted by Michael Brown (Member # 890) on 11-19-2002, 09:00 AM:
It's apparently had its UK release last Friday. Nowhere near me is showing it. Two words -Harry Potter.
Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 11-30-2002, 09:12 AM:
This picture opens at the Cinemark Movies 16 - Lubbock, TX, and the Cinemark Varsity Twin in Ames, IA on Friday, 12/6.
Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 11-30-2002, 01:28 PM:
We have had Bowling for Columbine for 4-weeks now.
Yesterday it did 415 people and is our top film.
Monday I have more school groups coming to see it.
Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 11-30-2002, 03:39 PM:
I have noticed a strange phenomenon with Bowling for Columbine. The film attracts a younger audience than we usually attract here at the Rialto. A large percentage of them arrive to the film up to 20 minutes late and they don't seem to mind when we tell them that the film has started. Up to about 12% of them are late arriving to the movie. Is lateness a feature of the younger generation? I always try to arrive to a film about 5-10 minutes early. In my zeal to see a film I have often waited 20 minutes for a film to start. Yes it is boring but I want a good seat and I want to see all the trailers. If I arrive late and it's still in previews I don't mind, but I can't believe all these kids who gladly pay $8.50 and waltz in to a film 20 minutes late. ![[Confused]](confused.gif)
Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 1016) on 12-01-2002, 05:01 PM:
Ian, are you talking about me???
Oh no, you can't be....never been to the Rialto! Sorry.
Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 1016) on 12-02-2002, 07:59 PM:
We have a group of about 350-400 high school students coming in this week for Columbine, there's no better way to raise your P/C! ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Posted by Darren Briggs (Member # 1071) on 12-08-2002, 08:05 AM:
Michael,
Take a trip to York on Sunday the 15th Dec as you can come see 'Lawrence of Arabia' in 70mm the 'Bowling for Columbine' later that day too!
You can even see LOTR I or even Harry Potter II!
Darren
Posted by Ky Boyd (Member # 23) on 12-10-2002, 06:41 PM:
The high school groups on Bowling for Columbine were definitely interesting. With more suburban middle class schools everybody wanted popcorn with butter and soda. With the more urban schools the students weren't interested in concessions. Overall, all the school groups were good experiences. Not having attending high school for 20 years, I guess teaching has changed a great deal and feature films are a regular part of the classroom activity.
On the grossing front, Bowling has much better legs than Frida (sorry Selma) or Far From Heaven. It's one of those rare pictures that does strong repeat business.
Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 12-31-2002, 03:25 AM:
Opens Cinemark Tinseltown - Vancouver, BC on 12/31/02.
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 12-31-2002, 11:37 PM:
Brad or Joe, please delete. I'll post it where it belongs.
Thanks
Posted by Jason Whyte (Member # 1433) on 01-02-2003, 12:38 PM:
"Opens Cinemark Tinseltown - Vancouver, BC on 1/3/03."
That's because it's been playing at Alliance Atlantis Fifth Avenue ever since it's incredibly busy run began October 11th. They just got their print.
The film is STILL playing in Victoria (from October 18th) as of today. Not sure how much longer it will last, but that's mighty impressive!
Jason
Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 01-07-2003, 11:41 PM:
Opens 1/10/03 at the Cinemark Hollywood USA in Amarillo, TX.
Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 01-28-2003, 05:25 PM:
Opens, Friday January 31 at:
Cinemark Movies 10 - North Canton, OH
Cinemark Tinseltown 17 - Erie, PA
Posted by Chris Markiewicz (Member # 1415) on 01-28-2003, 08:28 PM:
Plays 2/21 to 2/23/03 at Kahilu Theatre, Kamuela, HI.
Posted by Michael Hunt (Member # 772) on 01-30-2003, 04:05 PM:
Played here in Gloucester UK for two nights last week - sold out the first night so it got moved into our larger screen as for once, this wasn't being used for other activities (like live music)
Came to us on a crossover, and left us the day after the final screening on a crossover...
Don't think the distributor in the UK had enough prints, they'd wanted to collect it at noon on our last screening day, doh!
Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 1016) on 01-31-2003, 06:39 PM:
GLOUCESTER!!! Sorry...
Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 02-12-2003, 10:04 AM:
With that Oscar nomination MGM ought to get Bowling for Columbine into more theaters ASAP. MGM said last fall it could do ~900 prints if need be.
The Regal Plymouth Meeting 10 outside Philly adds Bowling for Columbine on Friday. Timely and smart -- timely as 5 of the 10 screens will have Oscar nominees, smart because this Regal splits product with a nearby AMC.
Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 02-12-2003, 10:46 AM: