This is topic Gangs Of NY (booking question) in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.


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Posted by John Carpenter (Member # 1488) on 12-16-2002, 06:58 PM:
 
Was setting up our schedule for this next weekend today and found out that we are now not going to open "Gangs of NY" until the 25th. This was a change per Miramix. The commercials on TV in our area all say "starts Friday." Was wondering when most people out there are opening the film? Thanks!
 
Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 12-16-2002, 07:41 PM:
 
Gangs opens on 2500 screens on 12/20, per filmreleases.com 2002 Listing
 
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 12-16-2002, 08:25 PM:
 
I am opening two prints on the 20th.
 
Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 12-16-2002, 08:28 PM:
 
As far as the post-production office, it's the 20th. I finished
my last press/media screening today. (21 times [thumbsup] )
 
Posted by Kara J. McVay (Member # 1285) on 12-16-2002, 09:47 PM:
 
I am also opening "Gangs" on 12/25. My booker thinks that maybe they are having problems with prints. He said they told him they were going to open something like 1300+ on 12/20 then 800+ on 12/25. I am a small town, so one reason I am waiting. But it really works out better for me, I only have 3 screens, so makes my life easier to be on 12/25.
 
Posted by Don Anderson (Member # 397) on 12-16-2002, 09:48 PM:
 
We were to open it this friday. But, I was told today that it will now open on the 25th. By the way, I can count the ads of tv on one hand in the Milwaukee area. Tons of Lord of the Ring ads, hardly any GONY.
 
Posted by Jim Casterioto (Member # 1155) on 12-16-2002, 10:05 PM:
 
My theater is opening Gangs of New York on the 25th. Its interesting though, because several theaters that are about 20 minutes away are opening it on the 20th.
 
Posted by John Carpenter (Member # 1488) on 12-17-2002, 12:35 AM:
 
Well that is a bit of a relief that I am not the only one that is out there with this situation. The worst part about it is that our TV stations are advertising it as FRIDAY as they are in a different markets I guess. Sure will be some upset people when they come up to see it on Friday and we do not have it. [Confused]
 
Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 12-17-2002, 02:04 PM:
 
I did the final credit check of new reels 1 & 9 last Thursday with
Thelma. Because it was credited as a Miramax release. Now it is a
Miramax and Touchstone release. [thumbsup]
 
Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 12-17-2002, 06:08 PM:
 
Gangs of New York breaks in 1500~ theaters per Upcoming Movies. In the NYC metro the film opens on the break.

If Miramax is going with a 2-step rollout that means damage control to offset all the bad reviews. Also, Miramax is supposed to open Pinocchio on Xmas Day but the dubbing is going down to the wire.
 
Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 12-17-2002, 07:21 PM:
 
Bad reviews? Peter Travers of Rolling Stone had it placed number 1 in his top ten list. Ebert and Roeper gave it Thumbs Up. And Time Magazine was mostly positive. Hardly quote whores here.
 
Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 12-17-2002, 07:42 PM:
 
All the press screenings(21), I did in NYC. I had no walkouts.
Daniel Day Lewis just won Best Actor award here in NY for "Gangs".
 
Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 12-17-2002, 07:46 PM:
 
Of the 16 Gangs reviews currently on rottentomatoes.com, 12 are positive.

[Two Towers has 38 positive out of 39. [Cool] ]
 
Posted by John Carpenter (Member # 1488) on 12-17-2002, 09:21 PM:
 
Things are changing again. I guess my booker convinced Miramax that we should open on the 20th too. Bookings changed today and now we are opening 2 prints on Friday. I guess I wont have to face the angry mobs on Friday after all. Love the holiday season! [Wink]
 
Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 12-17-2002, 10:26 PM:
 
I guess I'm confused. I thought Gangs was moved from the 25th to keep from opening from Spielberg's new film (also with diCaprio). It seems there's some sort of (unspoken) studio agreement not to open two films with the same actor on the same day.
 
Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 12-18-2002, 11:13 AM:
 
Since Miramax has canceled all its advertising with the Village Voice I checked some of the New York-area bookings online.

The Edgewater Multiplex opens 1 print Gangs of New York -- and 2 prints Adaptation (New Jersey exclusive). The Loews Village VII in NYC opens 2 prints Gangs of New York -- plus 2 prints 25th Hour (Oscar Bait) and 1 print Narc (Oscar Bait).

This ain't no Titanic -- it's more like The Postman.

FWIW Peter Travers is a hack critic and the "Two Thumbs Up" guys are seen as hacks.
 
Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 12-18-2002, 01:33 PM:
 
Roger Ebert was the first (and only?)film critic (I believe) to win the Pulitzer Prize for film criticism. That's not exactly "hack" territory.
 
Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 12-18-2002, 05:01 PM:
 
Charles -

If Miramax were getting bad reviews, wouldn't they try to open more on the break so that they don't get nabbed by word of mouth?
 
Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 12-18-2002, 05:36 PM:
 
Maybe Miramax/Touchstone could only get 1500 screens for the opening.
Because over the last few weeks you had, alot of wide releases.
Die Another Day (3377 screens)
Harry Potter (3025)
Maid in Manhattan (2838)
Star Trek (2711)
Analyze That (2635)
Drumline (1835)

This week:
Two Towers (3622)
Wild Thornberry's (3000)
Two Weeks Notice (2500+)
Gangs of New York (1500)

What about next week with "Catch Me If You Can"?

Also "Gangs" is a long movie. 165mins., "Catch Me..." is 140 mins.
Miramax is not affraid of the reviews (right now they have 18 good &
4 bad). With all that product in the theatres, sometimes you can't
get all the screens you want.
 
Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 12-18-2002, 07:37 PM:
 
Miramax has the critics and Liz Smith, all bought and paid for. All the other pictures have the public -- who AREN'T bought and paid for.

Earlier post edited to more accurately reflect actual bookings.
 
Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 12-18-2002, 10:24 PM:
 
Someone at Miramax must be forgetting to mail out the critics' checks on time:

Waking Up In Reno
Ararat
Pokemon 4Ever
 
Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 12-19-2002, 07:18 AM:
 
Kara and Don A are not wrong: Several smaller theaters in New Jersey get Gangs of New York on Xmas Day.

As usual Miramax cares only about itself. The stack ad today in the Newark Star-Ledger tells why:
 
Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 12-19-2002, 02:43 PM:
 
Charles have YOU watched the picture? Oh are hearing this from other
people in the office?? The new reels ones will have the Touchstone Logo. We got the new Miramax/Touchstone reels checked as of last week by Thelma. The tail credits state SRD/SDDS/DTS. And for a person that has worked with the Director & Editor on this picture and that has run 21 screenings of the picture. That you state it omits the Touchstone logo and the SRD/SDDS/DTS. Yes the Touchstone logo, was
added late for the Press screenings. But the Sound logos have been
in place for the last month. That's why looking at the newspaper adds
only give you some of the answers. And Yes, I make a lot of money from Miramax. I think the picture is good and that's all that matters.
 
Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 12-19-2002, 03:57 PM:
 
Charles, what's the deal with you & Miramax? Enquiring minds want to know. [Confused] Did someone from Miramax pee on your popcorn or something? Or are you just being a troll [evil] ?

Display ads FREQUENTLY contain erroneous information. The use of the Touchstone logo would be spelled out in the contract between Miramax and Touchstone. Sound formats not listed correctly? What's surprising about that? I have a "Star Trek: Nemesis" 1-sheet on the wall behind me that doesn't have the DTS logo on it, only has Dolby. I guess that's PROOF POSITIVE the Miramax anti-DTS conspiracy has spread to Paramount.

GoNY opens here in Springfield tomorrow. Trust me -- that validates the use of the "Theatres Everywhere" claim.
 
Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 12-19-2002, 04:18 PM:
 
Maybe next week Charles will be pee ed at Focus for the release of
"The Pianist", they are giving away like a 50 page books on the film
for Academy screenings. Miramax are only giving away regular press
notes on their screenings for their films. [Big Grin]

Which studio is buying votes????
 
Posted by John Hawkinson (Member # 1135) on 12-19-2002, 05:34 PM:
 
Wow, tough crowd!
As long as we're editting: CHARLES: where's that long-promised picture?
 
Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 12-19-2002, 08:16 PM:
 
That's Right!

News Paper asst. vs. Studio post-projectionsist.

Paper vs. film

[Big Grin]

words vs. frames

Thanks Dave.
 
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 12-20-2002, 04:25 AM:
 
Well Bill, tell this Thelma person that she should release all of the prints simultaneously, for this movie will tank once people see how bad it is. There was staff in the auditorium screening this tonight that was all jazzed up to see this film...and EVERYONE ended up walking out! I have nothing good to say about this film at all. Anyone think I am kidding, just watch the first reel. The acting is unbelieveably bad. The movie was godawful. We're talking only slightly better than a Chuck Norris movie here.
[puke]

-
 
Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 12-20-2002, 08:20 AM:
 
I was going to stay out of this frey..but now that My Hero Walker is being dissed. A word of warning:Think twice before you answer the next knock on your door. [Eek!]
 
Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 12-20-2002, 08:54 AM:
 
Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa! The Clairidge isn't getting Gangs of New York after all -- it's brought back My Big Fat Greek Wedding [Big Grin] until Xmas Eve and is due to open Rabbit-Proof Fence on Xmas Day. Earlier posts edited to reflect this change.
 
Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 12-20-2002, 12:03 PM:
 
Thanks Brad. I'll tell Thelma. Maybe it's a New York thing [Big Grin]

After working with Marty & Thelma for the last 4 months on this, I'm glad it's finally getting released.
Post-Production was rough on this picture, but thats what you get
from working with top talent.

Thelma is Marty's editor.
 
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 12-20-2002, 08:10 PM:
 
quote:
My Hero Walker is being dissed
You're always joking Bob, right? Please tell me you are. [Wink]
 
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 12-21-2002, 01:27 AM:
 
I wish I could act as well as Chuck Norris. How many Academy Awards has he won? 9? 12? 15? Hard to keep track.
 
Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 12-21-2002, 08:37 AM:
 
Brad,

Don't tell Joe but I have never seen a Chuck Norris movie. I have seen, Walker Texas Ranger, and I liked Chuck Norris as Walker Texas Ranger.

Since Chuck is just a year younger than me (he's Paul Thompson's age) a mere baby, I feel I must stand up for him.

Besides Dwayne worked on his projects, running the rushes and letting the whole crew know about www.film-tech.com [Wink]
 
Posted by Dwayne Caldwell (Member # 417) on 12-21-2002, 09:12 AM:
 
Bob, I'd gladly welcome a bullet to the temple any day then work on a Chuck Norris project. [puke] I mean I'd have to end my life knowing I was involved in something like that anyway. But I have told the crew members (i.e. Chucky's cronies) about film-tech and they want to know if I can get any 70mm Chuck Norris films which we all know are extremely valuable collectibles. [Wink]
 
Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 12-21-2002, 10:16 AM:
 
Well, I think I know what is going on here. It is really Joe who runs the rushes for Chuck Norris,...but knowing the way that Brad and you feel about Chuck, he uses his skills as a co-moderator to pretend he is really Dwane Caldwell there-by giving the credit to you. Remember where Joe comes from..That's right he is always and forever on a Rocky
Mountain High. In the real world Chuck Norris is Joe Redifer's real life hero and the more he denies it...the more we know it is a true fact. [Smile]
 
Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 12-24-2002, 02:57 AM:
 
Does Miramax place their own ads in the New York area because of the large market? Because normaly Miramax doesn't use an agency to place their ads; the theatre/city managers place the ad and are therefore responsible for including correct information about locations and sound formats.
 
Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 12-24-2002, 07:17 AM:
 
Miramax's stack ads say the AMC Essex Green in West Orange NJ opens Gangs of New York on Xmas Day. Guess what? Antwone Fisher expands to NYC suburbs for Xmas -- and Essex Green will now open Antwone Fisher.

That's what a heavily hyped opening in back of JLo will do for you. [Big Grin]

FWIW Chicago opens in 30 cities day-and-date with NYC/LA. That tells me the Weinstein family is afraid of not one but two Oscar Bait flops.
 
Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 12-24-2002, 08:58 AM:
 
quote:
FWIW Chicago opens in 30 cities day-and-date with NYC/LA. That tells me the Weinstein family is afraid of not one but two Oscar Bait flops.
Or maybe they just want to exploit the 8 Golden Globe nominations Chicago receieved or the many reviewers that have like the film (yeah, I know, I'm sure they are all hacks).
 
Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 12-29-2002, 06:25 PM:
 
My premonition came true. Pinocchio has tanked -- it even got beat out by Chicago, rush-released by the same studio. Gangs of New York needed those extra theaters on Xmas Day to avoid a big 2nd-weekend dropoff.

Dustin: All stack ads in the NYC metro are agency ads. Most studios are diligent when it comes to getting theater names, towns, phone numbers and sound formats correct. Miramax is plain sloppy and often wrong.

Paul L: The AMC Hamilton opened Chicago on 12/27 -- day-and-date with the Ziegfeld in NYC. There were no ads for Chicago in the Trenton newspapers. Because there was no print advertising the only thing Miramax could rely on was a ton of hype. Miramax pulls this crap most every year -- ask our fellow Film-Techer Ian Price.
 
Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 12-30-2002, 12:46 AM:
 
From Variety:
Miramax's "Chicago" staged a particularly boffo bow, as the critically lauded musical grossed an estimated $2.1 million from 77 playdates in 22 markets.

Yeah, I guess that is a pretty good total, considering "no advertising." I wonder what will happen to the b.o. if they start running ads? (actually, I've seen quite a few ads). Print advertising has been losing some of its luster in the past few years, as distributors explore other avenues for targeting potential customers.

Charles, you seem to have this gleeful anti-Miramax attitude that seems almost spireful. Have you SEEN Chicago or Gangs of New York? It's like you are rooting for them to fail, sight unseen.
 
Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 01-06-2003, 04:12 PM:
 
Looks like the Weinstein family has set it off again.

The Mann National in Westwood/LA dropped Star Trek: Nemesis to pick up Gangs of New York. According to Leonard Klady of Movie City News, Paramount has retaliated by pulling all its product out of all Mann Theatres. That ban includes "Oscar Bait" titles Narc and The Hours.

The kicker is that Paramount is reportedly a part owner of the Mann circuit.
 
Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 01-06-2003, 04:27 PM:
 
That Mann move with the National is over a week old. "Gangs" opened
in Westwood at the smaller Festival Theatre, than moved over to the
National, so that "The Hours" could open in a medium sized house.
The Hours would have played better over at the Bruin. But Two Weeks
Notice is holding over in that house. "Gangs" opened in the main house
over at the Chinese in Hollywood. This musical theatres thing is old
news in Westwood. It happens every year around X-Mas and Summer. It
happened with Mann on Fox back in 1977, with Columbia in the mid 80's.
GCC had it happen in the mid 90's with Fox on the West Coast.

In Westwood, the two large theatres are the Village (1500) and the National (1125). The next theatre was the GCC Avco (1100)(but some bonehead, twinned the main house). The Bruin
and the Crest and the Festival Theatres are the next houses in demand by the studios.
 
Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 01-06-2003, 11:34 PM:
 
As Bill Gabel says, there is NOTHING new about what happened in Westwood. For years now, Mann has treated its Westwood singles like one multiplex, starting blockbusters in the bigger theatres and then shifting down. In it's second week, Star Trek fell badly, and in this era of the multiplex, a big single like the National can't afford to hold on to a film like that for long. And THE HOURS is STILL playing the Festival, proof it wasn't pulled. And NARC wasn't playing at Mann theatres at all, so it obviously hasn't been pulled.

Really, Charles, your anti-Mirimax bias is showing again. Yes, they are a publicity seeking studio. What distributor isnt? So they're able to get their movies good playdates. Well, good for them. ALL distributors want to do that. No one is going to nominate the Weinsteins for Humanitarian of the Year. Probably matters to their employees. I'm not one, though. From what one hears of movie moguls, they're probably tame by the pioneers of the industry.
 
Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 01-07-2003, 01:11 PM:
 
When Narc opened, it opened at three theatres in Los Angeles area.
Mann's Criterion in Santa Monica, Pacific's Arclight in Hollywood and
Loew's Century Plaza in Century City.

Thanks Paul very nicely put. [thumbsup]
 
Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 01-07-2003, 03:21 PM:
 
OOPS! Sorry about that, Bill. OK, NARC is STILL playing at the Mann Criterion, too.

BTW, THE HOURS is a co-production of Paramount and Miramax. It would be very foolish to play these games before the film even enters general release. Mann is a shadow of its former self. With the exception of its "keys" (and even these have lost some of their former clout due to the plexes in nearby areas), the chain is not very valuable. I can't imagine doing anything to jeopardze relations with studios especially since fthey are currently co-owned by the parents of WB and PAR.

It would have been easy, as I did, to check an online showtime guide to see whether the films were indeed yanked or not.
 




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