Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: About Schmidt -- wide release?

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Posted by Evans A Criswell (Member # 381) on 01-15-2003, 10:07 AM:

I notice that according to Fandango, there is one theatre in Nashville, TN (Regal Green Hills 16) and one in Birmingham, AL (Carmike Summit 16) showing "About Schmidt" (it has Jack Nicholson in it). Will this movie eventually have a wider release so that a theatre in the Huntsville area (3 theatres with 40 screens total) will run it?

According to filmreleases.com, the movie oepned on December 13, 2002 and had a "wide release" to 813 theatres on January 3, 2003. That's an average of 16 theatres per state, meaning there should be many more theatres showing this movie. What's up?

Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 01-15-2003, 10:42 PM:

This movie is currently on 865 screens (as of last weekend). Most of these are saturated in major markets (think top 25-40). This is one of those pictures that will probably not expand much more, but rather, look for it to "move" to smaller markets as it starts losing playdates. Most smaller markets will play this one "off the break."

Posted by Darren Crimmins (Member # 1116) on 01-15-2003, 11:15 PM:

Also, since this movie has been out for about a month, you think that they might have started to make DTS discs since the movie does have timecode on the film. I have enquired with other theaters around my area if they have received thier discs yet, but none have. Even though it is primarily a dialog movie, it would be nice to have it run through a digital sound system, besides SRD. I have heard that DTS is supposed to be on top of this, but that was a couple of weeks ago, and still nothing. [Frown]

Posted by John Hawkinson (Member # 1135) on 01-16-2003, 01:04 AM:

Hmm...has it ever happened that a film releases without DTS discs and then they come later? In recent years?
I understand that before release discs are hard to come by, but I was under the impression that films with timecode but without discs were that way because someone changed their mind partway through the process.

--jhawk

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 01-16-2003, 02:21 AM:

I emailed Karen almost 2 weeks ago regarding discs and at that time they were going to the press. I have no idea what the holdup is on this movie, but I wish I could get a set. (This is where it would be useful to be able to download and burn my own set.)

Posted by Evans A Criswell (Member # 381) on 01-16-2003, 09:19 AM:

Typically, Regal Madison Square 12 here shows many such movies a while after their initial release. If a theatre here in Huntsville gets this movie, they probably will.

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 01-16-2003, 11:23 AM:

Huntsville didn't open About Schmidt on the national break? Blame Miramax! [Razz]

The Hollywood 18 opened 2 prints of Chicago, thus no room for About Schmidt.

OTOH New Line might be waiting until Regal has removed all the fixed-ratio screens in Huntsville. That way people can see a scope movie (like About Schmidt) without any of the image chopped off.

Regal is actually good at getting upmarket/arthouse product into Huntsville. The Madison Square 12 currently has Bowling for Columbine (ends today) and Far from Heaven. The Hollywood 18 opens Adaptation and Antwone Fisher tomorrow (Antwone Fisher going wide).

Now if Regal can only do the same here in New Jersey . . .

Posted by Coleman L. Zatarain (Member # 1559) on 01-16-2003, 11:35 AM:

I am opening a print in Montgomery, Alabama tomorrow. Mid-South was supposed to deliver it last night but was a no show [Confused]

. Hopefully it will be there this afternoon.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 01-16-2003, 11:36 AM:

FYI About Schmidt is a 1.85 flat movie.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 01-16-2003, 11:47 AM:

They are waiting until "About Schmidt" gets Oscar buzz before really expanding it. It's not right to make a movie if you can't get any Oscar buzz out of it.

Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 01-16-2003, 12:06 PM:

quote:
Huntsville didn't open About Schmidt on the national break? Blame Miramax! The Hollywood 18 opened 2 prints of Chicago, thus no room for About Schmidt

And Miramax is to blame for Global Warming, too. In Bakersfield, ABOUT SCHMIDT is playing at both a 14 and a 16 plex. Neither one is showing CHICAGO. So two screens of CHICAGO shouldn't prevent ABOUT SCHMIDT from being booked at an 18-plex. Should we blame the distributors of the movies occupying the other 16 screens there?
So perhaps there may very well be OTHER reasons for the bookings (or lack of), Charles?

quote:
New Line might be waiting until Regal has removed all the fixed-ratio screens in Huntsville. That way people can see a scope movie (like About Schmidt) without any of the image chopped off.

Do studios really take this into account when booking films outside of L.A. or New York? Do they keep records of screen dimensions? I'm not saying they SHOULDN'T, but do they?

Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 01-16-2003, 01:33 PM:

Charles -

Print availability is print availability. No "Blame Miramax" here. If there is anyone to "blame," blame the film buyer. More likely, though, blame New Line. If the print is not available, it's not available. Not enough room? I'm sure the film buyer really would rather have held over Treasure Planet/Hot Chick this week, rather than finaling them for "About Schmidt." Maybe Miramax told them they weren't allowed to. Come on Charles, the world does not revolve around Miramax. Yes, they are pushy around this time of the year, and probably only good for about the first quarter business-wise, but that push is what makes these movies do so much business.

Posted by Evans A Criswell (Member # 381) on 01-16-2003, 03:39 PM:

quote:
OTOH New Line might be waiting until Regal has removed all the fixed-ratio screens in Huntsville. That way people can see a scope movie (like About Schmidt) without any of the image chopped off.

Last I heard, there were only 3 of the 18 screens at Hollywood 18 remaining to be upgraded to adjustable masking. For all I know, they might be done. I don't know how the Madison Square 12 ones are coming. I don't want to bug the person providing me the information too often. [Smile]

Anyway, if "About Schmidt" is flat, the screen ratio is a non-issue since the fixed-ratio screens were 1.85:1.

It's going to be a cold, possibly icy, weekend here in Huntsville, so I probably won't be going off anywhere far this weekend to see any movies.

Posted by James R. Hammonds, Jr (Member # 673) on 01-17-2003, 04:03 AM:

20 bucks says Charles doesn't respond with a valid reason why Miramax should be blamed.

Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 01-17-2003, 11:51 AM:

About Schmidt added 81 screens this week to bring the total to 81. It is now showing in Mankato, MN (DMA #199).

[ 01-19-2003, 10:51 AM: Message edited by: Mike Spaeth ]

Posted by Adam Fraser (Member # 1074) on 01-18-2003, 11:53 PM:

Forgive me for the stupid question but what is DMA?

Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 01-19-2003, 10:52 AM:

Adam -
Designated Market Area. It's used by Nielsen (TV ratings) as well as AC Nielsen (Box Office Tracking) to track figures market-by-market. If you go to www.nielsenmedia.com, and click on DMA's, you can see a listing of all 210 DMA's in the US at this time.

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 01-19-2003, 03:53 PM:

Didn't they used to call them ADI's (Area of Dominant Influence)? Or was ADI an Arbitron term while DMI is Neilsen's?

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 01-22-2003, 10:33 AM:

Manna from heaven for Evans! In Huntsville, the Regal Hollywood 18 gets About Schmidt [Smile]

starting Friday (1/24).

Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 01-26-2003, 10:07 AM:

Added 290 runs this week, bringing it to a total of 1,236.

Posted by Evans A Criswell (Member # 381) on 01-28-2003, 10:58 PM:

quote:
Manna from heaven for Evans! In Huntsville, the Regal Hollywood 18 gets About Schmidt starting Friday (1/24).

I went to see it earlier tonight -- very enjoyable. Jack Nicholson must be an eccentric old man in real life, because he sure is good at playing that type of character.