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Industry
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April 22, 2010
Future Kinopanorama Cinema in Australia
The Kinopanorama Widescreen Preservation Association, Incorporated, was formed on 27th January 2010 in Broken Hill, NSW, Australia. We have submitted our business plan to Federal and State funding agencies. We have purchased 3 projectors from The Aranda Group for modification. Fifth Continent Movie Classics owns a 7-track Rotovision 35mm recording/playback unit designed for any 6-perf 3-panel system. This unit, which will undergo modification to accept full-size reels, will be leased to the Association on a gratis basis.
Further details and updates are available from time to time on Facebook [Kinopanorama Widescreen Preservation Association] and our webpage.
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April 19, 2010
Critic thinks movie intermissions should be revived
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Peter Hartlaub of the San Francisco Chronicle thinks that intermissions should be a part of certain films once again. The last film that he can recall that had one was “Gandhi” in 1982.
One of my favorite Chronicle stories involved waiting in the lobby of the theater during an advance screening of the third “Lord of the Rings” movie, and interviewing the Tolkien fans running — no sprinting — from the theater to the bathroom in the last half of the marathon film. Every one of them wished it had an intermission. I also found a professional movie critic with one kidney, Chris Gore, who has to urinate more than most and has become an outspoken advocate of the return of the intermission.
With a greater number of popular movies approaching and sometimes exceeding three hours in length (even the lightweight “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” lasted 2 ½ hours) bringing the intermission back seems logical. Contrary to popular belief, the theater owners I’ve spoken to say they would like to have the option — they could sell more concessions, where they make the real money — but their contracts with the studios prohibit intermissions.
Read more in the San Francisco Chronicle.
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IMAX expanding installations in France
PARIS, FRANCE — IMAX has signed an agreement with Gaumont-Pathé, operator of the EuroPalace theather chain, to install IMAX-branded screens in Paris, Lyon, Rouen, and Toulose.
“It is clear to us that there is a strong demand for The IMAX Experience in France, particularly with the new catalog of movies like ‘Harry Potter,’ ‘Avatar’ and Alice in Wonderland,‘” EuroPalaces’ managing director Franck Lebouchard said.
EuroPalaces boasts 74 movie theaters and 747 screens in France in addition to locations in the Netherlands and in Switzerland.
The full story is in the Hollywood Reporter.
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April 14, 2010
Plans for movie theater in Chicago’s Block 37 still stymied
CHICAGO, IL — Although negotiations to open a cinema in Chicago’s Block 37 are still ongoing, the chances for success appear dim. The major issues involve construction costs and rent and the complications wrought by the ongoing property foreclosure proceedings.
“I really would love to do a theater,” said Whalen in an interview with the Tribune. “But given the uncertainty of whether Bank of America and the other lenders would fund the required tenant allowance to construct a theater, at some point, we have to move on.”
Muvico Entertainment LLC, one of the first tenants to agree to lease space at the long-troubled retail development in 2007, initially pulled out of the project last June, setting off a string of events that led Bank of America to move to foreclose on Block 37 developer Joseph Freed and Associates in late October.Read more in Chicago Breaking Business.
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Spokane’s independent theaters struggle to get current films
SPOKANE, WA — Independent theaters in Spokane (and other cities) are facing increasing challenges in securing both current releases and independent films due to a number of factors. The large chains dominate the distribution of major films, and there are fewer prints available of art and independent films.
The Garland Theater’s only crime is selling movie tickets for $3.50. For that, they suffer.
“They categorize us,” owner Kathy Fritchie says. Labeled a “third-run” movie theater, most distributors refuse to give the Garland movies until after Regal and AMC have finished.
Studios make their money by taking a percent of movie profits. It makes sense that they’d rather get a chunk of $8 instead of $3.50. To receive films the day of release, all Garland would have to do is raise its prices — but then it wouldn’t be the Garland, would it?The whole story is can be read here in the Inlander.
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April 12, 2010
Regal introducing new premium RPX big screen installations
KNOXVILLE, TN — Although it already has over forty IMAX installations, Regal Entertainment group, the nation’s largest theater operator, will be introducing its own proprietary giant screen digital format to be called the Regal Premium Experience or RPX. The first will be open May 15 at the Regal E-Walk Stadium Cinemas 13 in NYC.
“Regal patrons have shown a strong preference for viewing films in premium environments,” stated Greg Dunn, President and Chief Operating Officer for Regal Entertainment Group. “Each RPX location will be individually designed and tailored by our technicians and will feature high-quality digital projectors and screens complemented by a custom surround sound system. The addition of the RPX locations to Regal’s already successful IMAX® strategy will complement and extend the number of Regal theatres featuring premium movie-going experiences.”
Read the full press release in Market Watch.
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March 30, 2010
Final Season for ‘At the Movies’
The TV show that introduced many to Siskel and Ebert will be leaving the airwaves this summer. While we talk so often about what’s changed in the theater industry, the distribution of information on films has also been redefined in the internet age.
Disney-ABC Domestic Television, which distributes “At the Movies,” and ABC Media Productions, which produces it, said in a statement late Wednesday that the current version of the show, which is hosted by Michael Phillips of The Chicago Tribune and A. O. Scott of The New York Times, would broadcast its last original episode the weekend of Aug. 14.
The demise of “At the Movies” was a blow to the legions of armchair reviewers it spawned in its many incarnations, some of whom went on to professional careers in criticism. “It’s impossible to overestimate the impact of what Gene and Roger did,” Mr. Scott, the co-chief film critic at The Times, said in a telephone interview. “Any one of us who’s doing this now, on any platform or in any medium, is following them.”
Read more in the New York Times.
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Best movie theaters in Dallas
DALLAS, TX — An article in Moviefone takes a look at Dallas' best movie theaters, some historic and some more modern.
A large portion of Dallas entertainment lies in its deluxe movie theaters, many of which offer the newest in cutting edge theater technology and service. Others draw a loyal following through their smart use of unusual theater offerings that are considered less-than-normal by today’s standards. Of the countless movie theaters in the Dallas metropolitan area, five of them stand out among the rest, offering superior guest services, relaxing theaters, over-the top concessions and an exceptional movie watching experience.
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March 29, 2010
The Cinema Preservation Group now offers in-house equipment financing for start up and established theatres.
ASHEVILLE, NC — In the current economic climate, banks and other financial institutions have dramatically scaled back lending to start up theaters. Even established theaters have felt the squeeze in these tough economic times. Barry Flood, owner of the Tryon Theatre in Tryon North Carolina, said “between studios taking a 50% + take on second run tickets and the banks tightening lending, financing the booth equipment would be a great way for a theatre to become established faster and with less headache.”
In-house financing for start up and small established theaters has been a non-existent way to purchase equipment until now. This new offering will allow theater owners to act quickly, enabling them to open additional auditoriums or open a new theater in time for busy seasons.
The group has a specific line of items theaters can finance such as most used projectors, lamp houses, sound heads, sound processors, speakers, wire, amplifiers, lenses, aperture plates, platters, makeup tables and other 35MM components. Applications are processed within 24 hours and equipment can normally be shipped within 10 to 15 days.
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March 26, 2010
Price increases for 3-D movies in effect today
According to a Wall Street Journal article, 3-D ticket prices at the top three theater chains, AMC, Cinemark, and Regal, will take effect today. The increases will be very large, up by 26% in most theaters. This comes as the success of movies such as Avatar and Alice turned things around for the morbund 3D genre. As more and more movies come out in 3D and theaters get more 3D screens installed, higher grosses for 3D versions of regular movies will pump some much needed cash in Hollywood’s banks.