A balance needs to be set. Perhaps the seniors pay $2 while others pay $10. Movies need to be DCP though.
And they should try to select classic movies that will bring a lot of folks (James Bond, Classic Horror, etc). Some movies may be rare but if they have low interest, not many will show up.
Not that I am defending the seniors here but some of them may be on a very limited budget where every dollar counts. I can sympathize with those in that position.
But then again a show cannot go on if it keeps operating at a loss.
Yes, the film series should indicate if it will be in DCP or DVD/Blu-ray. It would also be great if they can indicate if the DCP transfer was made from a 35MM film or DVD/Blu-ray. I’m sure many of us won’t mind paying $10 or more to see movies on DCP made from 35MM transfer.
Only 125? Hard to believe. I recall the theater being at least 80% full for Goldfinger. I could be wrong. Maybe only 125 paying movie-goers and the rest were seniors with free passes?
Theater was also full for Raiders of the lost ark and The Shining if I remember correctly.
Some movies in the classic series had low interest – the theater was only about 40% full.
Makes me wonder if a classic series season consisted of old films with huge demand and everyone had to pay to get in, it could have been more profitable. Just my opinion.
I learned about the classic series a little late (late 2000s). I still saw a couple of James Bond films during the series. Theater was packed both times. Shows how much interest there was.
If you had done a Fall or Spring season of just James Bond films, you would have had a packed theater for the entire season. LOL
Movieguy, that is great news. I guess I will start attending the classic series again. It is the next best thing to 35 mm film.
Wouldn’t be worth the trip if it was being shown from blu-ray.
Saw Zootopia at the Lafayette today – great movie at a great theater. Can’t wait to see the lineup for the classic series. Just wish they would indicate on the lineup which ones will be shown from a Blu-ray instead of DCP.
Thanks guys. I believe you are both correct. It will be very expensive to try to do something like this. Not really worth pursuing. I’ll toss the idea out for now. I’ll just settle for watching classic movies shown at other theaters.
HowardBHaas, I agree to some extent. But theaters make a profit by renting out – especially during times when they are sitting idle. And some of these historic theaters need all the revenue they can get just to stay afloat each year. By renting out, the theater is guaranteed the rental fee regardless of how many come for the show. It is the third party who is taking all the risk by renting – he/she may not even break even.
HowardBHaas, I see your point. Historic theaters are the only ones capable of having seat capacity of 800+ so they are ideal for a single show (in case 400 or come for the show). As a rough ballpark figure, how much do you think a historic theater would charge for rental?
jovanderlee, if you have direct contact with management at Barvadon, perhaps you can find out if they will even consider the idea of allowing a third party to
host a classic movie on their theater.
Thanks jovanderlee. Maybe I will give them a call and see. I emailed them and got no response. I would think it would be beneficial to the theater too since it would be more revenue for them. But of course I have never had a theater host a movie for me so I don’t know all the details.
The Bardavon 1869 opera house appears to be showing classic movies on a regular basis (Friday evenings). I wonder if they are showing 35 mm. Anyone been there who can confirm?
Emailed a couple of theaters about renting/showing classic movie and got no response back. LOL. I guess the idea is not really feasible for an individual.
Got it. Thanks guys. It would be a lot of fun to be able to choose a classic film myself that I think will bring a lot of folks and have a theater show it to see how it does. Would be well worth it if I break even or make a few extra bucks.
I know theaters can be rented out for private showing. But I would like to rent one out and show a classic movie commercially. Lafayette theater would have been perfect if it still had 35 mm capabilities. But if the movie I would like to show is available in DCP from a 35 mm transfer, that may work out too. Might be a good way to get more classic movie showings in the region. Not sure if it is even feasible without losing money
On average, how expensive would it be to rent the theater where the theater would do all the needful (the booking, showing, admitting, etc). I guess in this case, the individual will get the full cut of box office sales after the studio percentage.
Pete, any other theaters in the area that you know that may still have 35 MM projection capabilities that can show classic movies on 35 MM?
Not sure if you saw my post to movieguy but you think an individual can rent & show a classic movie at a theater on 35MM? Not sure what his/her chance would be at making any profit but if everyone needs to pay, maybe he/she has a good chance of at least breaking even.
Anyone see the 2 classic movies shown so far this season? If so, were they in DCP?
A balance needs to be set. Perhaps the seniors pay $2 while others pay $10. Movies need to be DCP though.
And they should try to select classic movies that will bring a lot of folks (James Bond, Classic Horror, etc). Some movies may be rare but if they have low interest, not many will show up.
Not that I am defending the seniors here but some of them may be on a very limited budget where every dollar counts. I can sympathize with those in that position.
But then again a show cannot go on if it keeps operating at a loss.
$2.00 admission? How are they going to recover the cost?
Sure wish they still had the October Horrorthon. I miss the good old days. Sigh.
Yes, the film series should indicate if it will be in DCP or DVD/Blu-ray. It would also be great if they can indicate if the DCP transfer was made from a 35MM film or DVD/Blu-ray. I’m sure many of us won’t mind paying $10 or more to see movies on DCP made from 35MM transfer.
Only 125? Hard to believe. I recall the theater being at least 80% full for Goldfinger. I could be wrong. Maybe only 125 paying movie-goers and the rest were seniors with free passes?
Theater was also full for Raiders of the lost ark and The Shining if I remember correctly.
Some movies in the classic series had low interest – the theater was only about 40% full.
Makes me wonder if a classic series season consisted of old films with huge demand and everyone had to pay to get in, it could have been more profitable. Just my opinion.
Hello Pete,
I learned about the classic series a little late (late 2000s). I still saw a couple of James Bond films during the series. Theater was packed both times. Shows how much interest there was. If you had done a Fall or Spring season of just James Bond films, you would have had a packed theater for the entire season. LOL
Would have liked to see some classic James Bond films.
Is this the classic series for Spring 2016?
http://www.lafayettetheatersuffern.com/1880/Robert-Benmosche-Family-Film-Festival-2016
Individual date says 2015 but I think that may be a typo.
Movieguy, that is great news. I guess I will start attending the classic series again. It is the next best thing to 35 mm film. Wouldn’t be worth the trip if it was being shown from blu-ray.
Saw Zootopia at the Lafayette today – great movie at a great theater. Can’t wait to see the lineup for the classic series. Just wish they would indicate on the lineup which ones will be shown from a Blu-ray instead of DCP.
Thanks guys. I believe you are both correct. It will be very expensive to try to do something like this. Not really worth pursuing. I’ll toss the idea out for now. I’ll just settle for watching classic movies shown at other theaters.
That’s cheap. LOL
HowardBHaas, I agree to some extent. But theaters make a profit by renting out – especially during times when they are sitting idle. And some of these historic theaters need all the revenue they can get just to stay afloat each year. By renting out, the theater is guaranteed the rental fee regardless of how many come for the show. It is the third party who is taking all the risk by renting – he/she may not even break even.
HowardBHaas, I see your point. Historic theaters are the only ones capable of having seat capacity of 800+ so they are ideal for a single show (in case 400 or come for the show). As a rough ballpark figure, how much do you think a historic theater would charge for rental?
jovanderlee, if you have direct contact with management at Barvadon, perhaps you can find out if they will even consider the idea of allowing a third party to host a classic movie on their theater.
Thanks jovanderlee. Maybe I will give them a call and see. I emailed them and got no response. I would think it would be beneficial to the theater too since it would be more revenue for them. But of course I have never had a theater host a movie for me so I don’t know all the details.
jovanderlee, do you know if the Bardavon shows its classic films in 35 mm?
The Bardavon 1869 opera house appears to be showing classic movies on a regular basis (Friday evenings). I wonder if they are showing 35 mm. Anyone been there who can confirm?
Emailed a couple of theaters about renting/showing classic movie and got no response back. LOL. I guess the idea is not really feasible for an individual.
Got it. Thanks guys. It would be a lot of fun to be able to choose a classic film myself that I think will bring a lot of folks and have a theater show it to see how it does. Would be well worth it if I break even or make a few extra bucks.
jovanderlee, good info on the Bardavon 1869 opera house. Very historic and a gem like the Lafayette theater.
I know theaters can be rented out for private showing. But I would like to rent one out and show a classic movie commercially. Lafayette theater would have been perfect if it still had 35 mm capabilities. But if the movie I would like to show is available in DCP from a 35 mm transfer, that may work out too. Might be a good way to get more classic movie showings in the region. Not sure if it is even feasible without losing money
On average, how expensive would it be to rent the theater where the theater would do all the needful (the booking, showing, admitting, etc). I guess in this case, the individual will get the full cut of box office sales after the studio percentage.
Pete, any other theaters in the area that you know that may still have 35 MM projection capabilities that can show classic movies on 35 MM? Not sure if you saw my post to movieguy but you think an individual can rent & show a classic movie at a theater on 35MM? Not sure what his/her chance would be at making any profit but if everyone needs to pay, maybe he/she has a good chance of at least breaking even.