Any theatre owners?

[sandnsea]

Does anybody own a theatre, know someone who does, or know about distribution of F9/11.

Here's the reason this guy is giving for not showing it here. The truth is, the guy is a fundie and has decided to set the morals for the city of Florence. He doesn't show anything that isn't PG13 or meet his moral standards. We miss alot of good movies in this town. Anyway, does anybody know how to find out if they are asking for a 4 week committment?

"But it's not politics that's keeping Moore out of Florence, theater owner Michael Morgan says. The problem is the coastal city's size. Moore's people wouldn't sell him the film unless he would guarantee to show it for four weeks. That's too big of a gamble for a market of fewer than 8,000 residents, Morgan says.

"Even with `Spider-Man,' they didn't ask for four weeks," Morgan says. "I only had to guarantee two weeks."

As a businessman, Morgan says he would never decide whether to play a movie because he did or didn't like it. He hasn't seen the documentary, but he plans to, he said.

As for the picketers: "Some people in this town are obviously using this as a personal agenda for their political views."

http://www.registerguard.com/news/2004/07/15/d1.cr.movieprotest.0715.html

[Rabid]

1. yep

Managed a theatre for years. 4 weeks is typical ... big movies like Spidey don't need the guarantee ..they will pull easy for 4 to 6 weeks. Smaller flicks often demand the 4 week carry, usually at a flat rate, or a percentage vs flat rate.

It could be true.

[Pab Sungenis]

2. It's a reasonable excuse.

Lion's Gate wouldn't even TALK with us about showing F911. We were apparently too small for them. They knew that they had a big hit, and wanted to milk it.

We usually run an average film from 3-6 weeks, depending upon attendance. We've jettisonned some films after only one week if we didn't have a commitment and they tanked.

If a distributor asked me for a four week commitment for something that didn't have a proven track record, I would say no and turn it down. He has a legitimate argument. Of course, he might be using it to cover up his real reasons for not showing it.

[sandnsea]

3. Thank you

I didn't know that about smaller movies. I guess I don't have much of an argument against him.