Oscars Drawing Near & Valentine's Day (Feb 11, 2009)
Posted by Reel Mountain Theater on Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Last
week we hosted the Rotary Club for an evening event, and one of the
things we did was to tour the projection room. Seemed like a standard
tour- showing people generally how things work- but I was approached in
the days following by folks that had been on or heard about the tour,
about some very specific questions regarding the movie process.... Not
just projectors and popcorn, but how it ALL comes together. In the next
few issues of our newsletter, I'll share the inside details about how
'it' works. Not just putting in a DVD and adjusting the volume...
This week: Selecting films.
We work with a booker, that is our liason with the film companies. He handles over a hundred screens across the country, mostly independent theater owners, some multiplexes. He has been in the business for a long time, and is well known to all of the film industry folks- this business is about relationships. Verl (the booker) and I will talk on Monday and look at the weekend's attendance, forecast what a film will do if it holds, and evaluate what new films are available to us the coming Friday. Some titles are booked well in advance- if we know they will be released with enough prints for us to get one, and if it holds promise for the Estes Park audience- which varies winter/summer. SOmetimes Verl is confident ina title that will do well nationally, but I know will bomb here. Sure, there are 50 people that would LOVE a slasher horror movie to be opened here on the break- but after those 50 people come (or don't), we're left holding a new film for 2-3 weeks! So we have to look at the whole run and determine if there's the audience to support it. You'll have to admit we're tried just about every type of film, and if they bomb, we make mental notes for the next one offered in that genre. (Your attendance not only supports our daily operation, but shapes the way we book films). An important part of the booking process is considering the terms of the deal. In the old days, bookers bid on films- they offered terms to film companies- and the companies took the best terms for them. Now, we are subject to standard terms for all exhibitors that range from paying rent of between 35 and 90% of a films ticket revenue. Seems simple, until a theater does really well with a film and the film company comes back to raise the rental due because of higher than expected grosses. Sure we could say 'no thanks', but we won't be booking another film from that company until the account is settled. We choose to keep our accounts current.
Once we have decided on the lineup, and Verl has 'confirmed the dates', we can advertise the titles and start working on promotions, advertising and scheduling. Every week is different. You may recall the Charlie & The Chocolate factory promo several years ago: huge spread with stuff to dip in the flowing chocolate fountain- THAT was fun! Other promotions might include coloring contests or dress up like the character contest etc... All of that is assembled between Monday and Friday. It'd always a fun challenge to put together something new, to attract the right crowd.
Next week: The logistics of getting a film on the screen.
This week: Selecting films.
We work with a booker, that is our liason with the film companies. He handles over a hundred screens across the country, mostly independent theater owners, some multiplexes. He has been in the business for a long time, and is well known to all of the film industry folks- this business is about relationships. Verl (the booker) and I will talk on Monday and look at the weekend's attendance, forecast what a film will do if it holds, and evaluate what new films are available to us the coming Friday. Some titles are booked well in advance- if we know they will be released with enough prints for us to get one, and if it holds promise for the Estes Park audience- which varies winter/summer. SOmetimes Verl is confident ina title that will do well nationally, but I know will bomb here. Sure, there are 50 people that would LOVE a slasher horror movie to be opened here on the break- but after those 50 people come (or don't), we're left holding a new film for 2-3 weeks! So we have to look at the whole run and determine if there's the audience to support it. You'll have to admit we're tried just about every type of film, and if they bomb, we make mental notes for the next one offered in that genre. (Your attendance not only supports our daily operation, but shapes the way we book films). An important part of the booking process is considering the terms of the deal. In the old days, bookers bid on films- they offered terms to film companies- and the companies took the best terms for them. Now, we are subject to standard terms for all exhibitors that range from paying rent of between 35 and 90% of a films ticket revenue. Seems simple, until a theater does really well with a film and the film company comes back to raise the rental due because of higher than expected grosses. Sure we could say 'no thanks', but we won't be booking another film from that company until the account is settled. We choose to keep our accounts current.
Once we have decided on the lineup, and Verl has 'confirmed the dates', we can advertise the titles and start working on promotions, advertising and scheduling. Every week is different. You may recall the Charlie & The Chocolate factory promo several years ago: huge spread with stuff to dip in the flowing chocolate fountain- THAT was fun! Other promotions might include coloring contests or dress up like the character contest etc... All of that is assembled between Monday and Friday. It'd always a fun challenge to put together something new, to attract the right crowd.
Next week: The logistics of getting a film on the screen.
