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The latest movie theater news and updates
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December 18, 2009
Avatar’s Midnight Screenings
Variety is reporting that James Cameron’s new film “Avatar” grossed $3.5 million in midnight screenings at roughly 2,000 locations last night. While the trade journal refers to it as a “strong start” for the “sweeping 3D sci-fi fantasy,” Nikki Finke at Deadline Hollywood Daily is throwing a bit of cold water on the film’s expectations by noting that “last night there weren’t the usual reports pouring in to me of long lines and sold-out theaters after midnight, except for the IMAX 3D venues. Instead, Internet chatter and anecdotal accounts indicate moviehouses showing Avatar were not playing to packed houses – at least not yet.” Friday matinees are supposedly strong, however.
Finke does add one interesting quote from Steven Spielberg (“after screening it on the Fox lot”): “The last time I came out of a movie feeling that way it was the first time I saw Star Wars.”
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Southeast’s Georgia Theaters select Christie’s DLP Cinema Projectors
CYPRESS, CA — Christie, the digital cinema leader with 70% of all installations worldwide, announced that Christie’s CP2000-ZX DLP Cinema projectors will be purchased by Georgia Theatre Company, a cinema chain with over 270 screens in 27 locations, including Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Virginia. Part of Cinedigm’s (NASDAQ: CIDM) Phase 2 digital cinema deployment program, Georgia Theatres plans to install over 250 Christie projection systems exclusively throughout their circuit. Currently, a total of 40 Christie systems are installed and operating, with additional installations taking place ahead of the holiday theatrical releases and the eagerly anticipated James Cameron’s “Avatar” movie in 3D, as well as throughout 2010.
“Service and experience with digital equipment installations are two major factors in our selection of Christie digital projectors and Christie Managed Services,” noted Aubrey Stone, president of Georgia Theatre Company. “We tested their units for a year and we were very impressed. The picture on the screen was excellent. Along with their technology and lowest cost of operation, Christie’s track record of installing thousands of screens worldwide was also an important consideration in our decision.”
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Next Twilight movie to be IMAXed for next summer
According to Zap2it, the next movie in the Twilight saga, “Eclipse”, will get the IMAX treatment when it comes out next summer. This marks the first time that a vampire-themed movie is getting the larger than life treatment. Select scenes from the movie will be shot with IMAX cameras. The previous entry in the franchise, “New Moon”, has made almost $270 million domestically.
“Eclipse,” the third film in the series, will be shown in the giant-screen IMAX format in addition to its regular release. Both formats will open June 30.
The IMAX release of “Eclipse” will feature digitally remastered sound and images designed to fit the enormous screens of IMAX theaters.
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Regal Stowmarket being restored after arson attack.
STOWMARKET, SUFFOLK, ENGLAND — Following an arson attack of the Regal on September 7th, 2009 the building was quickly secured against further damage whilst insurance payouts were agreed and then specialist asbestos removal in the damaged area was completed.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4180362475/
The damage was confined to the stage and screen end of the cinema and will cost around GBP 300,000 to repair, but this is almost entirely covered by the insurance policy and by December 2009 the work is progressing.
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Costs of new small town theater?
I live in a town of 3,500 people with no nearby towns for at least 25 miles that have a theater. How could I find what the demand would be for a movie theater in a county of 36,000 people? Are there still single-screen theaters running in small towns anymore? How much would it cost to build a new, single-screen theater? Bad idea? Good idea?
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December 17, 2009
Varsity Theatre to get second screen
DAVIS, CA — The Varsity Theatre, with financial assistance of the city, will be adding a second screen and other improvements to help keep it viable in the age of the multiplex. Currently it is one of the dwindling number of single screen theaters in the country. (Note: the article says the theater is 88 old; it actually is only 59 years old. The was an earlier Varsity Theater in Davis that was closed and demolished right before the current one was constructed).
The city is spending nearly $1 million to fund the addition of a second screen with 100 seats next month, and adding digital projection. Operators of single-screen theaters are trying everything they can to keep their theaters alive — asking for support from city coffers, adding coffeehouses and restaurants, and switching between live events and film programming, to name a few.
The city support comes as a relief to Varsity leaseholders Jon Fenske and Sinisa Novakovic, who’ve operated the streamline moderne 333-seat facility as an arthouse for the past three and a half years in the university town.
Read more in Variety.
(Thanks to Marilyn M for providing the photo.)
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New cinemas soon to open in Davidson
DAVIDSON, NC — A new four-screen theater will be opening in Davidson, probably soon after the new year begins. The signs are up for the Our Town cinemas, created out of former restaurant and retail space in the Sadler Square Shopping Center.
Although there’s still no definite opening date for the planned Our Town Cinemas off Griffith Street, the four-screen first-run movie theater is inching closer to its debut. Exterior signs went up this week at Sadler Square Shopping Center, where renovations are continuing. And the theater has announced titles of the movies it plans to show when it opens, likely in early January.
In a “Coming Soon” section of its website, the theater lists several holiday releases: the Meryl Streep-Alec Baldwin comedy “It’s Complicated,” Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog,” and “Sherlock Holmes” with Robert Downey Jr.
More details in the Davidson News.
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2010 Newport Beach Film Festival announces call for entries
NEWPORT BEACH, CA — Celebrating its 11th year, the Newport Beach Film Festival is open for submissions. Take advantage of our Early Bird Deadline and save.
The 2010 Newport Beach Film Festival will spotlight over 350 films from around the world, including feature length narrative, documentary, short, animated and student films that will compete for a series of Jury, Festival Honors and Audience Awards. The 2010 NBFF will host red carpet Opening and Closing Night Gala Celebrations, International Spotlight events, an Action Sports Film Series, an Environmental Film Series, a Family Film Series, a Collegiate Showcase, a Youth Film Showcase and a free Seminar Series.
The Festival runs from April 22nd to April 29th, 2010 and holds many of its screenings at the famous Lido Theatre in Newport Beach which opened in 1938!
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December 16, 2009
Korean theater claims to have world’s largest screen
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — According to the Guiness Book, the Starium Theater in western Seoul now has the world’s largest screen, measuring 103 ft. x 42.7 feet. The theater also a vey powerful sound system.
The massive screen, located in CGV’s Starium theater, measures 31.4 meters (103 feet) in width and 13 meters in height, ranking it as the largest one on the globe, according to Guinness World Records.
Previously, the largest movie screen in Korea was at CGV Centum City in Busan, which measures 27 meters in width.
One of the most striking aspects of the Starium theater is its powerful sound system. For the best sound, it uses an 11.2-channel stereoscopic system, which it claims provides uniform distribution of sound in every part of the theater.
Read more in this article in JoongAng Daily which includes a picture.
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Twelve-screen multiplex planned for Wasilla
WASILLA, AK — Coming Attractions Theaters, based on Ashland Oregon, is planning to build a multiplex here with a dozen screens. If financing is secured, and the project built, it may force the town’s current triplex, the Mat-Su, to close.
Schweiger owns Coming Attractions Theatres Inc., based in Ashland, Ore. He said he’s been traveling between Alaska and Oregon for two years, working on the project.
He said Wasilla — and the Valley market — is appealing because it’s the right-sized community and a fast-growing area. That, and “Oregon’s full,” he said.
Schweiger said he’s invested heavily in architecture and engineering designs for the project and has traveled to Wasilla several times to walk the property, which his company purchased this summer, and work out details. He hopes the deal goes through.
Read more in the Anchorage Daily News.