OK, I'll bite
May. 31st, 2008 10:53 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
thetathx1138.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
davis_squareDoes anybody know why the Somerville Theater is showing "Sex and the City" on every screen but the main? I ask because that's pretty unusual for ANY movie theater, let alone a indie one. Two screens wouldn't surprise me at all, but ALL FOUR? That's pretty unusual and I'm wondering if it's voluntary, part of a charity event I hadn't heard about that isn't on their website, or what.
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I'll explain
Date: 2008-06-01 07:12 am (UTC)This is how it worked: After we expressed interest in the movie, Warner Brothers asked us to play "Sex and the City" in the main theater. We said "we'd love to, but we are contractually obligated to keep "Indiana Jones" on that screen." So they said "can you play it on your other four screens? Because if you can't, we will play it at Kendall Square" (and the Kendall blocks us from playing with them, so we would not even be able to get the film until they were done with it) and we said "ok, if you really want us to, since our other 4 movies are doing no business, we might as well since we don't want to lose this picture" and they said "great, we are playing you and Harvard Square 'day-and-date' so get ready!"
And that's how we got 4 screens of the same movie:)
~Ian/Somerville Theatre manager
ps... Ron Newman has been asking me to join this online community for a few years and I have not done so till now, but heck, now's the time, I guess. I am always afraid of people getting snarky about things at the theater and using this as a format, but I am happy to answer this question.
Re: I'll explain
Date: 2008-06-01 07:49 am (UTC)Re: I'll explain
Date: 2008-06-01 10:29 am (UTC)While this is occasionally a snarky community, we are pretty loyal to the community - and the Somerville is a wonderful theater. I know I would greatly appreciate occasional updates about special events and musical performances.
Re: I'll explain
Date: 2008-06-01 12:20 pm (UTC)Thanks for the backstory! It's good to know you were strong-armed into it, as it seemed a little excessive.
Re: I'll explain
Date: 2008-06-01 01:33 pm (UTC)I've got about 0 interest in S&tC, but I can see that it was good business for you, so hopefully you can afford to run more of the films that I do want to see. :-) I SUPER enjoyed seeing Indiana Jones on your big screen, in an origial auditorium that must have showed some of the original serials that Spielberg was homaging, with so many of my fellow Somervillains in attendance!
Re: I'll explain
Date: 2008-06-01 01:37 pm (UTC)(i've never watched SitC, i just think it would be a cute idea)
Re: I'll explain
Date: 2008-06-01 02:50 pm (UTC)Re: I'll explain
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Date: 2008-06-01 03:01 pm (UTC)Re: I'll explain
Date: 2008-06-01 03:50 pm (UTC)-- Walking distance from my house
-- Cheapest first-run theater in the Boston area
-- Sells pints of good beer at the cheapest price I've seen in the Boston area.
I mean, that's hard to gripe about!
Re: I'll explain
Date: 2008-06-01 05:23 pm (UTC)Although I can't make the same promise about not being snarky toward the MPAA. ;-)
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Date: 2008-06-01 07:09 pm (UTC)Re: I'll explain
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Date: 2008-06-02 11:53 am (UTC)Re: I'll explain
Date: 2008-06-02 04:40 pm (UTC)Re: I'll explain
Date: 2008-06-02 04:52 pm (UTC)Re: I'll explain
Date: 2008-06-02 05:30 pm (UTC)We are actually members of NATO - there are lots of benefits in joining (like when digital cinema is finally forced upon us we are linked with other independent theaters to buy equipment, etc.) but I agree that the MPAA ratings system needs to be overhauled. I think it will happen eventually.
We did show "This Film Is Not Yet Rated" as part of the IFFBoston screening series. It is an awesome film. We are currently building a 35 person screening room in the building (should be finished by the fall) that will have video/DVD capabilities so we can highlight some of the smaller independent films that are not always available to us. Plus we plan on having some other programming in there, plus party rentals, game nights, comedy perhaps.
Re: I'll explain
Date: 2008-06-02 05:37 pm (UTC)Good to hear about the new screening room, keep us posted!
Re: I'll explain
Date: 2008-06-01 09:53 pm (UTC)-sells ice cream.
-hosts some GREAT concerts.
Yes, I think this community is very pro-Somerville Theater.
Re: I'll explain
Date: 2008-06-01 03:36 pm (UTC)I only asked because I was curious, I've worked at indie theaters before and definitely seen them get block-booked, but even by those standards four screens was pretty unusual.
Thanks for letting us know!
Re: I'll explain
Date: 2008-06-01 06:23 pm (UTC)"rmd" that is a great idea about naming the screens after the characters - I wish I'd thought of it! Of course, I'd have to figure out which auditorium is the most worn around the edges so I could be sure to name it after Kim Cattrall... hehehe.
To answer "overstim": using one print in two adjacent theaters (it is called interlocking) is not possible at Somerville even though some rooms share booths. With slight modifications, we could do it, but it would be interlocking two different sized houses together, meaning some people would be forced randomly into a smaller screen, and could argue that they were entitled to the larger of the two, yada yada. Interlocking works best when you have two (or three) equal sized auditoriums next to each other, like theaters 2 and 3 at Harvard Square, or the upstairs houses at Fresh Pond.
Anyhow, thank you all for the nice comments. I have lived in Davis Square for most of my life and it is nice to see people enthused about the neighborhood, which is full of so many great places and people. Except that guy who sings Cat Stevens/Simon & Garfunkle songs in the square EVERY weekend ALL SUMMER... I can't take anymore of that!
Re: I'll explain
Date: 2008-06-01 07:08 pm (UTC)Please keep us posted about special events coming up, etc. Oh, and if the Zombie Marathon is coming back, that would be AWESOME.
Re: I'll explain
Date: 2008-06-02 01:42 am (UTC)Re: I'll explain
Date: 2008-06-03 06:07 pm (UTC)Awesome. Welcome. And, yeah, ditto. :-D
Re: I'll explain
Date: 2008-06-01 08:09 pm (UTC)Can you tell us how long you are required to keep that film on four screens? That is a very unusual arrangement, for you or any other theatre. I didn't realize it was that popular a film. I've seen large crowds outside your theatre recently, but assumed they were for Indiana Jones.
Re: I'll explain
Date: 2008-06-01 09:36 pm (UTC)I will find out tomorrow if we are required to keep it on 4 screens (I do all the booking on Mondays.) I personally don't think it will warrant it, but the question becomes a) what is available to replace one or two screens that would do equal or better levels of business, and b) keeping the studio happy, as it is a very touchy-personal-grudge kind of business with them. I agree it is highly unusual, but honestly we needed all those seats for "S&tC" this weekend (well, at least Fri & Sat night) as it was popular. I prefer to have Indy in the big house personally, as it is more of a big screen kind of movie, and a little bit family/general audience oriented - I LOVE seeing kids see a movie in that room for the first time - it is not anything like going to the multiplex, and you can see it becoming a great memory they will have for years.
Thetathx - we are doing another 'dusk-till-dawn' event, most likely on Oct 18, but we are going to switch the theme up a bit each year, all in the horror genre. Garen Daly (the organizer of this event) and I are still working out the details.
Also, we might be having a random screening of "Blazing Saddles" this month, as I have located a print and what with Harvey "Hedley Lamarr" Korman passing away this week it seems like a good time. I'll post something if we do schedule it (but don't worry, I do not intend to use this board as promotional fodder all the time).
Re: I'll explain
Date: 2008-06-01 09:56 pm (UTC)Re: I'll explain
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Date: 2008-06-02 03:53 pm (UTC)i do hope you'll screen "The Fall" when it's done at the kendall. such a gorgeous movie and i want to see it again! (but not at kendall prices). it would be amazing on the big screen.
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Date: 2008-06-01 04:17 pm (UTC)PS. I find it interesting that LJ's spell check offers "Smelly", "Smellier", "Scurvily" and "Somali" as possible correct spellings for "Somerville".
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Date: 2008-06-01 05:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-02 06:46 pm (UTC)...
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I think the rock i've been living under isn't big enough. That just blows my mind.
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Date: 2008-06-02 06:48 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2008-06-03 01:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-03 02:33 pm (UTC)