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This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3
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Topic: Film Booker
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Barry Floyd
Phenomenal Film Handler
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Posts: 1079
From: Lebanon, Tennessee, USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 11-09-2007 09:56 AM
We run into some of the same things sometimes.... but not very often.
We use a film booker in Ohio for our Drive-In in Tennessee. The best reason I have found so far for using a booker is the established relationship that booker already has with the studio reps, and the vast number of screens that booker represents. Sure, you could do your own booking, but you just don't have the leverage that a booker with 100's if not 1000's of screens represents. I could call Paramount and say, "I've got 2 screens here at my drive-in to put Transformers on - what's the best deal you can make me?" However, my booker can call them and say, "I've got 136 drive-in screens plus another 788 indoor screens I can put Transformers on... what's the best deal you can make me?" In that scenerio.. who gets the best deal?
This time of year the print counts are lower and the studios tend to give the limited prints to the theatres who can give them back the most amount of money.
If we can't get a print the week it opens nationwide, it may be week 3 before we're able to score a print. If there's not alot of new stuff coming out, then the other theatres that did get it may hold on to it (for the lack of nothing better to show), and we'll have to wait again. Most of the time if a biger theatre has multiple prints, they'll usually drop the multiple copies by week 3.
Find yourself a different booker.
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Mark Ogden
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 943
From: Little Falls, N.J.
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 11-10-2007 09:46 AM
Elmira is my hometown, and years ago I worked in theatres in Upstate New York. In fact, I first stepped into a projection booth at the old Colonial on Main Street in Elmira, with the late Paul Shay as head. At the time the big name in first-run booking was Frontier Amusements out of Tonawanda. They handled most if not all of the Dipson screens, which meant all of Elmira except the old GC Arnot Mall twin. 'Course, this was back in the days of the old "exchange" system, not only would they book your screen, they would also handle print delivery, someone from Frontier used to come around in a panel truck and drop the print off to you (does anyone still do that?) According to this website, they are still going (or are they who you are using now):
http://www.manta.com/coms2/dnbcompany_dd7xq0
Might be worth a call.
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Ky Boyd
Hey I'm #23
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Posts: 314
From: Santa Rosa, CA, USA
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 11-10-2007 02:09 PM
As an indie operator in both first run and move over situations, I have to agree with Mark that having a professional film booker more than pays for itself, if you have the right booker.
Of course having the right booker is only half the equation. The other half is that you, the theatre owner/operator, as the client have to be willing to play an active role in the process. That means keeping your booker informed about changes in the marketplace on a real time basis. Watching what happens at theatres similar to yours in other markets and asking appropriate questions. Listening to the advice you are given and doing your part on the promotions and operations front to make sure that your theatre is a "desired" location. And finally, and this is a big one, do you send your box office reports to the studios in one time? Do you pay your film rental on time and at the proper amount? Do you pay your booker on time? If you don't pay on time to either the studios or the booker you are a problem client.
I should also note that I am only in favor of booking service fees that are flat. I don't believe in paying a % of revenue to the film booker. But I do bonus my film buyers at the end of the year based on the theatre's box office performance because they play an essential role in our success.
Finally, as I believe was noted here and elsewhere, not doing your own booking frees you up to focus on operations and promotions that will help keep your theatre at the front of the pack.
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