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Author Topic: Anyone have problems booking films with Sony???? Bob Cunningham Film Handler Posts: 14 From: Wildwood, Florida Registered: Mar 2001 posted 09-30-2009 08:44 PM                        Anyone have problems booking films with Sony?????  |  IP: Logged Joe Elliott Master Film Handler Posts: 497 From: Port Orange, Fl USA Registered: Oct 2006 posted 10-05-2009 12:35 PM                     Deafening silence . . . interesting. Sounds like the internet gestapo is listening. Don't ask any questions about Disney either.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-05-2009 12:58 PM                        Well...either that or nobody has any problems to report. I know we don't -- with Sony OR Disney, other than the usual "not enough prints" situation which is nothing out of the ordinary.  |  IP: Logged Galen Murphy-Fahlgren Master Film Handler Posts: 405 From: Canton, MI, USA Registered: Oct 2007 posted 10-05-2009 01:31 PM                     Bob, are there other theaters in your market, and how do they compare to yours, in terms of total gross, opening gross, and individual ticket prices? You don't even need to post those answers here, just think about them. In my experience, Sony usually does not book product with a smaller, older theater with lower ticket prices if there is a newer, bigger theater with higher ticket prices in the market.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 10-05-2009 01:44 PM                     I thought SONY was great with the small town people - works with no problems, loves to have business with you, et.al. .. Just as with other companies - you play ball their way and don't tick them off.  |  IP: Logged Mike Frese Master Film Handler Posts: 465 From: Holts Summit, MO Registered: Jun 2007 posted 10-05-2009 03:10 PM                        A couple of reasons for the silence: 1) This forum seems to be dominated by the booth folks who in many cases have nothing to do with booking, and 2) No one wants to piss off any studio or studio rep. What problems are you having?  |  IP: Logged Joe Elliott Master Film Handler Posts: 497 From: Port Orange, Fl USA Registered: Oct 2006 posted 10-05-2009 03:29 PM                     2) No one wants to piss off any studio or studio rep. That's why i mention Disney. Long story, but it happened up in your neck of the woods when I worked for Time Warner Cable in Kansas City, Mo. In a newsgroup, I NEVER identified my self as a cable employee, I used a handle, did not use my name, and made one off hand comment about Disney in a thread that was complaining about Disney starting a second channel and moving all of the good content to it, and two days later had my boss, his boss and the VP of Marketing talking to me in the office. Seems Disney didn't like it and tracked me down. After showing them all of my posts, they laughed it off, and said not to worry about it. They were amazed that Disney would go through all that trouble for one single comment made in jest. This was when broadband first came out, and the internet was somewhat new. Many companies overreacted when anything was posted about them online. Still remember . . . they are watching.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-05-2009 03:37 PM                        quote: I thought SONY was great with the small town people - works with no problems, loves to have business with you, We have found this to be true. They are also great at taking care of onesheet/trailer requests and etc. And unlike some other film companies, they had a presence at the recent Rocky Mountain convention (about half of the majors were there). Sony is also willing to go the extra mile to get a print out here when it's needed, no matter where it's sitting. They once overnighted a print to us from New York -- it probably cost them more in shipping than we paid in film rent for that week!  |  IP: Logged Bob Cunningham Film Handler Posts: 14 From: Wildwood, Florida Registered: Mar 2001 posted 10-05-2009 08:06 PM                        First of all, I'd like to clarify that I posted one question concerning only SONY Pictures and not Disney. I want to make it clear that I'm not having difficulties with any other film studios whatsoever. To start with, my pricing structure is the same if not more than other small movie theatres in my area. Which include; Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and Jacksonville branches. Question number two: How long does it take independent circuits to confirm bookings after Sony screenings? Also, what do studios consider to be a wide enough release of prints to include ALL small circuits? To add alongside the questions is that I've never had a problem with Sony Exhibitor relations at all. They've always been cordial and professionial to me-the same way, I feel that, I've dealt with the studios over the eight years that I've been booking with them. I've been booking for small family-owned, independent film circuit that has been in business for over 32 years. I believe these circuits have one of the best business reputations I've ever seen in my life. I have questions that I will inquire of the Sony executives at Show East which I believe are valid. I would greatly appreciate it if any other industry professional would post their input on this site. Many thanks to Brad for having this wonderful site on which we may all air our honest opinions!  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 10-05-2009 08:31 PM                        quote: Bob Cunningham Question number two: How long does it take independent circuits to confirm bookings after Sony screenings? Also, what do studios consider to be a wide enough release of prints to include ALL small circuits? Usually, confirmations are fairly quick. I'm under the strong impression that these things are already in the works before the screenings take place. Of course, this can't be confirmed, as the states which require screenings also prevent the studios from awarding films before the screening takes place. In practicality though, I think it's just an exercise. Few exhibitors actually go to any but the most major screenings, yet theatres which are customarily first-run still get most everything that gets pushed into the pipeline. I don't think there's a magic print number that guarantees anything. 3500 prints can go a long ways, or it can be eaten up very quickly by 24-screen googleplexes that prefer not to interlock... especially if pickings are slim that week.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-05-2009 08:35 PM                        Right, there is no set formula for anything. It also depends on the movie - i.e. the next Spiderman, they'll start taking names a few weeks ahead and probably have to turn some down depending on print count; but some lesser-blockbusterish film, they might start calling the bookers and asking for playdates if they're really trying to sell it.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-05-2009 09:51 PM                     quote: Mike Blakesley other than the usual "not enough prints" situation which is nothing out of the ordinary. I've already heard that distribution is cutting back on quantities ordered of most release prints. A number of customers were told no film but digital yes. Mark  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 10-06-2009 12:00 AM                     quote: Mark Gulbrandsen A number of customers were told no film but digital yes. Which happened to us with the opening of "Meatballs" - no film but digital yes. REG got both versions on that opening weekend. -Monte  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 10-06-2009 12:04 AM                     Wow, I had no idea digital had been around so long.  |  IP: Logged Mike Frese Master Film Handler Posts: 465 From: Holts Summit, MO Registered: Jun 2007 posted 10-06-2009 08:54 PM                        Bob, IMHO, the only time you can expect automatic prints are the summer blockbusters and Thanksgiving/Christmas. Those will be somewhere in the 4000+ locations. The holidays seem to go down to the 3600 range. So far in 2009, 11 movies have opened in greater than 3600 locations. Another 11 fall between 3200 and 3599 locations. Many decent grossing locations have trouble getting films less than 3200 locations. Only 8 of those 22 movies has been released outside of the summer mos (May 1- Aug 30). As far as confirming prints goes: The summer/holiday films make sure you get word to the studio that you want to play it 3 weeks out and the confirmation usually happens pretty quickly. On the other titles, I would let them know you want the film 5 weeks out and if you know that it might be tough to get a print give supporting evidence that you deserve it. I find Rentrak's website to be a very valuable tool. I was able to get a print of Meatballs b/c I was able to show how we have done better than we normaly do on the childrens/family movies. BTW, Meatballs played in 1697 3d locations. Toy Story double feature 1745 and at least 795 3d locations kept playing Meatballs after TS came out. The majority of theaters in the KC area who only have 1 3d screen are now playing Meatballs on film.  |  IP: Logged

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