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Author Topic: USA ... Q and A. Chris Byrne Expert Film Handler Posts: 102 From: Kirwan, Australia Registered: Jan 2003 posted 01-17-2003 09:05 PM                     Since a large proportion of users of this site are American cinema workers, I am interested to know the following I am assuming Readings is pretty big over there (its first Australian site was started here in 1996), however what other big chains are over there? Is projection as we know it (35mm, etc) a dying trade or has it years left? Are there any of you who have the big celebrities regularly attend your cinema? Have any of you visited Australian cinemas? Is there any comparisons that you have drawn? I apologize for my ignorance on the above. I must have been staring out too many port holes  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 01-18-2003 12:05 AM                        Moving to Yak.  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 01-18-2003 01:48 AM                       quote: Are there any of you who have the big celebrities regularly attend your cinema? I used to be Phyllis George's favorite projectionist, when she was First Lady of Kentucky. What a tall drink of water she was!  |  IP: Logged Christopher Duvall Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 500 From: Denver, CO Registered: Dec 1999 posted 01-18-2003 04:29 AM                     Living in Vegas is a major perk as far as stars are concerned. It is even better now that I am in a casino as well with private viewing booths. The stars I have seen in the 2 years living here... Kevin Sorbo (regularly/ Lives in Vegas) Mike Tyson (regularly/ Lives in Vegas) Tyra Banks George Clooney (regularly/friends with casino owner) Cindy Crawford (used to be regular/used to own bar in casino with her hubby) More sports stars than I can mention Many professional wrestlers Pat Morita Ginger Fish (Marilyn Manson drummer) Matt Damon Tommy Chong David Leisure Matt LeBlanc Bill Clinton and so many others that I cannot remember. Now, some these celebs never watched a movie. They just came down just to see the theatre while they were at the casino. The most recent was David Leisure (Joe Izuzu). He came in and asked me if he could purchase some popcorn. It just plain gets crazy around ShoWest. I can probably safely speak for all Vegas theatres that many, MANY stars, producers, directors, Hollywood types are swarming at all theatres. The closer to the strip...the worse it gets.  |  IP: Logged Richard Fowler Film God Posts: 2392 From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA Registered: Jun 2001 posted 01-18-2003 10:47 AM                     Reading is not known, promotion wise, in the USA. the Reading group includes City Cinemas in New York and thru partners involved in other regional circuits and Angelika chain. They had a chain of cinemas in Puerto Rico in which they lost tons of money trying to compete with the competitor that I was doing the design and equipping for...they had a habit of doing a pretty building, bad parking and going cheap in the projection, sound and furnishing vs the competition. They sold out and the Austrialian operations are better due to the well establish Hoyts and Village Roadshow competition. Richard Fowler In my pre-Kinoton America life.  |  IP: Logged Thomas Procyk Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1842 From: Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 01-18-2003 12:01 PM                     Haven't had too many celebrities visit our theater in Royal Palm, but they did come occasionally: Donald Trump (came a few times) Billy Baldwin Tommy Lee Jones some of the cast and crew from "The Red Violin" Can't remember a couple others. This was back when we were the only game in town with stadium, the largest screens, and digital in every house. Now, there's at least 3 others in the area =TMP=  |  IP: Logged Gracia L. Babbidge Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 709 From: Bowdoin, Maine Registered: Aug 2000 posted 01-18-2003 12:24 PM                        When Message In A Bottle was being filmed, Kevin Costner stopped in at the Hoyts in Brunswick a few times to see a couple different movies. That theater isn't anything particularly spectacular, but it was the only multiplex less than a 45 minute drive from the filming location (Phippsburg). Never saw Paul Newman or Robin Wright Penn at that theater, though I tought I saw Sean Penn one day, else it was his long lost twin! The crew from that movie visited the theater too. Stephen King has been known to see movies at the Hoyts in Auburn, and the Flagship Cinemas in Oxford. Haven't seen much celebrity action at my current theater, other than the whole big to-do over that little known Shadow Glories flick. Which was filmed locally, so they wanted to do something special with that one, locally. The Thursday before it was officially released, we ran something of a premier - an invitation only showing. A fair portion of the cast showed up, as well as Ziad Hamzeh, who directed. Naturally, no previews were to show ahead of the feature, and me being the bum that I am, didn't want to drop a set of trailers into the print after the show. My solution - build as normal, thread like normal, motor through towards the end of the last trailer, stopping before the 'lights down' cue passed the reader. At showtime, have a nametag with a cue sticker on the back ready to trip a 'start show' cue, hit the start, wait for the 'lights down' cue to be read, and the lights start to dim, then flash the nametag under the cue reader - huzzah! Perfect. Mr. Hamzeh complimented the entire presentation of the film.  |  IP: Logged Aaron Sisemore Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day! Posts: 3061 From: Rockwall TX USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 01-18-2003 01:17 PM                     The following celebrities have actually patronized (as opposed to appearances at festivals) the Cinema West Fairfax and Tiburon Playhouse theatres: *=regular visitors Tiburon Playhouse: Drew Barrymore (even signed 'Home Fries' posters for employees!) Minnie Driver Tom Snyder* Leeza Gibbons* Robin Williams (went behind the snack bar in Tiburon and 'took over' as only Robin Williams could!!) Lars Ulrich (Metallica)* Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane/Starship) Carlos Santana the late Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead) (signed a time card for the manager) George Lucas Kate Capshaw Fairfax Theatre: Carlos Santana Sean Penn* Robin Wright Penn* George Lucas -Aaron  |  IP: Logged Thomas Procyk Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1842 From: Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 01-18-2003 01:22 PM                     quote: Drew Barrymore (even signed 'Home Fries' posters for employees!) I bet those are worth a fortune on eBay =TMP=  |  IP: Logged William Leland III Master Film Handler Posts: 336 From: Charleston, SC, Registered: Aug 2002 posted 01-18-2003 03:15 PM                        My third day training at the Charleston IMAX Dan Marino and his family came to watch "Super Speedway". The funny thing is his wife left her sunglasses in the theatre and they had to wait until the next show ended before they could find them. Dan Marino was on his stomach between the rows looking for his wives sunglasses.  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 01-18-2003 06:08 PM                        Haven't had any actors that I'm aware of but we've had a few others that attract attention. Gerry Schwartz (Onex Corp. CEO) Pat Burns and a few other Toronto Maple Leafs Head Coaches Kim Mitchell Big Sugar (entire band) and a few other bands Oh yeah, Ronald McDonald.  |  IP: Logged Ian Price Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1714 From: Denver, CO Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-18-2003 06:51 PM                     35mm projection has many years of robust life left in it. Working at the Telluride Film Festival we have had many celebrities. Here at the Rialto we have had Cate Blanchett and Berry Levinson. I haven't been to Australia yet but I wish to go. I have seen films in England, Scotland, France, Tunisia and Mexico.  |  IP: Logged Chris Byrne Expert Film Handler Posts: 102 From: Kirwan, Australia Registered: Jan 2003 posted 01-18-2003 08:08 PM                     To have all those celebs come and go seems so surreal from my World. I am especially impressed with the likes of Lars Ulrich and Mike Tyson (although I think he is a psycho wannabe _ don't tell him that though ) I thought Readings musn't be doing so flash, as I heard word that they stopped funding for Australian cinemas. Tom Cruise was meant to come over for the opening of the one here, but it didn't happen! Anyone else have any views on how long 35mm will be a flourishing source of film medium? I was told 10 years when I first started back in 1994. Somehow I can't see it happening that soon?  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 01-18-2003 10:19 PM                       quote: how long 35mm will be a flourishing source of film medium? I was told 10 years Oh, it'll be out by the end of next year. They said it would.  |  IP: Logged David Favel Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 764 From: Ashburton, New Zealand Registered: Feb 2002 posted 01-18-2003 11:00 PM                     Readings have just last year opened a 10 plex in Wellington & are due to open in Christchusrh this year.  |  IP: Logged

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