Film prints in theaters

[Penton-Man]

“Film is gone, it’s dead, it’s out a here”.
Good news, Honda is stepping up to help save an American pastime - http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3032619/#52902569

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

“Film is gone, it’s dead, it’s out a here”.
Good news, Honda is stepping up to help save an American pastime - http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3032619/#52902569

The drive-in owners featured in the story bought their drive-in in 2009. It was very obvious in 2009 that film was going away -- if they didn't know that, they were living in denial.

Drive-ins were going away long before the advent of digital. Real-estate is simply too expensive and the asset is only used a few hours a day for part of the year. That's why many of the remaining drive-ins hold flea markets during the day. By 1990, there were fewer than 1000 drive-ins left in the U.S. In 2001, there were 442. By 2006, there were about 415. According to Wiki, the 2013 count is 357. In places where the land isn't worth anything and taxes are low, a drive-in might survive (digital conversion aside). But if anyone wants to develop the property for housing, shopping mall or office space, an operator is definitely going to sell out. They can make in a contract signing what they couldn't earn in 30 years.

When movie theaters were the only place to see movies and people loved being in their cars (or needed a place to "make-out"), drive-in theaters made sense. But they've been in decline ever since the advent of home video and few are thrilled to be sitting in their cars.

What I think drive-in theaters should do is to have their association buy up every 35mm film print they can find, then circulate them on a schedule to all the remaining theaters. They can probably pick up 35mm projectors (for parts and service) for next to nothing as regular theatres remove film projectors from their booths. Drive-ins can become revival theaters for those who still want that classic experience.

[THXGuru]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

What I think drive-in theaters should do is to have their association buy up every 35mm film print they can find, then circulate them on a schedule to all the remaining theaters. .

This is a really great idea, however you really need the first run product to get people to the drive-in. To run a 35mm print a drive-in movie theater yields you about one show a day and three per weekend, it is very difficult to justify the cost of issuing a film print to a drive-in for just three shows on a weekend.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

The drive-in owners featured in the story bought their drive-in in 2009. It was very obvious in 2009 that film was going away -- if they didn't know that, they were living in denial...

Honestly, when I first watched the clip, I really thought that the couple had purchased the land because they needed to do a tax exchange after selling another previous piece of property. Then I found at least a little background to the story about the reopening of the drive-in here, written by a reporter from a local newspaper….http://www.visitgreenwoodsc.com/news...n_april09.aspx

The thing I like about the clip and the topic is that someone (Honda) decided to step forward and help out the Drive-Ins and I felt it a little ironic that was a Japanese auto company. Here’s hoping other sponsors step up for an old American pastime. I think it would be fitting for an American auto company, namely Chevrolet to do so. Heck, if I correctly recall their Prem (https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...em#post8065869 ) business dealings, they signed a big deal to become a shirt sponsor of Manchester United starting next year. So if they can do that....why not save a few drive-ins.

[Flatnate]

A localy owned three screen theater is still trying to raise money for the digital conversion near me (this one is different than the one I posted about in the OP).

Now, I knew this theater went up for sale sometime around 2010 from a forum post over at the FilmTech forum. I even remember the asking price as well. The previous owners put a lot of money in to a very nice remodel around 2007. I couldn't help but think at the time "wow, they put a lot of money in to this place, how are they going to pay for the digital transition coming soon". A short time later, and the theater was up for sale. So when the current owners bought it I kinda figured, well "they must have a plan in place for this looming expense"... Nope! I read in an interview with the owner in this last weeks local paper "oh we just loved the theater so much we had to buy it, we didn't know anything about the theater business". *facepalm*... Yup! I gathered that! I don't mean to be a jerk, I still hope you can get your projectors, but I doubt I'm going to "donate" over this..

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

The thing I like about the clip and the topic is that someone (Honda) decided to step forward and help out the Drive-Ins and I felt it a little ironic that was a Japanese auto company. Here’s hoping other sponsors step up for an old American pastime. I think it would be fitting for an American auto company, namely Chevrolet (GM) to do so....

In the meantime, a tip of the hat to Honda for helping save 9 (so far) drive-ins facing closure due to the end of 35mm film distribution. Concerned citizens can simply visit http://projectdrivein.com/ to help determine which of the remaining 116 participating drive-ins will be awarded one of the four additional digital cinema projectors.

Folks have got two days left.

[Insomniac01]

Originally Posted by Flatnate

A localy owned three screen theater is still trying to raise money for the digital conversion near me (this one is different than the one I posted about in the OP).

Now, I knew this theater went up for sale sometime around 2010 from a forum post over at the FilmTech forum. I even remember the asking price as well. The previous owners put a lot of money in to a very nice remodel around 2007. I couldn't help but think at the time "wow, they put a lot of money in to this place, how are they going to pay for the digital transition coming soon". A short time later, and the theater was up for sale. So when the current owners bought it I kinda figured, well "they must have a plan in place for this looming expense"... Nope! I read in an interview with the owner in this last weeks local paper "oh we just loved the theater so much we had to buy it, we didn't know anything about the theater business". *facepalm*... Yup! I gathered that! I don't mean to be a jerk, I still hope you can get your projectors, but I doubt I'm going to "donate" over this..

If a business can't be forward thinking enough to need new projector as in this case, then they don't deserve donations. Why casual cinema fans saw this problem but they did not is disturbing.

[Flatnate]

Originally Posted by Insomniac01

If a business can't be forward thinking enough to need new projector as in this case, then they don't deserve donations. Why casual cinema fans saw this problem but the did not is disturbing.

Agreed actually. I'm not sure if they were thinking the digital transition was like an opt in thing, or just on a more extended timeline.

[saprano]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

In the meantime, a tip of the hat to Honda for helping save 9 (so far) drive-ins facing closure due to the end of 35mm film distribution. Concerned citizens can simply visit http://projectdrivein.com/ to help determine which of the remaining 116 participating drive-ins will be awarded one of the four additional digital cinema projectors.

Folks have got two days left.

Seeing all those drive-ins........................................

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Flatnate

Agreed actually. I'm not sure if they were thinking the digital transition was like an opt in thing, or just on a more extended timeline.

Flat, since you're from Minnesota, "Determined and strong for 57 years"….http://www.thelongdrivein.com/

Approaching only one day left to vote.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by saprano

Seeing all those drive-ins........................................

Do something about it....

Project Drive-In: Help Honda Save an American Icon - YouTube

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by saprano

Seeing all those drive-ins........................................

10 hours (and change) left to vote.

[Flatnate]

Busy end of the week, just barely got my vote in! But I voted. Cool.

[saprano]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Do something about it....

Project Drive-In: Help Honda Save an American Icon - YouTube

I find it ridiculous that nobody from Hollywood, actors, directors, producers, or any movie studio, are doing nothing to help with this. Surely somebody can donate a few hundred thousand to save them all. I know I damn sure would.

This world makes zero sense to me sometimes.

[Flatnate]

I never knew about the drive-in near me in Long Prarie, MN that Penton pointed out. It's still an hour away but we are going to make sure to head up there for a date night before the end of the season.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by saprano

I find it ridiculous that nobody from Hollywood, actors, directors, producers, or any movie studio, are doing nothing to help with this. Surely somebody can donate a few hundred thousand to save them all. I know I damn sure would.

This world makes zero sense to me sometimes.

Sap, I know what this says about a lot of the people in our country these days- http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3032619/#53065548

It says that few people have their priorities in order, but at least some still do …
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3032619/#53065243

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Flatnate

I never knew about the drive-in near me in Long Prarie, MN that Penton pointed out. It's still an hour away but we are going to make sure to head up there for a date night before the end of the season.

Good man.

[WillBrandon]

Honestly, the thread sounds really grim but isn't it the same story like about paper newspapers/electronic newspapers?

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by WillBrandon

Honestly, the thread sounds really grim but isn't it the same story like about paper newspapers/electronic newspapers?

No, the industry pretty much as a whole is moving to digital.

[cornbread_1788]

They shouldn't kill film at all... it's like taking away oil paint from a painter. Without a certain paint, that art will die.