Boxoffice-March.2000

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SPECIAL REPORT: Barometer 2000
DATELINE 1999
Charting Our Year's Hottest News & Quotes
Compiled by Francesca Dinglasan, Annlee Ellingson and Kim Williamson
JANUARY ISSUE
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EXHIBITION: The:
last year of the 20th I
century began with:
Michigan-based;
Loeks-Star Theatres;
president Barrie Law- i
son Loeks replacing:
Georgia Theatre
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Co.'s William Stem-;
bier as chairman of:
NATO. Additionally.;
Regal Cinemas, the'""""
world's largest theatre circuit, continued
its expansion by announcing new multiplex
openings in California, Ohio and
Florida.
DISTRIBUTION: When Seagram Co.
purchased Polygram NV for $10.4 billion,
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the conglomerate became the world's
largest music company, but it found that
Polygram's film divisions were redundant
within a company that already owned
Universal and October. The company
eventually divvied up its superfluous
assets over the course of the year, selling
PFE's film library to MGM for $250 million;
its television catalogue to Carlton Communications
for $1 50 million; and Polygram.
Gramercy and October to USA Networks
chairman Barry Diller, who lumped the
assets under his newly dubbed USA Films
banner, for another $150 million.
SUPPLIERS: In cooperation with THX.
Dolby Laboratories introduced its 6.1-
channel Dolby Digital Surround EX.
which adds a speaker directly behind the
audience. Meanwhile, Kodak announced its
new ScreenCheck Experience program,
intended to certify screens they way THX
certifies sound systems.
INTERNATIONAL: Sweden-based
media titan Bonnier's exhibition arm
reached across the Atlantic to the ski
resort town of Aspen by breaking ground
on a five-screen, 900-seat complex. The
Colorado-sited theatre was the first of a
new circuit dubbed Resort Theatres of
America, a co-venture between Bonnier's
SF Bio and Hollywood producer Brad
Krevoy. Also reaching across an ocean
this time, the Pacific—was Kansas Citybased
AMC, which revealed plans to open
more multiplexes throughout Japan.
HEARD HERE: Taking a moment to
speak of his old films during an interview
otherwise focusing on Sony Classics'
then-upcoming release of "Tango."
Spanish director Carlos Saura told
BOXOFFICE, "I don't see them and I
don't reflect on them. It's interesting
because I'm very interested in memory—but
other people's memories, not
mine. I admire some directors who are
always reflecting on their work. Charles
Chaplin, for example. When I lived with
Geraldine [Chaplin's daughter] in his
house, almost every afternoon we
watched his old films. So. when they first
stuck them on, he might not have exactly
been there but he. always at some
point, came in and watched himself. He
always felt good watching his old movies
with his family all around him.
FEBRUARY ISSUE
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EXHIBITION:;
The month of
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February saw ex- i
hibition growth via :
Dallas-based!
Cinemark's foray
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into Mexico City;
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expansion reducj
tion
as theatre circuit
Hoyts announced
that it
would abate
growth rate in the
U.S. in an effort to cut debt; and an arthouse
circuit launch with partners Robert
Redford and GC Companies Inc. unveiling
plans for the first Sundance Cinema
center to bow in Pennsylvania.
DISTRIBUTION: Citing poor boxoffice
performance, particularly of the
pricey "Meet Joe Black" and "Babe: Pig
in the City," Universal let go of Frank
Biondi and Casey Silver, tapping Ron
Meyer to take over both men's duties.
The company had closed the Decemberending
quarter $65 million in the red,
compared with a $98 million profit the
year before. Across town. Sony Pictures
launched Screen Gems, a label expected
to produce six small- to mid-budget pictures
a year.
SUPPLIERS: Boasting a 30 percent
boost in user sessions to 1 10 million in
1998. MovieFone amplified its relationships
with Loews, United Artists and
AMC. increasing the number of the circuits'
screens for which customers can purchase
advanced tickets via the phone oi
Internet by 1,000 to 3,600 total.
INTERNATIONAL: Circuits clamored to
help fill the void in the underscreened
countries of Russia and Italy with Golden
Ring Entertainment announcing its intent
to build two new multiplexes in Moscow
and Warner Village Cinemas unveiling an
ambition plan to construct 25 multiplexes
throughout the Boot. Hong Kong,
although suffering from regional economic
difficulties, was also targeted as a site for
new cinema builds with AMC bowing an
1 1-plex and United Artists adding 30 new
screens to the city.
HEARD HERE: Even while providing a
window back onto the early 1960s. BOX-
OFFICE gave our readers what turned out
to be even more advance notice than we
usually accomplish in a story timed for the
March 1999 re-release of "A Hard Day's
Night"—the Fab Four comedy that
Miramax now plans to reissue in 2001 —
via text from the book "The Beatles: An
Oral History." Recalled director Richard
Lester of the movie"s genesis, "The deal
was that, if we got it into the cinemas
before the beginning of July [1964], then
they would make it because they, the music
department of United Artists, felt the
Beatles probably wouldn't last the summer.
We are talking about Britain, ol
course [pre-Sullivan appearance]. So we
started shooting in February. We had tc
make the film, cut it. dub it. and all of it ir
a very short period. We had to do it quickly
so that the company wasn't left with z
film about some has-beens."
MARCH ISSUE
EXHIBITION:
Landmark Theatres,
the nation's largest
art-house chain, announced
that it would
finally penetrate the i
specialty
film-friendly
city of New York
;
with a state-of-thej
art theatre on the :
Lower East Side. Al- <
so on the move was San Rafael, Calif-basecj
Century Theatres, which reported new pie:
openings in Nevada. Texas. California. Utah.
Colorado and Alaska throughout 1998.
30 BOXOFFICE