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)<br />
I<br />
ratings system—the<br />
government recognizes<br />
this effort on<br />
the part of the industry.<br />
He encouraged<br />
theatre operators to<br />
stay vigilant, however,<br />
as he gets calls<br />
every week from television<br />
stations to<br />
comment on the sting<br />
operations they have<br />
conducted. Fithian<br />
also addressed the<br />
industry's hottest<br />
topic, digital cinema.<br />
As he has said repeatedly.<br />
"The technology<br />
has come a long<br />
way. but the change<br />
will not come tomorrow."<br />
There are still several business<br />
issues to be worked out. so "If you need<br />
that new lamphouse. buy it."<br />
Curiously, digital cinema was not an<br />
issue discussed at length by the rest of the<br />
morning panelists, nor brought up by the<br />
attendees during the post-presentation<br />
Q&A period. (Their thoughts were reserved<br />
for the digital seminar later that afternoon.<br />
Instead, the debated topics included the<br />
frontloading of films, alternative sources of<br />
revenue and customer service.<br />
Mike Kominsky, a representative of<br />
Marcus Theatres, observed that this summer<br />
has been especially noted for the<br />
Fufe-Stor<br />
Excellent<br />
AonMemzitt<br />
Clockwise from bottom left:<br />
Entertainment at the<br />
Great States Grand Finale<br />
included clay shooting,<br />
music by Rob Ouist and the<br />
Great Northern Band,<br />
elk watching and fly fishing.<br />
frontloading of releases, wherein a string<br />
of blockbusters opened spectacularly<br />
only to drop off the map subsequently.<br />
His proposed solution for exhibitors is to<br />
book multiple prints at convenient showtimes<br />
so that patrons aren't turned away<br />
at the door due to sold-out screenings.<br />
Kominsky added that this new direction<br />
also necessitates the end of the sliding<br />
scale,<br />
saying, "The old formulas just<br />
don't work anymore." Instead, financial<br />
arrangements between exhibitors and distributors<br />
should be formed on an "aggregate<br />
basis," settling on one fair price<br />
decided before or after a release. Without<br />
"Your Neighborhood Theatre"<br />
All First Rcuv<br />
Moiriet<br />
Stote-of-thz-Art<br />
Audio Atid Visited<br />
Currently seeking to expand operations in the southern market.<br />
Presently operating theatres in Coral Springs, Naples, Orlando and Ocala.<br />
Specializing in renovating existing theatres to the highest of today's<br />
industry standards.<br />
ture<br />
a!I<br />
such an adjustment,<br />
"All the technology in<br />
the world won't save<br />
us." he said.<br />
Orpheum Theatre's<br />
Bill Campbell, an<br />
independent showman<br />
from Sheridan,<br />
Wyo.. concentrated<br />
on two key words:<br />
customer service."<br />
Small-town operators,<br />
especially, can<br />
put their finger on<br />
the pulse of their<br />
customers' needs, inluding<br />
quality pic-<br />
and sound presentation<br />
along with<br />
fast, friendly service.<br />
Founders Awards<br />
honoree Warner, representing one of the<br />
few large circuits in attendance at the<br />
show, shared his company's success with<br />
adding a third tier of revenue: In addition<br />
to ticket sales and concessions, advertising<br />
from rolling stock, sampling and lobby<br />
displays can be lucrative sources of cash.<br />
DAY THREE: THEATRE<br />
WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT<br />
Attendees Learn From Each Other<br />
The Great States Convention's<br />
planned Theatre Website Development<br />
Seminar adjusted its approach due to the<br />
absence of presenter Anita Watts.<br />
Instead, Lezlie Chesler, president of<br />
Theatre Candy, took the initiative to lead<br />
a casual discussion among those present<br />
about what they were doing on their<br />
websites and what they would like to do.<br />
The session actually turned into quite a<br />
productive period during which independent<br />
theatre operators learned from each<br />
other. See BOXOFFICE's coverage on<br />
page 121 for some of the ideas generated.<br />
DAY THREE: NAC SEMINAR<br />
Industry I eterans Share Tips<br />
United Artists' Wally Helton also was<br />
absent from the Great States gathering due<br />
to cancelled flights and thus was unable to<br />
follow up his "One Percent Solution" talk<br />
from ShoWest. Instead, Theatre Candy's<br />
Norm Chesler, Multifoods' Mike Bates,<br />
Ventura Foods' Richard Biggs and Pepsi's<br />
Curt Miller stepped up to the mic to share<br />
their experiences in the concessions industry,<br />
and Great States chairman Dan<br />
Klusmann offered advice as well. For their<br />
tips, seepage 120.<br />
AGENT:<br />
Brahm Scoler<br />
II<br />
11 682 A US Highway One<br />
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33408<br />
ph: 561.625.4655<br />
Response No. 80<br />
Corporate Offices:<br />
SunStar Theatres<br />
770 Riverside Drive<br />
Coral Springs, FL 33071<br />
ph: 954.757.4220<br />
fax: 954.755.2308<br />
DAY THREE:<br />
DIGITAL CINEMA SEMINAR<br />
Indie Exhibitors Express Their Concerns<br />
Because the digital cinema technician<br />
was unable to make it to the Great Slates<br />
convention, the digital cinema demonstration<br />
that was to have taken place this<br />
afternoon was cancelled. Nor were scheduled<br />
panelists Loren Nielsen from<br />
Entertainment Technology Consultants<br />
1(16 BOXOFFICI
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