Boxoffice-August.27.1979

BOXOFFICE/AUGUST 27, 1 979
I
CALGARY
All is not smooth sailing lor hi Media
Studios I ill ol Calgary in regard to the pro
posed multi-million dollar movie studio com
plex planned for a site about I mileswestol
the city limits Developers saj that only the ci
t\ can provide the necessarj permits and ser
vices to bring the project into being Geoff
Hamilton, speaking lor In Media, said that
the Municipal District ol Rockyview could
not issue the required permits because the ap
propnate zoning category was just not there.
Only the city of Calgary can give the per
nuts tor an urban development such as the
Studio complex. Hamilton listed the range of
services required water, sewer, police, tire,
ambulance and. verj likely, social services as
well. Existing legislation would have to be
changed to give Rocky \ iew the ability to issue
the permits needed by Tn Media I ri Media
and other landowners have applied to the pro
uncial Local Authorities Hoard for annexa
lion of about 900 acres, which includes the
proposed movie studio, and Hamilton said
that was the only practical way to gel the per
mils and services needed
However. Reeve Louise Feltham of the
Municipal District ol Rockyviev, said earlier
in the week that she would ask the council to
resist an> annexation attempt by the citj ol
Calgary. She said that annexation was not
necessary and would mean lost autonomy as
well as lost lav base for Rockyview. Eeltham
also said she thought it would he just the first
in a series of annexations that could ruin
Rockyview. She said thai the project was a
natural for a rural area because of its large
land requirements and that she saw no reason
for it to be within city limits. The existing
regional plan could be amended to allow lor
this development. Feltham said.
Some of the nt» movies opening in Calgary
lor the Civic Holiday weekend were "More
American Graffiti" at Grand I and Westbrook
2. '"Saint Jack" at Grand 2. "The Con
corde— Airport 79" at North Hill Cinerama
and Westbrook 3, and "North Dallas Forty"
at the Palace.
The Kdmontun Art Gallery is showing an
unusual series of films during August when it
presents movies dealing with the lives of
lamous Canadian artists I he lilms will be
screened every Wednesday at noon and even
fhursdaj evening in the Gallery theatre; ad
mission is tree.
The old Strand I hcatre in Edmonton may
be unique in thai it has had a play written
about its 1 91 3 opening. The play was written
In Georgina KravetZ and was presented on
Aug. I at the Centennial Library Theatre.
TORONTO
Director Ted Kotcheff returned to this, his
home city, as part of a promotion tour for
"North Dallas Forty." Kolcheffs next project
will be a $20 million epic based on the life
story of Dr. Norman Bethune, China's
medical hero. He is due to visit China shortly,
but filming is not scheduled to begin until spring.
lent 2N, the Variety Club of Ontario, has
unwrapped plans for an S8 million sports com
plex for disabled young people. This training
and fitness center will be built on the site of
Variety Village, the tent's vocational school
for many years. Tent 28 hopes for support
from government and business agencies with
this massive project.
This city is still in the throes of "Rocky
Horror" cull fever, and on a recent mid July
weekend "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"
not only jammed lour local theatres, but did
tremendously well in several other cities and
towns around the province as well. One
independent theatre owner here reported that
revenue from this one film alone was sufficient
to keep his theatre operating.
is
Next to New York and Los Angeles. Toronto
now third in importance on this continent as
a center for the production of feature films.
Recognizing this, an effort is now being made
to eliminate some of the difficulties producers
and directors have experienced—to cut away
unnecessary red tape and to make this area's
wide array of facilities and locations more
readily accessible to camera crews. Recent
meetings between civic and filmmaking
officials have sirived lo establish guidelines
that would attract an even greater number of
film productions to this city.
Film development corporation
names new deputy director
MONTREAL— Montreal motion picture
lawyer Pierre Thibeault has been named a
deputy director of the Canadian Film
Development Corp. and head of French
language production, it has been announced
by Michael McCabe. CFDC executive director.
Thibeault, who took up his new duties Aug.
I. will be responsible for the coordination of
CFDC's investments and participation in
French-language productions. He will also be
assuming responsibilities, along with McCabe,
for further development of marketing and
distribution activities for the CFDC. In particular,
Thibeault will be responsible for
expanding markets for French language films.
"THIS APPOINTMENT is
in accordance
with the CFDC's plans to step up efforts to
develop the French production sector," said
McCabe. "We are aware of the difficulties
encountered by producers in raising private
funds, and the asportation intends to work
closely with Quebec film professionals to meet
their special needs.
"We see no reason why French-language
films can't be sold all over the world; we want
them to take off. selling in all key markets
"We're delighted that a man of Pierre
Thibeault's caliber has joined the corporation.
He has had much experience in the entertain
ment field, and played a significant role in the
recent production and financial seminar of the
Association des Producteurs de Films de
Quebec, which proved to be a landmark for
the industry."
IN HIS NEW post. Thibeault will be called
upon to implement the CFDC policy,
announced at the seminar, to encourage
private investment in French language films.
The new policy enables private investors to
recoup their investments before the govern
ment agency does Placing the CFDC in
second position makes participation in
French language films more attractive to the
investment community.
Thibeault has had wide experience in the
motion picture and communications fields. As
a lawyer he has been involved in all aspects of
the film industry, representing technicians,
producers, companies and associations. He has
also been active as a producer and part owner
of a large production company.
Thibeault also served as special adviser to
the chairman of the Canadian Radio and
Television Commission, was a vice president
of the International Copyright Commission
and was a member of the Board of
Administration of the Quebec producers
association.
first run report
MONTREAL
Alien iBVFDl. York. Sth wk
Excellent
The Amitvville Horror lAFDl. Loew- 2,
2nd wk I (cedent
Bloodline (Para), I oews 4, 5th wk Very Good
I he Concorde—Airport '79 (Univ), Atwater,
2nd wk
Very Good
Escape krom Alcatraz iParal. Palace.
6th wk
Excellent
I he Frisco kid iW Id \ venue, 3rd wk I
.
The Inlaws (Para), Loews 5, 9lh wk \
Kiss in the Attack of the Phantom lAstrall.
Cinema de Paris. 2nd wk
Good
Manhattan (UA), Place Ville Marie.
14th wk
Wv Good
Meatballs (Para i. The Cinema, 3rd wk Excellent
Moonraker (UA), Loews I tsth w k V<
More American (, ratlin (Univ), Bonaventure
Istwk
\ en Good
Rocky II IUAI. Loews J. 9th wk VeryGood
Unidentified Flying Oddball (BV),
Van Home, 1st wk
French Language Films
VeryGood
Apprantissage a I'Ecole iC inepix), Parisien 3,
1st wk
Vei
la Cage Aux Folles (UA), Parisien 2.
20thwk
Excellent
lx Ciel Peut Attendrc (Para), Parisien 5.
26th w k
Very Good
l.'Homme in Colere (Cine 360), Parisien I,
2nd wk
Very Good
L'Hotel de la Plage (Cinepix), Parisien 4.
1st wk
Very Good
CALGARY
Alien iBVFDl. 2 screens. 6'th w k Very Good
The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again IParal.
Chinook, lstwk
Excellent
Bloodline (Para!. Market Mall I,
4th wk
Very Good
The Brood iNew Worldl. Wesibrook 2.
2nd w k
Very Good
Dracula (Univ), Grand 2, 2nd wk 1 xcellent
Escape Prom Alcatraz (Paral. Palace.
5th wk
Excellent
The Frisco Kid |WB). Towne Red. 1st wk Excellent
The In Laws IWBI. Market Mall 4.
5th wk
Very Good
CHICAGO
Despite the obvious consumer acceptance of
"The Muppet Movie." Jerry Bulger, adverus
ing/production manager lor Pliti Theatres
Inc., continues with a promotion that should
add to patron interest. He has set up a caption
contest in the Observer in which participants
whose captions are judged to be among the 50
funniest receive a pair of tickets to see the film
at the Plitt Chicago theatre in the Loop, and
tor, has been arranging a full
receive two Muppel one sheets.
Sharon Lamaire. assistant advertising direc
program of promotions
for a number of upcoming films via
various AM/FM stations. After receipt of
books on "North Dallas Forty." radio spots
have been started on stations WAUR. WYFE
and WRBR
A promotion on behalf of "Amertcaihon"
highlights record albums as prizes. Radio
remotes from the Plitt Hawthorn theatres
center on "More American Graffiti" and offer
album giveaways. A promotion in conjunction
with MCA Records features another album
giveaway in connection with this new Univer
sal attraction
Still more promotion for "Graffiti" is
scheduled on WAUR from the Fox Valley
theatres, and on WIMS from the Marquette
theatres in Michigan City, Ind. Lor "Rust
Never Sleeps." starring Neil Young and ( razj
Horse. I emaire is arranging a scries ol preview
showings and promotions
Mid America Releasing Co. has hooked the
first official openings of "Rusi Never Sleeps"
The Main Event iWBl. Palliser Square 2.
Sth wk
Excellent
Meatballs IParal, Palliser Square 1.
2nd wk
Excellent
Moonraker ll -\i. ( algary Place 2.
-lihwk
Excellent
Ihe Muppel Movie lK\ I I)i. 3 screens.
2nd wk
The Villain (Astrali 2 screens. 1st wk I
EDMONTON
Alien iBVEDl, Meadow lark. 6lh wk .
Bloodline I'.: I. Westmounl B.
4th wk
Good
Dracula Un reens, 2nd wk
Escape From Alcatraz iParal. Capitol
Square 3, 5th wk
Very Good
The In I aws (WB|, Capitol Square I,
6th wk
Lost and Found (Astral). Avenue. Istwk
Very Good
Poor
Ihe Main Event ivv Bi. Westmount A.
Sthwk
Meatballs iParal. Garneau. 2nd wk
Moonraker d A), Paramount. 4th wk
Good
Excellent
Excellent
Ihe Muppet Movie (BVFD), 2 screens,
2ndwk
Rocky II IUAI, C apitol Square 2.
6lh wk
The Villain (Astral). ' screens 1st wk
TORONTO
Very Good
Excellent
Very Good
Excellent
Alien (20th Foxl, University,
9th wk
Good
The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Attain (Para),
Imperial. 1st wk
Good
Beyond the Poseidon Adventure iVv'B). Elgin.
1st wk
Good
Bloodline iParal. Hollywood.
4th wk
Good
The Frisco Kid IWBl. Plaza, 2nd wk . . Good
The In I aws iWBi. Hollywood,
6th wk
Good
The Innocent iAEDi. Plaza. 6th wk
Good
La Cage Aux Folles (UA), Imperial,
2nd wk V cry Good
The Main Event (WB), 6th wk