Utah Theatre Nixes BrokeBack Mountain

allmale

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As a GM of a 12 screen theatre, "something stinks in Denmark" on the Utah decision. Yes, alot of decisions that are made are financial. Every movie should at least have the CHANCE to open, if it doesn't make money then it's pulled after one week BASED ON ITS GROSSES. This is the general rule in our industry. I understand that the chain that pulled the movie is Regal Cinemas, a national chain!That movie is also showing in 2 small independent theatres in the Salt Lake area. Regal is a heavyweight in our industry, I've never know them to blink an eye when it came to a decision on exhibition.
But I'll tell you something else, when a movie like "Passion Of The Christ" or
"Chronicles of Narnia" opens its a given. We hear from church after church, denomination after denomination, wanting to book an entire auditorium so all their members can see the movie. Church going Christians ARE NOT THE MAINSTAY PATRONAGE in our industry anymore, and they haven't been for a LONG time. They ARE the most vocal however if they don't get their way. Some preachers did not want any previews on Passion at all. Some churches wanted to hold a "church serivice" after the movie, that's where I draw the line. We are a theatre, we show movies, ALL kinds of movies for EVERYONE.

We do pay particuliar attenion to ANY movie that makes waves or trouble, and the really good movies. $$$$$ Let's see, movies like "Boys In Da Hood"
"Passion Of The Christ" "Star Wars" etc.
To take one step further, theatre management can make or break even a good movie to where the grosses will fall, for whatever reason. This is easy to do. How many times have you really wanted to see a certain movie only to find out that the showtimes were totally screwed up, INCONVENIENT, or not even advertised at all? Or not scheduling enough help at the theatre to handle a large crowd. You get my point I'm sure.
It's sword and it cuts both ways.
 

Lex

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To GBO--
And I suppose that the owner magically knows which movies will fill the seats and which won't, right? I mean is that what you're implying? That there isn't a audience in Utah for this?

To Allmale--thanks for your insight as a theatre owner and operator. It helps a lot.
 

GottaBigOne

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I am saying that there probably isn't an audience for this in Utah yes. Most people in this country as can be attested by the votes in certain states to ban gay marriage, do not like the idea of Gay "ranch-hands". Exactly what the movie is about! It is about rural homophobia, and ironically(or appropriately) it probably will suffer that exact fate in rural parts of the country. The movie is correct in stating that their is a problem with rural homophobia, which means it is subject to it. Rural homophobes do not want to see a movie which has a message against their beliefs. This is a testiment to the accuracy of the movie's message.
 

GottaBigOne

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All male makes a good point in saying that a movie should be allowed to be opened and given a chance to succeed, but again it is the movie ownership prerogative, and like I said before if he missed out on an opportunity to make money, he will suffer, its his loss, and if he continually misreads the publics desire for movies, he will soon no longer be int he movie business.
 

rodevon10

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Traveled 2.5 Hrs. to see BrokeBack Mountain in Louisville, KY on Saturday Night. It probably won't open any closer to me. Movie theaters in my area told me that they wanted to see how it was received in other theaters across the country first. 6:40 Show SOLD OUT, 7:40 Show SOLD OUT, 10:20 Show SOLD OUT. I Waited in line for about 35 Minutes for a decent seat in a 400 person MegaPlex.
THIS IS IN KENTUCKY. If this is any indication of sales, I think some theater owners might reconsider the Bottom Line.

By the way it was Fantastic.
 

allmale

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Also, one thing about Brokeback Mountain is that the distributor did NOT print up enough film stock on this movie to truly blanket all markets, so there is limited film stock that has to go around for the entire country, and some foreign markets also. I'm giving Regal Cinemas the benefit of the doubt that the print they were to receive opened elswhere in their chain since that movie was already playing at two different theatres in that area. That's what I would like to believe, but I have a sneaking suspicion there was pressure from the right wing, at the very least they pounced on the withdrawal to their own advantage after the decision was made.
It still stinks!!!
 

Matthew

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I don't believe the market solves problems like this except in theory. Owners make decisions that are ideological and not based purely on profit all the time. Also, owners are not always just empty vessels who anticipate and provide the public's needs. They also create desire and demand. If Gay people wait for the market to create a space for our culture within the mainstream, we will be waiting forever.
 

GottaBigOne

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If Gay people wait for the market to create a space for our culture within the mainstream, we will be waiting forever.
You can not force your way onto the mainstream because the mainstream is what is liked by most. If gay culture is necessarily held by a minority it has no choice but to remain "underground". This is how the market works. It works by numbers. There is no problem. Most people not wanting to see a movie with a certain message is not a problem, it is their FREE choice. There would be a problem if people didn't have a free choice on what they wanted to screen in a movie.
 

Matthew

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GottaBigOne said:
If gay culture is necessarily held by a minority it has no choice but to remain "underground".
Luckily, that's far from true.
This is how the market works. It works by numbers. There is no problem.
Fuck the market. But, I understand and acknowledge that in your eyes, there is no problem.
 

Matthew

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GottaBigOne said:
So what you want is to force theatres to show movies that they don't want to?
We've already had this exchange several posts back.
 

allmale

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I'm sorry Matthew, but i"ll have to disagree with some of that thought. In-theatre promotions carried out by the theatre staff are becoming a rare thing. Back in the 80's and part of the 90's, yes we did alot of the promotions because the studios certainly were not backing much of their product, many movies did not even have any promotional material available from the studios....so if you had a really good movie and you wanted to get the word out....the theatre manager had to hit the sidewalks and drum up promotional material on his own and TRY to tie it in with the movie......I know, I've been there many times. Luckily now, the studios have recognize the value in providing lobby standee, posters, cheap giveaway stuff, the big 7 studios that is, not the independents.
There is one belief that still stands in our industry today and it was true in the very beginning of silent pictures... and that is: The PULBLC decides what is bankable, sellable, and liked in movies, NOT THE STUDIOS OR THEATRES.
We, in the industry, only can guess. Example: Everyone that I talked to thought the recent release "Grandma's Boy" was going to be a sleeper hit.
It bombed. It was given the best auditorium with the best sound system and the most comfortable chairs. When we saw the "Hostel" was the winner, we had to switch out auditoriums and do some quick reconfiguring. The public decides. And they also decide who they like to watch and who they don't.
Brokeback Mountain was a speciality film that through word of mouth caught on and many would like to see it just to find out what the talk is all about.
:wink:
 

ThaitAss

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KinkGuy said:
No Mormon has ever sucked a cock you know.
Probably untrue.

Rafe, a contestant on the most recent season of Survivor claims he is a gay Mormon (who also appears to have a very large penis!)

Just thought you'd all like to know :biggrin1: