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We have restored a small, 400 seat historic art deco Theatre, small town. Presently we show vintage classic flicks, Food and a Flick, from DVDs. The folks in town really want first run movies too but costs are prohibitive due to a very depressed economy here in town with 80% company lay-offs = which means low attendance. Any thoughts and help with showing current movies from DVDs? We have a very professional LCD projector so thats not a problem.... Help and suggestions please or should I just forget it?

thanks,

Hi Chuck,

You won't be able to get a movie on DVD while it is in first run. Once the DVD has been released, sure.

Regardless - to not run afoul of the movie studios you need to get the rights to show any movie, even the old classic stuff (unless it is in the public domain, not a lot). If you aren't paying for the rights to show films then your business is at risk.

Anyway, first run movies are available digitally but the equipment to outfit a theatre is not cheap.

Used 35mm projection equipment is not that expensive these days. Where are you located? A good equipment dealer should be able to set you up with a good used system for a LOT less than putting in D-Cinema. If you were starting from scratch with no speakers no sound system at all I would say about 5 grand for a single projector/platter set-up.

You can get art films 1st run on dvds---

Slap,

What % are available on dvd?

40/35--- rare 50 but will do it rather than not play it due to short print avail.

We are opening the RED BARRON on dvd

What kind of projector are you using to show these dvd's? I have seen dvd's on 70,000 DLP machines and they look *****almost***** as good as 1.85:1 35mm but I have also seen DVD projected on prosumer projectors and they looked pretty awful no where near the quality, brightness, or resolution of 35mm.