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I'm having trouble locating a distributor for DVD, VHS films to show at our new theater. We are using a JVC Digital Projector and are struggling to find a distributor - especially a reasonibly priced one.

Funny, but doesn't each and every prerecorded DVD and VHS videocassette start with the warning, "For HOME Use Only"? Besides, why would you want to turn your theater into a replica of someone's living room? Video---yuk!

Why not start selling potato chips and install couches in the living rooms---er should I say auditoriums?

AFAIK, one of the biggest complaints from theatres having Digital Cinema systems is the lack of availability of current movies in the format. Much of the time, the very expensive systems have sat idle.

The Texas Instruments website lists only about 35 US titles that have had significant Digital Cinema release in the last three years.

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I believe there are licensed movies in all formats, check with where your school system is getting videos from--(if they say the video store--please point out they are breaking copywrite law--and teaching our kids that that one can be broken)--but I do believe the "licensed for public viewing" videos cost as much as flat rate 35mm print to rent--unfortunately the only legal way to publicly show a movie is PAY

My schools have always rented from the video store. In grade 7, I won a draw and got to go to the video store with another student and 2 teachers to pick the title.

:O

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"I don't want you playing with something that has such bizarre hair. Such awful, awful hair!"
-Marge Simpson, on Bart's toy trolls

Remember that Canada has different rules on many things. In this case, not so different, BUT your school board would have a license to play this stuff, so long as they weren't making a profit from it. I believe that even if a distributor couldn't supply product, but you found it from a collector OR video store for that matter, and you were charging admission, you'd pay rent on terms similar to normal distribution. Check out www.acf-film.com for info on these licenses in Canada.

D. Bird,

i am not sure how it works in Canada--but in US video rental places are only for home use--no public showings of any type--profit or non-profit. There are companies that rent videos and 16 mm to schools and NON-profit organizations, but they are much more expensive, as hollywood gets their money for "licensing" the public viewing. From a video store the distributor only makes money on the initial sale (except in the case of Blockbuster which pays a percentage of rental back to the film companies which they have deals with as not to have to purchase thousands of the same video).

Long and short--home video MEANS home video, any other use is a FEDERAL offense in US, not that I see Hollywood pressing charges against schools--but still teaching that some forms of stealing is ok--which makes me upset.

I agree with you. I was referring to cases when distributors COULD NOT supply the film, that you would still need the license and notify the rights holders that you were going to play the film. I find the whole music thing just a little overbearing though.
Imagine, having to pay license fees to play PUBLIC radio in your theatre or whatever. Seems like a "double-dip", as the stations would already be paying for the license. Seems a little much to me.

YES D.Bird--I never understood why you need to have an ASCAP license if you are using broadcast radio (I understand if you are using recorded music, but that is much different than broadcast radio)--but as I have mentioned in a different post in a different topic--I use MOVIE TUNES, and am in my 3rd year of using them--It costs me absolutely nothing other than having to listen to the same format for the whole month. And for the "nothing" cost--I can have the radio on in my office

To all my responders - Thank you for your many inputs. I am aware that videos, DVDs, etc. are labeled for home use only, but I also know that they can be rented for showing in a movie theater. Swank is one source - I find that their pricing is prohibitive for me, so I am looking for an alternate distributor.

I find it ridiculous to have to rent an 'old release' movie in a DvD or VHS format for $400 to show it to an audience, when I know that movie house across the country are only paying $125 for a 'new release' movie. So, that's why I am looking.

Same with Canada.. no public viewing for profit or not.

They probably have a lisence.

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"I don't want you playing with something that has such bizarre hair. Such awful, awful hair!"
-Marge Simpson, on Bart's toy trolls

Perhaps it would be better to rent a real film print (either on 35mm or 16mm).

There are a lot of options on this but I don't know the answer. Here's some of the things that I would do:
1. call the film distribs booking reps and ask them about this
2. contact all the manufacturers like Barco, Sony, etc. and ask them for assists.
3. there are entire operations/ biz models of theatres like this in places like Europe that I've read about: find them and ask them.
4. there are many people working on this locally in the USA: where are they? Who are they?
5. Are there places in other states that are doing this already? Call them up and ask them. As long as you are very far away they will usually be helpful.
6. try Criterion at 8008909494
7. try Paramount Jodi 212-654-7724 NY
or Cathye 818-380-7808 out West.

You know.........with all the talk about digital you'd think this would not be a problem. Makes you think digital is even less likely.

Best/ Mike

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Mike Hurley
www.bigscreenbiz.com

MIKE,

I loved your last statement in last post---Look at it this way--they can not even get sound standardized--How on earth are they going to decide on what format digitalized theatres are going to get the product. I personally would like satelite, except for having to get on roof to clean off snow from the dish.

I don't think I will see digital as main venue in my lifetime--and am hoping to be around for awhile yet

SPRAGUE: where did you hear that we get new movies for $125??--at least I am not aware of that price in US. Even the few distributors who actually do rent out older movies in wahat we call "flat rate" usually averages $200, and that is on mostly movies already on video.

I'll second that last statement. I have never paid a flat rate of $125 on a film even in my second run days. We don't like flat rates since you often end up losing on them. I would much rather pay a percentage. I know that Swank does rent movies to schools for formerly hot films i.e. Bugs Life, Stuart Little, etc at $250 for one day plus about $80-100 in shipping costs. These films are at least 6 months old at that price. Our schools happen to run 16mm but I think that the price is the same regardless of medium. I'm guessing that the $400 price is because you are showing for more than one day to a paying audience.

[This message has been edited by BECKWITH1 (edited February 23, 2002).]