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SUNNY Temp: 51 °F Wind: N at 3 mph Wednesday, February 5, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend February 5, 2003 Since You Asked There’s no set rule for where films open first Some of the best movies open at the Varsity or Ashland Cinemas instead of Tinseltown, like "About Schmidt." Some of the best movies never appear at Tinseltown. Are these all Cinemark theaters? Do they bid on movies, or what? — David P., Central Point Yes, no, and/or what, David. Yes, the "best" movies — quality pictures with complex themes — often open at independents rather than your neighborhood multiplex. "We’re considered an art house," the Varsity’s Lee Fuchsmann says. Art theaters are expected to do better business on specialized films than the big multiplexes. That’s true of "About Schmidt," although Fuchsmann says it’s not as good an example as, say, "Frida." The Varsity and Ashland Cinemas are owned by John Schweiger’s Coming Attractions, which bills itself as the largest independent theater chain in the Northwest, with about 90 screens in 15 theaters and more being added. Cinemark is a Texas firm which operates more than 3,000 screens in about 280 theaters, many of the larger ones under the Tinseltown name. Others are discount houses and do not show first-run movies. Theaters do not bid on movies. Distributors charge a percent, typically taking 70 percent of the gate the first week of a picture’s run, 60 percent the second week, 50 percent the third, 40 percent the fourth. Who gets a picture when is also based on print availability. Many films open in large markets first, then go to the Portlands, then come to the Rogue Valleys. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S