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This topic comprises 4 pages: 1 2 3 4
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Author
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Topic: UK cinemas threaten Alice in Wonderland boycott
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John T. Hendrickson, Jr
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 889
From: Freehold, NJ, USA
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 02-11-2010 05:22 PM
With the window for DVD release ever shrinking, some folks are ready to do something about it.
According to an article here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/feb/11/disney-alice-in-wonderland-burton
"UK cinema chains may boycott Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland
A dispute with Disney over the release window could see Alice in Wonderland barred from Odeon, Vue and Cineworld screens
Adam Dawtrey
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 11 February 2010 14.52 GMT
The UK's biggest cinema chains are set to boycott Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, due out on 5 March, because of a dispute with Disney over the release window.
Disney wants to cut the gap between the theatrical opening and the DVD release to just 12 weeks, down from the standard 17 weeks. The big exhibitors refuse to book any film that doesn't have a guaranteed four-month theatrical run.
If neither side climbs down, the 3D film will not play at any Odeon, Vue or Cineworld site across the country, representing 95% of the UK's 3D screens.
That means Disney would forfeit a substantial amount of the film's projected £40m UK box-office gross. It will be tricky for the studio to explain that to Burton, who lives in London and shot Alice In Wonderland largely in Devon and Cornwall.
The film stars Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska and a largely British supporting cast, including Helena Bonham Carter, Matt Lucas, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen, Alan Rickman, Christopher Lee and Barbara Windsor.
However, Disney said the royal charity premiere at the Odeon Leicester Square will go ahead regardless, because that isn't a commercial booking.
The studio previously attempted to shorten the theatrical run of Up in order to release the DVD before Christmas, but changed its mind after the exhibitors threatened to pull A Christmas Carol from their screens in retaliation.
This time, however, Disney has given the exhibitors advance warning of its intentions. A studio source described the 12-week deal as a "take it or leave it" proposition that is not up for negotiation.
Disney's distribution chiefs, Chuck Viane and Bob Chapek, have flown in from Hollywood to talk to British exhibitors over the next couple of days. But sources say the studio is not offering more favourable revenue-sharing terms to tempt them to accept the shorter window.
Odeon and Vue have already pulled all trailers and promotional materials for Alice in Wonderland from their cinemas, and have stopped selling advance tickets. Cineworld, as a public company, is taking a more cautious line and is still promoting Alice in Wonderland on its website, but is understood to be equally robust in its rejection of the shorter window.
Disney is also cutting the theatrical run for Alice in Wonderland in the US and Italy, where most exhibitors look likely to accept the studio's terms.
This is part of a global strategy by Disney CEO Bob Iger to shorten some of its theatrical releases, in a bid to maximise its home entertainment revenues, combat piracy and minimise its marketing costs.
The studio says that films take 97% of their box office in the first eight weeks of release, after which they largely disappear from cinemas. It argues that making consumers wait another two months before they can buy the DVD legitimately just presents the pirates with an "exclusive window."
Exhibitors counter that bringing forward the DVD release will reduce the audience appetite to see films on the big screen, which could lead to cinema closures, particularly in smaller towns.
Disney is using this summer's football World Cup as its pretext for cutting short Alice's theatrical run. It argues that audiences won't go to the cinema during the World Cup in their usual numbers, so it makes sense to pull Alice in Wonderland early.
But UK exhibitors argue that a family film such as Alice in Wonderland is less threatened by the World Cup than other titles."
WOW!!!
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
Could you ever see NATO taking such a stand??
This will be interesting to see how it all plays out. Who will blink first?
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Scott Jentsch
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1061
From: New Berlin, WI, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 02-12-2010 03:51 PM
quote:
The main one is that Disney are showing their opinion of exhibitors by wanting to shorten the [dlp] window. When won't the studios realise that a boffo boxoffice release multiplies the "must have" dvd factor manyfold.
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All this comes down to is the studios consider all form of theatrical exhibition as a liability and a drain on studio profits. Why give exhibs a cut when the studios can grab a higher % of the take via early [dlp] release?
..and this is where the crunch will come. If even ONE studio gets their way with early windows then we can kiss goodbye any influence theatrical release will have on release policy, because then there will be little financial reason to release theatrically and it will give unfounded credence to their arguments.
I'm not following this logic.
If a long and successful theatrical window really does benefit the home video release that much, then shortening the window too greatly will end up hurting the overall revenue, and the window will lengthen on future releases until it reaches a balancing point.
I can understand why theaters resist shortening the release window any amount, but I don't agree with the reasoning you put forth.
Marketing rules dictate that you get the most effect from any efforts put forth by keeping the brand current in the minds of the audience. After the first week or two of release, most marketing is done for the movie, and then it becomes a long wait for the home video release to do more marketing. If the second release comes faster, that marketing effort can benefit from the first (theatrical) release more greatly. Wait too long, and you have to re-establish everything all over again.
If the shorter window results in more successful home video releases, it will lend credence to the very valid belief that the shorter window was a good idea.
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![[dlp]](graemlins/dlp.gif)
window. When won't the studios realise that a boffo boxoffice release multiplies the "must have" dvd factor manyfold.![[sex]](graemlins/sex.gif)
ing day Fox advertise the boxoffice takings have been masterfully using this as a prime advertising tool.![[fu]](graemlins/fu.gif)
Sony.![[Confused]](confused.gif)
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