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Author Topic: Fridley Theaters Ban Fahrenheit 9/11 Steve Scott Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1300 From: Minneapolis, MN Registered: Sep 2000 posted 07-03-2004 07:13 PM                     NOT a political post... moreover, a post on theatre policy. From the Wichita Eagle, 7/3/04 Midwest Theaters Ban 'Fahrenheit 9/11' Associated Press DECORAH, Iowa - The president of a company that owns movie theaters in Iowa and Nebraska is refusing to show director Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11." R.L. Fridley, owner of Des Moines-based Fridley Theatres, says the controversial documentary incites terrorism. Fridley said in an e-mail message to company managers that the company does not "play political propaganda films from either the right or the left." "Our country is in a war against an enemy who would destroy our way of life, our culture and kill our people," Fridley wrote. "These barbarians have shown through (the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001) and the recent beheadings that they will stop at nothing. I believe this film emboldens them and divides our country even more." "Fahrenheit 9/11" won best picture at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival and has grossed millions of dollars at the box office. Moore won an Academy Award for an earlier work, "Bowling for Columbine." Critics accuse the film of being an unfair and inaccurate portrayal about President Bush's policies before and after Sept. 11, 2001.  |  IP: Logged David Stambaugh Film God Posts: 4021 From: Eugene, Oregon Registered: Jan 2002 posted 07-03-2004 07:20 PM                        A businessman with principles.  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 07-03-2004 07:23 PM                    It's still a semi-free country and he can do as he pleases with his theatres. But his logic is rather silly. It would be more honest to simply come out and say he is a Bush supporter and doesn't want to undermine his guy. I would respect that more than some tripe about encouraging terrorism. The plus side is that he's going to be looking awfully foolish to his customers who then go to see the film at his competitor's theatres.  |  IP: Logged Richard Greco Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1180 From: Plant City, FL Registered: Nov 2003 posted 07-03-2004 08:06 PM                     This is a good thing People are getting smart!!!  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 07-03-2004 10:02 PM                    Smart how? Seems to me that the smart thing to do is book films that people are willing to buy tickets to see, presuming the distributor's terms are not onerous. Maybe I'd avoid something that might incite gang violence or other mayhem but that's about it.  |  IP: Logged Dennis Benjamin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1445 From: Denton, MD Registered: Feb 2002 posted 07-03-2004 11:35 PM                        From what I can see: He is losing money. It has nothing to do with principles. If you want to get principles involved - I wouldn't show half the movies we play - do to the fact that I have a principle not to play stupid and lame movies. When you get down to it - it is just a movie, plain and simple. That translates to enjoyment for the masses and $$ for us.....  |  IP: Logged Brian Michael Weidemann Expert cat molester Posts: 944 From: Costa Mesa, CA United States Registered: Feb 2004 posted 07-04-2004 12:22 AM                        A theatre's role in the business world is purely a conveyor of product. An exhibitor. A theatre chain makes its money by selling concessions to people who want to see movies. A theatre willing to make money will book films most likely to draw a concession-buying crowd. This, I believe, is the underlying reality, with the rare few exceptions. If, for whatever principles, a theatre decides not to book a film, the more power to ya! Sure, they might lose potential profits, but that's a business decision. Many business decisions are not primarily highest-dollar-amount ones, and I can respect that. It's the doing of ANYTHING just to make the most money that I have a disrespect for. There should be a balance, though. However flawed or perfectly reasonable a logic is for not showing this film, I respect that the decision was made, possibly foreseeing a potential loss, in the name of honest principles. But then, bringing into account all the crappy product being released (in our opinions, the jaded projection empire), it comes down to ... well, the most money can be made from showing what people come to see. Oh well.  |  IP: Logged Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 07-04-2004 12:44 AM                     I think F-911 is going to sneak up and bite someone in the butt. I see F-911 as a possible boxoffice sleeper. That movie might have legs. Today I ran F-911 and Spiderman as well. Spiderman outsold F-911 by only 73 tickets in a total of 4 runs..That's almost peanuts as far as numbers are concerned. Both movies are doing very well for us.  |  IP: Logged Thomas Procyk Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1842 From: Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 07-04-2004 12:52 AM                     Yeah the owner was smart. About as smart as Mikey Eisner for passing on a #1 movie. Wait, he didn't pass on it. He had it in his hands and flung it like a frisbee!! I don't necissarily agree with the theater owner's decision, but I agree with the fact that he made it. Nothing dictates you MUST show this film or that film -- unless you sign a contract with NCN, but that's another thread -- it's his theater, he can show or not show what he wants. Many record stores back in the 60s refused to sell Beatles records because they were no-good hoodlum British punks who would pollute the minds of our wholesome American youth with their "Rock and Roll" -- but after a few consecutive #1 hits, they quietly stocked a few dozen records on the back racks. =TMP=  |  IP: Logged Michael Schaffer "Where is the Boardwalk Hotel?" Posts: 4143 From: Boston, MA Registered: Apr 2002 posted 07-04-2004 04:50 AM                        How does the movie incite terrorism?  |  IP: Logged David Favel Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 764 From: Ashburton, New Zealand Registered: Feb 2002 posted 07-04-2004 05:27 AM                     What a dickhead.  |  IP: Logged Warren Smyth Expert Film Handler Posts: 158 From: Auckland ,New Zealand Registered: Aug 2003 posted 07-04-2004 08:56 AM                     Exhibitors have the right to decline showing films for any reason they wish. They have that authority. Unfortunately, authority carries baggage - responcibility. Such an exhibitor just may find that potential business is thrown away, not only from loss of takings on F9/11 but possible boycotts in the future, from patrons who fail to recognise the exhibitor's rights. F911 opens here this month initially as part of a film festival. Moore's earlier ducumentary Bowling for Columbine plays next Sunday on network television.  |  IP: Logged Dave Williams Wet nipple scene Posts: 1836 From: Salt Lake City, UT, USA Registered: Jan 2000 posted 07-04-2004 09:58 AM                        While I applaud any exibitor for refusing to show whatever movie they wish, a strong choice that sends messages to producers, I disapprove of the owners releasing of a statement denouncing the film. It is one thing to not book it, it is an entirely different matter to publicly deride the author of that work. Then it does get into politics and that makes patrons nervous. Things like this can influence future business, some good and some bad. However it does tend to make people squemish if the owner of thier favorite theater starts spewing thier own version of hate. I would rather go to a nice theater where they just book films and let the audience decide, by way of buying tickets, if they want to go or not. I went to see spiderman 2 for the second time on saturday, and the show was once again sold out. As I was going through the line to get in, the usher told me I can put my ticket down, they weren't checking tickets. I asked why, since the show was sold out, and people tend to buy tickets to other movies and then cut into sold out shows, he only responded with, "I just work here". That had nothing to do with this thread, just thought it was interesting. Ciao Dave  |  IP: Logged Adam Martin I'm not even gonna point out the irony. Posts: 3686 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Nov 2000 posted 07-04-2004 02:09 PM                     Didn't The Day After Tomorrow have some political message? I guess they didn't play that one either, then.  |  IP: Logged Thomas Procyk Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1842 From: Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 07-04-2004 02:22 PM                     Post deleted because the person I was quoting changed their post and what I was quoting was gone. Oh well. =TMP=  |  IP: Logged

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