NATO of California/Nevada May 2009 Information for the California and Nevada Motion Picture Theatre Industry In s i d e Pre v i e w s Annual Membership Meeting Scheduled for June 25 Page 1 The Landmark Theatre Receives Mayor s Award Page 2 Projectionist Catches Movie Pirate Page 2 Is Your Theatre Staff Prepared for Ratings Awareness Month Page 3 Win-Win for All: 2009 Spring/ Summer Film Product Seminar Page 4 To Present Six- Part History of Exhibition Seminar/ Lecture Series Page 5 Year-To-Date Statistics Page 6 Calendar of Events & Holidays Page 7 Annual Membership Meeting Scheduled for June 25 NATO of California/ Nevada s annual membership meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 25 th, 10:00 am at The Landmark Theatre in West Los Angeles. The meeting is open to all employees of member companies. This year s keynote speaker will be Stephen Gilula, chief operating officer of Fox Searchlight Pictures. Mr. Gilula is no stranger to NATO of California/Nevada. Prior to joining Fox Searchlight Mr. Gilula served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Landmark Theatres which he co-founded in 1974. Mr. Gilula spent five years on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the National Association of Theatre Owners and served as Chairman of NATO of California/Nevada for six years. Mr. Gilula has overseen the distribution of some of Fox Searchlight s most successful films and as part of his keynote address will provide the anatomy of the very successful release of Slumdog Millionaire which also became the Academy Award winner for Best Picture. Stephen Gilula, COO of Fox Searchlight will deliver the keynote address. National NATO Director of Media & Research Patrick Corcoran will present a statistical analysis of the state of the industry. Topics covered will include long- and shortterm box office and admissions trends, movie theatre performance during economic downturns, the theatrical release window, the current number of screens and sites, digital and 3-D screens, and seasonal product mix. Also on the program will be a report by NATO of CA/ NV Sacramento lobbyist, Terri Thomas, with details on the tumultuous proceedings currently facing Sacramento legislators. The meeting will begin with a continental breakfast at 9:00 am followed by the Membership Meeting at 10:00 am. As part of the agenda the 2009/2010 officers of NATO of California/Nevada will be introduced. The 20 winners of the 2009 NATO of California/Nevada Scholarship program will also be announced. The Landmark Theatre is located at the corner of Pico and Westwood Boulevards with ample free parking available on site. All member employees are encouraged to attend, however admission is by reservation only. To register please complete registration form found at http://www.natocalnev.org/ seminars.html and send to office@natocalnev. org by June 10th.
Previews is published by the National Association of Theatre Owners of California/Nevada 11661 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 830 Los Angeles, CA 90049 Phone: 310/460-2900 Fax: 310/460-2901 E-mail: Office@NATOCalNev.org www.natocalnev.org Officers Milton Moritz President & CEO Raymond W. Syufy Chairman David Corwin Vice President Frank Rimkus Treasurer Alan Grossberg Secretary Jerome A. Forman, Chairman Emeritus Board of Directors Bruce Coleman Brenden Theatres David Corwin Metropolitan Theatres Nora Dashwood Pacific Theatres Peter Dobson Mann Theatres James DuBois Regal Entertainment Group Alan Grossberg UltraStar Cinemas George Krikorian Krikorian Premiere Theatres Scott Lotter Paradise Cinemas Ed Moyer AMC Theatres Ted Mundorff Landmark Theatres Frank Rimkus Galaxy Theatres Bruce Sanborn The Movie Experience Hal Sawyer Cinemark USA Raymond W. Syufy West Wind Drive-Ins Charlene Sievers Director, Member Services The Landmark Theatre Receives Mayor s Award On April 30, 2009 Landmark Theatres flagship theatre, The Landmark received the prestigious Los Angeles Mayor s Certificate of Appreciation award for the significant contribution the theatre has made to the community by improving the quality of life in the Rancho Park Village. The theatre is currently developing a Take Me Out To The Movies Day as a fundraiser to help the many local schools in the area that are facing severe budget cuts. The theatre was chosen for the award by the Westside Neighborhood Council and Chamber of Commerce who commented We are very lucky to have The Landmark in our neck of the woods! (L-R) Rita Gattegno, General Manager of The Landmark and Ted Mundorff, Landmark Theatres CEO accepted a certificate recognizing their contribution to the neighborhood from Jay Greenstein, Sr. Deputy Field Officer for Council District 5; Jennifer Badger, West Area Representative for Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa; Charles Horwitz, school representative for the Westside Neighborhood Council (WNC) and Lisa Morocco, business representative for the WNC. Michael Yanez of Cinemark s Century San Francisco Centre 9 Theatre Projectionist Catches Movie Pirate As part of its active campaign to fight movie piracy the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has established a program that encourages individuals with information on suspected video piracy operations to come forward with that information. In many cases the person reporting may be eligible for an award. Mike Yanez, a projectionist at Cinemark s Century San Francisco Centre 9 Theatre, was rewarded with a check for $500.00 from the MPAA for being observant while doing his job, thus leading to the apprehension of a movie pirate. Mr. Yanez was in the projection booth getting ready to start a new movie on its opening Friday when he spotted a patron setting up a camera under his jacket. Mr. Yanez informed his GM, Kelly Taylor, who called the police. When the police arrived, they walked into the theatre, came up behind the patron with the camera, took the camera out of his hands and asked him to step outside. After looking through the film, they handcuffed him and took him down to jail. The police department understood the severity and handled it accordingly. Mr. Yanez, who had to go to the courthouse later that week to make a statement said it was all very easy. Afterwards Mr. Yanez and Mr. Taylor contacted the MPAA, filled out the required paperwork and Mr. Yanez received an award check for a job well done. For more information on piracy and the MPAA visit http://www.mpaa.org/piracy.asp 2
Is Your Theatre Staff Prepared for Ratings Awareness Month? Following is a check list to help you prepare for June 2009 Ratings Awareness Month - Employee Notification Regarding Ratings Awareness Month Member company executives should notify ALL employees that June 2009 is Ratings Awareness Month, and should describe the company s activities planned for the month. Theatre personnel responsible for press inquiries should be made fully aware of all activities undertaken by the company. ID-Check Policy Reminder Member company executives should remind all company employees of your ID-Check policy for R and NC-17 rated films, via company-wide memo, staff meetings, and other appropriate communication channels. Personnel Policy Review Ratings compliance officers should review their personnel policies to ensure proper emphasis on ratings education and enforcement. Any updates or enhancements in those policies should be promptly communicated to all employees. Display Ratings Posters Ratings compliance officers should take steps to ensure that posters explaining the ratings system are displayed in every theatre complex. Contact NATO if you need additional posters. (To obtain ratings posters contact NATO at nato@natodc.com or visit the MPAA site at http://www.mpaa.org/index.asp) Include Ratings Information on Web Site Ratings compliance officers should work with their company information technology providers to ensure that ratings information is included on your company s web site. Include Ratings Information and Protocols on Online Ticketing Systems and Kiosks Ratings compliance officers should review the online ticketing system and ticketing kiosks utilized by your company to make sure that ratings information is included in the system. You should also review the prompts utilized when tickets for R and NC-17 rated movies are ordered to ensure proper age requirement notification. Monitor One-Sheets to Ensure Ratings Information is Included Once the Movie is Rated Studio marketing departments should distribute movie posters with ratings information once a movie is rated. Theatre personnel must ensure that unrated posters are replaced with rated posters once they become available. If rated posters are not made available after a movie is rated, theatre personnel should inform NATO. Ensure the Compatibility of Trailers Ratings compliance officers and theatre marketing personnel should always take steps to ensure that trailers are compatible with the feature film that follows. All trailers should be viewed prior to exhibition, with feature film audience compatibility in mind. Trailers for R rated movies should never be shown before films rated G or PG, and should be viewed and assessed before being shown in conjunction with a PG-13 feature. Exhibitors receiving patron complaints regarding trailer compatibility should inform NATO. Reach out to Local Newspapers Ratings compliance officers and company marketing executives should contact newspapers with whom you do business to encourage them to include reasons for the ratings in their movie reviews. Reach out to Community, Parent and Religious Organizations Company executives and ratings compliance officers should consider using the NATO ratings power point to provide tutorials to local groups on the rating system. Electronic copies of the tutorial can be obtained by going to www.natoonline.org and clicking on the Ratings Links. General Patron Education Company executives and ratings compliance officers should investigate additional ways to use this month to educate patrons about the ratings system. Post your company s ratings policy where all patrons can see. Encourage box office attendants to mention the ratings in their conversations with patrons. Conduct theatre open houses and disseminate ratings information. Reach out to local schools. Create employee contests with ratings themes. Be creative and have fun! 3
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA Cinemark s Century San Francisco Centre 9 Theatre s General Manager Kelly Taylor accepts appreciation plaque from President Milt Moritz. Mariel Diaz, Warner Bros.; Audrey Marr, Renaissance Rialto and Eric Carr, Focus Features Rob McConnell, Maria Parra and Fariba Ramirez of Simply Right, our Northern California lunch sponsor. John Fraley, Maria Silva and Jared Figueira of Regal with Tony Cheng of Miramax Coming Attractions Nathan Davies, Sarah Shearer, Lee Fuchsman, Julie Vogan & London Goss. Win-Win for All: 2009 Spring/Summer Film Product Seminar The NATO of California/Nevada Film Product Seminar is a highlight of our calendar as evidenced by the growing registrations at each semi-annual meeting. Members look forward to previewing the exciting product reels and rare footage brought by the studio marketing representatives; the studio representatives enjoy the opportunity of promoting their upcoming slates and meeting with so many managers in one convenient location a win-win situation for all. The promise of a special added surprise screening of one of the summer s blockbuster films increased the level of enthusiasm and kept guests in their seats until late in the afternoon. Sincere thanks to Paramount Studios whose surprise screening of Star Trek was received enthusiastically. The Associations members were treated with gracious hospitality in Southern California by the staff and management team of National Amusements The Bridge::Cinema de Lux led by Mark Bastian and in Northern California by GM Kelly Taylor along with his management team and staff at Cinemark s Century San Francisco Centre 9 Theatre. We extend our sincere appreciation to our host circuits, National Amusements and Cinemark. We thank ACS Enterprises, Inc. who continued their four-year breakfast sponsorship at both seminars and Simply Right for their sponsorship of the San Francisco lunch and drawing for a trip to Big Sur that was won by James Crosgrove of the Regal UA Berkeley 7 Theatre. Focus Features, Fox/Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Overture Films, Paramount Pictures, Roadside Attractions, Sony, Universal Pictures, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and Warner Bros sent representatives who took advantage of the time to introduce their Spring and Summer movie slates to the managers, and to mingle with the attendees during the breaks. Based on calls received by the Association office the slate of studios will grow at the next seminar. Check your email for future issues of Previews that will list the dates of the Fall/Winter Film Product Seminar or visit the Previews Reading Room on our website: www.natocalnev.org to review the past and future issues. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Jerry Forman and Jay Swerdlow of Pacific Theatres Our hosts for the Southern California seminar the management team of National Amusement s The Bridge::Cinema de Lux. Top left - Paul Jones. (L to R) - Raymund Cornelio, Victoria Kimbell, Samuel King, Mark Bastian, Brian Hutchison Many thanks to our Southern California photographers Brigette Buehlman from NATO and Aaron Fowler (pictured above) and Daniel Sanders (not in photo) from The Bridge. Harold Taylor, Sherry Gartley and Bill Gartley of The Movie Experience Kim Goia, Terri Moore and Elizabeth McCormick of Reading Cinemas Cinemark SF Centre GM Kelly Taylor and Regional Leader Hal Sawyer. Patrick Artiaga of ACS Enterprises, the sponsor of our seminar breakfasts with Mike Tyler and Merrill Munoz of AMC Please visit http://www.natocalnev. org/event_photos.html to view all of the photos from the Film Product Seminars. Breakfast sponsor ACS Enterprises, Inc. was represented by Wayne Koochanek, Richard Ortega and Jose Ramos 4
Starting Tuesday, October 13, 7:30 PM and continuing on the second Tuesday of each subsequent month. This unique program will provide a rare opportunity to learn about and appreciate our storied industry s rich heritage, the pioneering showmen and the cultural, economic and political forces which helped shape the business. The series will take place in Los Angeles, with the venue to be announced shortly. Free to all NATO of California/Nevada members. Following is a very brief outline of the series individual programs and dates: 1. Begins with a prologue about the years between 1896 and 1927. The Coming of Sound and the Great Depression (1927-1941), introduction of color, the coming of newsreels, neighborhood theatres. October 13, 2009 2. The War and Boom Years (1941-1948), The Golden Age of Hollywood, Liberty Bonds. November 10, 2009 3. Television, the Consent Decree, and the Postwar Era (1948-1960), the breakup of the studio system, drive-ins, shopping centers, wide-screen formats. December 8, 2009 4. The Business in Transition (1960-1975), counter culture, independent distribution, multiplexes. January 12, 2010 5. The Blockbuster and New Hollywood (1975-1994), high concept films, merchandising. February 9, 2010 6. Megaplexes, Alternative Content, and the Digital Age (1995-present), alternative content, home video. March 9, 2010 The series will be conducted by noted motion picture theatre historian, author and lecturer Ross Melnick, a Ph.D. candidate at UCLA in the Department of Film, Television and Digital Media. Mr. Melnick presently teaches cinema and media studies at UCLA and Otis College of Art and Design. If you are interested in attending any of these lectures please e-mail office@natocalnev.org stating your name, your theatre location and particular lectures you would like to attend. Reservations will be accepted on a first come basis. No walk-ins will be accepted, by reservation only. 5
Top 25 California Theatres 1/2/09 through 4/28/09 CA Rank Circuit Theatre and Screen Count City National Rank 1 AMC BURBANK 30 Burbank 2 2 Regal LONG BEACH STADIUM 26 Long Beach 5 3 Pacific GROVE STADIUM 14 Los Angeles 7 4 Pacific ARCLIGHT HOLLYWOOD 15 Hollywood 9 5 AMC BLOCK 30 Orange 13 6 Regal IRVINE SPECTRUM 21 Irvine 15 7 Regal FRESNO STADIUM 21 Fresno 16 8 Regal HACIENDA CROSSINGS 20 Dublin 17 9 Pacific ARCLIGHT SHERMAN OAKS 16 Sherman Oaks 22 10 Cinemark CENTURY 25 Union City 23 11 AMC CENTURY CITY 15 Century City 29 12 Regal MIRA MESA STADIUM 18 San Diego 30 13 Cinemark OAKRIDGE 20 San Jose 32 14 Cinemark CENTURY REDWOOD 20 Redwood City 37 15 Regal ONTARIO PALACE 22 Ontario 38 16 Pacific WINNETKA ALL STADIUM 21 Chatsworth 40 17 Cinemark DALY CITY 20 Daly City 44 18 AMC DEL AMO 18 Torrance 46 19 AMC MISSION VALLEY 20 San Diego 48 20 AMC PROMENADE 16 Woodland Hills 49 21 Cinemark CENTURY 20 Huntington Beach 50 22 Regal SOUTH GATE STADIUM 20 South Gate 60 23 National Amusements BRIDGE DE LUX 17 Westchester 63 24 AMC ONTARIO MILLS 30 Ontario 69 25 AMC METREON 15 San Francisco 85 Top 15 Nevada Theatres 1/2/09 through 4/28/09 NV Rank Circuit Theatre City 1 Regal RED ROCK STADIUM 16 Las Vegas 2 Rave TOWN SQUARE 18 Las Vegas 3 Cinemark SANTA FE STATION 16 Las Vegas 4 Regal ALIANTE STADIUM 16 Las Vegas 5 Cinemark SOUTH COAST 16 Las Vegas 6 Cinemark ORLEANS 18 Las Vegas 7 Cinemark CENTURY 14 Sparks 8 Cinemark PARK LANE 16 Reno 9 Regal TEXAS 18 Las Vegas 10 Cinemark SUMMIT SIERRA 16 Reno 11 Regal SUNSET STATION 13 Henderson 12 Regal GREEN VALLEY 10 Henderson 13 Cinemark SAM S TOWN 18 Las Vegas 14 Brenden PALMS 14 Las Vegas 15 Cinemark SUNCOAST 16 Las Vegas 6
Top 50 Theatres Nationwide 1/2/09 through 4/28/09 Rank Circuit Theatre and Screen Count City, State 1 AMC EMPIRE 25 New York, NY 2 AMC BURBANK 30 Burbank, CA 3 Regal UNION SQUARE 14 New York, NY 4 AMC GARDEN STATE 16 Paramus, NJ 5 Regal LONG BEACH STADIUM 26 Long Beach, CA 6 Cinemark EGYPTIAN 24 Hanover, MD 7 Pacific GROVE STADIUM 14 Los Angeles, CA 8 AMC TYSONS CORNER 16 Mc Lean, VA 9 Pacific ARCLIGHT HOLLYWOOD 15 Hollywood, CA 10 AMC BOSTON COMMON 19 Boston, MA 11 AMC LINCOLN SQUARE 13 New York, NY 12 AMC AVENTURA MALL 24 Aventura, FL 13 AMC BLOCK 30 Orange, CA 14 Regal E-WALK 13 New York, NY 15 Regal IRVINE SPECTRUM 21 Irvine, CA 16 Regal FRESNO STADIUM 21 Fresno, CA 17 Regal HACIENDA CROSSINGS 20 Dublin, CA 18 AMC RIVER EAST 21 Chicago, IL 19 AMC PALISADES 21 West Nyack, NY 20 Regal SHEEPSHEAD BAY 14 Brooklyn, NY 21 AMC PLEASURE ISLAND 24 Lake Buena Vista, FL 22 Pacific ARCLIGHT SHERMAN OAKS 16 Sherman Oaks, CA 23 Cinemark CENTURY 25 Union City, CA 24 Cinemark RIO 24 Albuquerque, NM 25 Cinemark PARADISE PARK 24 Davie, FL 26 AMC NESHAMINY 24 Bensalem, PA 27 Regal GREENWAY GRAND PALACE 24 Houston, TX 28 Cinemark PALACE 20 Boca Raton, FL 29 AMC CENTURY CITY 15 Century City, CA 30 Regal MIRA MESA STADIUM 18 San Diego, CA 31 AMC GULF POINTE 30 Houston, TX 32 Cinemark OAKRIDGE 20 San Jose, CA 33 Cobb DOLPHIN 19 Miami, FL 34 AMC CLIFTON COMMONS 16 Clifton, NJ 35 AMC KIPS BAY 15 New York, NY 36 AMC SUNSET PLACE 24 South Miami, FL 37 Cinemark CENTURY REDWOOD 20 Redwood City, CA 38 Regal ONTARIO PALACE 22 Ontario, CA 39 Regal NEW ROC CITY 18 New Rochelle, NY 40 Pacific WINNETKA ALL STADIUM 21 Chatsworth, CA 41 AMC DEERBROOK 24 Humble, TX 42 AMC HOFFMAN 22 Alexandria, VA 43 National Amusements SHOWCASE 16 Randolph, MA 44 Cinemark DALY CITY 20 Daly City, CA 45 AMC STUDIO 30 HOU. Houston, TX 46 AMC DEL AMO 18 Torrance, CA 47 AMC WHITE MARSH 16 Baltimore, MD 48 AMC MISSION VALLEY 20 San Diego, CA 49 AMC PROMENADE 16 Woodland Hills, CA 50 Cinemark CENTURY 20 Huntington Beach, CA Calendar of Events & Holidays Mother s Day May 10 Armed Forces Day May 16 Memorial Day observed May 25 Flag Day June 14 Father s Day June 21 Summer begins June 21 Board of Directors Meeting June 24 Annual Membership Meeting June 25 Scholarship Award Winners announced June 25 Independence Day July 4 7