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Subject: Cinema Arts Theatre : Newsletter, September 29, 2005
Sent on: 9/29/2005

Message:

Hi Everyone;

First, the good news: Cinema Arts opens “Proof” and “Everything Is Illuminated” tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 30, and I loved both films and I think the “Cinema Arts crowd”, i.e. you guys, will love them too. Now the bad news: both films are also going to open at the brand new AMC megaplex in Tysons Corner, and I won’t be the least bit surprised if one or both also open at National Amusement’s Fairfax Corner megaplex.

Why this happened: The distributors of both films, Miramax and Warner Independent Films, would not let us open either film last Friday when they opened in D.C. and Bethesda. Both claimed they wanted to open the movies “small,” meaning that if they gave a print to Cinema Arts then other theatres in Northern Virginia (unspecified) would want/demand to open them too.

What this means: The opening of the new AMC 16-screen theatre in Tysons Corner (which is just across the street from an existing 8-screen theatre operated by Loews Cineplex) and the relatively recent opening of the National Amusement’s 14-screen theatre in Fairfax Corner (which is less than a mile from the existing 10-screen theatre in Fairfax Town Centre) means we have more competition for the limited release films, like Proof, like Everything is Illuminated, that are our bread and butter. We probably won’t ever be denied access to these films altogether, but rather, we are going to have to share them with more theatres sooner than we have had to in the past. In short, it won’t be just Shirlington and Cinema Arts opening these films a week, or two, or three, before they expand to additional theatres if they prove popular.

One school of thought says that the economic “pie” for movies like Proof and Everything is Illuminated is growing as the major studios recognize that the “over-30” demographic likes to go the movies too and as this demographic grows with respect to the rest of the population as a whole. Consequently, more films aimed at this demographic will be made. (We consider Miramax and Warner Independent Pictures ((WIP)) to be studios since they are both owned by major Hollywood studios, Miramax by Walt Disney and WIP by Warner Brothers.). According to this school, therefore, theatres like Cinema Arts will continue to do well even though they will face increasing direct competition from the large theatre companies, who, because they have overbuilt in Northern Virginia, will increasingly need to play these films too.

The other school of thought, however, says that the pie is not getting sufficiently larger to support three, four, five, or more, theatres in Northern Virginia opening movies like Proof and Everything is Illuminated at the same time. Yes, people will continue to go to these films, but not in sufficient numbers to allow these many theatres to make money showing them. Everyone, to continue the metaphor, gets a piece of the pie, just not enough to avoid slowly starving to death.

I guess time will tell.

I’ve posted reviews of both Proof and Everything Is Illuminated on our website (www.cinemaartstheatre.com). Proof is rated R and will be shown at 12:00, 2:30, 4:40, 7:30, and 9:40. Everything Is Illuminated is rated PG-13 and will be shown at 12:10, 2:45, 5:10, 7:50, and 10:05.

The Film Club would appear to be in some trouble. I know I was quite late in getting out the announcement for the fall, 2005 Film Club dates (October 9, October 23, November 6, November 20, and December 11). Nonetheless, to date, Cinema Arts has only received payment for the Fall Series from about 35 people. The absolute minimum we need to avoid financial lose is 150 people. So we need a bit more than 100 additional purchases of the fall, 2005 program.

Just a reminder, if you’ve already joined the Club, series’ tickets are just $42.50; if you’re not yet a member, the price for the series’ tickets is $50.00. Checks should be made out to “Cinema Arts Film Club” and mailed to Cinema Arts Theatre, 9650-14 Main St., Fairfax, VA. 22031. I will let everyone know, via next Thursday’s newsletter, if enough tickets have been sold to enable the Film Club to continue to operate for the Fall Series.

Best Regards,

Jim Tomashoff
Cinema Arts