On 01/07/2009, at 01:54 , Depasquale, Nicholas (Chicago) wrote:

> Eric I used to think exactly the same as you but I guess I just gave
> in...
>
> The problem isn't just that simple - there are different agreements at
> different theaters - what % get concession what don't then after
> theater
> release - PPV, DVD ,etc
> Remember most of post theater generators didn't exist 20 years ago -
> except for VHS - so it is a different model.
> (For example I believe it was Firefly that actually turned a profit
> only
> after huge DVD sales)


DVD is a massive profit vector for Hollywood now. Notice how movies
can be released on DVD very quickly? Remember the 80s, when a movie
wouldn't come out on VHS for one or even two years after? And the
relative DVD price has dropped a LOT over the last five years and
sales have really boomed (forget that RIAA bullshit - the music
industry is dying because its mainstream product is crap, whereas the
aftermarket sales of DVDs of movies have increased as more people get
home theatres).

We don't even pay for the cable movie channels, we buy DVDs (on the
other hand, every DVD we buy is a legitimate tax deduction for my
wife, who is a specialist film academic, so it makes more sense for us).


> But I think they also stayed in the theaters much longer - I can't
> remember exactly but I thought Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back
> were both in first run theaters for close to a year.
> I think movies today won't last 3 months....

Depends what you call 'first run'. In the old days most movies opened
on only a small number of screens, If they proved to be popular, they
add more screens, and so on, until the interest sags. nowadays a
'blockbuster' will open on as many screens as possible - sometimes for
only a week or two if it's a super-bad lemon.

scot