David wrote, in part:
Congrats to CityBiz (wish I had that story), but the idea of
refurbishing the Skyway into movie theaters seems deeply weird. The
Crown Theatres 15 will be opening on Block E in November - you'll get
more movies than I suspect the market can support, Bill.
Chris responds:
Depends on what kind of programming is done. If all the theatres are nothing
but receptacles for a Hollywood pipeline, then no, you're right, the market
can't support it. If, on the other hand, there is an attempt to diversify
the programming and give us more than the usual homogenized multiplex menu,
moviegoers might have some terrific options. It's hardly news to state that
corporate-owned and programmed multiplexes typically operate with a very
narrow business model (and demographic) in mind - it's thinking that badly
needs to be shaken up. For example, documentary film making is a burgeoning
genre, yet no one is willing to give it a venue. Why can't a multiplex with
15 or 20 theatres take one screen and devote it to nothing but documentary
product? Why can't another be given over to retro programming - there's a
sizeable audience that likes to see older films on a big screen. There are
no screens devoted to fare aimed at our growing hispanic and asian
audiences. And there's still a large number of small, independent and
foreign films that open on the coasts but never make it to this market
except on video.
The market and the kind of product available is far bigger than what is
reflected on the marquees at the garden variety multiplex. A little
experimentation is called for - if it fails, they can always go back to
showing the same old Hollywood Big Macs. But there's certainly more to the
movie-going then selecting from between ten different start times for
multiple theatre showings of the next installment of Star Wars. This is not
a real choice.
Unfortunately, its probably what we're going to get downtown unles we start
making a little noise about it.
Chris Beckwith
Ward 6
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