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Ongoing Program Rewards 5 Employees Who
Reported Camcording Thieves
Cinema Staffers Get $2,500
For Thwarting Movie Pirates
ENCINO, Calif. – A new, ongoing anti-camcording
program rewarded in August five cinema employees who
helped prevent the theft of movies from cinema screens.
Each of the five employees received $500.
The Motion Picture Association of America
launched the program in conjunction with NATO on July
21.
 Rewards were presented to two of the recipients,
Tony Bahena and Scott Bergin, by MPAA worldwide anti-piracy
director John Malcolm at an Aug. 6 ceremony at Pacific
Theatres’ The Grove in Los Angeles.
During an April 10 Grove screening of “The Passion
of the Christ,” Bahena observed the red light of
a camcorder and notified his manager and the police.
His actions resulted in the arrest of Min Jae Joun, who
was convicted of violating California penal code 653z,
placed on 36 months summary probation and ordered to
serve 33 days in county jail or pay a $3,333 fine.
Joun was also ordered to stay away from the location
of arrest, forfeit his camcorder and tape and not to
possess any audio/visual recording device in any cinema
again.
 In a separate incident, Bergin, using
night-vision goggles while stationed in the projection
booth of the Pacific
Winnetka Theatre in Los Angeles, caught Ruben Centeno
Moreno camcording “The Alamo.” The catch
was made despite Moreno’s attempt to hide his camcorder
with a canvas bag. Police arrested Moreno, who was convicted
of violating 653z, placed on 36 months of summary probation
and ordered to serve 42 days in county jail. He was also
ordered to stay away from the location of arrest, forfeit
his camcorder and tape and not to possess any audio/visual
recording device in any cinema again.
Subsequent recipients of $500 rewards include Michael
Esposito of Loews Richmond Town Square in Richmond Heights,
Ohio, and Robert Seaton and Mayra Huerta of Signature’s
Manchester Stadium 16 in Fresno, Calif.
Cinema employees interested in learning more about the
anti-camcording program can contact NATO at (202) 962-0054
or go online at
http://www.natoonline.org/infocus//
04augustseptember/datelineex.htm.
58 Screens
Make Summer Bow
Century Bows Four Sites In Four Cities
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Century Theatres celebrated
summer openings for 58 screens at four new multis in
Colorado, Illinois, Iowa and California.
 The circuit’s second Colorado multi, a 16-plex
in Belmar, arrived May 28. Surrounded by Galyan’s,
Johnny Rocket’s and Bally’s Fitness, the
facility is situated in the recently rebuilt town center
formerly known as the Villa Italia Shopping Center. Opening
ceremonies featured a local dance troupe performance
and a display of children’s drawings. Proceeds
from the event benefited the Lakewood Cultural Center’s
Art Ventures program.
 Situated an hour northwest of Chicago,
the chain’s
Deer Park, Ill., 16-plex bowed June 25 in an outdoor
mall co-anchored by Barnes & Noble, Restoration Hardware,
Abercrombie and Fitch and Williams-Sonoma stores. Overlooking
the Palatine Forest Preserve, the facility hosted a pre-opening
event with proceeds going to local cancer charity Wellness
Place.
 On Aug. 4, the circuit made its Iowa debut
with the opening of the Hawkeye State 20-plex in Des
Moines’ Jordan
Creek Town Center (In Focus, April
2003). Proceeds from
four evenings of grand opening celebrations went to local
organizations including The Orchard Place, The Boys & Girls
Club of Central Iowa and the Big Brothers & Big Sisters
of Central Iowa.
 The circuit closed out the summer Aug.
27 with the launch of its European-influenced CinéArts 6-plex at
Santana Row in San Jose, Calif. Located across the street
from the Century Winchester Boulevard Dome facilities,
the CinéArts multi offers patrons a broad selection
of foreign and independent titles. Described as an “exquisite
pre-opening party thrown to benefit The Tech Museum Education
Foundation,” the event included French music, a
martini ice sculpture and a sneak-peek screening.
San Rafael, Calif.-based Century currently
operates 1,000 screens at 83 sites in 12 states.
DreamMakers’ 20-Plex in 2005
New Cinema Company
To Launch Tex-Plexes
SAN ANTONIO – A new theatre
company, DreamMakers Entertainment, announced in May
it would open its first
cinemas in 2005, including a 20-plex set to bow in San
Antonio next summer.
The 100,000-square-foot Atlantis Stadium 20 will be
a component of a 15-acre restaurant and entertainment
destination
just northwest of Sea World. In an underwater-themed
lobby, patrons will be greeted by two giant waterfalls
and a 1,300-gallon saltwater fish tank.
The facility is expected to include stadium-style seating
with 24-inch-wide high-backed rocker chairs and digital
sound. The site will also offer three party rooms for
birthday and corporate events.
“We established this unique theatre concept to
bring back the exciting experience of going to the movies,” said
circuit CEO Daniel Lundquist.
DreamMakers said it intends to open several Texas cinemas
next year, but, beyond the San Antonio 20-plex, was
not more specific with regard to locales. San Antonio-based
DreamMakers was founded in 2004.
Plex Due Next Year
Santikos Starts
San Antonio 16
SAN ANTONIO – Santikos Theatres in July commenced
construction of a West San Antonio 16-plex on the southeast
corner of Potranco Road and Loop 1604.
 Slated to bow next year, the multi will feature a café offering
Starbucks coffee and a variety of specialty items such
as quesadillas, mozzarella sticks, cheeseburgers and
salads, as well as an entertainment area with a variety
of cutting-edge video games and a special events partyroom.
Expected to utilize an interior and exterior design inspired
by the architecture of Granada, Spain, the 75,000-square-foot
facility will include stadium-style seating, rocker seats
and digital sound.
San Antonio-based Santikos currently operates 81 screens
at four sites.
Colombia 8; Brazil 7
Cinemark Unveils
South America Duo
PLANO, Texas – Cinemark International
unveiled in August two new South American multis: an
8-plex in
Bogota, Colombia, and a 7-plex in Niteroi, Brazil.
 The 35,739-square-foot Bogota site, which bowed Aug.
13, is the fifth multi Cinemark has opened in Colombia.
A component of the Paseo San Rafael Mall, the 1,645-plus-seat
facility is situated in an upscale neighborhood in the
southeastern part of the city.
Part of the pre-existing Plaza Shopping Niteroi near
Rio de Janeiro, the new 46,130-square-foot 7-plex opened
its doors Aug. 27. Boasting over 2,000 seats, the facility
is Cinemark’s 33rd multi in Brazil.
Both facilities feature stadium-style seating, high-backed
rocker chairs with cupholder armrests and wall-to-wall
screens.
Cinemark currently operates 3,244 screens in 33 U.S.
states and 13 other nations, including Argentina,
Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador,
Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Taiwan.
Homestead Bound
Flagship Flags 14
For South Florida
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Flagship Cinemas
broke ground June 29 on its 14-plex in the South Florida
town of Homestead.
 Slated to bow in February, the 40,000-square-foot Campbell
Drive site is expected to include stadium-style seating,
high-backed chairs and digital sound. The facility will
also feature free admission on birthdays, the Film Fanatic
Card, gift certificates and more.
“We are pleased with the wonderful reception from
the town officials and people of Homestead, and we hope
to
bring the best in family entertainment to the people
of Homestead and the surrounding region,” said
circuit president John Crowley.
Boston-based Flagship currently operates 74 screens
at eight sites in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire
and
Maryland.
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Maya 14-Plex For Salinas
New Circuit Breaks
Ground In California
SALINAS, Calif. – New theatre company Maya Cinemas on July 15 broke ground
for its first cinema, to be situated in downtown Salinas, Calif.
 The 14-plex, due next spring, will be the company’s first operational multi
and will feature stadium-style seating, wall-to-wall screens, digital sound and
oversized plush rocker seats. Its exterior will emulate the façade of
an older cinema that once stood at the same location.
The facility is expected to schedule specialty and
children’s films in
the mornings, and mainstream studio features in the afternoons and evenings.
Late night weekend movie fests are also anticipated.
“There will always be special films for families
and children, and reflecting the huge contribution of
the Steinbeck Center right next door, many children’s
writers and filmmakers will speak to audiences,” promised circuit COO Frank
Haffar. “In addition, film festivals will reflect and involve the community.”
Maya Cinemas, founded in late 2003, has announced plans
for the construction of 74 screens at five sites over
the next year.
Each Receives $7,500
NATO Cal/Nev Announces
15 Scholarship Winners
LOS ANGELES – NATO of California/ Nevada announced in July the 2004
recipients of its annual scholarship program.
 A total of $112,500 was awarded, with $7,500 going
to each of the 15 recipients. All those receiving scholarships
are field-level employees of the association’s
member cinemas.
This year’s recipients are the first to benefit from the association’s
larger scholarships, which were increased from $5,000 to $7,500 per recipient
in March (In Focus, June 2004).
 The association’s NATO 2004 scholarship recipients are:
• Kelly Christiansen, Regal Boulder Station
11 Theatre, Las Vegas;
• Zoltan Csizmadia, Laemmle’s Town Center 5 Theatre, Encino, Calif.;
• Erin DeVoll, Feather River Cinemas, Oroville, Calif.;
• Shannon Erickson, REG Edwards Mira Mesa Stadium 18 Theatre, San Diego;
• Karyn Noel Gee, Regal Natomas Marketplace 16, Sacramento, Calif.;
• Joshua Grace, Fallon Theatres, Fallon, Nev.;
• Emily Guerra, Cinemark 14 Tinseltown, Chico, Calif.;
• Sarah Hagey, Landmark’s Opera Plaza Cinema, San Francisco;
• Wallis Hendon, Signature’s Santa Cruz Cinema Nine, Santa Cruz,
Calif.;
• Salina Hernandez, Pacific’s Lakewood Center 16, Lakewood, Calif.;
• Erin Iverson, REG Edwards Temecula Stadium 15, Temecula, Calif.;
• Alma Martinez, Galaxy 12 Theatres, Riverbank, Calif.;
• Devin O’Neill, Krikorian in Monrovia, Calif.;
• Sara Jane Rocha, Premiere Cinemas, Hollister, Calif.; and
• Brock Wells, Signature 8 Theatres, Placerville, Calif.
Bienvenue
To Québec
Ciné Entreprise
Announces 9th Site
GRANBY, Québec – Les Cinemas Ciné Entreprise revealed plans
June 16 to construct its ninth facility, to be located 50 miles east of Montreal
in Granby, Québec.
 Slated to bow this fall, the 38,440-square-foot, 1,600-seat
8-plex, located in the commercial development center
Les Galeries de Granby on the corner of
David-Bouchard Street and North Simonds Street, is expected to employ stadium-style
seating, wall-to-wall screens, digital sound, orthopedic high-backed seats
with cupholders, an event room and a game center.
The facility is expected to house four additional auditoria
in the future.
“We are very pleased to announce the construction
of our new complex in Granby in collaboration with the
National Bank,” said circuit president
Raffaele Papalia. “The people of the area have been eagerly anticipating
this development and we are convinced that they will not be disappointed.”
Lachenaie, Québec-based Ciné Entreprise
currently operates 47 screens at eight sites.
$2,000 In Scholarships Awarded
NATO of Illinois
Chooses 3 Students
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. – NATO of Illinois awarded
$2,000 in scholarships to three cinema employees in August.
Awarded to individuals who “have demonstrated exemplary
scholastic achievement, work ethic and leadership qualities,” this
year’s recipients are:
• Jacob Kuebler, Goodrich Quality Theaters Savoy
16, Savoy Ill., $1,000;
• Raymond Bowdish, Goodrich Quality Theaters Willow Knolls
14, Peoria, Ill., $500; and
• Valerie Sue Connors, Kerasotes Theatres ShowPlace 8,
Carbondale, Ill., $500.
New VP Will Report to McCauley
Saatchi Vet Frankel
Joins Loews Marketing
NEW YORK – Paul Frankel, who has held marketing
posts at Nike and Saatchi & Saatchi, joined Loews
Cineplex Entertainment in July as its new vice president
of marketing and promotions. He will report to John McCauley,
senior vice president of marketing and new business development.
 A 15-year veteran of the marketing field, Frankel most
recently served as vice president of US Concepts, an
event-marketing agency.
He will be responsible for the development and execution
of national promotional platforms and the development
of market-specific programs, media and advertising. First
on his agenda will be completing the execution of the
circuit’s 4th-quarter centennial celebration, including
the actual 100th anniversary in November.
“Paul is a valued addition to the marketing team
at Loews and we are thrilled to have him as part of our
team,” said
McCauley. “He brings a wealth of experience in
entertainment marketing and promotions that will enhance
the broad range of activities we are currently developing.”
22-Year National Amusements Vet
Jankowski Gets
Senior VP Stripes
DEDHAM, Mass. – National Amusements (NA) announced
July 19 the promotion of vice president and 22-year NA
veteran Tad Jankowski to circuit senior vice president.
 “Tad has contributed a great deal to National
Amusements over the years and this promotion recognizes
the major
leadership role that he holds within our company,” noted
circuit president Shari E. Redstone.
Prior to joining NA in 1982, Jankowski served as NA
chairman Sumner Redstone’s teaching assistant at Boston
University School of Law. Promoted to NA’s general
counsel in 1987, he was named vice president in 1993
and charged with overseeing all facets of the business
from real estate acquisition and litigation to financing
and foreign expansion.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jankowski received
a bachelor’s degree in political science, a master’s
in English and a Teaching English as a Second Language
certificate from San Diego State University. Before earning
his Juris Doctor degree from Boston University, he taught
English in Iran and Japan and currently serves as director
of Movietickets.com.
In his new post, Jankowski will continue to oversee
all legal matters for the circuit.
Non-Canadian Screens Sold
Loews Splits
From Cineplex
NEW YORK – A group of private-equity firms finalized
June 21 the $1.46 billion purchase of most of Loews Cineplex
Entertainment’s (LCE) assets, resulting in the
split of Loews from its Canadian Cineplex Galaxy operations.
More than 750 Canadian screens remain with longtime owners
Onex Corp. and Oaktree Capital Management.
LCE’s non-Canadian assets – including the
chain’s U.S. cinemas, Mexico’s Grupo Cinemex,
and the circuit’s 50-percent interests in Korea’s
Megabox Cineplex and Spain’s Yelmo Cineplex – were
purchased by a new investment group formed by Bain Capital,
Carlyle Group and Spectrum Equity Investors.
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