SÃO
PAULO, Brazil — Cinemark
oversaw in December the launches of 19 screens at two sites in São
Paulo, Brazil. Dec. 7 brought the 2,600-seat Station Santa Cruz 11-plex;
the 1,500-seat Manaus 8-plex bowed 14 days later.
Both sites feature stadium-style seating, high-back rockers with retractable
armrests, digital sound, wall-to-wall screens and advance online ticketing.
An unusual component of the 11-plex will be its “Cinemagico”
auditorium, a collaboration with Buena Vista International festooned
with the images of classic Disney characters and dedicated to the
exhibition of Disney product, old and new.
“Cinemark is excited to form such a strong relationship with
Disney,” said Cinemark International president Tim Warner. “This
alliance will enable us to offer children’s films to our customers
and their families throughout the year.”
Warner describes the 8-plex, Cinemark’s 28th site in Brazil,
as the “most modern multi-screen theatre in the entire northwest
region of Brazil.”
Cinemark currently operates 2,931 screens in 33 U.S. states, Argentina,
Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, England,
Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru and Taiwan.
Czech Admits
Up 20% in 2001
New Multis Help
Bolster Czech B.O.
PRAGUE, The Czech Republic — Leaping an estimated 20 percent
over 2000’s year-end tally, Czech admissions in 2001 surpassed
10 million — numbers not seen in the region since 1992.
Market share of multiplexes rose in 2001 from 40 percent to 50 percent,
with Ster Century opening sites in Prague and Brno, and Cinestar
bowing sites in Hradec Kralove and Ostrava.
The estimate for the nation’s 2001 box office is $23.3 million
(CZK 815 million). Jan Sverak’s “Dark Blue World”
was by far the country’s most popular movie last year, scaring
up one million admissions and a gross of $2.37 million (CZK 83 million).
Hollywood
Leads in Admits
Italian B.O. Up
10% From 2000
ROME — Italian box office between January and November 2001
rose 10 percent over the same period in 2000.
Although locally-produced films started off well in the first half
of 2001, their share dwindled to 11 percent of the July-to-December
box office. Hollywood, with hits like “Bridget Jones’
Diary,” and “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,”
snared a 58 percent share of the market between July and December.
To Use 4 to 10 Digi-Projectors
Digital Alternatives
For Odeon Circuit
LONDON —
London-based Odeon
Cinemas, in
conjunction with Quantum Digital — a digital cinema content
provider and technology integrator — announced on Jan. 7 the
launch of Odeon Digital Cinema, a venture aiming to bring alternative
digital presentations to the circuit’s moviehouses.
The new venture’s 6-month plan calls for the installation throughout
the U.K. of four to 10 digital projectors — as well as equipment
facilitating satellite transmissions — to bring musicals, pop
concerts, major sporting events and children’s entertainment
to Odeon venues.
“Digital cinema represents an exciting opportunity for Odeon
to bring a much wider choice of entertainment to people across the
United Kingdom,” circuit chief executive Richard Segal told
The Hollywood Reporter. “Going forward, Odeon will have the
potential to bring internationally famous events to people’s
doorsteps at affordable prices.”
Quantum Digital and Odeon last year collaborated on a presentation
of Stephen Sondheim’s Broadway musical “Putting It Together”
at Odeon’s London flagship, the Odeon Leicester Square.
May
Opening in Lachenaie
Enterprise Plans
Quebec 10-Plex
LACHENAIE,
Quebec — Les Cinemas Cine Enterprise announced in December
a plan for the May launch of its Cinema Triomphe 10-plex in the
heart of Lachenaie, Quebec.
Inspired by French architecture, the circuit has designed the multi
so that patrons will enter through its “Arc de Triomphe”
into the bistro-style food court, which will house a coffee shop,
a pizzeria and snack bar.
To be located at the crossroads of Transcanada (40) and Autoroute
640, the plex will feature two party rooms, 20,000-watt speaker
channels and high back stadium-style seating with cupholder armrests.
Cine Enterprise currently operates 35 screens at six sites in Quebec.
Second Site for Bogota
Cinemark Bows
Colombia 6-Plex
BOGOTA, Colombia — Cinemark
announced on Dec. 12 the opening of a 1,650-seat 6-plex in Bogota,
Colombia — Cinemark’s second site in that city —
within one of South America’s largest shopping centers.
The 3,300-square-foot Cafam Floresta multi features stadium-style
seating, high back rockers with retractable armrests, digital sound,
wall-to-wall screens and 6-day advanced ticketing.
The Cafam Floresta shopping center offers approximately 17,000 square
meters of retail, restaurant and entertainment venues.
“To date, we have constructed 22 modern high-tech screens in
Bogota and Medellin,” said Cinemark International president
Tim Warner, who has overseen the circuit’s international operations
for more than half a decade.
“Cinemark could not be more thrilled about our newest theatre
in Colombia.”
Ticket
Windows to Close
Kinepolis Advances
Online Purchasing
BRUSSELS, Belgium — Belgium-based Kinepolis
announced in January plans to replace box office ticket desks in
all of its multis with public-access computers designed to allow
patrons to buy tickets online.
Plans include adapting the system for concessions and installing
terminals in local bars and restaurants.
According to Screen Daily, Kinepolis hopes to sell 60 percent of
its tickets electronically by the end of 2002, and up to 80 percent
by the end of 2003.
Establishes
9-Month Window
Kiwi Gov’t Protects
Theatrical Releases
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — In a move designed to protect theatrical
release windows for legitimate local exhibitors and distributors,
the New Zealand government on Dec. 13 announced that it would forbid
the parallel importation of DVDs and videos for nine months after
their international release.
The law, which goes into effect this summer, is already being attacked
by local DVD and video importers.
Due to a 1998 change in legislation allowing parallel importation,
by the time a U.S. film is released in New Zealand, the DVD of that
film is often already available at video retailers. Between 1999
and 2000 Kiwi box office dropped 11 percent.
New
Marketing & Strategy Exec
GU’s Williams
Heads to Hoyts
SYDNEY, Australia — David Williams, former executive with the
Sydney-based Greater
Union circuit, joined in January Greater Union’s
Sydney-based rival, Hoyts,
in the newly created position of director of marketing and strategy.
In his new position, Williams will oversee marketing for the Hoyts’
exhibition and (fledgling) distribution companies, as well as implement
marketing synergies tied to other elements of Kerry Packer’s
media empire, including the Nine Network, Nine Films & Television
and ACP magazines.
Williams has had more than 14 years experience in the industry,
including a stint as general manager of group marketing at Greater
Union.
New
Senior VP, Finance
Warner Int’l
Promotes Miller
BURBANK, Calif. — Warner Bros. International Theatres announced
on Jan. 15 the promotion of Paul Miller to senior vice president
of finance.
Since joining the company in 1999, Miller has held the post of vice
president of finance.
In his new position Miller is responsible for all aspects of financial
and accounting matters for the circuit and will report directly
to circuit president Millard Ochs.
Warner currently operates 1,300 screens at 137 sites in Australia,
Italy, Japan, Portugal, Spain, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. 
