Variety alert: "Farenheit 911" confirms distribution deal!

[villager]

just sent out as an e-mail bulletin from Variety:

'9/11' GETS TAG-TEAM DEAL

Lions Gate, IFC to distrib controversial doc

Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" has landed a domestic distribution deal in time to spark plenty of July 4 and pre-election fireworks. Palme D'Or winner will be released June 25, on U.S. screens through a joint venture between Lions Gate Films, IFC Films and Harvey and Bob Weinstein's Fellowship Adventure

[Nlighten1]

1. I can't wait to see this.

[Claire Beth]

60. me, too! I'm excited about it. n/t

[slinkerwink]

2. excellent!!!!!!

[mzmolly]

3. YAHOO!!!!

:toast:

[tjwash]

4. I'm waiting for this one.

The more they censor and try to block it's distribution in America, the worse I want to see it.

[mmm]

5. That's sooner than I thought

I can't wait

[scarletwoman]

6. WOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO!!!!

:bounce: :party: :bounce: :party: :bounce: :party: :bounce: :party: :bounce:

Thanks for posting this!

sw

[k in IA]

7. Olberman just reported this too (after your post).

[warrior1]

9. Hallelujah

burn baby bush burn..ha ha

[villager]

8. 500 screens, initial release

quotes from fuller article at website:

<snip>

A source close to the deal confirmed that the Weinsteins have sent a letter to all members of the Miramax marketing staff stating that no one on the Miramax payroll should be involved with the marketing and release of "Fahrenheit 9/11."

"With Frodo (Harvey) and Sam (Bob) now in charge of the Fellowship, I welcome the addition of Lions Gate and IFC to our quest in bringing good family entertainment to the viewing public," Moore, said. "(Lions Gate CEO) Jon Feltheimer produced my series 'TV Nation' and IFC produced my series 'The Awful Truth.' Not only am I in good hands, I am grateful to them now that everyone who wants to see it will now have the chance to do so ... . On behalf of my stellar cast -- GW, Dick, Rummy, Condi and Wolfie -- we thank this incredible coalition of the willing for bringing 'Fahrenheit 9/11' to the people."

"This is a true coalition," the Weinsteins said in a statement. "The passion that Lions Gate, IFC Films and Showtime have demonstrated reflects our desire to enable Michael Moore's extraordinary work to be viewed by as many filmgoers as possible as soon as possible."

<snip>

www.variety.com

[k in IA]

12. How wide is 500 screens? Will small cities get it?

ie: 100,000-500,000 people.

[porkrind]

35. Only 500 screens?

I'm not sure how this compares to other movies, but 500 seems like a low number. :( That's only ~10 per state. I'm worried that it will only release in larger cities, which tend to vote democrat anyway. This movie needs to be seen in rural America, in the "flyover" states that typically vote Republican. Am I wrong?

---

Read about the Right-Wing "Master Plan": http://www.zmag.org/chomsky/sam/sam-contents.html

Have you read "War is a Racket"?: http://lexrex.com/enlightened/articles/warisaracket.htm

[villager]

44. you're right...

...it's a "roll-out." This partly reduces the P&A costs -- Prints and Advertising. If the movie burns up -- so to speak -- the box office in larger markets, that will help getting into smaller towns sooner -- i.e., more cash flow for additional prints, etc...

[metisnation]

45. I might go twice

the movie houses follow the dollar always always always...go see it twice an pay for an extra seat.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

58. CNN is reporting 1000 screens

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/06/02/film.moore.reut/index.html

snip
"Although plans have not yet been finalized -- and summer screens can be hard to come by -- "Fahrenheit" is expected to roll out on about 1,000 screens, sources said."
snip

[TahitiNut]

59. "How Movie Distribution Works" (There're 37,000 screens in the US.)

It has to do with the number of prints produced @ $1,500-2,000. An initial release of 500-1,000 screens necessitates the creation of 550-1100 prints of the film itself. We're looking at an up-front print production cost on the order of $1,000,000.

How Movie Distribution Works

[Emboldened Chimp]

64. Are you guys kidding? FIVE HUNDRED screens is effin GREAT!

At its height, Bowling for Columbine was in less than 250, and that took in over $21 million and all kinds of awards, including an Oscar. Five hundred for F-911 is awesome. And with all the controversy, this could well be the most successful documentary of All Time.

Rejoice, DUers!

[TahitiNut]

66. Well, I'd call it 'Good' not 'awesome.'

The average major studio theatrical release is about 1,750 screens with the widest distribution running about 3,000 screens. The average indy film is released to an average of 40-50 screens. So, 500 screens for Farenheit 9/11 is Good ... and, if it's 1,000 screens, I'd call it 'Great,' especially for an indy film.

'Passion' was released to 4,000 screens, but that's an anomaly due to political funding.

[olddem43]

10. Too Early?

This is good news but may be too early in the campaign. Most voters have a short memory and some or most of the negative effect on the Bush man will wear off before November. I wish they could have saved this until sometime in September so that people would still be talking about it when the election rolls around.

[Cooley Hurd]

14. But they plan to release the DVD a few weeks before the election...

So releasing this in July is still good!

Welcome to DU, olddem43! :hi:

[villager]

15. no DVD deal seems confirmed

according to these lines from the article:

Pay TV rights will go through Showtime, Lions Gate's pay TV partner.

DVD rights are currently being hammered out as a separate deal. While Lions Gate is eager to make that deal, Universal Studios Home Video is another strong contender.



But it looks like Showtime will get the cable showings!

[Tuttle]

26. Does anyone here remember "Mastergate"?

Showtime aired it on a 'free weekend' in late October 1992 -- really put Bush the Elder in a bad light right before the election.

Tut-tut

[villager]

31. wonder if Showtime will still be "allowed" to do

...these sorts of things, with the executive shake-up at Viacom unfolding...

[villager]

54. ...and given the few-month window...

...I wonder if Showtime is angling to show it right before the election?

[Political_Junkie]

11. Yess!!!

Great news!

[Generator]

13. Yipeee!

And timed so nicely to go with the "Iraqi Soverignty" too.

I'll bring a box of kleenex. My blood is boiling just thinking about it. AT LAST Americans get to see Bush's heroic actions on 9/11 as he sat and sat and sat. And then poised for pictures,and then did nothing to save one life on that day. Nothing, but lie and lead us to Iraq and increase terrorism.

Worse piece of shit excuse for a President ever.

[LifeDuringWartime]

18. he did do something to save one life that day....

his own!

[Sugarbleus]

16. I want to see it but..

I never go to theaters. Will it come out on tape/dvd for sale at the same time??? Or will I have to wait and rent it?

[villager]

17. sounds like...

...DVD and cable showings will come after a theatrical run...

[scarletwoman]

19. Could things get violent? Will bush cultists attack theaters/movie goers?

My first reaction to this news was total joy. Then I got a bad feeling -- mobs of enraged bushbots descending on theaters where F 9/11 is being shown... Could things get ugly? Will theater owners be afraid to book it?

Sorry about the downer thoughts, but the brownshirts are out there...

sw

[villager]

20. the brownshirts could at last...

overplay their hand(s), doing that before the next election...

[scarletwoman]

22. Let's hope so!

I do think we ought to be prepared for backlash of one sort or another, there's sure to be something.

sw

[villager]

25. agreed, and not saying it will be easy...

People may need to bring digital cameras while standing in line, making sure any ugliness is documented for the world to see...

Of course, there could also be intimidation against exhibitors showing the movie, like the Rethugs did against that S.F. gallery owner showing a painting about the tortures in Iraq...

[TankLV]

23. Just let them try anything around me or mine!

I'm spoiling for a fight with these treasonous bastards who hijacked our country!

I will be in their face if they try anything.

What the repukes don't understand is that we're mad as hell and we're not going to "take it" anymore!

We have have had 4 long years to build up a justified rage at all things repuke - damn right we're angry!

Just let them try to start something - we'll be sure to finish it once and for all!

[Occulus]

37. One reason I always wear

steel toe boots.

[homelandpunk]

40. If they are holding signs I will taunt them till they DO start something.

I really am itching for this.
Just call Bush a criminal traitor pussy, and they won't be able to contain themselves. God, I can't wait.

[mongo]

24. protesting is out of favor

with the brownshirts. They associate it with "the left" No, if they know a theater it will play at they will get a petition together, threaten to boycott the theater, etc.

Heck I opened an adult store in a small city in the middle of the bible belt, and I have yet to see a protester. They call the mayor, the city council, write letters to the editor of the paper, etc. but have never protested. I almost wish they would. The publicity would be nice. They expect the powers to be to do their dirty work for them.

[villager]

27. welcome to DU, Mongo!

...interesting website ya got there...

and note the item I mentioned above -- posted and discussed on DU in the last few days -- about the roughing up of the gallery owner in S.F...

[mongo]

39. Thanks.

suprising to me that that would happen in S.F. From out here Ca. seems like a different (nicer, more tolerant, more diverse, accepting) country.

[villager]

42. well, there was a large counter-protest

...of people insisting she keep the gallery open and defend her Free Speech rights...

the harassers were the expected "furtive thugs," cowards all.. (she was punched in the face, spat on, etc...)

[FighttheFuture]

48. We can only hope that they do... more great publicity!

This is "The Passion" for people who actually live in this reality!

[LeighAnn]

53. 'Al Queda' will attack at a theater showing Fahrenheit 911

I'm willing to bet money that something like that will happen and 'average' Americans will be terrified to go to the theater and see it. Either that or Ashcroft & flunkies will say Padilla tipped them off to a plot to blow up theaters so beware...

[Kadie]

21. AP: ''Fahrenheit 9/11'' finds domestic distributor (hits theaters June 25)

''Fahrenheit 9/11'' finds domestic distributor (hits theaters June 25)


''Fahrenheit 9/11'' finds domestic distributor

GARY GENTILE, AP Business Writer
Tuesday, June 1, 2004


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



(06-01) 17:30 PDT LOS ANGELES (AP) --

Michael Moore's award-winning documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" has picked up a U.S. distributor and will hit theaters June 25.

The film will be released by a partnership of Lions Gate Films, IFC Films and the Fellowship Adventure Group, which was formed by Harvey and Bob Weinstein specifically to market Moore's film.

The Weinsteins, who run Miramax Films, bought the rights to the movie from The Walt Disney Co., which owns Miramax and refused to distribute Moore's film.

The Weinstein brothers will personally finance and control distribution and marketing, they said Tuesday.

"I am grateful to them now that everyone who wants to see it will now have the chance to do so," Moore said in a statement.


more... http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/06/01/state...

[gristy]

28. You know why this movie is going to be so powerful...

It's the combination of two reasons:

1) Lots and lots of people are going to see it in theatres.
2) People are going to be seeing it with lots of other people in theatres.

My point is that many peoples' newfound exposure to the BFEE criminal enterprise AND their feeling of solidarity with their fellow citizens whom they will find feel the same way as they do is going to be very, very powerful stuff. I see a standing ovation or maybe awed/frightened silence at the conclusion of every showing.

[villager]

29. the responses in "Bush's America"

...will be very, very interesting.

[NastyRiffraff]

30. Excellent news!!!

Thanks for the update...just blogged this. As for protests by the brownshirts....bring 'em on!

[Democat]

32. The Weinstein's are strong men willing to stand up to Bush!

Thanks guys!

[Red_Viking]

33. Happy Birthday to me!!!

What good news. And, the release date is my b-day! Woo-hoo! Now I know exactly what I want to do to usher in my 38th year. Wait, did I say I'd be 38? I meant 28. Or 21. I'm younger than Ann Coulter. :P

Rock on, Michael! I'll definitely be there, with others in tow.

:dem:

RV

[Arugula Latte]

47. 1966 -- a good year!

:thumbsup:

[hackwriter]

57. My B'day too!

Happy birthday, Red! Isn't this the best present EVER?

[gristy]

34. Oooh, oooh, oooh.

I can wear my DU T-shirt when I go see it!!!!!!!

[Occulus]

38. Maybe DU should have volunterrs on public lands near the theaters.

With signs, maybe. I dunno.

[Dr Fate]

36. Moore is a modern-day P.T. Barnum...

...mixed with some Twain too-

A lot of this "controversy" is orchestrated- I'm glad Moore knows how to play the media...

[Voltaire99]

41. Pffft. That's giving Barnum far too much credit.

Barnum wasn't an intellectual. Good with the three rings, though.

Of Twain, though, there is much in Moore: the inextinguishable mockery of kings, once so vital to America when it was populated with a free people, runs through Moore's veins.

[Dr Fate]

50. I mean it in the best possible way...

...supposedly he was a great self promoter...

Moore also makes the media into the "suckers" that Barnum spoke of!!

[Columbia]

43. Time to invest in Lions Gate

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=LGF

[dArKeR]

46. Moore's ‘Fahrenheit 9/11’ finds distributor - MSGOP

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5115126/

[Lord_Ingues]

49. Anyone in Boise?

I hope they show this somewhere around here, pretty lousy to be in a "small" town and have to miss a good theatre premiere of something you've looked foward to for so long. *crosses fingers*

[sampsonblk]

51. Eternal Vigilance Required

We can expect the Freepers to mount a campaign to prevent local theaters from showing this film. If we don't insist that it be shown, some of us may not get to see it.

I live in a rural pro-Bush area. I am not assured of the chance to see this film. We gotta keep our shoulders to the wheel on this one.

[Lou_C]

52. If we call Theaters in our area are request it we could help big time

Let's organize a call in and ask to see the movie in every city of the USA.

[hackwriter]

55. Best. Birthday. Present. Ever.

:D

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

56. Here's the Guardian story I posted this AM

http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,12589,1229727,00.html


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x596626#596828

[info being]

61. Great...all those millions going to IFC!!!

Much better than having our money go to Disney.

[Shakespeare]

65. A share will still go to disney, unfortunately.

Craven hypocritical whores that they are....

[Wapsie B]

62. This is one movie

that I've got to buy when the DVD come out.

[rocktivity]

63. I know no ones like an "I-told-you-so"

But boy, did I tell you so!

:D
rocknation