Text 23636, 98 rader
Skriven 2006-10-08 12:46:00 av Jeff Binkley (1:226/600)
Ärende: Liberal film
====================
Actually if the film were to air before the election, it might guarantee 
another republican sweep.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061006/en_nm/president_dc

Major chains refuse to play Bush death film 

By Nicole Sperling and Anne Thompson 
Fri Oct 6, 12:41 AM ET
 


LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Newmarket Films set itself an unusual 
challenge when it decided to release the controversial faux 
investigative documentary "Death of a President" just six weeks after 
acquiring the movie at the Toronto International Film Festival last 
month. 

 
But it might face an even more formidable obstacle because several major 
theater chains are refusing to play the film, which mixes real news 
footage with dramatized segments depicting the fictional 2007 death of        
President Bush.

Newmarket, the 12-year-old Los Angeles-based film financing, production 
and distribution company, plans to open the film October 27, just in 
time for the November 7 election.

"Yes, it's controversial," Newmarket co-founder Chris Ball said. "It's 
quite a compelling political thriller. In many ways it is sympathetic to       

George Bush. It talks about a rush to judgment. In no way is it a call 
for violence."

But the country's largest theater chain, Regal Entertainment Group, has 
passed on playing the film, citing the subject matter as the primary 
reason. "We would not be inclined to program this film," Regal 
Entertainment Group CEO Mike Campbell said. "We feel it is inappropriate 
to portray the future assassination of a sitting president, regardless 
of political affiliation."

Texas-based Cinemark USA also has declined to play the indie film, 
corporate spokesman Terrell Falk said. The circuit, which recently 
completed its acquisition of northern California-based Century Theatres, 
will not allow the regional player to book the film either. "We're not 
playing it on any of our screens," Falk said. "It's a subject matter we 
don't wish to play. We decided to pass on the film."

Boston-based National Amusements, controlled by Viacom Inc. chief Sumner 
Redstone, still is in negotiations as to whether it will play the R-
rated film from director Gabriel Range, who reportedly was the subject 
of death threats before the film's debut in Toronto.

"We're currently in discussions with the distributor of the film," said 
Wanda Whitson, director of corporate communications at National 
Amusements. "The availability of the film in our markets is an important 
factor affecting this discussion. Our film department does consider all 
films, and we've run controversial films in the past."

Newmarket distribution consultant Richard Abramowitz insisted he was 
having no trouble booking the film, which initially will open in several 
hundred locations. "Every day during a busy time we are picking up 
plenty of screens," he said, citing the Landmark Theater chain as being 
supportive.

Abramowitz declined comment on problems with theater bookings. "We're 
getting a good reception in a lot of places. No matter how tight the 
screens are, once a film has success, it's always easier to get more 
screens."

Although a consortium of distributors led by Miramax Films' Harvey 
Weinstein pushed the politically polarized "Fahrenheit 9/11" into 
theaters very quickly in summer 2004, and Paramount Vantage took only 
four months to open        Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth," it is rare 
that a film goes from acquisition to release so quickly.

One distribution executive questioned the wisdom of rushing "President" 
into cinemas in advance of the election. "In the midst of all the 
backlash and controversy it seems to make sense to ride the moment," he 
said. "The film is so topical and incendiary, you'd think that to wait 
is to waste it. But the film may not have enough time to gestate and get 
the best theaters booked. They are finding out how difficult and crazy 
this timing is."

"President" marks Newmarket's bid to reclaim its title as a champion of 
product other distributors deem untouchable. The distribution arm was 
built from the ground up in 2000 surrounding the release of        
Christopher Nolan's "Memento" when other distributors passed on the 
film. It eventually took the movie to a $25 million North American gross 
and went on to a winning streak with "Whale Rider," "Monster" and        
Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

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