Star Wars Empire Employs A Little Force

Law is laid down ahead of July release...


by empire |
Published on

Cinemas fortunate enough to book George Lucas' Star Wars prequel will have to abide by some strict rules - or else. The film's distributor, Twentieth Century Fox, has warned theatre owners that they will pay a penalty - possibly even have their prints confiscated - if a litany of requirements is not met. But salivating cinema owners itching for the news on who's got the showings, are unlikely to balk at the strict rules. With the majority in the firm belief that the film will be one of the biggest blockbusters of all time, caving in to the demands will be only too easy if it ensures they get their hands on the can. Conditions for playing the picture include: -The film must run in the largest auditorium in the complex and cannot move to a smaller room for the minimum length of the run without permission from Fox. - Minimum runs are eight or 12 weeks - depending on the market - for theatres that open the film on its May 19 release date. A four-week run is available for theatres that start playing the film five weekends later, on June 18. - If an exhibitor commits to playing the film on two or three screens in a multiplex, the film must stay on those screens for the minimum run as well. - In competitive zones - where more than one exhibitor has theatres - the film must play on at least three screens. - Interlocking, which allows theatres to use one print to present a film on two screens, is prohibited. - Paid onscreen advertising is prohibited for the first two weeks. - No more than eight minutes of trailers are to run before the film. (Fox has attached 2-1/2 minutes of trailers to the beginning of the picture.). - Theatres can begin playing the two-hour, 11-minute film at 12:01 a.m. on May 19.

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