The Nines expands
We did well on our opening weekend, racking up a per-screen average of $14,586, the highest of any movie in the country. That, along with some really good reviews, is allowing us to expand to new theaters for week two.
For Los Angeles:
For New York City, we’ll be holding on to our screen at the Sunshine Cinema on Houston.
As before, tickets are available on MovieTickets.com, Moviefone, Fandango et al. (Remember that these are the theaters beginning tomorrow, Friday. So you may need to change the date on the pop-up menu.)
A big public thank-you to everyone who supported us on opening weekend — even when the movie wasn’t playing in their neighborhood. Or state. As the movie expands, I hope more of you will be able to see it on the big screen.
Also, for readers in Austin, we’re confirmed for a Q&A with me and Ryan on September 28th at the Alamo Drafthouse.
Articles
September 6th, 2007 at 11:44 am
This is a curious trend in domestic distribution where the DVD revenue is seductive enough to murder a film’s theatrical release despite the audience indicating otherwise. Miramax recently murdered Eagle v/s Shark (also a Sundance title that had a fantastic per screen average). Wondering if you can tell us more about the kinds of deal points you put in your domestic deal to protect yourself from a screwed up domestic release… Thanks John, and keep the posts coming.
September 6th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
Vancouver…Vancouver….Vancouver Vancouver.
Vancouver.
Please think of the Canadians. I really want to see this. Oh, and -
VANCOUVER!
September 6th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Any idea when the alamo will be putting tickets up for sale (or announcing it, for that matter)? And which alamo?
Best theaters ever, by the way.
September 6th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Congratulations, John! I saw you on the fantastic Publicity 101 Panel at the Guild and was impressed then, as now, by how far you go to promote and advance your own career. No doubt this accounts for the success you’ve enjoyed with Big Fish and now The Nines.
Sid, John will clearly have the inside scoop on this, but as far as I know there’s no contract language that would guarantee you the distribution stragey you’d prefer. Sounds like John got a wider release not because of any deal points in his contract but because of a combination of on-screen average and strong reviews, which together suggest that the film might have sea-legs. Also, John’s an enormously successful writer with quite a track record, which may further distinguish his film from Eagle vs. Shark.
September 6th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Sid (#1):
When we sold the movie, the deal included a theatrical component (NY/LA). But your instinct is right — a lot of movies that get picked up at Sundance sort of have their hands stamped in theaters before ending up on DVD. If we can keep up the momentum, we can avoid that fate. But that is by no means guaranteed.
Go. See. The Movie.
Farley (#2):
We’re actively working on getting Canada happening. Believe me, Ryan wants the movie playing up there. He’s even on the cover of EnRoute magazine, the Air Canada magazine, promoting us.
mcroeder (#3):
We’re partnering with the Austin Film Festival for the launch. Details will be up soon. It’s going to be cool.
September 6th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
I saw it at the Nuart this past weekend and the film has stuck with me every day since. It’s that rare film that plants seeds during the viewing, only to blossom fully as it lives on inside you. It’s still challenging me.
On another note, I was most impressed with your directing. For such a complexly woven plot, everything was clear-headed and sure-handed and a lot of your compositions and montages were really inventive and clever. I think it announces your arrival as a director.
Thanks for a rich and unusual moviegoing experience.
September 6th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Congrats on the success. As I said when I saw the trailer, I loved the film’s look and even felt that you got a really great performance out of Ryan. Because I have barely enough time to sleep I haven’t seen it yet, but hopefully it will stay in NYC for awhile. It’s a welcome change from the tentpole season. But then that is the tragedy of being a poet, the surreal accomplishes much more in your mind.
Again, congrats. I hope to see more from you.
September 6th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
I really don´t have a clue about movie distribution and stuff, so here´s my question: is it always like that with some kind of “low budget indipendent” film? Opening on a couple of screens, expand, then expand a little more and hopefully - what? Hit a full release before it´s DVD time?
I´m just curious. And thankful, by the way - it´s an exciting thing to read how this all is happening.
Jason
September 6th, 2007 at 10:45 pm
I just read an article on IFC.com with Ryan Reynolds about the Nines. While the movie sounds great and I cannot wait to see it (please come to Australia), how do you feel about his comment that ‘the film is largely unscripted’? Was it mostly improvisation, or are you going to have to smack him upside the head for that comment?
September 7th, 2007 at 10:23 am
Scott L (#10):
Ryan Reynolds is a filthy liar. (Not really.) I suspect the quote is a little wonky, either through misspeaking or mis-transcribing. Only Part Two is largely unscripted, in the sense that many scenes did not have proscribed dialogue. The rest of it is pretty traditionally scripted.
September 7th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Over at the Sunset 5, you can The Nines AND The Ten!!
September 7th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
Don’t suppose you’re going to hang around in Austin for the conference/film festival? I’m thinking not - you’ll most likely move on to some other Nines-related event.
September 8th, 2007 at 6:54 am
Details, son– details!
Austin– 28 September? Where and when?
Also/or– saw you mentioned AFF. Did you mean THE NINES will be part of their slate of films? Can you say (or hint…) if someone coming into Austin for that early portion of the AFF (say, coincident with the screenwriting conf) would be in a position to catch this?
Thanks for any info, and congrats! Hope to see this in Austin sometime soon.
B
September 8th, 2007 at 10:16 am
Brett N (#13):
We’ll be debuting at the Alamo Drafthouse (South Lamar). Exact time for the Q&A is TBD, but it will probably be something around 8 p.m.
The Nines isn’t part of the AFF proper — we’re already out in theaters. But you can certainly see it while you’re there. We’ll be playing at the Drafthouse for many weeks, one hopes.
September 8th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
How about confirming a Q&A at the Regal Dole Cannery? Heck, I’d even brave the Consolidated at Ward Center for that… you soooooo know you want to come to Hawaii
Congrats on the awesome per screen! I’m looking forward to seeing it (multiple times).
September 9th, 2007 at 5:30 am
How can we get “The Nines” to D.C.? We have AFI Silver right here in beautiful downtown Silver Spring (Maryland), and two Landmark theaters, which seem like natural venues for this film. Would love to see it on the big screen. (I put an email plug in at AFI, but have heard nada.) Let me know what a mere movie goer can do!
September 9th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Alamo Drafthouse has tickets available for purchase. Here’s the link… http://www.originalalamo.com/show.aspx?id=4818 There are two showtimes listed one at 7:00pm and one at 10:00pm both at the Drafthouse on South Lamar. The listing only mentions that Ryan will be present. Are you still planning on being there John? I went ahead and bought tickets for both showtimes. I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss anything, plus it seems like the type of movie you need to see at least twice. Maybe I’ll do the audio commentary for the second showing. Looking forward to the film and the Q&A in Austin!
September 10th, 2007 at 8:34 am
Congratulations on the expanded distribution, John! I met you at last year’s AFF, I’m the girl with the gypsy screenplay… I can’t wait to see the screening on the 28! You were one of the nicest people I ever met, thanks for answering some questions after the panel. Take care and good luck! Ames
September 12th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
I am amazed at the number of reviews I’ve read that spoil the movie. Seriously. How is anyone supposed to let the movie take effect when they already know X Y Z going in? Even knowing that a movie is “spoilable” is a spoiler in itself.
I personally can’t read reviews before going to a movie, and I do my best to not watch previews beyond a teaser. It’s infuriating to read or see a whole entire plot, with twists, character relationships — even seeing an explosion in a preview is annoying — what if I didn’t want to know something explodes? I like meeting characters and letting a story unfold before me with no idea what happens next beyond my own educated guess.
So anyways, I feel bad for all the people reading about The Nines and finding that they end up reading The Nines itself. There is an art to writing about a movie without ruining it. Sadly, I think it’s a lost artform.
September 24th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
Hi, John,
Orlando, Florida has this film school called Full Sail Real World Education(very prestigious well kept secret of the film industry) and I was wondering what we’d have to do for a Q&A session and a viewing of your film? I know a lot of people that are dying to see the Nines and if you come out, it will be a great benefit to us all.
Thank you,
Lee Pierce