The Blair Witch Project Explodes to 2400 Screens Using Hollywood Software’s TDS For Theatrical Distribution
Hollywood Software’s TDS allows Artisan Entertainment to efficiently increase distribution
from 27 screens to 2400 in four weeks
The Blair Witch Project has been such an incredible success that it has forced Artisan Entertainment to turn on a dime and implement a very broad distribution strategy in an extremely short time. Artisan has taken the movie from an opening platform of 27 screens to 2400 screens in just four weeks. This was made possible through the use of Hollywood Software’s TDS (Theatrical Distribution Software), a PC-based suite of five integrated modules, including Sales Reservation, Booking, Settlement, Receivable and Administrative. TDS offers total control of theatrical distribution. Without TDS Artisan would have had much less flexibility to handle the rapidly expanding demand for the movie.
"TDS made the job easy," notes Steve Rothenberg, executive vice president of domestic theatrical distribution at Artisan. "We've had three years of experience with TDS, having already used it on 35 movies, ranging from Wes Craven's Wishmaster to Black Mask, and now The Blair Witch Project. TDS has enabled us to set things up more quickly, and with fewer people, than any other method that I have ever used."
"Artisan is one of the true forward thinkers in the area of theatrical distribution," says David Gajda, president of Hollywood Software, Inc. "Artisan jumped in when TDS was a very new concept, and recognized that it offered a real-time, PC-based, user-friendly, affordable solution to the theatrical distribution problem."
The Blair Witch Project has been a genuine phenomenon, having achieved a per screen average gross of $26,528 in its first week of wide release. This is a new industry record. "Not bad for a movie that only cost $35,000 to produce," says Rothenberg, with a smile.
About Artisan Entertainment
Artisan Entertainment Inc., is a diversified entertainment company that specializes in the development, production, acquisition, marketing and worldwide distribution of quality feature-length motion pictures. The company has secured a major pay-TV deal with Showtime Networks; an output deal with Hallmark Entertainment, which covers all Hallmark, Crayola and Cabin Fever product; a distribution deal with The Shooting Gallery for its film product in all media; the purchase of an equity stake in Summit Entertainment; and an output deal with Alliance in Canada. Artisan is comprised of four key groups: Artisan Pictures Inc., Artisan Home Entertainment Inc., Artisan Television and Artisan International. Artisan Entertainment Inc. controls a library of more than 6,300 titles which include Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Reservoir Dogs, Dirty Dancing, Total Recall, The Piano and the successful Rambo series of films, as well as a library of widely recognized children's programming under its Family Home Entertainment brand. The company maintains offices in Los Angeles, New York and Dallas.
About Hollywood Software
Hollywood Software, Inc. specializes in software products for content providers, such as the producers of movies, TV shows and Internet content. The company’s main claim to fame is TDS, the first Theatrical Distribution software product that has been written for the entertainment community marketplace in the last 15 years. Early adopters of TDS include such luminaries as 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios, Artisan Entertainment, Tri-mark Pictures and First Look Pictures.
For additional information, please contact Hollywood Software, Inc., 1604 N. Cahuenga Blvd. Suite 115, Hollywood, CA 90028. Phone: (323) 463-2144. FAX: (323) 463-1319. Email: info@hollywoodsoftware.com or david_gajda@hollywoodsoftware.com. Web sites: www.hollywoodsoftware.com, www.theatricaldistribution.com, and www.Rightsmart.com.
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