|
EDtv Premiere
14.2.1999
From today's Austin, TX American-Stateman:
Transcribed by: mcdlancer@aol.com
Where will 'EDtv' premiere?
Published: Feb. 13, 1999
The historic Paramount Theatre is the jewel at the center of the downtown revival, but to Hollywood the 84-year-old grand arts palace seems to be just a cut above the moviehouse in "The Last Picture Show." After inspecting the Paramount's technical capabilities Saturday, Universal is reportedly looking to move its March 17 South by Southwest premiere screening of "EDtv," with director Ron Howard and stars Matthew McConaughey and Jon Bon Jovi in attendance, to a more modern "monsterplex" like Tinseltown or Barton Creek Cinema. Since the Paramount's film and sound equipment don't meet modern standards (the projectors are from the '50s), studios have to rent expensive gear and fly in techs to run it. Miramax had to pay nearly $9,000 in production costs to screen "The Faculty" for the hometown crowd, for instance.
According to an inside source, SXSW organizers are stressing the charm factor, but director Howard is such a stickler for technical details that the studio doesn't want to take a chance with something going wrong. Nancy Schafer of SXSW said "EDtv" is firm for the fest, "but at this point we don't have all the logistics worked out." SXSW is sharing the cost of a new platter projection system with the Paramount and will have that essential bit of equipment installed before the festival's March 12 kickoff. Plus the fest is bringing in speakers and amps to boost up the sound. Paul Beutel of the Paramount estimates that it will cost $50,000 to $75,000 to get the Paramount up to industry standards.
|
