GSB votes to lease Varsity Theatre for $365,000

[ThatllDoCy]

I think it is a cool idea. What a great place for student groups to hold events.

[IcSyU]

Thought about it while I was sitting in class, and I still think it's a stupid idea. Maybe instead of planning on something operating at a massive loss (anything GSB has to give counts as a loss in my opinion...so that max of $40,000/year) don't waste that money every year and don't charge the students for it up front.

[SCNCY]

I was always under the impression that the free movies that they show on campus were going to move to the theater. Is this not the case any more, or are they going to move the free movies to the theater and make people pay for them?

[cycfan1]

Why not if they are projecting 60,000 dollar loss and 40,000 people to view a movie/year, make the price for a movie 2.50??? Seems to make to much sense to me. Then you have a profitable/not for loss business. Plus, no way are you ever going to have 40,000 people show up a year. Thats every student seeing two movies a year. You don't spend 360,000 + to lose 60,000 a yr.

[ornryactor]

With all due respect and understanding to each of you, my head hurts.

I am a member of the Varsity Theater Task Force, an At-Large Representative in IRHA, and participated in the GSB debates the past two weeks (including Wednesday night's marathon). This is a mammoth proposal that has been in the works for 8 months. There is a highly detailed 27-page formal business proposal and supporting budget documents, both of which can be found at links below. The issue is quite complex- everything from funding sources to operating expenses to student interest has been extensively researched and will continue to be so. Since nearly all of you demonstrate little to no understanding of the issue (through no fault of your own) I don't quite know where to begin. I would be happy to answer questions directed at me, but I cannot possibly attempt to correct every fallacy and inaccurate conjecture posed in this thread.

**49% of all students and 55% of undergraduates live within 5 blocks of the Cyclone Cinema.
**Student fees will not be raised.
**This money comes out of a special Capital Projects account designed specifically for initiatives like this; it cannot be used for funding student groups or reducing tuition.
**The theater and its programming will be an extension of the Student Activities Center and have administrative supervision from the SAC and MU professionals.
**SUB Films (run and funded by the Student Union Board) has already committed to moving into the theater.
**Free Friday Flicks (run and funded by the Inter-Residence Hall Association) has unofficially committed to moving into the theater, and will formally commit upon the theater's approval by the Regents.
**Midnight showings will be held once per month during the academic year.
**GSB's approval is the first step; the proposal must now be approved by ISU administration so that it may be placed on a Board of Regents docket; approval would likely happen at the Regents meeting in May.
**If approved, the Cyclone Cinema will be open by the start of Destination Iowa State in August.


(After GSB's passing of the bill on Wednesday night, these documents are now slightly out of date in minor ways, primarily related to budget line items and lease/insurance details. The bulk of the information remains accurate.)
http://www.gsb.iastate.edu/Cyclone_C...sal_2.1.10.pdf
http://www.gsb.iastate.edu/Cyclone_C...lan_2.9.10.pdf

Again, if you have specific questions, please allow me to address them. I would love to see those who are interested in the issue be as informed as possible.

[illinoiscyclone]

With all due respect and understanding to each of you, my head hurts.

I am a member of the Varsity Theater Task Force, an At-Large Representative in IRHA, and participated in the GSB debates the past two weeks (including Wednesday night's marathon). This is a mammoth proposal that has been in the works for 8 months. There is a highly detailed 27-page formal business proposal and supporting budget documents, both of which can be found at links below. The issue is quite complex- everything from funding sources to operating expenses to student interest has been extensively researched and will continue to be so. Since nearly all of you demonstrate little to no understanding of the issue (through no fault of your own) I don't quite know where to begin. I would be happy to answer questions directed at me, but I cannot possibly attempt to correct every fallacy and inaccurate conjecture posed in this thread.

**49% of all students and 55% of undergraduates live within 5 blocks of the Cyclone Cinema.
**Student fees will not be raised.
**This money comes out of a special Capital Projects account designed specifically for initiatives like this; it cannot be used for funding student groups or reducing tuition.
**The theater and its programming will be an extension of the Student Activities Center and have administrative supervision from the SAC and MU professionals.
**SUB Films (run and funded by the Student Union Board) has already committed to moving into the theater.
**Free Friday Flicks (run and funded by the Inter-Residence Hall Association) has unofficially committed to moving into the theater, and will formally commit upon the theater's approval by the Regents.
**Midnight showings will be held once per month during the academic year.
**GSB's approval is the first step; the proposal must now be approved by ISU administration so that it may be placed on a Board of Regents docket; approval would likely happen at the Regents meeting in May.
**If approved, the Cyclone Cinema will be open by the start of Destination Iowa State in August.


(After GSB's passing of the bill on Wednesday night, these documents are now slightly out of date in minor ways, primarily related to budget line items and lease/insurance details. The bulk of the information remains accurate.)
http://www.gsb.iastate.edu/Cyclone_C...sal_2.1.10.pdf
http://www.gsb.iastate.edu/Cyclone_C...lan_2.9.10.pdf

Again, if you have specific questions, please allow me to address them. I would love to see those who are interested in the issue be as informed as possible.

So are they going to show relatively newer movies?

[Palmer]

I believe I attended opening night of Pulp Fiction at that theatre.

Packed house...no one really knew anything about the film.

Something I will never forget.

[ornryactor]

So are they going to show relatively newer movies?

Yes. Both Free Friday Flicks and SUB Films show Hollywood blockbusters shortly after they leave first-run theaters. Both will continue to show that level of movie, as will the Cyclone Cinema's own programming. In fact, movies may experience an upgrade, as it will actually be cheaper for the two programs to operate in the theater than they currently do elsewhere on campus.

Before anybody asks, the reason the two lineups share some movies is because they chose to pool their money to rent a more expensive film. That way, both programs get newer films than they otherwise would if they had to pay rental fees by themselves.

FFF Spring 2010 Lineup
Jan 22 THE INVENTION OF LYING
Jan 29 SURROGATES
Feb 5 ZOMBIELAND
Feb 12 TWILIGHT: NEW MOON
Feb 19 COUPLES RETREAT
Mar 5 PIRATE RADIO
Mar 12 THE BLIND SIDE
Mar 26 UP IN THE AIR
Apr 2 INVICTUS
Apr 9 YOUTH IN REVOLT
Apr 23 AVATAR

SUB Films Spring 2010 Lineup
Jan 14 & 17 Paranormal Activity
Jan 21 & 24 The Invention of Lying
Jan 28 & 31 Where the Wild Things Are
Feb 4 & 7 Zombieland
Feb 11 & 14 Twilight: New Moon
Feb 18 & 21 Couples Retreat
Feb 25 & 28 Law-Abiding Citizen
Mar 4 & 7 Brothers
Mar 11 & 14 The Blind Side
Mar 25 & 28 Up In the Air
Apr 1 & 4 Invictus
Apr 8 & 11 Youth In Revolt
Apr 15 & 18 Sherlock Holmes
Apr 22 & 25 Avatar

[Bader]

Well at least they aren't blowing it on anything as ridiculous as tennis courts out at Towers, oh wait

[LeSchmick]

This is a complete waste of money. Regardless if it doesn't raise student fees or if its in a "special account." Please consider that:

Most students have tv's, dvd's, laptops, etc. PLUS Sub Films and FFF. It doesn't matter if they will commit to moving in there or not, those clubs are doing fine where they are right now.

The theatre will be operating at a loss EVERY year in business.

AND FINALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT OF ALL:
There was already a cheap movie theatre in there to begin with so I challenge any of you that are in favor of this to answer this; what makes you think a bunch of college students can run this theatre any better than a private company?

PS Those $60,000 operating costs losses are based on an assumption that GSB is making that the theatre will be 33% full all the time. If they had done a little research they would know that regular movie theatres operate at only 12% attendance average.

Chew on that.

[IcSyU]

**This money comes out of a special Capital Projects account designed specifically for initiatives like this; it cannot be used for funding student groups or reducing tuition.

This part is a bunch of ****. Absolutely NO reason they should be adding on fees just to add them onto tuition. Oh, hey, another worthless project! Let's do it!

[dustinal]

There was already a cheap movie theatre in there to begin with so I challenge any of you that are in favor of this to answer this; what makes you think a bunch of college students can run this theatre any better than a private company?

The tickets at the Varsity were not cheap, relatively speaking. They charged nearly same as a ticket at Movies 12. You're thinking of North Grand 5, which is still open.

PS Those $60,000 operating costs losses are based on an assumption that GSB is making that the theatre will be 33% full all the time. If they had done a little research they would know that regular movie theatres operate at only 12% attendance average.

Chew on that.

Maybe ornryactor can answer whether they're planning to show movies as often as the average movie theater, or only at peak times (certain evenings and weekends while classes are in session). If it's the latter, I could see that raising the percentage.

[MNCyGuy]

This part is a bunch of ****. Absolutely NO reason they should be adding on fees just to add them onto tuition. Oh, hey, another worthless project! Let's do it!

I think the theory is that GSB would pick "worthless projects" that make ISU more attractive to students. They'd still take tuition money to do that kind of thing regardless of if it was funneled through GSB or not. Look at it this way, at least you're not also paying salaries for a whole department to do these projects instead.

[3GenClone]

There were a couple statistics that should have been included in this proposal:

1. How soon do students see a film once it opens in theaters?
Opening Night? Opening Weekend? 1 Week after release? etc.

2. How many students purchase DVDs/Rent DVDs through a subscription (NetFlix, Blockbuster, Hollywood Video) and how often do they purchase/rent per month?

3. What are current and past attendence figures for Free Friday-Night Flix and SUB Films?

The business plan looks sound, but the attendence figures will be skewed as a majority of these films listed above are playing the same week that they are released on DVD. Also, take into account the value of a ticket for a blockbuster playing 4 months after it's theatrical release. Example: Avatar - Released Dec. 18, SUB Films Apr. 22 & 25, FFF Apr. 23; Sherlock Holmes - Released Dec. 25, SUB Films Apr. 15 & 18.

Also, take into account the cost for accomodating technology updates for guest speakers and presenters, such as running audio/video lines from the front of the theater to the soundboard and projector in the back for a powerpoint presentation.

I think there is still a lot of potential in this purchase, maybe they could replay the Insight Bowl on the Wednesday night before the Thursday night game against Illinois St. What is the feasability for using it as a screening for live cyclone games not being played at Jack Trice or Hilton? I think it would be cool for those under-21 students to meet at the theater and watch the Men's Basketball team play live at Kansas on a Saturday or the Football team play at Iowa.

[MNCyGuy]

There were a couple statistics that should have been included in this proposal:

1. How soon do students see a film once it opens in theaters?
Opening Night? Opening Weekend? 1 Week after release? etc.

2. How many students purchase DVDs/Rent DVDs through a subscription (NetFlix, Blockbuster, Hollywood Video) and how often do they purchase/rent per month?

3. What are current and past attendence figures for Free Friday-Night Flix and SUB Films?

The business plan looks sound, but the attendence figures will be skewed as a majority of these films listed above are playing the same week that they are released on DVD. Also, take into account the value of a ticket for a blockbuster playing 4 months after it's theatrical release. Example: Avatar - Released Dec. 18, SUB Films Apr. 22 & 25, FFF Apr. 23; Sherlock Holmes - Released Dec. 25, SUB Films Apr. 15 & 18.

Also, take into account the cost for accomodating technology updates for guest speakers and presenters, such as running audio/video lines from the front of the theater to the soundboard and projector in the back for a powerpoint presentation.

I think there is still a lot of potential in this purchase, maybe they could replay the Insight Bowl on the Wednesday night before the Thursday night game against Illinois St. What is the feasability for using it as a screening for live cyclone games not being played at Jack Trice or Hilton? I think it would be cool for those under-21 students to meet at the theater and watch the Men's Basketball team play live at Kansas on a Saturday or the Football team play at Iowa.

That would be cool for students over-21 too. You can only fit so many people into Welch Ave.