Yet one more super-size project for SD underway...

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mountainannie

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It is a different experience on the big screen... and I am pleased to say that folks here do not chat or talk on their phones. The movies are designed and written for the "big screen" and meant to be seen all at once. I know that often I will play movies at home and just pause them when I feel like it and that was not the intention of the artists. Ok, fair enough on the consumer level but not the intention.

I have studied screenplay, which is considered really one of the hardest forms of writing (despite the fact that we never know their names) and when you do that, you set a timer on a movie to ten minutes, and keep going over that time, seeing if the author has managed to change the mood. The one thing that I did really learn from that study is that it is NOT ok to come into a movie late since the first ten minutes are the set up and absolutely crucial to the plot.

Not to take this too far afield of the DR. I am pleased to see that they are now having more 5 pm shows but wish that some would run in the HEAT of the day at 2 30 because that is really when I love to go and sit in the AC.

plus the tickets are still under $5 which is a bargin, I think.
 
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Criss Colon

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"P man", they can show all the movies they are "NOT FILMING" at the "Pinewood Studios" in Juan Dolio!!!!!
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mountainannie

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The Dominican Republic film law offers a freely transferable tax credit of 25% based on a minimum investment of $500,000 on qualified productions in the Dominican Republic.

25% Transferable Tax Credit (TTC) on all above and below the line eligible expenditure, for both local and foreign film and TV production
Spend is a minimum of $500,000 on qualified production expenditure
Qualifying spend includes: equipment, services and labour as well as the above the line costs
VAT and custom duties exemption on eligible production related expenditures

I am not sure what the above phrase actually MEANS.. but I was told that it is an important factor in why so many Dominican films are being made, despite, really, the absence of sufficient talent to support the industry.

The Pinewood Studio here is part of a the world group and evidently built for specific location work. I am sure that they did not invest it just for a lark. Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios
 
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RonS

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It means it's a sweetheart deal, MA! The credit is a deduction to the actual tax that is payable, as opposed to a tax 'deduction' which is deducted from the amount taxable before hand. I'm curious, are they paying 'Dominican' wages?
 
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mountainannie

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I am sure that they are paying Dominican wages, Ron ! that would be the glory of it all..

So this tax credit is available to Dominican businesses only? Is this any sort of incentive for foreigners to come and make their films here? Except for the Dominican wages, which Pinewoods may or may not pass on to the filmmakers?
 
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Expat13

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I was wondering when they would start another new Mall or Cinema project. These are always excellent discussion pieces when you just need a quick example of "don't try to make sense of this country" "Supply meets demand" doesn't exist here. If you see something you like, build many more as close to the others as possible. Its similar to the real estate model here. If you can build it, there must be a buyer for it somewhere-and the greatest part if it takes years to find that seller, you just increase the price 20+% per year while you wait....And if you need to order stuff from abroad just factor in anywhere from 0-500% tax and you should be fine. My latest order, 250 dollar juicer, almost another 300 in taxes! Reason, simple, theft is a right!!!Nosotros Dominicano's!!!
 
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windeguy

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Celt202 said:
I haven't been in a movie theater in the DR since I moved here 12 years and 4 days ago.

I don't remember the last time I went to the movies in the USA. It could be 25 or 30 years ago.

Nowadays with Netflix and cable I can't imagine paying to see a movie in a big room with people chatting with each other and talking on their phones. :classic:
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I have not been to one in the DR either since I arrived almost 11 years ago, but did go 2 or 3 times in the US when I had nothing else to do and had to kill some time. I do not anticipate every going to one here.
 
bienamor

bienamor

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JDJones said:
You don't hear the noise, because you go to NovoCentro where movie goers are more educated. Go to a 7 pm or 9 pm showing in one of the other Cinemas, and I guarantee you'll be up and out of there in less than 10 minutes. That's why I always go to the 3-4pm screenings.. I'm the only one in the place.

As far as late arrivals are concerned.... it's the national pastime here. Those same nighttime screenings will still have people coming in a half an hour after the movie starts. And they start socializing during the movie!! It's incredible. I won't even mention idiots with cel phones.

And for all you buffs....... Blue Mall just opened the first IMAX theater in the DR. The new Hard Rock Cafe is open, and it's pretty nice... better than the old one.

And finally, Movie theaters don't make money on tickets, they make it on the advertising. That's why people wonder how they can stay open with such low sales.

If they had to depend on ticket sales, they'd all be closed. The exception - Malecon center. That one finally bit the dust.
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Whats your definition of bit the dust. was there last week to watch american sniper. Still open today.
 
bienamor

bienamor

Kansas redneck an proud of it
Apr 23, 2004
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JDJones said:
Malecon Center Cinema is open again? There's no listing for them on the movie sites.

However, Cinemacentro Malecon is still open.

They were shut down as in not showing movies anymore. It didn't make much sense to me. If they are generating revenue with ads, that's better than not generating any money at all, even if only a few people go.


Malecon Center is my theater of choice because hardly anybody goes there. If they are open again, that is great news!

I'll be supporting them again very soon.

Thanks for the update!!!
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My bad was thinking of Cinema Centro Malecon. don't know about the other, as I never went there. They still have a listing in the web Malecon Center Cinemas - Cartelera de Cine, but the movie advertisement looks old.
 
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mountainannie

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It seems to me that the movie theaters here are all owned by the same company since there are only the same 5 or 6 films showing all over. They must rent the movies and be able to show them in all locations,,, (on film? do they still use reels or is it all digital? must be digital).. So really the biggest cost of the theaters is probably the air conditioning which is ice cold. Certainl they do not pay the attendants anything to speak of. But the food courts and cinemas are the big businesses for the malls.. along with the anchor grocery stores in places which have them. I think that there is probably a rule that one mall opens another one dies ,, like Agora opens, Acropolis dies.. stuff like that. I mean, there are only so many people with money to spend here,
 
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