Losing The Middleman? Newcomer Theafilm Hopes To Bypass Traditional Film Distributors

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Published: November, 1994
Box Office

Chick Ciccarelli was the co-creator of Theafilm and creator of the "Flat Lease" system for domestic theatrical film distribution. The new "Flat Lease" system let theaters lease films one at a time and keep 100% of the box office. Producers gain full P&A, a portion of the lease fees, have a major theatrical release of their film and can negotiate a larger percentage of subsequent sales markets. This system went totally against the grain of the major studio system that had been in place for more than 70 years, but was a more profitable system for film producers and theatre circuits.