I want to make note of Michael Colford's recent post on the Chlotrudis blog regarding the debates we've been having here on Truly Indie, Mark Cuban and Landmark. [Yes, I'm linking to a blog that blogs about this blog, and yes, I know how meta that is.]
In his post, Colford notes:
As many Boston-area Chlotrudis members are
aware, there's something strange going on with
Landmark. The recent turnover in the management
at the Kendall Square Cinema, coupled with the
unionization of the staff are two clear indicators.
Add to that the fact that former manager, Nancy
Campbell, has just joined the Chlotrudis Board,
and we have some fairly dependable info about
the goings on in Landmark Theatre operations.
We've also been getting some pretty dismal news
from our friends at the Brattle Theatre concerning
Landmark. It seems that Landmark is pretty
aggresively trying to put the already struggling Brattle
out of business. For somebody who has publicly
spoken about his disdain for independent films, I find
it thoroughly disconcerting that Mark Cuban runs the
Landmark Theatre chain, and reprehensible that they
should actively try to harm the Brattle, a cultural
institution that certainly isn't going to hurt Landmark's
profitability.
While I have no first-hand knowledge about this situation, I trust Michael's reportage and am certainly interested in more details. Specifically, I have seen a number of mentions of Cuban distaining independents (yet he is funding them directly through his 2929 and HDnet). Can anyone source the specific comments?
Further, I'd love to get more information on how Landmark has been agressively targeting the Brattle. I plan to stay on top of this story as much as possible.
[Full disclosure: I am, as Michael's post notes, on the Chlotrudis Advisory Board. Gigantic received the 2003 Chlotrudis Award for Best Documentary.]
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