a response from New Line re: the free screening "sistuation"

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 7:26pm

it's basically sounds like what happened was a classic good news/bad news situation. The nice lady from New Line wrote me back and said...

(I am very much paraphrasing)

these kind of promotional screening usually get an "ok" turnout. So the folks who are promoting it (the hair product people, etc) look to pad it with the give-aways.

the bad news is, so many more people showed up around the country to the screenings last night that they were completely taken by surprise and simply didn't know how to handle the situation.

the good news is...SO MANY PEOPLE SHOWED UP AROUND THE COUNTRY TO THE SCREENINGS LAST NIGHT THAT THEY WERE COMPLETELY TAKEN BY SURPRISE AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE SITUATION!!

for those who left angry and frustrated, I'm sorry to find a silver lining to all this, but the idea that a MUSICAL (and yes, one that I co-wrote) could have so knocked them so for a loop attendance wise has GOT to be seen as a fantastic thing by we who love stage and film musicals. No?

Anyway, the nice gal from New Line said you guys who got turned away should Email them at [e-mail] so that they could (and I quote) "take care of them as the film opens"

Now, I don't know if that means a free pass, a DVD extra or a back massage (I'll take the back massage) but I was very happy to see how they responded to my Email.

SO, that's the story from where I sit.

thanks,
Marc Shaiman

Posted: 7/17/07 at 7:32pm

Marc, thank you for going the extra yard.

However, I think New Line is avoiding the real issue. The problem wasn't that so many people showed up. The problem was that the evite clearly said that seating was on a first come, first serve basis and that was a blatant lie. People with evites, who got their first and waited in line for hours, were turned away because the hair care sponsor guests who arrived later were given first priority. That clause was not noted anywhere on the evite. If it had, people wouldn't have been so angry.

It's nice that New Line is excited about all this interest in a musical but they're still ignoring the real problem with yesterday's screening. They lied to people, period.

Updated On: 7/17/07 at 07:32 PM

[JP2]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 7:35pm

Oi, I can't wait till Friday when all this drama is forgotten.

Thanks Marc for being great as usually. I'll e-mail them and see what that's all about.

:)

[gertrudejessalynn]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 8:35pm

Thank you, Marc.

I just emailed them my story.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 8:57pm

I'll take the back massage. I wasn't at the screening but I once used some Sebastian shampoo and didn't like it very much. Of course, that was back when I had hair.

Can I get the back massage from John Travolta? I hear he gives release.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 9:23pm

Thank you for forwarding that information.

And congratulations!!

[emo_geek]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 9:23pm

Marc seriously. You are a doll. I want to be you when I grow up. Ok not in the creepy way...I just want to be doing Broadway yet still be with my people. That mde no sense.

[elimeyer]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 10:25pm

Marc, once again you are our hero.
What should have been message threads to laud your massive success and achievement has become a place to vent feelings about New Line and AMC.
And so I say to you - Thank you very much for caring about your fans. This really shows how humble you are that you take the time to write to us and explain things, and keep us up to date and in the loop.
I will always be a Shaiman-ite.
Looking forward to meeting you one day,
-elli-

[jimnysf]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 9:37am

So has anyone actually received a reply?

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 9:52am

Thank you Marc Shaiman! I appreciation all the concern you have taken about this matter.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 9:54am

Has anyone heard back from New Line as yet?

[cubanpab]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 10:03am

i emailed them aswell... no reply as of yet. anyone else?

[JRybka]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 10:08am

This is why Marc rocks my world... and he is cute too!

[Anna_Elizabeth]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 10:16am

Ditto to all the nice thoughts to Marc!

I just emailed my letter so we shall see if a response is forthcoming.

[cubanpab]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 10:20am

JRybka i just recognized you in your photo... you were at the D.C. screening directly in front of me chatting up some older women. telling them how you play tracy and that it was your birthday.

[JRybka]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 10:22am

Yeah! I am sure the whole place did not hear me. I can tend to me a little loud at times. LOL

[cubanpab]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 10:25am

for some reason i just looked at your picture and thought to myself... why does that guy look familiar? then i realized. hope the birthday went well and you enjoyed the film.

[JRybka]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 10:29am

It was the best. My partner had told me that if we did not get into the movie we would have gone to the Cheesecake Factory across the street to celebrate.... but we (as you know) where some of the very lucky few who got in. So that made it even more special.

Of course, I wish I could have been greedy and had both the movie AND the Cheesecake Factory --

[cubanpab]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 10:33am

yeah i saw u guys get in pretty quickly. i on the other hand got stuck outside till the last minute even tho i was right behind u. thankfully we were the last 2 let in... annoyingly we had to watch it from the first row... but atleast we saw it.

i'll go back to see it again this weekend. you were in my neck of the woods... thats my neighborhood. :) i love that cheesecake factory.

[JRybka]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 11:06am

We came in from SHAW. The ladies behind me where hysterical with all the talk about wildaboutmovies.com and such.

Had we known you had an email we would have totally given you one of the ones from The CW that she had won. (She had like three or something...)

Where you the one on the cell phone leaning on behind us?

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 11:21am

So I guess that means no "brie and char-donnay" screening with Marc Shaiman's commentary?

[cubanpab]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 11:27am

that was me. brown shirt, on my cell with my ipod... looking a hot mess because i had just ran home, thrown on some jeans, and walked over to the theater as fast as i could from work.

it really was a miracle we got in. too bad i didnt know u were from BW or i would have said hi.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 11:31am

I really can't stress enough how much respect and adoration I have for Marc Shaiman !!!
The fact, that he went to all the trouble to get to the bottom of this unfortunate situation, at a time in which, I am sure he is swamped with work and stress, has me incredibly impressed !!!!
I don't think there is anyone else in the profession with such respect and love for his fans !
I sooooo hope the film will be a SMASH Hit and a critically applauded one, not only because I adore the show, but also because Marc deserves the best things life has to offer and even more recognition for his incredible talent !!!
Marc Shaiman is not only a precious gem for the musical genre, but a one of a kind human being as well !!!

(Ok, I know I sound droolingly cheesy, but I can't help my adoration for the man )

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 1:37pm

Thank you so much, jimnysf! I have so much respect and adoration for you! The fact that you went to all of the trouble of sending out multiple e-mails instead of just one has me incredibly impressed! I don't think there is any other human being in all of humankind with such respect for his fellow human beings.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 1:46pm

Oh, poor Foster ! I was one of the so few ones who didn't hate you on this board and tried to defend you! Guess everyone was right about you, you actually ARE mean and rude !