John Fithian fires back at Warner Bros.

July 10, 2008 Addressing the opening of Journey to the Center of the Earth, which will bow in about 950 3-D digital screens in North America Thursday, Warner Bros. domestic distribution president Dan Fellman said that 3-D is the future, so why is exhibition dragging its feet? I'm pleased 'Journey' will be the biggest digital 3-D release to date. John Fithian, president of the National Association of Theatre Owners, immediately responded, saying, It is particularly ironic and frustrating that a senior executive from Warner Bros. would accuse exhibition of 'dragging its feet' on 3-D when Warners has been the absolutely slowest of all major studios to come to the table with support for the d-cinema rollout. Numerous digital-cinema deals remain at an impasse over virtual print fees, under which studios agree to contribute a fee per screen, per movie to offset exhibitors' installation costs.

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