(Des Moines, IA) - A new company was registered in the state of Iowa this past spring: Modern American Cinema, LLC. Iowa film maker, Kristian Day, opened up his own film distribution company in Des Moines after building a network of movie theaters from the successful theatrical release of his documentary Capone's Whiskey: The Story of Templeton Rye.
Iowa film maker, Kristian Day, self released his documentary film Capone's Whiskey: The Story of Templeton Rye to over forty theaters in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The majority of these theaters were independently or community owned businesses. Audiences flooded in into the single screen theaters in towns such as Vinton, Marshalltown, and Denison. Highlighted screenings included sold out shows in Marshalltown, Iowa City, and an oversold show in Vinton at the Palace Theater. The movie even outsold the major studio film, Battleship, on a weekend run at the Starlight Cinema in Independence, Iowa. To help build more interest to a potential audience, Day travelled to several towns across the state of Iowa to meet the theater owners and their local audience.
"There was a lot of financial and time investment made," Day says, "but it was worth it to figure out who your audience really is, major studios don't do that."
The company has recently acquired the North American distribution rights of two films, one from Iowa film maker Joe Clarke called Kung Fu Graffiti, a kid's action/comedy movie inspired by the 1960's Bruce Lee films. The other from Los Angeles film maker Shane Ryan entitled My Name is A (by anonymous), a midnight movie for the art house scene. All films will be released theatrically on the new Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences approved digital format. After a film's initial theatrical run, which lasts from six months to a year, it will be released via Video On Demand (Netflix, HuluPlus, Amazon Video On Demand). A DVD release will be considered based on the film's overall performance in the previous formats. Day is currently in production of his newest documentary, Is This Heaven?, the story of an ex-skinhead turned civil rights activist who is on spiritual journey through Iowa to find his faith. The film features Frank Meeink, author of the book Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead.
"Its a fresh start and an opportunity to release independent films to a larger audience," adds Day, "the price major studios are asking for from theaters is getting very high which leaves the small town theaters in a tough position."
The theater market for Modern American Cinema is very large. The company wants to work with not only independent movie houses, but also college/student run theaters, minicines, museums, and other public spaces to show films. Film makers are also welcome to submit their features, shorts, and documentaries for distribution.
Day, 26, a native of Rock Island, Ill., went to high school in Cedar Rapids and attended the University of Colorado at Denver in the Music Industry Studies program. In 2008, Day began directing and producing his own movies. His short films have played all over the world including Austria, Greece, Cuba and Italy. His films have also been screened at various festivals in cities across the United States including Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago.
For more information visit: www.modernamericancinema.com
