Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007
posted June 24, 2015 02:57 PM
Non-theatrical means exhibition to a closed audience, such as a social club or school or similar. Events where no direct charge for admission is made.
Posts: 508
From: Southend on Sea, Essex, UK
Registered: Feb 2015
posted June 25, 2015 03:26 AM
I did read recently that a non-theatrical performance means a home environment only and not intended for public performance whether a charge is made or not. Only a thought.
Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007
posted June 25, 2015 09:43 AM
In the days of the 16mm film libraries there were two separate lots of charges. 1) Theatrical 2) Non-Theatrical The former was used by professional mobile operators who were charged either a fixed fee per single exhibition OR a percentage of their take with a guaranteed minimum. The latter was used by Film Societies, Schools, Institutions, Jails, etc., with a fixed fee for exhibition usually for up to 100 people. No admission charges were permitted. Some libraries (and I have used G.B. and M.G.M.) who hired out their older titles for Home Use Only. This was at a very attractive price. The film libraries had representatives who regularly called on mobile operators (I was one such operator) to "sell" their latest releases. Titles were available quite quickly after 35mm release. The only proviso for a 16mm public exhibition was that the venue had to be at least two miles from the nearest 35mm cinema.
Posts: 701
From: Massachusetts
Registered: Jun 2003
posted July 09, 2015 05:49 PM
Actually - you could charge admission for non-theatrical rentals from companies like Kit Parker, Films Inc, Swank, etc... Film screenings were a big source of fund raising for college (university) groups.
Posts: 2941
From: Croydon, London, UK
Registered: Aug 2004
posted July 22, 2015 03:57 PM
Surprisingly, if you hire a 16mm print from the last remaining source in the UK, which is the BFI, they don't ask you to provide any information on the type of venue, admission charges, etc.