BobMarley.com |
Groundbreaking Partnership Expands Theatrical Distribution
Allows Fans to Hold Screenings of Oscar Winner Kevin Macdonald’s Documentary Nationwide
Made with the unprecedented support of the Marley family, the critically acclaimed film, Marley, features rare footage, incredible performances and revelatory interviews with the people that knew him best. Directed by Academy Award-winner Kevin Macdonald (One Day In September, The Last King Of Scotland), Marley is the story of a towering figure in musical history whose legacy still resonates.
Gathr on Wednesday announced a partnership with Magnolia Pictures. Through Gathr, the company pioneering the method of Theatrical-on-Demand programming, fans and movie-goers can bring the incredible life story of music legend, Bob Marley, to a venue near them. Gathr said its web-based platform tool democratizes theatrical distribution by allowing anyone to create their own theatrical screening of a movie virtually anywhere in the country.
“One of Kevin’s messages in the documentary is that Bob Marley endeavored to have his music heard by everyone, everywhere,” said Scott Glosserman, CEO and founder of Gathr. “The folks at Magnolia, Shangri-La and Tuff Gong Pictures have done a wonderful and innovative job of making the film available on myriad platforms in order to accomplish his goal, and we are humbled at Gathr to be another piece in that puzzle – servicing the theatrical demands beyond its initial engagements.”
Copblock.org |
Ziggy Marley (right): “[T]here’s nothing like seeing my father up on the big screen, with a big crowd of fellow fans” |
Movies are ideally meant to be seen in a theater, with a crowd, and for one with a targeted theatrical release such as Marley, Gathr is a platform for any film fan, theatre, interest group or organization that wants it to screen in their community.
With Gathr, you can “gather” a film and advocate for it to be screened in their town by visiting www.gathr.us and clicking on the movie poster on the homepage or in the Films section to get started. You can either reserve/purchase a ticket to a screening in their area, or you can request a new screening by specifying where you want to see the movie and when.
Once you’ve requested a screening, Gathr confirms the screening request and it goes live. If enough people reserve tickets for the screening in advance, it “tips” and the movie screening is guaranteed. Movie-goers reserve tickets by pre-authorizing their credit cards. No one will be charged for tickets unless the screening “tips.”
“We’ve already made this film available on as many platforms as we can to give viewers full access to it — in theaters, on VOD, on Facebook — but there’s nothing like seeing my father up on the big screen, with a big crowd of fellow fans,” said Ziggy Marley. “It’s impossible for us to show the film in every theater, but now fans can request it to come to a town or theater that may not have shown it before, and bring a group with them to share the experience together.”
“Magnolia is pleased to partner with Gathr on Marley,” said Neal Block, who heads distribution for Magnolia Pictures. “We’ve had great success so far with the film in theaters and across Video on Demand platforms, and we’re excited for the GATHR model to bring the film to more towns and more people.”