Lucas Caveats For ""Star Wars"" Prequel

The following report was published in May edition of Film Journal International, a trade publication of the motion picture industry.With anticipation running high for George Lucasí ""Star Wars: Episode I ñ The Phantom Menace"" prequel, 20th Century Fox warned theatre owners playing the film that they could pay a penalty ñ or even have their prints confiscated ñ if strict rules were not observed. Filmmaker Lucas stipulated that the film must run in the largest auditorium in the complex and cannot move to a smaller room for 8 or 12 weeks for theatres that open the film on its May 19 release date. If an exhibitor commits to playing the film on two or three screens in a multiplex, the film must stay on those screens for the minimum run as well. In competitive zones ñ where more than one exhibitor has theatres ñ the film must run on at least three screens. Interlocking is prohibited. Exhibitors may not deduct additional security expenses from the film-rental fees they charge Fox. Theatres are not to honor passes for the first eight weeks. Payment is to be made within seven days for the first seven days for the first several weeks. Paid on-screen advertising is prohibited for the first two weeks. No more than eight minutes of trailers are to run before the film. While some exhibitors grumbled about the guidelines, many were said to believe the studio could have set far stronger restrictions.