Published July 20, 2007
Because I'm a resident of "the next great city of the South," I was under the impression that I could hop into my car and head to a local theater so I could catch the latest Michael Moore health care documentary, "Sicko."
Well, I guess I can technically do that if my definition of local is liberal enough.
Longview is the nearest city that's showing the Moore film exploring healthcare — or a serious lack thereof for millions — in America.
Longview is about 70 miles from my house.
If, for some reason, I want to support a Louisiana business and see "Sicko" in state, I'd have to hop on I-49 and head towards the Gulf of Mexico.
Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lafayette and New Orleans suburb Harahan are the only cities in the state that are showing "Sicko."
Harahan with all of about 10,000 residents, is offering what Shreveport cannot — a screen dedicated just for "Sicko."
Cinemark, the parent company of Tinseltown is showing "Sicko." Well, they're showing "Sicko" in Reno, Nev.
Several "great" cities of the South (Austin, Charlotte, Houston, Atlanta and Dallas) are all showing "Sicko" at local AMC and Regal Cinemas.
We have two Regal Cinemas in Shreveport-Bossier (Regal Bossier Corners Cinema 9 and the Boardwalk Theater) yet, neither are showing the documentary.
So after calling both local Regal theaters several times, I was told by a manager of the Boardwalk Regal that if I wanted to see the film I should go to a larger city.
Thanks.
But Harahan, Longview and, some could argue, New Orleans aren't larger than Shreveport-Bossier City.
Next, I call Regal's corporate headquarters in Knoxville and they tell me the film company, Lionsgate, decides when and where the film is being shown.
Of course, I called Lionsgate next and I was floored by the information the guy on the other end of the phone shared.Well, not really.
He told me, like the local Regal and Regal corporate that "Sicko" is only being shown on 700 screens nationwide. He went on to say, "If you want the movie to be shown locally, call your theater and tell them."
When I asked him how many calls needed to be made before the company took heed, he forwarded me to someone's voice mail. I left a message but I don't really expect to hear anything.
By the way, everyone I talked to said they couldn't give their names. In fact, the manager at the Boardwalk's Regal only gave me the general manager's name, Mike Nelson, after I asked her several times.
I'll leave you with what I got out of this excursion; Hollywood doesn't especially think we're the next great city of the South that we're bound to be and until they start to recognize our unlimited potential, we should call both Regal Cinemas and other theaters like crazy telling them we want to see "Sicko" — and other limited released films — until we get what we want.
Katrina L. Rogers of Shreveport is a member of The Times Community Board.
