Int'l B.O. database proposed
Federation members probably will be asked to consider De Laurentiis' proposal at the November general assembly, Daily Variety has learned.
De Laurentiis, an Italo producer elected May 14 to replace the late Franco Cristaldi, will ask members to cooperate in a database on linked computers to report weekly city-by-city B.O. in each national market.
De Laurentiis envisions it including data on the TV shares earned by movies aired during prime time, homevideo rental and sell-through reports, translated film titles, national film laws, assistance for producers and banks involved in film finance.
"Knowledge helps everyone," said De Laurentiis. "There is a tremendous amount of technical information that could be of use to all our members."
Jack Valenti, chairman and chief executive of the Motion PictureExport Assn. of America, expressed interest in the plan but also voiced reservations over the probable cost of the operation.
