Katzenberg set up the screening for the third sequel in the "Shrek" franchise because the screening slot he wanted at the ShoWest convention featured rival Disney/Pixar's 3-D summer movie, "Toy Story 3," according to two people familiar with the matter. Katzenberg did not respond to a request for comment and a spokesperson for DreamWorks Animation declined to comment.
A spokeswoman for Paramount denied that a screening slot was sought. She said ShoWest requested to screen "Shrek Forever After," but the studio declined because that would prevent it from premiering the movie next month at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York
Katzenberg has downplayed the squeeze for 3-D screens and what it means for DreamWorks Animation, which has three 3-D movies this year. He told analysts recently that "we will have more than enough screens to accommodate our audiences in 3-D" for "Dragons."
One person close to the studio said Paramount was confident that it would book about the same number of 3-D screens to play "Dragon" as Disney secured for "Alice in Wonderland" on its opening weekend: 2,063.
Fights for 3-D screens should die down by next year once exhibitors have added enough screens to handle the supply of movies, said Gerry Lopez, chief executive of AMC Entertainment, one of the nation's largest theater chains. In the meantime, he said, both sides should try to work together.
"We've got people out there threatening theater operators," Lopez said. "It's a dangerous game . . . . I don't think this is part of a productive solution."
richard.verrier
@latimes.com
ben.fritz@latimes.com
