over the last few months,a new team and business strategy have been taking shape at bella media(formaly known as mobile future),after pacific media snapped up a 24.95%stake and installed three of their directors onto the board.these new faces were accompanied by a number of other experienced business people and professionals such as fred weinert,the former founder of the uk blockbuster video rental chain,and emmy nominated documentary film maker,stephen crisman.the biggest and most recent appointment came only last month when former seagram head and the 76th richest person in america(forbes 2003),edgar bronfman snr,joined as deputy chairman. this gives the group an extremely high calibre, accomplished and well-connected board,which certainly wouldn't look out of place at a blue chip company.so what is the new business strategy? well the plan is to develop and run large format IMAX cinemas via a 51% controlled subsidiary,the first of which will be situated in springfield,missouri,usa.this is expected to be built alongside an existing wildlife themed tourist attraction,which currently attracts 4 million visitors per year and is expected to be operatinal in july 2004.bella media is also looking to make large format documentary films for IMAX cinemas,which may then be sold to television networks.the springfield project could be expanded in the future,with cinemas in china,latin america,europe and the usa at established tourist,recreatinal or cultural locations.although the initial plan is to present documentary style films at the cinemas,there is the possibility in the medium to long term of screening big budget hollywood films at IMAX venues,which may substantially increase potential audience size and add an entirely new dimension to the enterprise.newspaper and investment magazine coverage has been surprisingly sparse to date,considering the board's experience and business proposition.however,this does give investors an excellent opportunity to gain exposure now to this interesting early stage and ambitious investment.as the opening date for the group's first cinema draws nearer and perhaps details are released about other proposed sites,newsflow could well increase. from equity market update

I have a few as well

the shares mag have said twice that bella media is a cash shell is it? i dont think so they are building an imax cinema which opens in december 2004 does any one else think it's a shell

Published March 19, 2004

Museum bets on IMAX lure
Ground broken on what officials hope is a "destination theater" at Wonders of Wildlife.

By Amos Bridges
News-Leader Staff

Mayor Pro Tem Ralph Manley lent his usual exuberance to the groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for a new IMAX theater between Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and the Wonders of Wildlife museum.
"I'm so happy, I could just jump," he proclaimed, then leaped into the air to click his heels together. "So let's get to the digging!"

The Springfield 3D IMAX Theater, to be owned and operated by Bella Films, is one more step in the museum's climb out of a financial hole it was in as the year began. Refinancing its debt allowed the museum to avoid bankruptcy and continue operation.

The new IMAX, museum officials hope, will make those operations more profitable. The theater is scheduled to open around Thanksgiving.

"We'll get some direct income from it, plus the synergism of having these things on the same campus," said Max Peterson, whose last day as the museum's interim executive director is today.

Under a lease agreement, Bella Films will pay the museum $75,000 annually for use of the land, part of which was recently donated by Bass Pro Shops founder John L. Morris. If profits surpass a "natural break point," a percentage of the excess would also make its way into the museum's coffers.

The 300-plus-seat theater will feature three or four films daily, said Fred Weinert, chief executive officer of Bella Films. A typical day's fare would include one or two 3D films such as the new "NASCAR 3D: The Imax Experience" as well as 2D films from the IMAX catalogue and Hollywood features converted to the IMAX DMR format.

The combination of entertainment, retail and education will create a "triangle" of tourism and commerce that will benefit everyone involved, Weinert said.

"We'll only go into a market where we can have what we consider a 'destination theater,' and eventually a destination film related to that theater," he said. "So the whole mission of the museum the preservation of the outdoors spirit and heritage, and the preservation of natural resources that all ties to the educational element.

"The entertainment has to be there, which is spectacular in the various films, but if we didn't have the Wonders of Wildlife, we wouldn't have been here."

The destination or "anchor" film is still in the development stage, Peterson said. Tentatively titled "Heartland of America," it will feature the history and topography of the area as well as famous Missouri natives like Laura Ingalls Wilder, "Wild Bill" Hickok and Walt Disney.

"One idea is to use the IMAX theater to make Springfield more of a destination place," Peterson said. "So many people who come to Springfield, they just come through here. They don't know that there's enough in Springfield to stay overnight."

Mayor Tom Carlson agreed that the theater, in conjunction with the museum, Bass Pro Shops and other new attractions such as Jordan Valley Park will help draw tourists and their wallets to the area.

"A facility like (the IMAX) gives people one more reason to come to Springfield, stay a little longer, and spend a little more money," he said. "It's part of a long-term strategy to make Springfield a destination area, as opposed to a stopover."

Not everyone is as thrilled as Manley about the new theater.

"We're not real excited about it, as we're definitely competing with them," said Paul Rasmussen, president of ITEC Attractions Inc., which operates the IMAX Entertainment Complex in Branson.

Rasmussen said his concern centers on two sources of business, the first being school groups. IMAX features attract busloads of students from the Springfield area and northern Arkansas each year.

"I think we're going to be competing with them very directly in that situation," he said.

The other area of competition, Rasmussen said, will be big Hollywood-produced films.

While the Branson theater is not equipped to show movies using the new DMR technology, it employs a regular 35mm projector to show first-release movies nightly on the IMAX screen.

"A good example of that is the last "Lord of the Rings,"' he said. "We did a huge amount of business with that movie, and a lot of it came from Springfield."

The Springfield IMAX will only have access to the limited catalogue of Hollywood films that have been converted to DMR, Rasmussen said. But for hot releases like the new Harry Potter movie set to premier in June in both formats it will likely be tougher.

why is buying 17,000,000 shares, is loaded or what?

carazzzzzzzzy guy

who is buy another 17,000,000 mil shares, can any one tell me .
I mite buy some later.

thanks
badsssssss

I don`t know why they don`t try and capitalise on the `Simpsons` connection with character costumes of Homer, Bart, Marg etc, just like Disney.
"many a true word" comes to mind.

two trades of 31775000 is that you snakey. opening in december i didn't expect this sort of action yet. still very very cheap

Another interesting two buys Fri each of 32,525,000 @ 14% above offer price, whos stake building?

food,
sorry I missed your comment back in may, but I wished it was me. I hold 5m of these (not a lot in the whole scheme of BLL life) and am sure that this outfit will prove successful.
A few hundred pounds in this lot will make you a few thou in the end.
best of luck to all

looks like we're the only three here,you still in. nice rise today.at first i thought it was a dumb idea but eight months later i think it would be good for the simpsons to open it. not been doing any research so i dont what the rise is all about ill check it out tomorrow. 150% not bad for one day. catch you guys later

Food,
I suspect they are close to completing, or opening, the IMAX complex in Springfield, but the proof of pudding will be if it is well received and profitable to allow them to develope elsewhere. Possibly rise could be related to another planned developement ?? For the cost of them, which is `throw away`
money, I am happy to sit on them shit or bust.
good luck and keep smiling

Does this mean there is a flicker of hope for very very long term Pacific Media holders? I bought them in the good old days when the London Cabbies were recommending them and the price was up there!!

Breaking up... over 100% rise so far

No one on this bella media and PCM are looking good.