Boxoffice Calculus

“Stand and Deliver”--the $1.35 million Rocky-esque tale of Latino high school students proving their educational potential--is now in its 15th week of release, still in more than 200 theaters, with a $13 million gross. And during a panel discussion on the film at Independent Feature Project/West, Barry Reardon, Warner Bros. distribution pres, gave a rare glimpse into money figures for the sleeper hit from American Playhouse.

According to Reardon, Warners picked up “all rights” for the film for $3.5 million; spent $6.5 million so far on promotion and advertising; and thus far has a “return of $5 million.”

“Stand and Deliver” principals, including Garfield High teacher Jaime Escalante, on whose true story the film is based, may or may not see profits from their point participation. Readon said it’s too early to tell. Warner’s distribution division, he said, operates on a $12 million annual overhead and last year spent “$90 million on media costs alone.”

No sequel is in the works, said producer Tom Musca, who co-wrote with director Ramon Menendez. But a stage play is: “We think it could be a perennial in high schools.”