Ads at the Movies

[tgpo]

Yesturday at http://www.imdb.com they had a news article that talked about how people are getting upset with the ads that are placed before movies at the theater. The president of some theater association said that people can either watch the ads and pay $8 for a ticket or not have ads and pay $15 for a ticket.

My opinion is people will....wait for the DVD and pay $17 to own it and skip the theater all together. It's not like we owe movie makers anything, so why would we keep going to the movies when it is cheaper to own the movie? I personally have stopped going to see movies because I can buy it cheaper than it costs for me and my girlfriend(sorry Silky31) to go see it. Plus then If I buy it I don't have to spend my time driving there, watching 30mins of commercials, having my shoes stuck to the ground, not being able to see due to the tall guy in front of me, and not hearing the movie because of the loud people in the back. These movie makers have let money go so much to their heads that they feel that we OWE it to them to go see their movies....except Troma....they do it purly because they want to make the best movies in the world. Excellence in Celluloid!

[Gazorgan]

I agree 95%. Certain Movies (LOTR 2, Attack of the Clones) are best seen at widescreen THX theaters with stadium seating! I don't have the 50" TV with a DTS sound system to get a similiar result in my living room :P

[MOVIEGEEK]

Great topic tgpo,
LOTR TT was the last movie I saw at the theater after 3 attempts,the first time it was sold out,the second time some punk hit the fire alarm just as we sat down.Needless to say I won't be going back for a long time if ever what with 30min. of commercials(prevues),kids talking/screaming and the ever annoying person behind me who is kicking my seat!

[Tbear]

The ADS have nothing to do with the film makers. The theatres are trying to make more money. Theatres pay $100.000 or more per print of the film up front before they even show the film. They may make 50 cents per ticket, the rest goes to the film makers. Theatres make there money from sales at the consession stand. Which is why popcorn and pop and candy are marked up over 300%. And why some have put in resteraunts and arcades and other atraction.

[IceFog]

I have to disagree on one point. I think most Troma movies are crap. Just people who got ahold of extra blood effects from a real film company. IMHO. Not interested in a flame war.

[tenders]

what in the world is a "troma movie"

[flaninacupboard]

Ads at the movies, the way i cope:
step one, purcahse your tickets online
step two, arrive ten minutes after the start time of the movie
step three, oh, there isn't one.
30 minutes? you really have 30 mins? sucks to be you i guess. but even so, just go 30 minutes late!
i'd like to run my own cinema one day. i'm sick and tired of the shabby way multiplexes show films, they don't check their prints are clean, they don't check their audio is clean, they don't always use the right lens, they don;t always have the thing in focus, or central, or dead on the screen, and round here they all use horrid solid screens, so there is no such thing as black, just dirty silvery grey. and of course the seats aren;t comfy, the sound equipment isn't up to much (but still driven very loud, so nice clipping occurs) and they generally have a bad atmosphere. mine would have a proper sounds system, leather sofas, people would b banned if there was rubbish or gum left where they were sitting, i'd show classic and independant films as well as mainstream ones, all voted for through an online system, i'd get the best quality prints i could, and as much memorabilia, and info on the films as i could, and if i was super lucky speical guests, people invovled in the films to talk to us. and of course there would be a nice bar accompanying the cinema where everyone could chat before and after, and generally be friendly. but hey, paying £12 for two of use to see a poorly presented bad sounding film in uncomfortable seats and surrounded by old food is fine, isn't it.

[tgpo]

what in the world is a "troma movie"

Troma is known for their B-Movies and incredibly cheesy plots. They believe that every movie should have female nudity and tons of violence. They are the people who made the Toxic Avenger.

[rallynavvie]

My biggest pet peeve at a theater is people talking or making noise during the film. I get around this by going to see movies on a weekday as soon as the theater opens. Generally people are at work or in school and therefor won't be at the theater. This even seems to work for the day weekday after a big release. Not only all that but it's cheaper too (if you can get matinee pricing). I have quite a lot of patience so the ads never seem to bother me any, I understand it's just a method for the theater to make more money so more power to 'em. However I don't go to see that many movies in the theaters anymore; partly because there's not many movies I really want to see coming out and partly because I can't always be missing work to hit a theater when it isn't crowded. I can wait to see it on DVD as long as I don't run the risk of "contamination": overhearing the whole plot of the movie from a friend or coworker.

A new theater with 2 digital screens and gorgeous seating just opened near me now and nobody really realizes it's there yet. I went to see "Chicago" there and was the only person in the whole theater just after noon. It was like having my own movie theater for $6

[rhegedus]

I agree with the main thread of the topis, but I've got one question:

Let's say a film is released in two phases: the initial cinema phase and the home (DVD, VHS) phase a few months after. During which phase do the movie companies make the most money/profit? At the start form the cinema sales and associated tie-ins with fast foods etc, or during the phase of sales to the home market.

My point is that if we stop going to the movies (not that I go regularly) then there is no incentive to make movies purely for home viewing.

Regards,

Rob

[jeex]

step two, arrive ten minutes after the start time of the movie

the theaters you go to must not be very busy.. any movie i ever go see at the theater you have to show up 30/45 minutes early, otherwise only crappy ass seats are left.

i had to watch "vanilla sky" in the first row.. it sucked royal balls. but it was nice to compare penelope cruise's nipple to the size of my head.

[Conquest10]

i don't really have a problem like all yall. i go to this one theater in downtown chicago at around 12-1 o'clock on a tuesday-thursday afternoon. the place is empty. plus the ticket is only $5.50. i make sure the movie is scheduled for the time i get there. get the ticket and i take the escalator up. and by the time i get into the theater, the movie has already started.
the only thing i hate is the food prices. i spend more on food than on the ticket. so i just get something to eat before going to the movies and i save myself $15.00.

[jeex]

wear a big coat and carry in some hotdog & beers.

[Cyrl]

Well I don't know what theatres you have been to but I worked in theatre projection booths for a few years and the ones I worked at always took excellent care of the prints, and made certain things were in focus, in the correct lense, in frame and all around a perfect presentation. I was the booth supervisor and trainer so I made sure the people who worked with me did the same. There is a completely different feel to watching big action movies on the big screen than there is at home, unless you own a projector and have a decent sized screen.

The prices... well generally speaking the Theatre makes 10% of the ticket price for first run films in their first 3-4 weeks, slowly rising to 50% or even more over the course of the films stay in the theatres.. and it's not really a 100,000 per week payment to have the prints, it's a contract based on ticket sales... no theatre could really afford to pay 100k per print per week when a movie bombs... Concessions is the money maker for the theatre with nothing else coming close, but theatres don't really make all that much money in the end, a lot of overhead in that industry.. the ad's before the movies are what keep a lot of theatres in business.

But I can't say much about it really, I won't go to see anything at a theatre that is not an action movie, and if I had a much bigger TV I wouldn't even go to see those. Maybe once I get a projector and setup a special room I'll ditch theatres all together.

[vcd4me]

awesome post tgpo

I agree with buying dvds over going to the theater.

I rarely go to the cinema(I have a 5 year old son).

However I recently went to see old school ( broke down and got a sitter) and before that it was star wars episode 2.

I couldn't beleive how much it costs.

Tickets(2) $16.00
med Popcorn and Drinks $15.00
box of candy $3.00
subtotal... $34.00
baby sitter $20.00 (4 hrs-cheap)
dinner..... $30.00 (mid price)
MOVIE THEATER EXPERIENCE..... $84.00

Here is my take on home theater
Decent RPTV(65")...... $3000.00
Decent speakers..... $2000.00
Decent reciever...... $1000.00
Dvd player...... $ 0.00 (we all have one or we wouldn't be on this site)
HOME Theater Total....$6000.00

Take the Home Theater Total and divide by MOVIE THEATER EXPERIENCE =75 movies to break even. divide that by 52 (1 movie a week) and I break even in aproximatley a year and a quarter

Now when I watch it at home it definetley better.
Pause control ( aka- bathroom breakS) - LOL

Just my Logic
VCD4ME

[tenders]

ticket prices here are $12 each. matinee's are $6.50,but they only run those in the summer. for 2 adults to go to a movie and have a small popcorn and soft drinks,your looking at about 40 bucks!!!

needless to to say its been awhile since iv'e been to a movie.

where i live,they just announced last month,that they were going to build a new 10 screen multiplex.

you can't tell me that someone isn't making a ton of money

[rhegedus]

Over here (London, GB) it's between £7.50-£10 a ticket (US$11-15) and you have to pay for parking on top (about £8 ($12) for a two hour movie - the trailers add 30 mins and you pay by the hour, not the minute!). So even before my girlie and I have sat down, we've paid nearly £25 ($38 ). Someone is making a lot of cash!

Regards,

Rob

[rude_skankin]

What a great topic. For me movie prices are way too expensive. Where I live in Tucson, AZ there are a good pick of theatres. The cheapest for me to see a movie is the drive-in. $5 and you see two movies! Bring all the food you want and of course, beer too. There is a sign that says no beer, but I have even sit on the back of a pickup eating chinese getting pissed. (yeah I been to England) That if for the new releases, for older ones there is a theatre that I can't tell you how much it is because it changes so often. They have $1 movie night buy one ticket get one free, free movie night for kids. Plus the food there is CHEAP! I went one time with a friend and my wife, we ate tons of food, and the whole thing only cost me $30. Quite a deal if you ask me. At the mall, it would cost about that for three people not even counting the food the food probably would have cost another $20 dollars! Ridiculous! If I am forced to go to the posh theatre, I usually bring a backpack and fill it with food! As far as best theather I have ever been too, that would have to be one in Biloxi, Mississippi called The SilverScreen. Man what a place! They sold beer! Plus this place didn't have regular theater seats, but Tables and chairs! Just take your chair and sit where ever you wanted. Though I wouldn't call it a family place. At least not late at night, kind of a rowdy bunch. I haven't been there in years so I don't even know if it is still open. Plus the movie was only a buck! I guess I am just lucky, because I feel sorry for you guys having to pay a ton of money to just to see some crap film.

later

Anthony

[Tbear]

Cyrl

and it's not really a 100,000 per week

I said 100k up front for print. not a week. I was a Union projectionist for years. The theatre I worked at which at that time was a triplex. When Return of the Jedi came out. the theatre paid $100.000 in a bidding war to show the film up front. Theatre got 25 cent per ticket for the entire engagment. The theatre was the one to show Star Wars and it was there for over 8 months. Unheard of length of engagement. The theatre lost Empire Stikes Back to another theatre chain.

I do agree about he must be going to a poor theatre if they are out of focus and wrong lens! Started at a theatre that used the old 2 projectector system. 20 min reels and carbon arc lamphouses. Always got lucky when rewinding shipping reels to house reels. Always tails up. Then was trained at a newer house. Century projectors and platters. But I also like the old Potts Platter too. Could get parts in town for those! Century and Simplex projectors the ones I ran. Did indoor and outdoor (drive-ins). 20 and 60 min reels and platters. Carbon arc and Xenon Lamphouses.

I enjoyed the drive-ins as you never knew what the customers would do. I was running Steve Martins "Dead men don't wear Plaid" cutomer came to the booth and asked what happened to the color and could I bring it back up?

[bbb]

I personally have stopped going to see movies because I can buy it cheaper than it costs for me and my girlfriend(sorry Silky31) to go see it.

Silky is your gf?

From his avatar I thought he was a guy.

[tgpo]

I am a dude. Silky31 just jokes around about loving me.....it's just a joke.

[bbb]

[Cyrl]

I said 100k up front for print. not a week. I was a Union projectionist for years. The theatre I worked at which at that time was a triplex. When Return of the Jedi came out. the theatre paid $100.000 in a bidding war to show the film up front.

hehe Perhaps a different era then when I worked in the Booth =P.. I was not a union projectionist but I was responsible for maintenance on our projectors, I started off Cinemechanica Vic ummm 4's I think it was, sheesh this is still 7 8 years ago... that was at the super crappy theatre I first worked at, then I left there, a few years later a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to come work at the new theatre that AMC was building, the Veterans 24, all new Strong Century projectors and platters, all linked together, it was great, being able to start any projector from any of the others... Anyway, I seem to recall that we really didn't pay much up front for prints anymore, it was mostly done on a consignment type basis.... And in the end there was no competition really in the area, if the Studio wanted to make the most money on a film in the area, it came to our theatre

[Tbear]

In the local area we covered had 2 chains for drive ins 4 locations. Had 5 chains for indoor houses with 9 differant houses. What I hated was when they would twin a beautiful 1200 seat theatre. I trained in all the theatres. So I could be used as relief op anywhere. I know times have changed. Equipment got better and more automated. I would love to see a multiplex projection room!

The Potts platter was designed by a projectionist in his garage. Used chysler Igntion point for it's contact switches and kirby vacuum cleaner motor to turn the platter. Easy to set up and use.

[Cyrl]

*edited to add this* the platter system must have truly revolutionized the industry when it first came out.

The booth was... huge....

Had an unfinsihed ceiling so basically had 18 foot celings, with all the lights out when the projectors were not on it was pitch black except for about 3 or 4 "nightlights" we had placed so as not to kill ourselves in the morning, The booth was essentially H shaped, and bisected in the middle, teh 6 biggest houses projectors were run from the Crossbar of the H, so it was basically two very large booths with 12 projectors each, with a raise room off to the side in the middle with 3 projectors... our biggest house was I think 500 seats, all stadium seating, the screen was huge... had a split level entrance so you could enter halfway up the seating...

If I recall from measuring the two "big" portions of the booth were about 18 feet wide each side and about 150 feet long... Theoretically if we had wanted to we could have synced up to 9 projectors at once with one print 12 if we felt like having some pulleys run it up the stairs =P.. and well 24 if we didn't mind it running down the office and breakroom hallway =P

It was just an interesting place... we used to play a "game" with a broomstick handle and old trailers trying to play "Shuffletrailer" in the booth, seeing just how far we could slide a trailer by putting the handle into the spindle and flinging it down the hallway (not in the air, but on the ground) like a hockey puck... we never could get it the lenght of the booth, but it was fun....

THe first theatre I worked in was an old 6 screen (the first Multiplex in the city).. Three 2 projector booths each... Barely enough room for the platters since it was originally designed using 6000 foot reels and impressive Dual projectors at each screen (no manual reel change it was automated... impressive for it's time) The second and third and fifth theatre I worked at were all similar to that one in design, the fourth was in a mall, fairly "new" but the booth sucked =P... The sixth place was the nice 24 screen theatre...

Bleh, it was fun times, whenever I visit my parents I try to hit a movie at one of the places I used to work just to see if anyone is still there.

[ember]

I live in outer Albania. We have only 3 cinemas. Tickets are equivalent of $45 each. Ads last no more than 30 seconds.

[tenders]

I live in outer Albania. We have only 3 cinemas. Tickets are equivalent of $45 each. Ads last no more than 30 seconds.

tickets are $45 each? is thet in U.S. funds?

[tjtoed]

I agree - going to the movies is a complete waste of time and money...

1. It is expensive
2. got to love the people that talk and/or kick the back of your chair the whole movie
3. When they started putting ads/commercials at the beginning of the movies, I quit going. Talk about a captive audience though...

I have seen 2 movies the past two years, Fellowship and Two Towers and I even took a vacation day to make sure I could go to the first show of the day they were released to avoid the masses.

I much prefer to wait for the DVD release and watch it from the comforts of my own home. The pause button is awesome and popcorn and soda is much cheaper.

great thread

tj

[Tbear]

The first theatre I worked at was an old vauldville theatre and movie house. Built in 1927, had a 450 seat balconey. And the last time they had that opened was for Jaws. I worked there for over a year. Until they closed it down. The biggest expense for them was heating anf cooling. A/C ran $4000 dollars a month for water as that is what it used for cooling. Small projector room with a room below for the generator and storage. It was closed for about 2 years and was sold and reopend as a triplex. Split the main floor and used the balcony as one. Then a few years after they put in a 4th screen on the old stage. And to get to it you go right by the old orchastra pit!

We had Three triplexs. The first was in a mall so wasn't to bad. Two rooms conected by a hallway. The other two started out as a 1200 seat theatre and then was twined. Then they built the third sreen on the northside of the building. Had to go back downstairs across the lobby back upstairs to a very small projection room. It was about 10' x 10' it was small. The 3rd was better designed simalure to the one in the mall. Help to twin two others. Puting up the screens and speakers and cutains and seats.

Now the outdoors were fun. You could have 1500' between boths or all in one. The one with 1500' was fun on Friday night. Had to stand by the concession stand and watch both sides in case of bad splice. The outdoors were named The Moonlight, Starlight, Western and 31 Outdoor The Indoors were The Forum, University, Town and Country, River Park, Scottsdale, Boiler House, Cinema Arts, Elco and Ready.

This has been great to remaniss about a job I still love

[Cyrl]

Tbear it's a bug really, there is nothing to NOT love about working projection booths, I don't know anyone who has ever done the job who didn't love doing it... If the money were there I'd still be doing it today.. unfortunately to make a good living these days at it you have to be union and the theatre chains only have like one union guy in a very large area around where I live, and you don't get to do much but repair broken things... you miss out on the day to day activities...

1500 feet between booths... Hope you had some running shoes when you were working =P I thought running 24 screens in about 350 feet of hallway was bad... well ok, it is bad when you have 24 movies 4 starting at 12:00; 3 at 12:05; 2 at 12:10; 3 at 12:15; 4 at 12:20; 5 more at 12:30; 1 at 12:40 and 2 more at 12:45.. and the guy opening with you doesn't show =P and you KNOW they are not next to each other =P thank god for modern automation...

One thing I was proud of was 3 years of working projection booths I never once dropped a print, I moved countless prints, hell I moved Casino and Eyes wide shut by myself a few times.

I have to know btw, did you ever start a trailer film? we had one that was about 80 minutes long... we used to show it for employees after we'd have big meetings and stuff, every cool trailer we could find going back like 4-5 years...

One thing that has stuck in my mind was the sound volume... no matter what it was set at you'd always have some guy saying it's too loud and another one complaining it's not loud enough... during the same showing... same thing with temperature.... *sigh* If I had tons and tons of cash I think I'd love to start a kick ass theatre here, Pittsburgh has all of about 1 nice theatre.. and it's not even that great.