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Topic: Green Bands on Trailers

Patrick Dunn
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 120
From: newark, DE, United states
Registered: Aug 2005

posted 04-22-2008 09:03 PM

quote: Kurt Zupin
The company I work for now has a policy of no Green bands or Blue Bands ever to see the screen. I like it and think that the trailers flow better and has a better presention. It also looks more "neat

This may seem "neat" for some trailers, but one of the last times I went to cinimark one of the trailers came on, and I think it was a teaser, so it seemed like the wrong movie had started in reel 3. So I don't think any theater should cut off the green band since some trailers are a scene from the movie they are advertising.

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Kurt Zupin
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 989
From: Maricopa, Arizona
Registered: Oct 2004

posted 04-22-2008 09:57 PM

No Chris I think its my opinion on it, nothing you have to agree with just what I think.

I'm not going to argue the right or wrong of the policy. I have built hundreds of trailer packs this way and have yet to have a problem. If there is sound in the greenband then it's the very first trailer so I can use the greenband as leader/not lose the sound. I think it flows better with out the greenband between each trailer, and anyone who thinks it doesn't is more then welcome to come down and watch anyone of the movies I have and tell me where it doesn't flow well.

I guess I give more credit to my customer base than being mindless peons who can't tell the difference between one trailer and the next. I really can't see how someone's going to think the teaser for Wanted is the movie that they are there to watch and get confused...maybe that's just me.

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Monte L Fullmer
Film God

Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 04-23-2008 01:33 AM

If one cuts the green right at where the green and black meet, the soundtrack usually doesn't begin until a few frames down the run. Thus, there shouldn't be and sound problems...as long as the trailer before was cut at the very end before the "kodak girl" imagery that exists on some of the tail leads of the trailer.

Then we know that the soundtrack is completely done at the end of the trailer.

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Frank Angel
Film God

Posts: 5305
From: Brooklyn NY USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 04-23-2008 02:41 AM

Most times we are running 3 or 4 trailers and almost always they are G rated so it becomes really questionable why that has to be stated before EACH and every one. IMHO, it is just repetitious and kind of inconsiderate of the audience. I mean, if you were running six trailers, you mean the audience would have to watch that thing six times? They are always much to long anyway, like the MPAA thinks everyone is sitting there actually reading each and every word of each and every green band. So in our place, CHOP goes the green band and we leave (or put in where necessary) 4 seconds of black -- that's more than enuf to break up the trailers so the audience makes no mistaking one trailer from the next. Besides, they almost always end with that worthless jumble of squeezed lettering in which half a dozen credits are crammed which no one can read or even wants to. Anyone who watches movies knows when they see that, it's the end of the trailer. And yes, we always keep the green band on the FIRST trailer so eveyone knows that they are watching G rated material.

I once proposed that we design our own green band snipe -- make it look exactly like the MPAA frame, but in bigger lettering say: THE FOLLOWING TRAILERS (plural) ARE RATED G FOR GENERAL AUDIENCES. Our Finance guy said, "What, are you out of your freakin mind?" Custom snipes are expensive, true that, and he said it was way to extravagant a solution for something that wasn't a problem.

As for the overlaping sound problem, in the few cases where it does exist, I do what Robert does -- put that trailer first, leaving the green band intact. If I happen to be unlucky and get more than one trailer with the sound advancing before the frame is out, naturally, I have no choice but to leave the green band, but I make sure to cut it so that it is much shorter, but not so short as to make it feel like a mistake -- just like a three-count is plenty for them to get the idea.

As for the blue bands, the ones that they stick on the FRONT of the feature are just unequivically worthless, idotic and a pile of elephant dung. It totally ruins the opening protocol -- you have the grand curtain opening on what, not the start of the film, but on some crappy ad for the MPAA? Not in my theatre. The blue band is just an excuse for the MPAA to get some free screen time. If they want to advertise their website, they can pay me for screen time just like any other merchant.

The ones they stick on the END of the feature are even sillier --they've already WATCHED the movie. Who cares after the fact?

As I have said before on this hallowed forum, when the audience has already purchased their tickets and have plunked their fat asses down in the seats, that is NOT the time to tell them what's the MPAA rating of the picture they are about to see. If they gave a flying sheet about the rating to begin with, they would have already found out what it is -- by the rating that is posted in the newspaper ad, or by the rating that is given on the phone hot-line or by the rating that is posted at the box office, or by the rating that is on every 1-sheet for the film hanging in the lobby, or by the rating that is displayed on the freakin MARQUEE! What does the MPAA expect, that they walked willy-nilly into the theatre, bought their ticket, never noticing what the rating was, and then what? when they are in their seats, they see the blue band, jump up and say, "Holy geez, I didn't know this is a PG-13 movie....I gotta leave and get my money back." It's ludicrous. And I don't want my curtains opening or even closing on an MPAA ad.

The green band, I'll admit is pretty much a matter of aesthetics, some like them, some don't myself included; but the blue band is something else althogther -- the blue band before the feature or after it is for idiots with the aesthetic acumen of a toilet seat and the IQ of a rhododendron.

[ 04-23-2008, 04:41 AM: Message edited by: Frank Angel ]

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Tristan Lane
Master Film Handler

Posts: 444
From: Nampa, Idaho
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 04-23-2008 03:30 AM

quote: Frank Angel
idiots with the aesthetic acumen of a toilet seat and the IQ of a rhododendron.

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Mark Hajducki
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 500
From: Edinburgh, UK
Registered: May 2003

posted 04-23-2008 03:58 AM

quote:
I once proposed that we design our own green band snipe -- make it look exactly like the MPAA frame, but in bigger lettering say: THE FOLLOWING TRAILERS ARE RATED G FOR GENERAL AUDIENCES.

Some of the UK chains have made equivalent snipes, and Jack Roe make a generic version.

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Justin Hamaker
Film God

Posts: 2253
From: Lakeport, CA USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 04-27-2008 03:30 AM

I feel the green bands should be left on. Perhaps they are a bit annoying for projectionists and others who watch a lot of movies. However, that 2-3 seconds is insignificant. And the purpose of the green bands is to provide information for those who are interested in the information. I think it's especially important if the green band actually displays the film's rating rather than just the generic "This film has been approved for all audiences".

Since the studios are starting to ship red band trailers again, I think it becomes increasingly important to maintain the green band. And if the MPAA ever decides to do a yellow band (basically PG-13), then the green band becomes even more significant.

As a theatre manager who has dealt with parental complaints over a variety of issues related to the ratings, I think the few extra seconds added by the green bands is insignificant - especially if it mitigates even one complaint. And from a presentation standpoint, I think it provides a nice transition from one trailer to the next.

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Frank Angel
Film God

Posts: 5305
From: Brooklyn NY USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 04-27-2008 04:27 AM

But they are not just run 2-3 seconds -- they can be much longer. But I do agree, I only object when the ratings are all the same for 3 or 4 trailers in a row. I would only eliminate those that are repetitive -- if a trailer shows a rating different than the trailers that preceded it, then, yes, that does impart information about the film and I would run it. As far as a smooth transition, I still say the credit frame followed by black is a pleasing separation between trailers. But again, use them or not, it's not a big deal or about a right or wrong way, just individual taste and in the case of chains, I suppose corporate policy and so the projectionist doesn't get much choice how it is done.

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 04-27-2008 05:04 AM

I have downloaded many trailers from the internet since I don't get to see many on real film anymore, and all of the digital trailers have green bands. There are no sites that specialize in hosting the same trailers with the greenbands edited out. Many amateur videomakers put fake greenbands on their little previews. What is the reasoning for all of this? It's simple. Greenbands rock your world. Leave 'em on... they're part of culture now.

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Kenneth Wuepper
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1026
From: Saginaw, MI, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 04-27-2008 07:16 AM

Joe,

You missed the point. It's all about CONTROL! There is very little that the booth personnel can do to influence the actual content of the show, EXCEPT things like editing trailers.

So, if you need to become an editor, then at least do it with enough smarts to look where the soundtrack modulation begins and include that portion of the green band in your presentation.

We have a drawer full of little clips that were inserted into the trailers in the time long ago. These little inserts were "Coming Soon", "Starts Friday", "Double Feature" and "Midnight Show". The drawer is labeled "DATERS". The really irritating ones had sound on them so there was a burst of music and then the next trailer. Of course the sound track offset made this even more annoying.

KEN

[uhoh]

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 04-27-2008 12:27 PM

I have missed no point. I demand everyone leave them on! [evil]

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Frank Angel
Film God

Posts: 5305
From: Brooklyn NY USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 04-28-2008 02:36 PM

quote: Joe Redifer
Greenbands rock your world. Leave 'em on... they're part of culture now.

My nature in the very core of by being is counter-culture. And the truth is, Joe, that deep down yours is too and you know it. Give in to your true inner self!

Besides, when have you ever been an MPAA lover? You may not want to admit it, but you and I both KNOW that giving them free screen time because they command that you do it will just eat way at your Powers. Let them get their way and it will suck away your strength. Your Superhero powers will be inexorably eroded way....THEN what will we do? Don't let it happen, Joe....DON'T! We need you!!

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Chris Slycord
Film God

Posts: 2986
From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea
Registered: Mar 2007

posted 04-28-2008 03:43 PM

quote: Kurt Zupin
I guess I give more credit to my customer base than being mindless peons who can't tell the difference between one trailer and the next.

Someone saying "I think the green bands separate the trailers out easier for everyone" in no way means "I think my customers are idiots who can't tell the difference."

I'm not trying to be argumentative, but you say you don't want to argue then make a statement that completely mischaracterises "the other side of the argument."

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 04-28-2008 03:46 PM

Since when aren't most customers idiots???

"The THX isn't on."
"Rewind the movie for me. I ran projectors in high school and I KNOW you can."
"What time does the midnight movie start?"

[Razz]

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 04-28-2008 05:38 PM

quote: Frank Angel
My nature in the very core of by being is counter-culture. And the truth is, Joe, that deep down yours is too and you know it.

Very true, however I think of it as a culture I helped create instead of one I am obeying.

quote: Frank Angel
Besides, when have you ever been an MPAA lover? You may not want to admit it, but you and I both KNOW that giving them free screen time because they command that you do it will just eat way at your Powers.

Never! Good greenbands show off my hero powers more than they hurt it. How? By having an evenly lit screen without any noticeable hot spots. Without flicker. Without jitteryness from the projector. Without edges from an underfiled aperture showing. Proper masking. Proper framing. In focus. Bright and sharp. Granted, some of these things still need to be worked out at the theater where I am currently helping out. But until they are my name won't be advertised on the marquee like usual.

[Razz]

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