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Topic: 3 or 4 trailers

Will Kutler
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1506
From: Tucson, AZ, USA
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 10-02-2001 05:31 PM

I think that this topic was discussed in another thread.

For the most part it would be wise to work with the film studio/distributor to determine what trailers should be run with what film! And if you are running multiple prints of the same feature, then there is bound to be an order of presidence concerning what trailers are to be run on what screen. One thing that has always annoyed me is theaters who advertise a film--but they dont end up showing it! Also remember that trailer MPAA ratings and content needs to be the same as the main feature--ie dont run R and PG trailers on G rated films--etc. We generally ran about 4 trailers(attached plus three others) plus sound format, THX and house policy, but there were exceptions.

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James R. Hammonds, Jr
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 931
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 10-02-2001 08:51 PM

I can understand not running trailers for R rated movies on G rated films, but why not trailers for PG rated films?

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Aaron Sisemore
Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day!

Posts: 3061
From: Rockwall TX USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 10-02-2001 10:52 PM

Let's see here... "Cats And Dogs" was a PG rated film... Using your criteria, a trailer for say, "From Hell" would be fine for it then.

Its common sense. Many PG and PG13 rated films get seen by younger viewers, regardless of the content...

Buena Vista prohibits R-movie trailers on ANY Disney-Branded film regardless of its rating.

-Aaron

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Steve Scott
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1300
From: Minneapolis, MN
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 10-03-2001 12:02 AM

We run coke/moviefone & four trailers. We used to (& i'm trying to get our GM to again) run sound snipes. We've got no company, coming attractions, or other splices, & we're still pushing ten minutes on the trailer pack.

For films like Green Mile, Any Give Sunday, Gone w/ the Wind, etc. we ran one trailer only, no snipes.

I'm trying to convince our booth manager to run some THX or dolby snipes for Lord of the Rings. He hasn't said no yet.

------------------
http://www.mullerfamilytheatres.com

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James R. Hammonds, Jr
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 931
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 10-03-2001 02:10 AM

Aaron, I hope you werent suggesting that I would be stupid enough to run FROM HELL on CATS AND DOGS.

For one thing, FROM HELL is rated R so it wouldnt go on anything except for PG-13 and R rated titles.

Second, I never even mentioned anything about playing trailers for PG-13 rated films on PG movies.
I asked about playing trailers for PG rated films on G rated movies.
I dont see the harm in playing ATLANTIS, SHREK, or CATS AND DOGS on something like RUGRATS IN PARIS.

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Will Kutler
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1506
From: Tucson, AZ, USA
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 10-03-2001 02:46 PM

I do believe that there are in fact laws governing this issue. There is content in R rated trailers not suitable for PG and G, and content in PG trailers not suitable for G.

One incident that comes to mind is the fiasco regarding the Final Fantasy trailers that were approved for G but the content was not suitable!

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Wes Hughes
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 175
From: Raleigh, NC, USA
Registered: Aug 2001

posted 10-03-2001 03:52 PM

I run about 3 trailers...attached included. The film companies call me occasionally and demand that I do this or that or else...I don't really care (and I tell them so). There hasn't been a time yet when I have been denied anything (like a booking) due to my refusal to program 6 trailers on a film.

I HATE commercials ... I will not run them in any of my theatres.

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 10-03-2001 07:07 PM

Will -

No such laws in the U.S.... yet.

Unless there are some local ordinances, at least.

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Will Kutler
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1506
From: Tucson, AZ, USA
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 10-03-2001 07:19 PM

I thought that there were laws. The company that I worked for was VERY strict about this policy--and I was told several times that there are laws--but I may be wrong?--maybe it is just the MPAA guidelines? What about everything that has happened in government regarding this subject?

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John T. Hendrickson, Jr
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 889
From: Freehold, NJ, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 10-03-2001 07:38 PM

We run a minimum of 10 minutes and a maximum of 14 minutes of trailers, including our policy trailer. There could be anywhere from four to six trailers, depending on running time. We hit the screen at five minutes before the advertised starting time of the feature. We never deviate from this format. We do this for the following reasons:

1. Patrons who wish to see all the trailers arrive early, before the advertised time.

2. Those who do not care to see trailers can come in 5 minutes after the adverstised starting time, and still see the feature.

3. There is at least a five minute cushion for latecomers, so that they can see the entire feature.

We do not have complaints about starting shows early. This policy has served us well. Even if there is a problem in the booth, we hold to the addage that it is better to be late than early!

I would advise that you can have any policy that you feel comfortable with, as long as you are consistant. That is the key.

Oh yes, we do not run any advertisements. Trailer selection is based
on running trailers with the latest play date first, then descending to the trailer with the nearest playdate. This of course excludes the attached trailer, which we run just before our policy and feature presentation. Selection of trailers is based on matching them with the feature, and we try to run trailers of the company that has the feature.

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James R. Hammonds, Jr
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 931
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 10-04-2001 12:32 AM

I was wondering if anyone had a specific way they order their trailers.

I used to do attached last, enclosed trailer from that studio in front of that, and whatever other trailers we play in any order in front of those.

Now I put them on in the order that they are released.
This is because we run a maximum of 6 and a minimum of 4 trailers depending on what our mandatory list says.
If a movie starts off with 6 trailers, I can take off two trailers before replacing any, and when that happens, its at the front of the trailer pack, which makes it easier to change them.

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Michael Hunt
Film Handler

Posts: 63
From: Gloucester, Gloucestershire, UK
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 10-04-2001 12:59 PM

The number of trailers I run depends on the length of our advertising reel that week.

We state in our publicity that 'Most cinema screenings start at the advertised time with a short programme of advertisements and trailers which may last up to fifteen minutes.' This was to appease those members of the audience that don't want to sit through the adverts, and to accomodate latecomers.
On occasion we've had a queue out to the front door at the advertised start time, and being able to tell irate latecomers that the film itself hasn't started and won't for another ten to fifteen minutes usually helps to calm them down....

I always let our Box Office staff know when there is an exception to this, for example, when the Local Film society are running a show, in which case no advertising is shown, as we deem this an educational screening.

------------------
Uncle to JEDI Hunt,
honest!

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Steve Scott
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1300
From: Minneapolis, MN
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 10-07-2001 01:53 AM

James, when we build, we're given a list of trailers to choose from for each feature. I splice them with what looks to be the worst films first & the best films or the ones with the best sequences right before the start of the feature.

I rarely ever refuse to run a certain trailer, and there are others I'm careful about placing. Like when we had to change a scope trailer out of the oddly matted "Extreme Days," I had one Mighty Tenebaums left, what I consider to be the best looking film this christmas, but I used Ice Age instead, cause I wanted to put Tenenbaums on a feature that I won't be tearing down at the end of this week.

It's all a matter of choice.

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Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 10-07-2001 09:20 AM

At the multiplex, we usually do about 4-6 trailers, plus NCN adds (yuck), Fandango/Moviefone, Coke, company snipes, etc. In the summer, we also run Jimmy Fund PSAs. We normally start the film about five minutes before the advertised start time; the ads run for about five minutes, so customers who arrive at the advertised start time will still see all of the trailers and the feature, but won't be subjected to the ads. I usually put the trailers in the order in which they are listed on the continuity sheet which is provided by the company.

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Neil Hunter
Film Handler

Posts: 74
From: Salisbury, NC, USA
Registered: Oct 2001

posted 10-09-2001 10:53 AM

At my theater(a 16-plex w/IMAX), we normally run 5 to 6 trailers per the trailer request sheet(more like trailer demands), with a tecnicolor ad, a coke ad, and a Fandango ad. Our trailer packs usually run up to 17 minutes. This is way too long in my opinion. But, management says that's how it is, and there is absolutely no way they will let us change it.

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