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Topic: Should we tell them?

Scott Norwood
Film God

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

posted 09-14-2000 04:22 AM

We did 5-minute turnarounds in a 500-seat theatre all the time during the week (not Fri/Sat, tho), but we were showing art and foriegn pictures and our audiences were generally small, so it wasn't a big deal.

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Michael Gonzalez
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 790
From: Grand Island , NE USA
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 09-15-2000 10:53 AM

Wow 25 - 35 minute turnaround time. Where I work 10 to 15 minute turnaround time is the norm not the exception. We start cleaning as soon at the credits roll and try to get it as clean as possible before the credits are over.

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 09-15-2000 11:19 AM

It might be argued that almost no one stays until the final credit hits the screen. But, IMHO it is a disservice to the audience members who CARE about watching all the credits and to the film artists and technicians who put months or even years of effort into the movie, to have a crew begin to clean the auditorium while the credits are still on the screen. I can understand bringing up the house lights enough to facilitate safe exit of those who leave early, but bringing in the cleaning staff while even one person is still watching the film sends the wrong message --- "We've got your money, we're in a hurry to make more money from a new audience, now get out of here so we can pick up your mess." Sorry, this is NOT "Showmanship".

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com

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John F. Schultz
Film Handler

Posts: 10
From: Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 09-16-2000 06:08 AM

Hey All. New to the group here. With my staff the rule is that you never clean in front of the customers and if you start before an auditorium clears out there is to be no noise made. It is rare that someone complains about it and usually it is someone who would have complained about something else if they hadn't been cleaning.

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Leo Enticknap
Film God

Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 09-19-2000 03:33 PM

In reply to John P's point about house lights - the battery maintained emergency lighting should be set at a level which is 'enough to facilitate safe exit of those who leave early', and should stay there all the time.

In the UK, the fire brigade inspects every cinema as part of the licensing process, and the emergency lighting level is one of the things they get really anal about. We frequently get complaints from customers who think it's so high as to distract their attention from the screen, but this lighting simply HAS to be bright enough for customers (even those with poor eyesight) to evacaute safely in the event of an emergency (e.g. fire) or mains power failure.

Therefore, there should be no need to raise the house lights at all during the credit run - if the emergency lights are bright enough for people to get out in an emergency, then they're bright enough for people to get out during the credits. Quite apart from the fact that raising house lights during credits is (in my opinion) bad presentation, not doing so means that your emergency lights are being effectively tested at the end of every show. If people can see their way out, it proves that they work and are bright enough.

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Paul Konen
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 981
From: Frisco, TX. (North of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 09-19-2000 03:44 PM

My take on credits has always been this.

I wish that the credits first showed where the filming took place. Some people, myself included, have stayed around just to see where it was done.

Secondly, list the songs nexts. People again may want to jog there memory as to the name of a song.

Next, I really don't care personally because I don't know who the grip, best boy, caterer, assistant to the stars, assistant to the assistant is. You don't see these people on the screen, so who cares.

Just think back to the early cartoon days, credits were done first and were done quick. Everyone and their pop didn't have to get there name in there.

Sorry, <end rant>

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

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

posted 09-19-2000 06:00 PM

Right you are, Paul. 99.9% of people don't care who the second second assistant director is. They want the songs and the filming location. (I'd put the songs first, if I had my way.)

My bright idea is, they should just stop printing the credits on the film. Instead, make a one-sheet with all the credits on it, which could be posted at the back of the auditorium. The 4 or 5 people who want to watch the credits could read to their heart's content. Think how much film that would save.

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Richard C. Wolfe
Master Film Handler

Posts: 250
From: Northampton, PA, USA
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 09-19-2000 09:28 PM

Paul & Mike

I agree with you both. 99.9% of the people that stay are staying either for the music credits or to find the filming location(s). If they were at the beginning, the house would be emptied within the first minute 99.9% of the time. Then we could clean to our hearts content without bothering anyone, and we could then let people in sooner for the next showing.

However, why do you think they do it the way they do...to force exposure of all the credits on at least some people. It's an ego thing.

If you check on the first showing where it was filmed, and had a PA system that would allow you to announce at the beginning of the credits. "The picture you have just viewed was filmed entirely in...." often all of the people would leave at that time.

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Brad Miller
Administrator

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

posted 09-19-2000 09:43 PM

Well since all films are not to a specific time frame like tv shows are, shortening the credits really wouldn't make that big of a difference in my opinion. If the movie is long, then an extra 3 minutes of credits really isn't going to matter. The problem here is overly long movies and poor show schedules which do not allow for enough cleaning time between shows.

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Jesse Skeen
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1517
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 09-20-2000 12:00 AM

I've noticed certain types of people who will stay to read the credits, but they'll still get out as fast as they can as if a bomb is going to go off at the very end. I had TONS of fun watching the "Scary Movie" audience; some people sat through most of the credits but left when the copyright and MPAA symbols and all that crap came up! It ain't over til it's OVER, people!

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