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Topic: When presentation DOESN'T matter

Adam Fraser
Master Film Handler

Posts: 499
From: Houghton Lake, MI, USA
Registered: Dec 2001

posted 02-21-2002 10:17 AM

The big difference between an independent and a chain though is that independants have to have a competitive advantage "clean theatres and excellent presentation" to stay in business, it is usually the owner's livlihood at stake, In my experience (not syaing all mutiplexes, im sure there are many good ones out there) the multiplex chains I have seen shows at just dont seem to care for details and showing a quality presentaion, I know employees there dont have a personal stake in the business but damn, can't some people just do their jobs properly. Our theatre has been in business 61 years as a one screen independently owned theatre because we put quality presentation and cleanliness very high on our priorities.

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Adam Fraser
www.pinestheatre.com

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Dustin Mitchell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1865
From: Mondovi, WI, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 02-21-2002 12:15 PM

Adam, the point of this thread though is that by the studios booking policies presentation ISN'T all that important. Oh sure, you'll do better business with better presentation, but you know the saying-If you have it they will come. The local independent does NOT clean their theatres between shows-in fact they have the shows cued to turn the lights all the way up at the beginning of the credits so they can get the next crowd in there right away. They have 5 minute intermissions on average. They always start their movies out of frame, and almost every print they get is scratched by the end of its first week. Yet they continue to be able to book enough big movies to stay in business confortably.

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Chad Souder
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 962
From: Waterloo, IA, USA
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 02-21-2002 07:15 PM

Really, you don't want two theatres in the same market playing day-and-date, because unless there's MAJOR problems with one of them (which really is rare, let's be honest), people honestly don't notice or care. I sit next to my wife at a competitive theatre shifting in my seat uncomfortably because of a shutter ghost or the picture not being in frame, and she doesn't notice. I know that she represents more of the general public than I do, because a couple times we've had a problem go on for 15 minutes and no customer in the theatre has noticed. Truth is, have a great presentation for your own pride, and for the 5% that notice, but most things aren't going to make a person go out of the way to a theatre across town.

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"Asleep at the switch? I wasn't asleep, I was drunk!" - Homer Simpson

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Brent Mahaney
Film Handler

Posts: 43
From: Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA
Registered: Dec 2001

posted 02-25-2002 12:36 AM

My frustration stems from the fact that I put hours and hours into making my presentation as good as it can possibly be with the resources at my disposal. I've studied every damn article and post on this site. I have become obsessed with film done right. And I have been successful. But what if I woke up one day and said, "You know, I really don't HAVE to do this. One way or the other, we're splitting product...so screw it!!" What if I started everything a little out of frame and a little out of focus? What if I didn't clean my plates and just left the dirt down the sides of the screen? Nobody cares, right?

Wrong. I care. I care SO MUCH that I get discouraged when we lose something big to the place across town, and then I run into no less than 10 people who say, "We went to see <insert any A movie we didn't get> and the sound cut out for a few minutes at the best part," or "They said the print was messed up and they cancelled the 7's and the 9's."

But they keep going back. So, if it's true that people DON'T care about presentation...then why should I?

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Jerry Chase
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1068
From: Margate, FL, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 02-25-2002 09:16 AM

"But they keep going back. So, if it's true that people DON'T care about presentation...then why should I?"

There comes a point when most people doing above average work ask themselves this very question. There are a few answers.

1. The few people that do care will notice your efforts and be appreciative.
2. There is the possibility that someone who notices may be in a position to offer better employment.
3. Reputations have a way of following people and a bad reputation may stymie a chance at a great job down the road.
4. Bad habits are hard to break and it is easier not to get into bad habits.
5. You do it for your own personal satisfaction.
6. (Rarely considered these days) If there is an ultimate judgement based on deeds, you want to provide every reason to open those pearly gates.
7. There simply is no other way that you can comprehend doing your work.
8. You are totally insane and a work-a-holic.
9. Being a called a film geek is the highest form of flattery to you.
10. It is all a dream and you are really working at McDonalds and just don't want to wake up.

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Evans A Criswell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1579
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 02-25-2002 09:39 AM

quote:
1. The few people that do care will notice your efforts and be appreciative.

Since I feel like I'm one of the few customers that recognizes consistently good presentation quality, I make sure I let the managers and staff members of the theatres that have good presentation quality know that I notice, just so they'll know that their efforts are not in vain. Heck, if they're good enough, I'll put a list of compliments in the description file for their theatre on my WWW site, like I did for Regal River Oaks Cinema 8 in Decatur, AL, just so everyone who uses my site will learn more about how to recognize better presentation quality.

I think this theatre-rating thing I do has caused me to notice quality of service at many other types of businesses as well. One example is restaurant service. I find myself giving tips that are much better than average when the food and service are good, just to show my appreciation.

What if the projector operators worked for tips?

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Evans A Criswell
Huntsville-Decatur Movie Theatre Information Site

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Gerard S. Cohen
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 975
From: Forest Hills, NY, USA
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 02-25-2002 10:20 AM

Have you ever said to a waiter, "My compliments to the chef?"
At group dinners or banquets I've seen the chef called out to applause,and sometimes he/she calls out the staff to share the compliment.
I've had managers thank me for running a good show, when called for relief or emergency work. And once when showing a program gratis at a Veterans'Hall, two young women from Germany came up to me as I was rewinding to thank me for my efforts.
In the "early" days it was a common courtesy to thank "the Professor"
for his efforts as showman.

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 02-25-2002 11:27 AM

When I was running the Brenkert Carbon Arc Booth in the station theater I didn't know I was being watched by a union business agent who was sitting in the auditorium watching my presentation.

Apparently, he liked the way my show (You notice I said MY SHOW) went and how I presented it. In a couple of months, I was a union member. I was still allowed to run that booth while holding the card.

Thought I would come back and say we were paid 5 bucks a show. This not only included on-screen time, but prep time which included a full film inspection IAW military standards, as well as equipment cleaning and preparation.

Crappy wage? Sure. But we were professionals, and we enjoyed what we were doing.

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