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Topic: Rant on stupid theatres

John Pytlak
Film God

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

posted 11-21-2003 10:24 PM

I've been in Vancouver for the week, presenting an archivist's training seminar and attending the AMIA Conference here. [Cool]

Unfortunately, the very full schedule kept me from exploring the theatres. [Frown]

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John Hawkinson
Film God

Posts: 2273
From: Cambridge, MA, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 11-21-2003 10:54 PM

John writes, "I've been in Vancouver for the week, presenting an archivist's training seminar and attending the AMIA Conference here."

Are you able to share your presentation slides?

--jhawk

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John Pytlak
Film God

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

posted 11-21-2003 11:18 PM

The AMIA has the visuals for internal training purposes for its membership.

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Charles Everett
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1470
From: New Jersey
Registered: May 2001

posted 11-22-2003 11:29 AM

It's Stupid Theatre Time again! This one is the Princeton Garden Theatre -- for opening Shattered Glass yesterday in a double-up.

Shattered Glass had its national arthouse break yesterday. Why the double-up? Yesterday the Princeton Garden also picked up The Human Stain (most likely a circuited print) and Love Actually (which finally went wide). Since Love Actually is a wide-release picture, the theater decided to double up Shattered Glass with The Human Stain. It just so happens the nearby UA Marketfair picked up Love Actually yesterday as well.

Fortunately the Regal Warrington Crossing will have Shattered Glass for Thanksgiving -- with a full round of shows.

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Mike Spaeth
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1129
From: Marietta, GA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 11-24-2003 12:35 AM

Yes - that's sooo stupid ... trying to play too much product. It's much better to just play one of the above pictures. In a twin, you don't have too many options.

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Thomas Procyk
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1842
From: Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 11-25-2003 02:09 PM

Double ups? How about TRIPLEups? There was a theater here that did that. one show each of 2 prints, and two shows of the third. The showtimes were set up so that it was necessary to move a print every show. Man, this was STUPID! I can't say which theater did this because they might fire me... oh... wait... oops... [Embarrassed]

=TMP=

p.s. - This is POST #900! w00t! -

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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 11-26-2003 12:28 AM

The now-a-Staples Cinema West Washington Square Cinemas used to regularly double, triple, and on rare occasion quadruple-up prints, especially after the summer runs ended and around Oscar time. It wasn't uncommon to have 12-14 prints showing in this 5-plex at any one time.

-Aaron

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Brad Miller
Administrator

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

posted 11-26-2003 05:43 AM

Thomas, there are theaters that move prints EVERY show to maximise the number of shows in a day. The theory is simple. For example, you have a movie that runs 90 minutes. Showtimes are:

11:05
12:40
2:15
3:50
5:25
7:00
8:35
10:10

Look at that EIGHT shows in a normal day!!!

The trick is to move the friggin' print between screens every show (requires alternating between at least 2 screens). While the last reel or two is playing through in the first auditorium, customers for the next one are already seating in their already-been-cleaned auditorium.

There are other, even more evil tricks out there to maximise shows, but the projectionists on this board will probably hire a hit man if I mention them. [eyes]

Some things are best left unsaid. [Cool]

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Adam Martin
I'm not even gonna point out the irony.

Posts: 3686
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 11-26-2003 07:55 AM

quote:
The trick is to move the friggin' print between screens every show

No need to move prints when you've got a platter array. [Razz]

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Scott Norwood
Film God

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

posted 11-26-2003 11:11 AM

quote:
No need to move prints when you've got a platter array.

...or DLP

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Steve Kraus
Film God

Posts: 4094
From: Chicago, IL, USA
Registered: May 2000

posted 11-26-2003 12:26 PM

Or changeover. Well, still moving the print but quite a bit easier and the shows can overlap while on screen not just on the gaps between.

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Gary Crawford
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 200
From: Neptune NJ USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 11-26-2003 12:52 PM

Maybe this will seem blasphemous to monsterplex operators of today, but our little (520 seat) single screener will not run commercials or policy snipes or anything besides "Our Next" trailers. Why? Because our regular customers don't like them. We adjust the audio levels to the number of patrons so no one complains about too-loud or not-loud-enough. I adjust audio so the trailers don't blast. We actually care about our customers and it must work because they return week after week.

Reading this thread I see a lot of people who try to make the experience of their patrons a good one while their hands are tied by corporate. Must be frustrating.

In another direction, we have a Loew's Behemoth-Plex near us. I know many people who refuse to go back there. They say that you cannot see the exit signs from the stadium seats. They always say it was too loud, and the trailers even more so. They seem to run more teen-type movies and the crowds are unruly most of the time.

The worst thing about them is the recent spate of movies that attract the most unsavory people. Two weeks ago police from four towns responded to a gang war that started in the theatre and spread to the adjoining mall and parking lots.

The town the theatre is in is screaming that the theatre management cares little about the crowds it attracts. They tried to bill the company for the extra police needed in town on weekend evenings, mainly to babysit the theatre, and received no help from them. The local newspapers running the articles about the problems were each unable to get comments from corporate. And the unsavory types keep coming back and the fights continue. Wonderful for business.

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Eric Hooper
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 532
From: Fort Worth, TX, USA
Registered: May 2003

posted 11-26-2003 02:15 PM

quote:
our little (520 seat) single screener will not run commercials or policy snipes or anything besides "Our Next" trailers. Why? Because our regular customers don't like them. We adjust the audio levels to the number of patrons so no one complains about too-loud or not-loud-enough. I adjust audio so the trailers don't blast. We actually care about our customers

Gary,

I'm gonna move to NJ just so I can see movies at your theatre! [Smile]

Keep up the good work. [thumbsup]

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Robert E. Allen
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1078
From: Checotah, Oklahoma
Registered: Jul 2002

posted 11-26-2003 03:50 PM

Good for you Gary! It nice to see someone actually cares about the audience. I'd rather have an "operator" who "does film right" that a "film-tech" who is so caught up in the technical aspects of running and reparing projection and sound equipment that he/she forgets about the enjoyment of those who make their employment possible.

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

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

posted 11-26-2003 04:16 PM

quote:
We adjust the audio levels to the number of patrons so no one complains about too-loud or not-loud-enough. I adjust audio so the trailers don't blast. We actually care about our customers and it must work because they return week after week.

Same here. We have it pretty easy because I can actually look out from my office and see the screen, so I can tell immediately if something isn't right. Sometimes I hate being a single screen but there are advantages.

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