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Topic: Audience Reactions to THE PASSION

Darryl Spicer
Film God

Posts: 3250
From: Lexington, KY, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 02-25-2004 09:07 PM

quote:
Not sure which of the several TPOTC threads to put this in. Anyway all the local TV stations ran stories on this tonight, including interviews with patrons exiting the film. Amazingly, one station had about 20 seconds of footage of the film running, video'd right from the screen. It looked surprisingly good too. Someone call Jack Valenti!!

(I'm not gonna tell you what theater it was though)

I hope they didn't get that footage from the Cinemark theater. The company sent a memo out expressly stating not to allow media into the auditorium to film anything off the screen.

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Steve Anderson
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 168
From: Nashville, TN
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 02-25-2004 09:37 PM

Same response here too. People just quietly exiting the theater.
I have also noticed it takes several minutes for people just to rise out of their seats.

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

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

posted 02-25-2004 09:51 PM

From the reports I have received, it really looks promising.

Here is a excerpt from our local rag, the Skagit Valley Herald.

quote:
An estimated 6,000 people filled all 20 auditoriums at a Cinemark theater in this Dallas suburb to watch the film, which features Skagit County native Jim Caviezel in the role of Jesus. All the tickets had been bought and donated by a local churchgoer.

‘‘I hope everybody sees it with an open mind,'' said Rick Pierce, 53, a Baptist who sipped coffee and chewed on a breakfast burrito at the theater before the first showing.

He said he was in tears during the film.

"It's the kind of crying knowing that somebody would do something for me, even though I didn't deserve it. It's the greatest love story there is," he said.

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Jack Ondracek
Film God

Posts: 2348
From: Port Orchard, WA, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 02-25-2004 09:51 PM

I'd bet that the tone of the "exit poles" will fairly accurately reflect the convictions of the general neighborhood. The news media seems bent on highlighting the graphic violence and searching out negative comments.

I spent some time in what might be considered Southern Oregon's hotbed of religious fervor... and I'd be surprised if this show isn't sold out for at least a week.

On the other hand, one of Seattle's news stations sent a reporter to find a theatre that didn't have much of a line... 6, to be exact, though the people the reporter interviewed were very positive about the experience.

Today, we probably set our theatre's record for a weekday, non-holiday opening. The weekend ought to be pretty interesting.

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David Stambaugh
Film God

Posts: 4021
From: Eugene, Oregon
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 02-25-2004 11:47 PM

Daryl, I'll give you a clue: They're an affliate of a large national network that's typically referred to using a 3 letter abbreviation. [Confused]

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Daryl C. W. O'Shea
Film God

Posts: 3977
From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from)
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 02-25-2004 11:52 PM

Let me guess, one of those letters are a 'C', right?

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David Stambaugh
Film God

Posts: 4021
From: Eugene, Oregon
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 02-25-2004 11:55 PM

Yes, so that rules out Fox and UPN. [Wink]

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Wolff King Morrow
Master Film Handler

Posts: 490
From: Denton, TX, USA
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 02-26-2004 01:00 AM

Edit:

My apologies for editing my posts. I was informed by my employers that I am not allowed to discuss anything pertaining to operation, proceedures, profits, or wages of the company I work for on this or any other public media. Please note I was NOT aware of such a policy, so I apologize for the disruption of the thread.

Thanks for your understanding on this. -Wolff

[ 03-02-2004, 09:52 PM: Message edited by: Wolff King Morrow ]

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Paul Mayer
Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under!

Posts: 3836
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 02-26-2004 01:31 AM

Heh heh, stock up your concession stands with those pocket-sized packs of facial tissues. Maybe even hand them out at the doors. [Smile]

I'm hoping to catch this one this weekend.

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Richard Greco
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1180
From: Plant City, FL
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 02-26-2004 06:36 AM

We had a teen group in there yesterday at 4:30 and when we went to clean it, there were many groups crying. One girl was crying so uncontrollably that one of our managers consoled her for about 5 mins. At our 9:30 show, we had 1 lady who had to sit down after she stood up because she felt so weak. Her family consoled her for a few more minutes.

The reaction to the film has been amazing. We had lines to the parking lot last night and I've never seen that before.

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Kevin Wale
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 167
From: Guymon, OK USA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 02-26-2004 07:41 AM

I posted a review in the film handlers movie reviews forum and it seems the general concensus is quite similar to how I reacted to it...

http://www.film-tech.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=000731

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Brad Allen
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 688
From: Evansville, IN, USA
Registered: May 2000

posted 02-26-2004 12:18 PM

From our showings last night, the response has been very positive. Majority of people staying thru credits, lots of weeping by males and females. All comments heard were very positive.
Yep, my concession sales were a-ok as well. Better than expected.
Last nights show was sold out by Monday eve. The crowd was lined up at the front door, 1hr before showtime. Incredible.

I must say, show some respect, don't go in to clean while folks are still in the auditorium. I saw lots of red eyes leaving last night.

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David Stambaugh
Film God

Posts: 4021
From: Eugene, Oregon
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 02-26-2004 03:00 PM

Yes, give people a chance to collect themselves before the cleaning crew rushes in.

Concessions Boost Theory: When you know you're going to be clobbered emotionally by what you're about to see, maybe you get some kind of subliminal comfort or reassurance from having a bag of popcorn in your hands to munch on. Helps you maintain a little distance from the horror. I dunno. [uhoh]

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Brad Miller
Administrator

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

posted 02-26-2004 07:41 PM

I've got the print running through every screen tonight to a sold out complex. We have already had 2 people who couldn't handle it. The paramedics recommended we keep the temperature in the theaters a few degrees cooler, as the warmer climate coupled with the subject material apparently makes it easier for people to pass out and such.

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Michael Gonzalez
Jedi Master Film Handler

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

posted 02-26-2004 10:52 PM

Has anyone else had to deal with customers with a somewhat advance sence of entitlement (bordering on rudeness). The people coming to see this movie have been very demanding to say the least. I was pratically yelled at yesterday because the only available seats were up front and they didnt want to sit there. They have also been extreamly inpatient at the concession stand even though the lines have not been that long. I had one older guy cut in front of another customer and didn't even seem to care.

We are also getting a lot of people bringing in their kids. One lady brought her granddaughters ages 6 and 7 one of which promptly [puke]

during one of the scenes during the movie. And of course the grandmother wanted a refund [Mad]

somepeople [Roll Eyes]

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