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» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Ground Level   » Are there too many "tentpoles?" (Page 5)

 
This topic comprises 8 pages: 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8   
Author Topic: Are there too many "tentpoles?"
Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."

Posts: 10973
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

- posted 07-24-2013 09:11 AM      Profile for Bobby Henderson   Email Bobby Henderson   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Edward Havens
Pacific Rim is a "bomb" because it "only" opened to $37m. Yet if this had opened in January and done the exact same business, it'd be the second biggest January opening ever.
Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures spent nearly $200 million producing Pacific Rim and Lord only knows how much marketing it. A $37 million opening weekend total for that kind of production would be disappointing regardless of what time of year it was released.

quote: Manny Knowles
But the stupidity of people isn't limited to consumption of movies. Look at what's happened to our food situation. Look at what's going on with credit card interest. 29%APR is not uncommon.
Yes, Manny, I have thought about the average level of stupidity present in the general public. Credit card interest is a good example. The mere existence of many "pay day loans" stores is an even better example. They make 29%APR credit card interest seem like a bargain. Stupidity factors into so many topics far outside of our interest in movies and movie theaters.

Unfortunately, it's that same level of stupidity, the willingness to pay more and more for a product that needs serious improvement, that has movie theaters going farther in a direction I really don't like. We're going to have Caesar's Palace in the lobby and a pile of crap on the screen.

quote: Terry Lynn-Stevens
Bobby, it is a bad example, period. What you conveniently fail to mention is that between the years 1982 and 2002, only five movies had grossed close to what Silence of the Lambs grossed when they were released in the first 12 months of the year, those five surpassed the $100 million mark. It was a fluke what Silence of the Lambs did in 1991. And Silence of the Lambs is not a fucking tentpole movie, so why did you bring it up?
Mike said it best: the other studios weren't doing shit to release good content during that time period. Orion Pictures took a chance on doing something different and it paid off.

Silence of the Lambs spawned two follow-ups, Hannibal and the Red Dragon remake (Manhunter was the first version). Let's not forget there's a TV series now as well. Silence of the Lambs may not have officially started the whole "Hannibal" franchise, but it is the movie that made the franchise make money.

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Manny Knowles
"What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???"

Posts: 4247
From: Bloomington, IN, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

- posted 07-24-2013 10:03 AM      Profile for Manny Knowles   Email Manny Knowles   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Bobby Henderson
We're going to have Caesar's Palace in the lobby and a pile of crap on the screen.
To quote one of my favorite lines from JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO: "I'm not arguing that with you!"

BTW I am stealing your quote.

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Lyle Romer
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1400
From: Davie, FL, USA
Registered: May 2002

- posted 07-24-2013 11:24 AM      Profile for Lyle Romer   Email Lyle Romer   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Bobby Henderson
We're going to have Caesar's Palace in the lobby and a pile of crap on the screen.
That was pretty much Muvico's model. They spent ridiculous amounts of money on the lobby and the facade. The auditoriums were just OK but some of their locations did tremendous business because "the theatre is awesome!"

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Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."

Posts: 10973
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

- posted 07-24-2013 12:05 PM      Profile for Bobby Henderson   Email Bobby Henderson   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I kind of experienced that at Santiko's new location West of Houston on Grand Parkway. The building exterior and lobby has a lot of ornate decor and columns that mimic 1000 year old Roman and Greek architecture. Customers can visit different restaurants or spend time at the bowling alley or playing video games. I loved the soft drink machines; they had touch screens that would deliver a couple dozen flavors of soda pop.

Alas, the auditorium was kind of "meh" in a appearance. The common width screen made me think of some type of tarp that had been stretched too tight. No curtains or other kinds of masking were used; it seemed to mimic an IMAX screen, but was much smaller. And then there was the kicker: we struggled to hear any dialog once the show started. I think the center channel speaker was blown. This was a brand new theater that had just opened 2 weeks prior to my visit. I suppose I could give them the benefit of the doubt that maybe that driver blew during the previous show, but considering how badly sound systems are maintained this condition might have been going on for days. I may have been the first person to complain about it.

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

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

- posted 07-24-2013 12:23 PM      Profile for Mike Blakesley   Author's Homepage   Email Mike Blakesley   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
It was probably just a new-equipment glitch. Last fall, we put in all new speakers. (QSC's) They sounded amazing. We ran two or three nights of shows without a hitch.

Then my wife and I went on a previously scheduled, 4-day cruise. We had flown to Florida and were headed out to dinner with friends when I got a phone call: "We can't hear the dialogue." So I had one of our workers checking the wiring on the center speakers, figuring some wire had vibrated loose or something. We exchanged about two dozen photos, texts and phone calls. Nothing seemed wrong.

I finally had to have Mark Gulbrandsen drive back to the theater from another installation job he was doing to look at things. Turned out the problem was inside one of the amplifiers, nothing related to the new speakers at all. Mark had it fixed in short order.

I do agree with the points being made that it's too bad all the "glamour" is being put in the lobby....but I suppose they figure that the lights go out in the auditorium anyway so there's no point in glitzing it up too much. That said, they should make them nice-looking at least.

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Manny Knowles
"What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???"

Posts: 4247
From: Bloomington, IN, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

- posted 07-24-2013 12:45 PM      Profile for Manny Knowles   Email Manny Knowles   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
...or, maybe it's because...

The lobby is where all the money gets made (for the exhibitor).

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Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."

Posts: 10973
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

- posted 07-24-2013 01:01 PM      Profile for Bobby Henderson   Email Bobby Henderson   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Ding ding ding!
[Razz]

As much as I have gone on and on about the old GCC Northpark 1-2 theater, it's pretty interesting to notice how 1970's conservative and plain the theater looked on the inside and outside. Make no mistake, it was a really nice theater, but it was very far from being ornate.

That theater had it going on where it counts: in the speakers and on the screen.

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Randy Stankey
Film God

Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99

- posted 07-24-2013 01:39 PM      Profile for Randy Stankey   Email Randy Stankey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
It's common for theaters: Management will always spend money in front of the plaster line but workers have to scream and pound their fists on the table to get them to spend money behind the plaster line.

Movie houses are no different.

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

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

- posted 07-24-2013 02:36 PM      Profile for Mike Blakesley   Author's Homepage   Email Mike Blakesley   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Manny Knowles
The lobby is where all the money gets made (for the exhibitor).
If the bean counters had any sense though, they would realize that if it wasn't for the movies on the screen there would be ZERO dollars generated in the lobby. It's in exhibition's interest to make the movie look and sound as great as possible to keep those patrons coming back. I don't understand why this is lost on so many people who should know better.

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Manny Knowles
"What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???"

Posts: 4247
From: Bloomington, IN, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

- posted 07-24-2013 03:14 PM      Profile for Manny Knowles   Email Manny Knowles   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I've fought this fight before. And here's one reason why I lost: The newest releases were selling out anyway. There were no more seats to sell, so spending more money on presentation wasn't going to sell more tickets.

I always want my theatre to be the best it can be -- so that when I decide to watch a movie, I'm not constantly distracted and frustrated by one imperfection after another. But I realize most people aren't so easily distracted. Most people are probably satisfied with what they're getting out there.

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Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."

Posts: 10973
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

- posted 07-24-2013 03:46 PM      Profile for Bobby Henderson   Email Bobby Henderson   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I liken the issue of great sound & projection quality in a movie theater to great food quality in a restaurant. If the venue is really doing a great job with showmanship the theater will gain a following and be the go-to place to see a highly anticipated movie release. Such a theater will also be able to stand up well to new competition (like a new multiplex built a few miles away).

If all the movie theaters in my town are doing a crappy to marginal job, only putting forth enough effort to get by, then they're not going to deserve any kind of fan base. I'm not really going to give two shits about seeing a movie at theaters of that type if I even bother to watch it at the theater at all. I'm pretty busy these days. Going to the show is expensive. And it is extremely easy to wait a three or four months and rent the Blu-ray. I know the sound quality of my home setup is going to be at least pretty decent.

I've been skipping a lot of movie releases lately. If I happen to time it right and be near a reasonably good theater I might buy a pair of tickets for me & my girlfriend.

The only reason why I bothered to see Man of Steel is because we planned on going to Bricktown (in downtown Oklahoma City) and I was curious about the new Dolby Atmos installation in the Harkins Theater there. I didn't really care about seeing the same movie here in Lawton. I was kind of wanting to see Pacific Rim, but couldn't time it right to go back to that theater for a Dolby Atmos presentation. Now I may just wait for the Blu-ray to rent.

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Manny Knowles
"What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???"

Posts: 4247
From: Bloomington, IN, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

- posted 07-24-2013 04:09 PM      Profile for Manny Knowles   Email Manny Knowles   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Again, I don't personally disagree with you, Bobby...

...but I'm considering what we're up against...

You're assuming that everyone is like you (and me). They're not.

Refer back to the earlier discussion about credit cards, payday loans, etc. And, since you brought up restaurants, look at what has been allowed to happen to food in this country.

And air. And water.

My point remains: If very few Americans are paying attention to important things, what makes you so sure they're scrutinizing the theatrical presentation? Of (probably) a sucky movie, at that. A sucky movie that they think is a great movie.

Nobody seems to know, or care, that they're "being had."

So, to paraphrase an old saying: People get the cinema they deserve.

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Terry Lynn-Stevens
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1081
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Dec 2012

- posted 07-24-2013 04:52 PM      Profile for Terry Lynn-Stevens   Email Terry Lynn-Stevens   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Bobby Henderson
Orion Pictures took a chance on doing something different and it paid off.
Bobby, there is nothing significant about what Silence of the Lambs did in Feb 1991, Silence of the Lambs was not a tent pole movie.

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Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."

Posts: 10973
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

- posted 07-24-2013 05:01 PM      Profile for Bobby Henderson   Email Bobby Henderson   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Dude, hell is going to freeze over before I agree with you on this point. Silence of the Lambs was great example. It's not only a great example of a movie making a lot of money without being released during that May-July "summer movie season." It also happens to be a great example of a movie that won all the top Oscars (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor & Best Actress) without being released in the traditional November-December Oscar campaign season.

I don't remember the entire release slate of Orion Pictures in 1991 if we're going to split hairs on whether SOTL officially tent-poled the studio's other releases. But that's not how "tent pole" has been used in this discussion. The terms "tent pole" and "blockbuster" have been loosely used for big event movies designed to bring in big crowds. Silence of the Lambs did exactly that and did so without needing the crutch of a warm weather summer release.

If you want to keep on arguing about this you're just going to keep making yourself look more and more like a troll -or an ignoramus. Take your pick.

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Terry Lynn-Stevens
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1081
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Dec 2012

- posted 07-24-2013 05:04 PM      Profile for Terry Lynn-Stevens   Email Terry Lynn-Stevens   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Bobby, there is no need to call me a troll or ignorant. Silence of the Lambs was not a tent pole movie. I don't care how well it did. It was a tent pole movie and this thread is about tent pole movies. I have a good feeling that you do not know what a tent pole movie is.

What Silence of the Lambs was is that it was a sleeper hit that had a moderate sized budget that gained word of mouth. That is totally different that a tent pole movie.

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