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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Author
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Topic: Longer running times.....
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Marcel Birgelen
Film God
Posts: 3357
From: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 04-11-2019 02:57 AM
I'm pretty sure our master agreements back when I worked at said cinema, stated about the same. Back then, I had a discussion with the manager about it, but he told me that they could try to stop it, but as long as all cinemas around us would continue the practice, there was no way they could stop us, as it would be anti-competitive.
Since even all but one of the biggest chains around here continue the localized practice of staging "forced" intermissions, it looks to me as the studios don't really care about the procedure.
Also, the primary motive for studios not allowing intermission would be profit. While an intermission may sell more popcorn and soda, it doesn't add anything to their bottom-line.
But will a 10 minute intermission really affect your schedule in such way you will be able to screen less shows a day? In practice, the answer is mostly no. If I look at a schedule of one of those big chains and compare an outlet that does have intermissions in most shows with one that doesn't do any intermissions, they seem to put in the same amount of shows per screen at both locations. The primary effect will be on the "turnaround times" for those auditoriums, which will be a bit shorter at the location with intermissions.
Intermissions may be a mixed bag regarding general audience acceptance, but I think that the longer the movies are, the more they will be required. You can't expect everybody in the crowd to sit through a 3 hour show, without going to the bathroom, especially if you sell them a magnum sized soda. For some people, that's almost like a sadistic experiment. In my experience, a well announced and well-placed intermission will keep the room quiet and will drastically reduce the amount of people getting up during the movie heading to either the toilet or concessions bar for another load of popcorn or a refill.
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Marcel Birgelen
Film God
Posts: 3357
From: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 04-11-2019 04:38 PM
I don't think the run-of-the-mill multiplexes would ever go for such an old-school "road show" format again. They need to maximize the extra money they can squeeze out of every "butt-in-the-seat", especially that part they don't need to share with the studios. Trailers, commercials, stingers, etc. will remain part of those shows.
But, I don't understand why those premium formats aren't adapting. Instead of just showing it on a bigger screen and turning up the volume on your uber-fancy-sound-system, why not bring the "roadshow feeling" back to the PLF concept?
No commercials, movable masking that works (tm), a real curtain, themed music, overture, intermission, the works...
People may actually love it and willingly pay the extra bucks for it, compared to the homeopathic doubleplusgood experience they're now getting for their PLF dollars...
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Martin Brooks
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 900
From: Forest Hills, NY, USA
Registered: May 2002
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posted 04-13-2019 10:32 PM
quote: Marcel Birgelen
No commercials, movable masking that works (tm), a real curtain, themed music, overture, intermission, the works...
Overture and Intermission is not dictated by the desires of theaters. It (obviously) has to be part of the movie. Theaters are a business and not a very good one (at least not in the United States). In the last fiscal, AMC, the largest chain, averaged only 92 patrons per day per screen. The commercials aren't going away any more than overpriced popcorn and sodas are going away. And back in the days when there was an overture on roadshow films, there weren't even any trailers. That's not happening either in spite of the fact that an overture gave the impression of something special (it was designed to emulate a Broadway musical) and a feeling of anticipation. I loved that back in the day, even though there weren't actually that many films that had them. I think an overture or other thematic music or sounds before a Star Wars film, for example, would be fantastic.
The original West Side Story had an overture (with a geometric design projected on the inner curtain) and an intermission. I wonder if the new Spielberg remake will include that.
In spite of all the money invested on large screen theaters, although I'd love to see movable masking and curtains, those aren't coming back either. At the AMC Loews Lincoln Square in Manhattan, screen #1 (formerly called "The Loews") was a THX screen that had masking, a curtain, and they used to play a little laser light show on the curtain before each movie (maybe 20 seconds). But now it's a Dolby Cinema with a 2.4:1 screen with no masking, however I'm not sure that they've ever played a 1.85 film there aside from trailers and if they're not going to do so, the lack of masking is not really a factor. In any case, it appears to be (unlike most regular screens) a common height system, so it would only need masking at the sides for 1.85 movies.
And frankly, I don't think anyone younger than 55 cares about a curtain.
Having said all that, I do think an argument can be made that the large screen theatres that charge high ticket prices (it's over $25 to see an IMAX or Dolby Vision film in Manhattan if you're not a member of a subscription plan) shouldn't have ads or trailers. But do the ads and trailers ever stop anyone from seeing a movie? I doubt it and in fact, some people go to a film at least in part in order to see a brand new trailer for a favored film.
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