Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: AMC RETIRING "CLIP"

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Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 10-09-1999, 09:42 PM:

AMC THEATRES ANNOUNCES THE RETIREMENT OF "CLIP"

Officials at AMC Theatres, one of the nations largest theatre chains, announced today the imminent retirement of the chains beloved mascot Clip. For more than 10 years, Clip has appeared in AMC policy trailers around the world. When asked what prompted the retirement of Clip, an AMC official said "well, he's made of film." The official went on to say that as the chain, known for its megaplexes, embraces the new digital projection technology they felt it was time for a mascot that reflected the new technology.

Sources deep in the AMC organization, who asked that their identities remain hidden, revealed that in January, 2000 the company would introduce two new mascots who reflect the digital future, One and Zero.

Meanwhile, Clip, who has endured a hard life at the hands of AMC personnel is looking forward to his retirement. "I hope to find a home with a nice, caring projectionist who will provide me with restorative Film-Guard therapy." In recent years, Clip has shown more and more scratches on all of his limbs and is usually covered in dirt. "It's not easy being an AMC mascot," said Clip. Due to healthcare cutbacks at the company, Clip's right arm was reattached with zebra tape after a 1997 break. Earlier this year, a broken leg was repaired with masking tape. "Maybe after I leave AMC I'll finally be able to get the popcorn grease off of me," said Clip.

When asked about Clip's poor treatment at the hands of AMC staff, company officials had no comment.

Posted by Chris Erwin (Member # 176) on 10-10-1999, 10:38 AM:

Clip,huh? At AMC,shouldn't it be called Splice? (this is just what I gather from this forum, All we have is Sony/Loews,Cinemark, a Carmike or two,and some independents and regional chains where I live)

-Chris

Posted by Jon Miller (Member # 163) on 10-10-1999, 03:54 PM:

ROTFL!

It should be called, "Torn Sprocket Hole," or "Scratch."

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 10-10-1999, 08:17 PM:

I always admired the way AMC went for that extra detail on CLIP. You know, the scratches all over his entire body. The dirt specks. The out of frame splice that joins his legs to his torso.

The only piece of film I have ever seen to come pre-scratched from the labs BY REQUEST from AMC to meet their quality standards.

Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 10-12-1999, 06:33 PM:

Damn! I can't seem to get into trouble when I try. But nooo!

The Clip bit was written by a friend of mine who shall remain nameless. But it brings up an interesting question.

Have any of the big chains updated their policy trailers?

UA is recycling 5 year old trailers that weren't even recorded in SR much less digital. Mann had a disasterous policy trailer that looked like it was recorded off of a VGA computer screen with a VHS-C camcorder.

The rule is inovate or die. Lets all watch some death.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 10-12-1999, 08:04 PM:

Yes, I have seen many giant theatre chains go completely out of business because they did not update their policy trailers.

Anyway, the new Mann policy (or Feature Presentation as they refer to it) was abominable! I am showing the older ones, which are about 6,000,000,001 times better! We didn't realize how good they were until they pulled them!

As far as UA goes, I think that as of this writing they are playing Blade Runner 2: ODDyssey. That has Dolby Digital, SDDS, and DTS timecode. Too bad the DTS version was NEVER put on any discs! In an odd twist of fate, the old Mann policy had the 6 track sound on the DTS discs (sounds GREAT) but no timecode on any of the trailers ever printed! What was even weirder was that if you cut the UA ODDyssey trailer tail too late, the Mann music will start playing in DTS in your UA theatre! I had this happen and I laughed my ass off.

Posted by Ky Boyd (Member # 23) on 10-13-1999, 02:10 AM:

Anybody seen the Sony/Loews/Cineplex one recently? Very lame and way too loud, its louder than "Lets See It In THX," and almost as lame. And why make a policy that ends with a white background? Are they trying to show off how dirty their prints are?

Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 10-18-1999, 09:31 PM:

You know - it sure would be a shame for AMC to simply throw Clip into the trash (like so many UA Theatres throw their trailers).

If anybody finds a stray "Clip" I could find it in my heart to give the poor guy a kind and loving home.

(HINT-HINT)

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 11-18-2001, 02:26 PM:

Clip

is alive and well, thank you.

For good taste Clip is preferable to the Pepsi Girl.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 11-18-2001, 02:55 PM:

Wow, only 7 hours and 5 minutes shy of replying 2 years later.

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 11-18-2001, 08:13 PM:

Yes, that Pepsi Girl was HORRIBLE!! Regal still uses the Roller Coaster policy, but it has been updated. New graphics, but same soundtrack. But is has all 3 digital formats.

Posted by John Anastasio (Member # 607) on 11-19-2001, 05:08 AM:

You know it's time to change your trailer when the audience can whistle the music while it plays. DUM dee dee dee DUM DUM DUM DUM DUM (AMC).

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 11-19-2001, 10:54 AM:

John A: Every time I've been to an AMC theater I never hear the audience whistle the music.

Ken: The Pepsi Girl looked especially ridiculous in front of arty pictures like Quills or Pollock. The only time the Pepsi Girl was appropriate was in front of Cecil B. Demented.

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 11-19-2001, 12:03 PM:

I love the Roller Coaster policy.

Welcome to Regal Cinemas
Refreshements are available in the lobby
Please -- Keep our theatre clean by disposing of trash in specified containers
And remember, gift certificates are available for any special occasion
Enjoy the show.....

Yes, I can whistle the tune. Comes from seeing it 20 times a night on tha friggin lobby screen

Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 11-19-2001, 01:57 PM:

That Regal trailer should be amended to say "Enjoy the show... IF you can!"

Posted by Dwayne Caldwell (Member # 417) on 11-19-2001, 03:53 PM:

I'd have thought rather than two mascots named 1 and 0 AMC would have just put arms, legs, and a smile on a DMD and called him "Chip".

I'm sure though that since the DMD is a creation of TI there would be copyright issues, but couldn't you just see it? Chip running around inside the DLP projector all happy and crap and then he jumps into the motherboard right as the light's about to hit him and bounce off into the lenses and we follow the light beam until it hits the screen with the AMC logo? Now that I think about it, that probably would piss off the TI people. Oh well, never mind then.

------------------
The man with the magic hands.

Posted by John Anastasio (Member # 607) on 11-19-2001, 07:26 PM:

Okay, Charles... you're right. I've never heard people whistle the AMC tune. They're too busy groaning. Why does every chain think it's got to have some cute little creature to introduce its features? That little clip craphead has always made me gag. The "Let's go out to the Lobby" thing that UA is using is even worse. When I saw it for the first time I turned to the guy next to me and said "what the HELL was that about?" and the entire audience laughed. The GCC thingie with the walking popcorn box was enough to make you wanna throw a brick through the screen. They'd do better producing something with a little more class.

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 11-20-2001, 12:23 PM:

John A: That snipe you refer to is a MovieFone spot. UA is not the only chain running it.

What would really be cool? The Pepsi Girl meets Rambo. People would do anything to see that, wouldn't they?

Posted by John Anastasio (Member # 607) on 11-20-2001, 06:35 PM:

Or maybe a Pepsi girl version of "Bambi Meets Godzilla", where she gets flattened by a giant foot. I'd PAY to see that one.

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 11-20-2001, 11:54 PM:

I thought the GCC policy was cute once. Then it got really boring really fast. Besides, isn't that depicting canabalism?

Strangely enough, I have not grown tired of the Regal roller coaster policy. I started to, but when I saw the Pepsi Girl, I quickly wished for the roller coaster back. Who says whishe don't come true? Now I can listen to it all day.