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Posted by Tyler Skinner (Member # 229) on 01-31-2000, 02:23 PM:
Warner Brothers just lifted their restriction on Ads.Still, When I get a box of Comercials in, I just pretend they were printed wrong, or an usher stole them or something.
The only "Ads" I will run are Pepsi Ads, because regal will Freak if I don't put it on, and I've been putting the Oscar2000 ads and MAYBE a PSA if its respectable but THATS IT! The Customers get enough bullshit commercials on the slide projectors, Theater Radio Network CD's and now Lobby DVD projector screen, they DO NOT need Commercials before the trailers. What goes through their heads when the lights start to dim is "Oh Good, Trailers, then the movie is starting... wait a second, what the f@#$ is this crap?"
so it goes
Tyler
Posted by Rob Brooks (Member # 186) on 01-31-2000, 03:28 PM:
Wow, that's great that you can get away with not showing the Ads. We have to sign affadavids that they showed. I remember when Ads started and there was just one showed. Every audience would boo when it came on. But now there conditioned to sit through an onslaught of 5 or 6. My theater's Trailer program before even the first Trailer looks like this.
1) 777 film
2) Hollywood.COM
3) Internet Dance (Ad for SoundBlaster Cards)
4) Lee Jeans
5) M n M's
6) Juicy Fruit Gum
7) Coke
I'll bet you by next year this time they'll be a few more. (If were still open, it's UA)------------------
Rob
Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 01-31-2000, 03:32 PM:
I own my own Cinema. I don't show ads. I don't show slides. I may go bankrupt, but I am standing by my principals.
Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 01-31-2000, 04:07 PM:
I don't love those ads but I'll put up with them. As long as there's only ONE of them and they have a MOVIE theme. (CAN'T be seen on TV!)The Stand-Up Comedy Coca-Cola trailers are okay in my book. (Even if I don't like all the comedians.) My favorite one was the "Shmoo". A close second is the "Shadow Puppets". -- All I do is start the projector early. That gets the ads overwith ASAP.
Slides? -- Well having to take care of the projectors annoys me. The lamps are ALWAYS blowing. I have 17 screens, too! As long as there are some trivia questions or something like that, I don't mind. Most people just ignore them anyway!
Movie Tunes? -- SUCK! SUCK! SUCK! -- DIE! DIE! DIE!
I just thought we should play movie soundtrack discs! -- Theme from Star Wars, etc. They shouldn't try to nail you for copyright violations. You're PROMOTING THEIR MOVIES!!!
Posted by Jeff Stricker (Member # 224) on 01-31-2000, 06:43 PM:
Ads belong on commercial radio and TV. I don't want to spend money to go a theater and have to put up with a commercial, and no remote control to zap it away!! 'Nuff said.
Posted by Brian Francis (Member # 238) on 01-31-2000, 06:45 PM:
The ads I run here in Newberg are the SCREENVISION (M+M, LEE JEANS, ANTI-DRUG, WRIGLEYS(to name a VERY few). Right at this moment none are slotted for a "flight" so none are on screen this week. We have a drive-in Http://www.99w.com and they sort of help there at the beginning of intermission although occasionally a person will drive out exclaiming that we are too much like TV which they went there to get away from in the first place-BUT it helps to extend the intermission from going to a black screen-if they stick around the good old FILMACK, etc, comes on. They get them out of their cars and into the snack-bar, I tell you. At the Cameo I don't have a slide projector yet, it's been hard to recieve current film trailers. Running the films second the lab mounted and loose trailers are always gone so I run the ads and plan to put their quarterly small payments into improving the booth. The last payment for the forth quarter was suprisingly large and since I have been reading this site for awhile, have had some #@$%^&!!! STATIC problems lately, I ordered a KELMAR film cleaner and a bottle of FILMGUARD from A.C.E. to see if it improves this problem, and clean up my second run films. Paid for by SCREENVISION!! It was either a film cleaner or a slide projector- DO YOU THINK I DID THE RIGHT THING???
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 01-31-2000, 06:46 PM:
Has anybody ever had anyone come into their theatre and try to bust you legally for playing movie soundtrack CDs instead of "Movie Tunes"?We stopped playing Movietunes a long time ago, but now we have our own freakish CD that we must play. Why do they all have DJ's? Why can't they be JUST MUSIC?
AAAAaaaaa!!!!
Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 01-31-2000, 07:03 PM:
Ian - THANK YOU! We need more theatre owners like you!
Doesn't anyone else attempt to choose walk-in music that relates to the film that is being shown?
Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 01-31-2000, 07:19 PM:
You can get in legal trouble for playing any music. The damned movie tunes is just too damned annoying so If you want to run something else all you have to do is get a written release from whatever label it happens to be on.It isnt too hard to get. All you have to do is put it on letterhead and address it to the public relations department of whatever label it is and ask if you can play whatever selection from whatever album it is. They love to get thier stuff played but get mad when they are not asked first.
------------------
"If it's not worth doing, I have allready been there and done it"
Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 01-31-2000, 08:45 PM:
We gave money to ASCAP (I think it was like $50 a year) and we could play whatever we wanted. They even gave us a sticker to place in the window one year.I thought that was the way it was done.
Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 01-31-2000, 10:19 PM:
I got my $50 right here! Information please.
Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 02-01-2000, 12:26 AM:
If no one else has the info I will have it soon. I contacted ascap and am waiting for a call back in the next day or two and I will pass the info along.------------------
"If it's not worth doing, I have allready been there and done it"
Posted by Andrew D'Vrey (Member # 285) on 02-01-2000, 02:36 AM:
It is our cinema's policy to start Advertisements before scheduled start times. Currently we have two minutes of ads so I start everything with ads two minutes early. We also don't dim our lights for advertisements...the first stepdown cue goes at our Coming Attractions tag. Personally, I don't think it matters if it is ads or trailers, there's simply too much damn stuff there before the feature. Some of my prints have almost 20 minute trailer packs.
------------------
"And the monkey flips the switch."
- Major Don West, "Lost In Space"
Andrew D'Vrey
IATSE Local 219
Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 02-01-2000, 02:50 PM:
The previous 19 years here at my theater they would run 20 minutes of ads and coming attractions, so when I stepped in here and just started the movie on time, OH THE HUMANITY. I never heard so much bitching, these people actually want to be able to show up late and not miss the movie.Well I decided "fine then", and began starting the shows 20 minutes late, but NO COMMERCIALS or previews. OH IT STARTED AGAIN!!! How dare I start the movie late. These people just have no idea what they want.
I even started doing game shows before the shows. Worked really well, gave out some good prizes, until one joker thought it was funny to bait me into an argument and I ejected him out the door, his wife chasing after him and apologizing to me. I got good laughs out of that one, but I have not returned to the act as I just lost my enthusiasm because of these people.
They truly are lost and need us to tell them what they want, what have we done to our great society???
------------------
"If it's not worth doing, I have allready been there and done it"
Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 02-01-2000, 05:47 PM:
We personally haven't been harassed about playing music but I think they were at the Millcreek-6 (also Cnmk.)Cinemark now has this policy to play MovieTunes (or whatever) and ONLY MovieTunes! They bought a 25-CD changer and only ever put ONE disc in it!!!
Posted by Stephen Jones (Member # 16) on 02-01-2000, 08:15 PM:
As far as ads are concerned here in oz the theatre is contracted to play them weather we like them or not.The theatre dose make a lot of money out of them which most likely covers booth expenses.A screening certificate must be sighned at the end of each week to verifi that the ad was screened and with the correct film or screen.Not to screen a ad if it is booked to play can mean dismissal if you dont screen and sighn the certificate that comes under fraud and is a offence under law here same in U.S I gather.I dont like ads myself but I think they are neccasary evil and we must grin and bear them.There is a current trend here to not use slides any more and change to film for local advertisers,which I admit is a bad move.Slides only required to be changed over on a monthly basis where as the film has to be changed weekly,because of this the presentation of these local ads is awfull to say the least,they end up scratched , dirty bad focus as most are taken from video and sound is poor,where as slides were always sharp clean and looked and sounded good on the screen.Just my 2 cents worth guys.------------------
Posted by David Johnson (Member # 173) on 02-02-2000, 03:06 AM:
In Australia slides have been a way of life since the silent days, nowadays we use minidisc players for the voice over and music, the end of track code advances to the next slide (usually an Ektapro) the "Pennywise" counts the numbers of slides and when the last slide comes into place the automation is advanced one line, this is used to close the curtains or start the projector. Slides on film have been tried many times since about 1940 but have failed mainly because film will scratch and become dirty when it is constantly removed and replaced with every programme change, the replacment cost is quite high when compared to a 3,1/4 square or 35MM slide, the main advantage of film is the higher light output from film at 24fps compared to a 35mm slide but not as good as a 3,1/4 square slide with a 2KW xenon.
David
Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 02-02-2000, 10:31 AM:
While I dislike ads, I would acknowage that they can bring in money that would help a theater.When the ad people came to our theater, they implied that the ads would be tasteful and well done (production-quality wise), and there would only be one or two. In fact, they tried to give us the idea that the ads were being made especially for the theaters. And at first they were, ("The Power of One" was one of them) but it didn't take too long for the 'quality' idea to go downhill. Now, I'm running a air freshener ad I see on TV. I keep wanting to hit the 'mute' button and go get a beer.
My point is: there's too many ads and they are the same insulting quality you have to sit through at home. Again, I feel that the theater owners are killing this industry by taking a 'short-term' dollar.
Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 02-02-2000, 01:31 PM:
Best point yet there about these ads. The ads should be tasteful and not the same ones on TV, but thats all they are, and to boot they are so many times low res shots right off of a monitor. WHATS THE POINT? It just pisses people off to have to watch that same damn thing here.Some of the commercials are good regardless, we actually got big laughs off of the Visa ad with the George Castanza charachter, and also the green M&M one as well, but that chevy ad mocking bad horror films, all we get is snickers and sneers. Would love to dump them on a case by case basis and tell the ad people "what are you kidding, get outta here".
As for local ads? We have a new theater here in town owned by Larry Miller, who also owns just about every car dealership in town and the Utah Jazz. He used to use the Jazz to sell cars, you know give away free tickets when you buy a car, but now hes sold out from now until Y3K, so hence the movie theater. I went down to check it out, and you have to sit through 10 minutes of Larry Miller dealership ads before the movie. OH MY GOD!!! He gives away years of free movies and food when you buy a car now. What a creep ass. Thats the only reason he built the place, evidenced by the fact they sell day old and two day old popcorn that tastes like shit, literally, and the sound is so badly eq'd that I had to leave a movie half way through I couldnt take it. That and they refuse to turn off the overhead light during the movie, they call it mood lighting apparently, as one overly paid usher explained to me. Well It put me in my mood allright.
Thank god I was able to get to my own little run down theater and enjoy a nicely eq'd movie with the lights OFF!!!
Sorry to rant, but that place just bugs me.
------------------
"If it's not worth doing, I have allready been there and done it"
Posted by Martin Frandsen (Member # 74) on 02-02-2000, 05:13 PM:
I HATE ads. I will be happy to pay 1-2$ more for a ticket and go to a theater that does NOT show them. 
Posted by Paul Powers (Member # 332) on 02-02-2000, 05:51 PM:
I have always seen the ads as detracting from the entertainmet setting that the theatres are really there to provide. Some things I think I can understand. The just say no drug campaine in the late 80's, "short" charity drives and the like BUT big corprate give us your money ads just do not belong in the theaters!
I do believe if the viewing public were vocal enough and not just to the poor people at the theatres but the actual companies advertising and the corprate offices of the theatres, that the ads would be but a fading memory.
-=|Paul
Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 02-03-2000, 03:38 PM:
Hey I hate the ads as much as the next guy, but most people just do not understand the economics of the situation. Most people would be happy to pay an extra buck or two to avoid the commercials, but guess what? Who gets that extra buck or two? Mostly the film companies. The fact that many of them are charging ungodly percentages and unrealistic guarantees are why we have these damn commercials. The film companies are too damn greedy, mostly because they keep putting out completely BAD movies that no one goes to see so they soak us theater folks for the cost of thier bad mistakes. NATO needs to lobby congress to pass legislation to enusure that theater owners can keep a better portion of that ticket price so they can meet financial obligations without having to show commercials for Denny's and Burger King.
------------------
"If it's not worth doing, I have allready been there and done it"
Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 02-03-2000, 08:58 PM:
I like the idea of a surcharge NOT to see CA (commercial announcements-- a little broadcast lingo there).That's like the drive-in that charges extra if you bring your own food! Same sentiment.
Posted by Paul Powers (Member # 332) on 02-04-2000, 04:13 PM:
Kind of like the person pays an extra $2.00 and the cashier hands them a blindfold. There ya go now you don't have to see the ads! Enjoy the show :}
Posted by Chris Erwin (Member # 176) on 02-04-2000, 06:29 PM:
Ads are everywhere! I am proud to say our theater don't run em'. We set the clocks in the lobby a few minutes slow and start shows to that clock. We call it "theater time". We run about three trailers and into the feature we go. People here like it. --Chris
Posted by Chris Wootten (Member # 283) on 02-05-2000, 08:35 AM:
If it was not for our advertisers, we would not remain open. The cinema here is staffed by volunteers, who GIVE their time freely to provide some entertainment for the "troops" in the middle of nowhere. It is a walk-in cinema, where you sit on the grass or a vlanket, or a BYO chair/beanbag etc. It is also "wet"...you can have an ale...but no glass....Low admission price too... we average about 150-200 patrons which is good, but to help pay the bills the ads are very helpful.......we try to keep "em to a minimum tho...Hope u all made it thru the Y2K phase with no hic-ups............
Chris
Posted by Jim Bedford (Member # 4) on 02-05-2000, 12:39 PM:
My wife and I own our theatre in Telluride, CO. The only "ad" we've ever shown is the Moviefone "Potato" ad (that we got from Large Ian) because it is funny and a work of art itself and spoofs the pretentiousness of "art" films. Lessee, the closest Moviefone is 300 miles away, so I'm not sure that qualifies it as a commercial message.No ads here.
Posted by Johanna Innes (Member # 228) on 02-05-2000, 04:03 PM:
Does anyone here work for Cineplex Odeon (aka Loews, aka Sony, aka Magic Johnson, aka Star)? This is a company with some serious ad problems. It all starts in the lobby with the CineTV monitors. Once a month we get a hideous videotape that plays on a loop. It has its good points: segments on upcoming movies, behind the scenes interviews, trailers, and trivia. But the good is outweighed by the bad -- the annoying people they hired to host the tape, the ads for Febreze, Salon Selectives, that address you can write to Santa Claus at (granted, that one's seasonal), and the dumb questions they ask the "man on the street" (i.e. If you had to pick a cartoon character to play the Y2K bug, who would it be?).
Now we move into the auditorium, where the CineMusic CD plays. We were bought out by Sony last summer, so we only play Sony artists. That's not a problem, except that it's been the same damn Sony artists singing the same damn songs for 3 months in a row. If I have to hear Ricky Martin shaking his bon-bon one more time (what's a bon-bon, anyway?) I may have to puke. Not to mention that Celine Dion's "My heart will go on" (the Titanic song) was added to this month's CD, in some sort of nebulous connection with The Beach (yeah, both movies had DiCaprio in them, but I'm going to need better justification than that!).
So music aside, we have the pre-trailer corporates. Some of them are clever. There was a Toyota one that just finished it's run that was hilarious (it has now been replaced by a different boring Toyota one that makes me want to run out and buy a Honda), Diet Coke has had a few funny ones, and Playstation ads are generally hilarious. But I agree that I shouldn't be watching ads at the movies that I can see on TV. Luckily, we generally only run around 3 or 4 corporates at a time... Now if only they didn't SUCK. I envy the patrons who only see the ads once. I get to see them twice a day.