In our theatre, we begin cleaning -- discreetly -- as soon as the audience begins to leave the auditorium. (I say discreetly because we have a small number of very savvy filmgoers who stay to enjoy the closing credits and soundtrack, some of whom are relatives or friends of people who work at ILM or Lucasfilms or some other industry company.)

With quick turnarounds, every minute is important, considering the next audience is clamoring to pounce on seats for the next showing. We take pride in our presentation, which includes a clean auditorium, if at all possible. The alternative is to let the customers in right away and haphazardly try to pick up around them, but that means they watch the movie surrounded by garbage and we have to weather complaints about the filth.

Today I had a minor disagreement with our doorman, who told every ticketholder that there was a joke at the end of "Chicken Run." Consequently, we had over 250 people who did not leave until the curtain came down.

My position -- as an usher and movie enthusiast (and perhaps someday writer and producer) -- is that the added footage is a lagniappe, a little surprise present to the customer who willingly stays to read the credits.

Since the turnaround for "Chicken Run" is only 35 minutes, and the showing in question was delayed three minutes to allow everyone time to visit the snack bar, our short-handed crew (due to "holiday-itis") felt a lot of pressure to get the auditorium picked-up and swept before the next group entered, and they were quite anxious to get in.

What's you position on this? How soon do you send your crew in to start picking up?

kenn

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Kenn Fong
qwertyuiop.net
The Screenwriters Home Page
 

On the other hand I don't think the audience should be told if there is an extra scene at the end of the movie. If they rush out and miss it, its their loss.
 

I never allowed my ushers to clean beside or in front of customers who were watching the credits. If there was someone 3 rows from the back, then they were only allowed to clean the back 2 rows. If there was only one person in the theater and he was in the front row, then they could clean the entire auditorium except that front row. Obviously, being quiet and discrete was mandatory. It is very annoying to have cleaners walking back and forth in front of someone when they are trying to watch the credits.

 

For most showings of "Chicken Run," we have another auditorium getting out within minutes. If it's "Titan A.E." no worry, there's almost no one watching, but "Perfect Storm" has had big crowds, "Me, Myself, & Irene" has small but messy crowds, and "Big Mama's House" is unspeakably dirty. We can let the others ride for a few minutes, but "Perfect Storm" has to be hit RIGHT AWAY, as the next crowd is already filling the lobby and tries to get in as soon as the doors open to let the other crowd out.

In the Jim Carrey movie, if someone has stayed through most of the closing credits -- which I think are neat since I have friends who work as extras or crew -- I'll tell them if they start to leave just before the bass scene.

kenn

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Kenn Fong
qwertyuiop.net
The Screenwriters Home Page

At my 4 screen theatre I enforce that to the letter, but others I'm not so sure about, we have a 6 and a 9 that i'm sure break that rule somtimes.

Luckily we make it a practice of scheduling New Releases with 40-55 minutes of intermission so we don't run into that problem. Although there are the exceptions, or the snafus with regards to incorrect running times. (I love movies that get out 30min after they start!!)

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Scott D. Neff
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www.cinema-west.com
 

If you're an usher and there's someone reading the credits in the theater, go the hell away.

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"And the monkey flips the switch."
- Major Don West, "Lost In Space"

Andrew D'Vrey
IATSE Local 219
 

When I go to my favorite venue, the Embarcadero in San Francisco, the ushers always wait until the auditorium is empty, but their houses are smaller and their audiences are much more fastidious.

As far as changing the schedule to permit more time, that issue has been raised. As my friends in the Army used to say, "that's above my pay grade."

kenn

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Kenn Fong
qwertyuiop.net
The Screenwriters Home Page
 

I admit that I usually feel disappointed if I stay for the credits and there isn't something unusual in there, though. I think it would be neat if a movie were made so that there was an important 10 minute scene after the credits.

Evans

I NEVER give my seal of approval on any movie, makes the customer feel like its a refund guarantee. Same goes with special suprises at the end. If they do not want to look at the end of the movie, screw em.

Have you ever looked really hard at all the credits? I do. Sometimes I will find my name in there and ask myself "it sure was fun doing that!" or maybe even "i dont remember getting paid, I think I will call my agent....

... Or even yell out to those that remain "SEE I TOLD YOU JERKS I MADE THIS MOVIE, NOW GET DOWN ON YOUR KNEES AND PRAISE GOD THAT YOU ARE GRACED BY MY PRESENSE!!!"

You know apparently I wrote the music for the movie "Supernova", too bad I sucked at it.

Dave

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"If it's not worth doing, I have allready been there and done it"
 

I love saying this, especially if there WAS no scene after the credits. Heck with 'em for getting up and walking out before the movie's over!

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Better Projection Pays!
 

I agree that the ushers should not clean until the blue rating band has past the screen, or if it is Universal, the theme park ad. But to solve your problem one of two things must happen. Either longer intermissions, and better scheduling of exit times, or hire more staff. Either more ushers, or a doorman that keeps people out of the auditoriums.
 

Shorter drop times, equals more shows daily (I'm squeezing 7 SHOWS daily for Chicken Run, not including the Fri/Sat late show).

If we can get in and clean at credits (DISCREETLY OF COURSE), we got to.

Perfect world, yes, 40 minute drop times, and that'd be great, but since when is the world perfect, they're making Blair Witch 2, how's that for evidence?

...and if you must clean...SHUT THE F#@K UP!

There...I feel better...
 

Troubleshoot: Next desk - The guy, who plans your screenings.

Maybe there very few, -those patrons wanting to read, who was running for the directors lighter, etc. - But they've paid to watch the whole movie without any disturbence. Therefore, noone to clean up before last man has left.

I really am not kidding. Business is actually increasing, and my job of cleaning up is shrinking. I am pissing off the slobs.... In fact I have a sign on the door that says NO SLOBS ALLOWED, and describes what a slob is. Maybe as an independant I can get away with it. Could also be that I am a cranky old man and it is somewhat humourous to hear me go crazy at the end of a show.

Dave
 

I encourage my employees to express themselves. I truly believe people hate to see people in uniforms, acting and talking a part, a part that they themselves hate. I get lots of adults and old people giving me constant "here here" and one guy said "you tell em dude".

After I get my "grand reopening" over with in three weeks I will send some pictures... Before and After..

OH yeah... and I am contemplating a "wall of shame", poloroids of people sneaking in concessions or leaving trash on the floor. You think that will piss anyone off??

Dave
 

Over here it's the same people are 'PIGS' and take there video manners to the theater throwing trash all over the place, i myself use the trash bins, there always empty!

Our showtime schedules are insane! If a movie's running time is 120 minutes or less, it's showtime is always 7 & 9. Anything longer is 7 & 9:15! Our nine o'clocks regularly start anywhere from 2-15 minutes late, depending on how busy we are (and sometimes I am required to start the 7's late if there's a line at concessions, making the 9's REALLY late). I've begged and pleaded but the owner says that this is farming country and people get up too early to go to anything that starts after 9-9:15. So although I hate myself for it, we are always scrabbling around picking up the "big stuff" as the credits roll (and we'll do anything but climb over you to get that theatre cleaned) 'cuz as soon as the last patron has turned his back on the screen, we shut the douser, flip to non-sync, bring the lights up and let in the next crowd. Many times I have the next crowd seated before the tail has even run through. You can bet we DON'T tell anyone about surprises. IRENE and WHAT LIES BENEATH have both given us trouble lately, though, because they were both filmed here in Vermont, so people want to stay to see their governor and film commissioner get thanked at the end. Then they like to linger by the bathrooms talking about how their friend at work saw Harrison Ford outside a diner and touched his motorcycle after he went inside. This is when I have to get rude and apologetically boot people out the exit doors so we can seat the next crowd, which is already 5 minutes late for their start-time. Then, once their seated, I still have to clean and thread, so their looking at a grand delay of 15 minutes from their original start time. Add to that standing in the rain due to our miniscule lobby and you've got yourself some happy customers that wanna come back again and again!

Now for the story about me not holding my tongue...
As people were exiting through the lobby after our late show, one woman informed me that our bathrooms "are way too small, and they always have been!" She said this as she disappeared out the door, to which I responded, "thanks, I'll get right on that!"
She didn't hear, but the rest of the people exiting did and they all burst out laughing. It was a satisfying moment for me.

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Scott A. Magie

scoooot@hotmail.com
"Anybody wanna peanut?"
 

:::shakes head in disbelief:::

I for a long time was quite accustomed to a 20-25 minute turnaround time!

Seen worse though - someone screwing around with your show schedule, sometimes scheduling two films to start at the same time, several times a day; and in some instances leave under 15 minutes turnaroud time!
....I've seen it happen, not fun, not fun at all...

~Gracia

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In some cultures, what I do is considered normal.
 

Personally, I think everyone who has never worked at a cinema ought to have a week where they do 40 hours (community service style) of just cleaning up cinema auditoriums! I really think it would help cut down on the messes left behind at the end of a show!

~GLB

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In some cultures, what I do is considered normal.
 

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com

In the UK, the fire brigade inspects every cinema as part of the licensing process, and the emergency lighting level is one of the things they get really anal about. We frequently get complaints from customers who think it's so high as to distract their attention from the screen, but this lighting simply HAS to be bright enough for customers (even those with poor eyesight) to evacaute safely in the event of an emergency (e.g. fire) or mains power failure.

Therefore, there should be no need to raise the house lights at all during the credit run - if the emergency lights are bright enough for people to get out in an emergency, then they're bright enough for people to get out during the credits. Quite apart from the fact that raising house lights during credits is (in my opinion) bad presentation, not doing so means that your emergency lights are being effectively tested at the end of every show. If people can see their way out, it proves that they work and are bright enough.
 

I wish that the credits first showed where the filming took place. Some people, myself included, have stayed around just to see where it was done.

Secondly, list the songs nexts. People again may want to jog there memory as to the name of a song.

Next, I really don't care personally because I don't know who the grip, best boy, caterer, assistant to the stars, assistant to the assistant is. You don't see these people on the screen, so who cares.

Just think back to the early cartoon days, credits were done first and were done quick. Everyone and their pop didn't have to get there name in there.

Sorry, <end rant>
 

My bright idea is, they should just stop printing the credits on the film. Instead, make a one-sheet with all the credits on it, which could be posted at the back of the auditorium. The 4 or 5 people who want to watch the credits could read to their heart's content. Think how much film that would save.
 

I agree with you both. 99.9% of the people that stay are staying either for the music credits or to find the filming location(s). If they were at the beginning, the house would be emptied within the first minute 99.9% of the time. Then we could clean to our hearts content without bothering anyone, and we could then let people in sooner for the next showing.

However, why do you think they do it the way they do...to force exposure of all the credits on at least some people. It's an ego thing.

If you check on the first showing where it was filmed, and had a PA system that would allow you to announce at the beginning of the credits. "The picture you have just viewed was filmed entirely in...." often all of the people would leave at that time.