This is topic Lets have two opening weekends! in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Michael Brown (Member # 890) on 11-08-2002, 07:24 AM:
I can accept that some films might have the odd prewiew performance before it opens. But studios are going crazy. Harry Potter opens in the UK next Friday. But it has previews today, sat,sun and thursday. And I don't mean an odd showing each evening. The local multi has HP showing about every 45 miutes. The film hasn't opened yet!!
Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 11-08-2002, 09:06 AM:
Its all about upping that opening weekend gross. By calling them "previews" (or "sneak previews" as they're commonly called in the US) they can add those grosses to the opening totals, inflating the number.
Posted by Paul Konen (Member # 41) on 11-08-2002, 09:09 AM:
I don't think they can add those numbers to the opening weekend.They only get to count those specific days, Fri (11/15), Sat & Sun for opening weekend gross.
Paul.
Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 11-08-2002, 09:10 AM:
If I remember correctly they do add 'sneak previews' to the opening. I could very well be wrong, but I seem to remember reading something about that at Box Office Mojo or some internet movie gross site.
Posted by Kara J. McVay (Member # 1285) on 11-08-2002, 09:40 AM:
When we had "sneak previews" years ago, they were free?? Does anyone else remember them being free??
Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 11-08-2002, 10:42 AM:
They still are sometimes. We arrange to have 'radio sneaks' occasionaly on Thursday night (during regular operating hours). After we get approval from the home office and distributor the local radio station gives away all the ticket for free. Last one we did was for Jackass.
Posted by Andy Muirhead (Member # 712) on 11-08-2002, 06:49 PM:
Dead on, Michael!Where is it going to stop? The objective is for Warners to beat Harry Potters opening weekend for last year, so they add a couple of days previews, effectively giving them a 7 day opening weekend instead of 3 day (I think last year it was 5 days, 2 preview and opening weekend). And yes, the previews are included in the 3 day opening gross.
Not that there is anything wrong with that from our point of view - It's just good publicity, but you have to wonder where they are going to draw the line..
Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 11-08-2002, 09:59 PM:
I was under the impression a sneak's revenue accrues to the film it takes the place of.
Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 11-09-2002, 01:32 AM:
Steve - you are correct. The sneak preview's revenue is reported for the film it replaces (usually from the same distributor).
Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 11-09-2002, 10:31 AM:
Well then if that's the case then it doesn't seem likely that preview monies could be remitted to the old movie but also get tallied to the new movie's opening. But then again anything is possible with Hollywood accounting where 2+2 sometimes = 5 and since the former is actual money changing hands and the latter is just something they boast about in the trades who knows.
Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 11-09-2002, 12:01 PM:
They don't even know exactly how much was for the sneak!Say you have a 4pm sneak of Harry Potter today in place of Ghost Ship. Your gross for the 1pm show of Ghost Ship is $200, your 4pm Harry Potter is $2,000, your 7:00 Ghost Ship is $500, and your 10pm Ghost Ship is $1,000. When ACNielson EDI calls, you simply report "Ghost Ship - $3,700" They don't ask you to break it down, in fact if you DO try to break it down, they tell you to combine it.
Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 11-09-2002, 12:52 PM:
So if the gross of a sneak is added to the film it's replacing, then instead of re-releasing crap like "Master Of Disguise" to bump up the totals for sake of a video release, the studio should just show a sneak of their next movie in place of it for a few days. Problem solved. Everyone happy. 
=TMP=
Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 11-09-2002, 08:08 PM:
No doubt that has been done.BTW, are there any sneaks (for the general public) of HP in the US?
Posted by Darren Briggs (Member # 1071) on 11-10-2002, 12:54 PM:
Seems to work at getting the audience in.
Were sold out all shows from 4.45 on friday to the last at 8pm on sunday night.
Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 11-12-2002, 09:06 AM:
Darren, just out of curiosity, do you know how the grosees for your HP sneaks were reported? Did they get counted into some other WB movie or were thses engagements booked seperately?
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 11-12-2002, 09:29 AM:
Screen Daily is reporting grosses for last week's "unofficial" runs of HP&CS in the UK:
here Screen Daily November 11, 2002 -- Harry Potter RecordsSo the ticket sales ARE being attributed to this particular film.
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Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 12-11-2002, 12:58 PM:
WB sneaks Two Weeks Notice this Saturday night (12/14) -- and most of the sneaks are in place of Harry Potter 2. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)