This is topic Trailer Checker Job in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.


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Posted by Jason M Miller (Member # 2597) on 03-05-2006, 02:57 PM:
 
Does anyone know who to contact to become a trailer checker for a studio?
 

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Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 03-08-2006, 06:27 PM:
 
Is that even a position that exists? I was under the impression that studios outsourced trailer creation to marketing firms.

I could be very wrong.

I could make better trailers than any of the bozo's that currently do them.

Ciao
 

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Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 03-08-2006, 07:01 PM:
 
Yes, that is a real position. The studio hires a firm to send people to go and check that theatres are playing the right trailers. They check one or two screens and drive to the next theatre and check them.

In the Hollywood and Westwood first run houses, staff from the studio's publicity and marketing departments do spot checks on trailer placements. And it would get back to the studio that night.

When the studios released important releases they would also use TAP to grade theatre opening presentations and then they would go back to regrade the print condition and rolling stock and report back to the studio on how the print looked and how the theatre handled prints.
 

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Posted by Michael Coate (Member # 757) on 03-08-2006, 08:13 PM:
 

quote: Dave Williams

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Is that even a position that exists? I was under the impression that studios outsourced trailer creation to marketing firms.

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Dave,
I think you've misunderstood the original question. He's not asking about the creation of trailers; he's referring to "trailer checkers," people who are hired by auditing companies working for the studios to ensure trailer programming agreements are being met.

The trailer checker typically is only given the name of the feature film to attend. They won't know which trailer(s) they're checking to ensure has been included in the group of trailers playing before the feature. The checker will report the titles and sequence of the trailers back to the conmpany, who then will communicate with the hiring studio. Checking the presence and placement of posters, lobby displays, etc. are sometimes part of the checking process.

Not a lot of pay but excellent perks.
 

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Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 03-09-2006, 04:03 AM:
 
..and why some large circuits have trailer lists to give to their booth personnel for each movie that the film companies wants on what certain movies of trailer titles..

..and the trailer checkers make sure that the list of trailers that they have from the studios match what required trailers are supposed to be on the screen.

And if their is any differences, the checkers report this back and there better be some questions answered that are asked by the studios to the circuits on these differences.

Can get a bit ugly at times..for the circuits.. - monte
 

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Posted by Wolff King Morrow (Member # 2226) on 03-09-2006, 04:48 AM:
 
You mean for the projectionists. I've been blamed for non-compliance several times from various companies and studios, even though I did everything I could to get the requests on the films. The approach is to assume the booth staff screwed up, rather than the assigners, shippers, checkers, etc.
 

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Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 03-09-2006, 04:58 AM:
 
lol..I was going to add the word 'projectionists' in here, but unfortunately, we're getting to be a dying breed in this industry since most circuits rather have "booth operators" in these positions - partly skilled and the "I-don't-know-what-I'm-doing", or "do I use a hammer to fix this?" skilled.

-Monte
 

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Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 03-09-2006, 11:55 AM:
 
Noting the trailers is a part of the checklist if you do any screen checks for DCMI, Dolby Cinema Monitoring, Inc. I only get to do those about once a year or so here - last picture I checked was Domino. Can't live on the pay at that rate but it's a pleasant way to spend the occasional day. Helps if you live in a market area big enough to get the studios' attention. There's threads here on how to sign up to be a Dolby screen checker.
 

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Posted by Mitchell Dvoskin (Member # 751) on 03-09-2006, 02:19 PM:
 
There are serveral companies that do this, one of the largest is Certified Reports. Click on their "Contact Us" and follow the link to apply to be a checker.
 

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Posted by Brad Allen (Member # 470) on 03-09-2006, 10:13 PM:
 
From CRI's web site "BLIND CHECKS
CRI checkers will covertly attend showtimes to observe attendance and any other "special" observations you require.

FULL SERVICE OPEN AND BLIND CHECKING
In addition to the Open and Blind checking described above, CRI's trained and professional in-house staff will vigorously review box office reports to checker reports, reporting to you any underreporting and/or potential red flags pointing to underreporting. CRI's thorough analysis goes beyond comparing patrons counted to tickets sold—we scrutinize ticket prices, handling procedures, free passes and promotions, and any other potential underreporting problems."

Covert, gee, the same checker does open checks for years, then comes in to do a blind check, yeah that's covert.

This is freakin hilarious. They don't train checkers about squat. Most checkers have absolutely no idea what they are doing or have a clue as to WHY they are doing it. I have refused in the past to let checkers in or sign their stinkin reports because of the checker standing in the corner of the lobby pickin his butt the entire time, then filling out the paper work and making up crap to put in it.

OR, they inform me at the start of the shift that they will call me later to get the numbers and then they leave. They want the manager to sign their blank reports. No siree Bob.

Of course he doesn't understand that his fictious report could get a theatre in mucho trouble. So I kick their sorry butts out and then report them to the film company that hired the check.

Such a friggin joke. /rant
 

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Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 03-10-2006, 12:49 PM:
 
Sounds like a good job for a TV weatherman...or other incompetent moonlighter. Louis
 

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Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 03-10-2006, 05:49 PM:
 
Incompetent moonlighter? Sign me up!
 

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Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 03-10-2006, 10:27 PM:
 

quote: Michael Coate

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Dave,
I think you've misunderstood the original question. He's not asking about the creation of trailers; he's referring to "trailer checkers," people who are hired by auditing companies working for the studios to ensure trailer programming agreements are being met.

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Yeah, I think we all get that I am completely dumb on this issue.

I think bill covered that i missed the boat entirely in his comments before yours.

quote: Bill Gabel

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Yes, that is a real position. The studio hires a firm to send people to go and check that theatres are playing the right trailers. They check one or two screens and drive to the next theatre and check them.

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I however appreciate your pointing out how stupid I am

It wouldn't be the first time. Some of you may remember one of my first postings many many years ago when I reacted to a very FAKE thread about altering classic movies. I can't even remember what it was about, but man did I feel sheepish! What a way to get introduced!

No really though Michael, all things considered and in good humor, point well taken, and I should have known better! It wasn't too long ago I was knee deep in the industry that I should have remembered this stuff.

It really goes to show you that too many people have just given up on this medium, both inside and outside the industry.

Ciao
 

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Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 03-11-2006, 10:40 AM:
 
We had our first trailer checker last year. The person announced what trailer she was looking for, and waited for our show to start so that she could verify that we hadn't put it on. Funny... it was some trailer that was supposed to be in the can, but wasn't. We explained that to her, but she stayed anyway.

quote: Brad Allen

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I have refused in the past to let checkers in or sign their stinkin reports because of the checker standing in the corner of the lobby pickin his butt the entire time, then filling out the paper work and making up crap to put in it.

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No kidding. We tossed a checker once because she showed up on her second day with 3 friends under the tonneau cover of her pickup. What a box of rocks! She blew in, in broad daylight, and parked at the opposite side of the property from the screen she was supposed to be checking. With no other cars in the field, her friends piled out & wandered around the lot. Some stealth there!
 

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Posted by Jason M Miller (Member # 2597) on 03-11-2006, 01:57 PM:
 
Thanks for the information, I saw these guys come in all the time and I thought that would be a cool way to make some quick cash.
 

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-11-2006, 03:07 PM:
 
I've had trailer checkers on more than one occasion ask to speak to the manager or projectionist. They wanted a copy of the trailer list! Sure we gave it to them, and yes it always reflected what was actually on the prints, but from servicing a lot of theaters I have found that many people just write down what the corporate office wants to see but never do the actual labor of changing the trailers out.

Still it always cracked me up when they would ask for it. I mean, just how LAZY do you have to be to not watch a 10 minute trailer pack???
 

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Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 03-11-2006, 07:43 PM:
 
Some of the checkers here apparently cannot count. They get the figures from the manager! Louis
 

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Posted by Jim Ziegler (Member # 86) on 03-11-2006, 08:35 PM:
 
Don't automatically assume the checkers are lazy if they want to call you for the info. One guy that does checking around here has was complaining that it is not unusual for him to get multiple theatres to do on the same evenings - some of them quite a ways away from others.
 

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Posted by Kenneth Tiffany (Member # 3643) on 03-12-2006, 12:29 AM:
 
We have 3 regular checkers. A family of 3 that all work for the same company(they come different days). They sit in the theatres before the show and until the next show starts(different house) and count the people and write down the trailers. They seem to have fun with it and have only come on opening weekends.
 

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Posted by Brad Allen (Member # 470) on 03-14-2006, 08:21 PM:
 

quote: Jim Ziegler

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Don't automatically assume the checkers are lazy if they want to call you for the info. One guy that does checking around here has was complaining that it is not unusual for him to get multiple theatres to do on the same evenings - some of them quite a ways away from others.

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quote: Jim Ziegler

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One guy that does checking around here has was complaining that it is not unusual for him to get multiple theatres to do on the same evenings - some of them quite a ways away from others.

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quote: Brad Allen

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Jason, was it as simple as that, you sign up, and they give you assignments? No training, no background check?

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For the most part, you say you want an assignment then I think they do checks...don't know quite yet have not found any in my area
 

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Posted by Nelson Brann (Member # 3687) on 03-20-2006, 11:51 AM:
 
I do trailer checks here and it is a cool gig... depending on the theater manager. The job is to go into the theater before the trailers start and write down the trailers in order and the general audience reaction. Sometimes there will be an additional assignment of a detailed audience reation.

Nelson
 

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Posted by Ron Yost (Member # 1850) on 03-20-2006, 12:02 PM:
 
What do these people get paid?

Ron Yost
 

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Posted by Nelson Brann (Member # 3687) on 03-20-2006, 12:14 PM:
 
For the main check it is about $8.00 each additional screen is a couple bucks and sometimes there are detailed audience reactions for a couple bucks. It's not good money, the only advantage comes from managers allowing the checkers to stay for the feature (and maybe bring A friend).

Nelson
 

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Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 03-21-2006, 05:19 PM:
 
Dave

Don't kick yourself so hard. (But allow me to dredge up the one that got you)

(removed link as ended up with a microsoft page?)

Hmmm... Link doesn't seem to work (no doubt something I'm not doing right) but search the film handler's forum (search in 'subject only') with Film to Video as the search words and it's there.

I've updated the link too as the old one was dead.

[ 03-21-2006, 11:38 PM: Message edited by: John Wilson ]
 

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