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Scottsdale-based Harkins wants to ban texting during movies

Sept. 16, 2010 11:48 AM
The Arizona Republic

You may identify with this one. You pay your $10 to forget about the world outside and enjoy a movie. But instead of the bright lights of the silver screen and the crackle of munching popcorn, it's the guy or gal sitting next to you with a Blackberry screen flickering that's got all your fuming attention.

Officials at Harkins Theatres hope to gently steer patrons away from what has become an all-too-common practice. The Scottsdale-based chain is accelerating a campaign against texting during movies.

The campaign includes replacing promotions of coming attractions in poster cases with "No Texting During Movie" signs. The Arrowhead Harkins near Bell Road and Loop 101 had one inside the lobby this week. More are expected the weekend of Sept. 24.

Harkins' nationwide campaign will run through Christmas.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/community/westvalley/articles/2010/09/16/20100916scottsdale-harkins-ban-texting-during-movies.html#ixzz10AaNdlus

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Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 09-21-2010, 09:34 AM:
 
We did our White Out two weekends ago and met with positive response. It was a little weird seeing all white every where you looked. We've also been running a NTDM (No Texting During Movies) ad since the start of the year on our preshow. Also Martin, we've had multiple posters up for over a year now in all of our locations. I think they are talking about the White Outs ending around Christmas.
 

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Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 09-21-2010, 10:53 AM:
 
Has it actually been doing any good? I've had screen slides up for years, but still get people whipping out the cell phones.
 

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Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 09-21-2010, 11:04 AM:
 
Good luck stopping it. Kids are very adept at hiding their phones down between their legs, inside a pocket, etc. But I figure, if they're only bothering the person sitting right next to them (usually a friend) then that person will give them a swift elbow to the ribs if it's bothering too much.

It's very sad that people are so addicted to their phones that they're unable to disconnect for a couple of hours.
 

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Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 09-21-2010, 11:15 AM:
 
Very true, it is near impossible to stop texting during movies. As a theatre manager/owner what ever you maybe it is also your responsibility to do what you can to help stem the onslaught of idiot kids and adults for that matter. It has helped out some. But jackass' are still going to do it, its just up to us to do more on the theatre side. Wether that be more theatre patrols, taking a harder stance on it, asking the patrons to leave if they don't want to comply.
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 09-21-2010, 01:53 PM:
 
The only way any movie theater can hope to stop people from talking and texting on mobile phones during a movie showing is by adopting a tough policy against phone use and actually enforcing the policy.

If customers are merely asked to please not mess with their phones during the movie the customers are just going to laugh and do it anyway. "Screw you, usher boy. Heh heh." Clickety clickety click!

If the customers are warned in advance of a strict policy and violation of that policy can have them booted from the theater property without a refund then chances are good the customers will take the matter more seriously. IMHO, theaters will probably gain more customers than they will lose by really cracking down on the mobile phone nonsense.

Warren Theaters is the only chain I know of that has a strict no phone use during the movie policy. Other theaters may have adopted a similar policy; I just don't know about them. Hopefully many or even all commercial theaters will follow suit. Visitors to the Moore theater seem to heed the warnings. In the few times I've visited the theater I haven't seen anyone messing around with a mobile phone during a show. Very nice.


Further, I would like to see the stand Warren Theaters has taken adopted by certain other businesses and institutions. Mobile phones do not need to be in use all the time. Certain restaurants should discourage or prohibit mobile phone use in the dining area. A ringing mobile phone is flat out offensive during a wedding, funeral or church service. Our AMBUCS civic club chapter here in Lawton will fine anyone a dollar if his/her phone rings during the meeting (it's done in humor, but still your phone will cost you a dollar if it rings).
 

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Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 09-21-2010, 02:35 PM:
 
Sometimes you have to let it pass. We had a visiting filmmaker last night and his phone went off during the Q&A. At least he had to good manners not to take the call
 

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Posted by Eric Hooper (Member # 1730) on 09-21-2010, 04:55 PM:
 
There's no use fighting it. Cell phones and texting is here to stay, and almost everyone has one now, and many are using them in the theatres. The entitlement generation will not be told they can't use their phone to text at the movies. They will just stop going to the movies then, and you all will have to close up shop. Maybe if Hollywood made more interesting movies, and not the throw-away garbage being put out now, people would take going to the movies more seriously. As it is now, it's become a throw away experience.
 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 09-21-2010, 05:13 PM:
 
What is a "white out"?
 

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Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 09-21-2010, 05:30 PM:
 

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Maybe if Hollywood made more interesting movies,

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quote: Martin McCaffery

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Sometimes you have to let it pass.

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quote: Eric Hooper

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There's no use fighting it. Cell phones and texting is here to stay, and almost everyone has one now, and many are using them in the theatres.

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quote: Bobby Henderson

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A minority of socially inept jerks are doing it and the behavior should not be tolerated.

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I have no problem telling someone to shut off their damn phone, but it's tough when the offender is dead center in a row of seats. I don't want to stand there during the movie waving my arms trying to get the person's attention, and I don't want to crawl over the other people to get to the offender. Just about any action would upset the other people in the vicinity. I'd love to hear how others deal with the problem of an offender in the middle of a crowded row.
 

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Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 09-22-2010, 04:45 AM:
 
Mike, that's when you send in the usher to walk up and down the isle near the offender. In his breast pocket he carries THIS effective and harmless, confrontation-less device:



No muss, no fuss. The ahole's call is dropped; problem solved.

Or even better, you can put one of these in the booth port window:

-- just press a button and SHAZAM, cellphone activity dumped; again, problem solved. No disrupting other patrons dealing with him/her and the cellphone.

And yes, the FCC does have a stupid 1930s rule that should be rethought and modernized, perhaps establishing a LICENSE that can be given to certain establishments which can show that harm is being done to their business in the way of customers being annoyed and inconvenienced -- theatres, restaurants, museums and the like. The license would allow those who apply and are approved, to transmit their own signal -- one designed to force cellphones to drop calls.

The UK allows it and the world hasn't been dislodged on its axis because some fools can't use their cellphones for 90 minutes -- you know, the ones who think they are soooo important that they HAVE to be reachable 24/7.

But until the FCC considers such a variance or license, I see no problem in propagating a jamming signal WITHIN MY ESTABLISHMENT for just a minute or two that, yes, might inconvenience one or two inconsiderate people, but it insures that hundreds of others are NOT inconvenience by those who seem to think "freedom of speech" covers every rude and obnoxious behavior under the sun in which the self-centered, pimply little twits want to indulge.

If the FCC happens to 1) be right there at the exact time I transmit the 60 second jam and 2) observes me doing it, and they 3) are able to document it, then I will 1) pay their fine and 2) call all the local media and twitter it and facebook it and make it a personal cause célèbre. I'd wring more publicity out of it than I could ever buy with three times whatever the FCC fine is. Not to mention, a real media outcry might just embarrass the FCC enough that they would actually review the ban on preventing cellphone reception in certain businesses. It's a win win situation!

Plus, it would be soooo hoopla-worthy to be able to turn an FCC fine into a publicity stunt.

Oh yah, I am with Joe -- what's a White Out?

And lastly, what makes them think they will be able to change the selfish behavor of this twitter generation? You see how well the "Please turn your cellphones off" campaign worked; they've been pushing that "social pressure" campaign since the days of beepers. A lot of good that's done.

No, I say jammers is the answer.
 

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Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 09-22-2010, 08:05 AM:
 
Jammers and Faraday cages won't solve the problem of people turning on their cell phones periodically (and lighting up the room) to check their messages, sadly. They _would_ solve the issue of ringing telephones, but that seems to be less of a problem now than it was, say, five years ago.

The real problem here is that people are rude. Technology won't solve that.

I will add that college campus screenings are terrible in this respect. Cell phones turn on all the time, as do laptops, Ipads, and other devices with backlit LCDs. I don't understand why students do not seem to be able to be out of touch with the world for two hours, but it is a real problem (and highly disrespectful of the professor, too).
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 09-22-2010, 08:33 AM:
 
Back when I was in school the use of a portable electronics device, such as a calculator, in certain classes was strictly forbidden because the device could let you cheat. An Internet capable phone or portable tablet, netbook or notebook would let students cheat in a variety of classes.
 

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Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 09-22-2010, 11:18 AM:
 
Scott, you are right, people will "check" to see how important they are, but if signs are conspicuously posted that say something to the effect of: "There is no cellphone reception in this area -- if you must use your cellphone, signal strength is only available in the lobby area." Once they get it thru their texting fingers up to their brains that they just won't get any reception in the auditorium proper, that should deter them. And once it becomes well known that theatres block signals, it should solve the problem.

This of course would have to be after the FCC makes it legitimate. Until then, jamming surreptitiously might not prevent texting (you don't need a signal while texting, just to send) but it will prevent conversations, which as hard as it is to believe, still happens more than you would imagine. How anyone doesn't understand how grossly inconsiderate it is to carry on a cellphone conversation while in a movie theatre while the movie is PLAYING is beyond me, but it happens, and often.
 

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Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 09-22-2010, 11:32 AM:
 
A "White Out" is what Harkins is calling putting a "NTDM" poster up in every poster case. Inside and out, the posters are white and show a sell phone with the letters NTDM on it and a frowny face. Sorry shoulda explained that in the first post.
 

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Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 09-22-2010, 11:58 AM:
 
Actually jammers would only work if you could put up a sign saying "Your cellphone WILL NOT WORK in this theatre!" If you had to use a jammer on the sly, then people will probably pull out their phone even more often, trying to see if it's "working yet."
 

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Posted by Pravin Ratnam (Member # 1417) on 09-23-2010, 04:02 PM:
 
For those stuck in the middle of a row, I have thrown a single kernel of popcorn at a person's head. It is usually easier if they have an empty seat next to them. This way, if we miss, it won't hit others.
 

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Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 09-23-2010, 04:42 PM:
 
It's tempting to revert to the Rocky Horror method: Blast them with a squirt gun.
 

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Posted by Mike Rivest (Member # 5500) on 09-23-2010, 04:48 PM:
 
Bobby, Here in Quebec, Cine Enterprise also has an zero tolence policy on phones.
http://www.cinentreprise.com/cellulaire.asp (in French)
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 09-23-2010, 09:57 PM:
 
Very Nice. More theaters need to adopt the same policy.

 

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Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 09-23-2010, 11:58 PM:
 
I thought we already had a xero tolerance for cell phones for a long time. To the extent it has worked or not, will be the same extent the zero tolerance works for texting on them. I don't see how it's much different.
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 09-24-2010, 08:46 AM:
 
It's one thing for individuals to have a zero tolerance attitude toward phone use in movie theaters. It's another thing entirely when a theater operation has the balls to specifically announce, publicize and enforce a zero tolerance cell phone policy. A few theaters are taking specific action while the rest of the exhibition industry just sits around wasting time talking about the issue.
 

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Posted by Scott Jentsch (Member # 1681) on 09-27-2010, 11:07 AM:
 
Jamming cell phone signals only treats a symptom, but not the problem. It doesn't stop people from talking loudly and causing other forms of disruptive behavior.

Treating the problem by monitoring the auditoriums and dealing with disruptive people seems like a much more effective way of resolving the problem.

If you ran a restaurant, and you had a problem with someone talking too loudly on their cell phone, would you block all cell phone signals, or would you approach that one person and ask them to correct their behavior?

This subject keeps getting discussed ad nauseum, and I just don't get why monitoring auditoriums isn't a valid solution. Not only does it resolve patron behavior issues, it also allows the theater to proactively find and fix myriad issues with presentation.

After a little bit of time doing it, the staff should be very familiar with the auditoriums and when something is off (light bulbs too bright, picture out of focus, blown sound channel) and patrons will see that someone is watching and be less likely to cause disruptions.
 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 09-27-2010, 12:19 PM:
 

quote: Scott Jentsch

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Treating the problem by monitoring the auditoriums and dealing with disruptive people seems like a much more effective way of resolving the problem.

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