Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: My local Regal doesn't show movie name outside each auditorium

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Posted by Pravin Ratnam (Member # 1417) on 06-13-2013, 12:31 AM:

My local Regal Perimeter Point, in recent months, displays a generic "Digital Presentation" sign where the movie name would be. Is this to curb screen jumping so a few measly customers won't double dip? When I want to watch a couple of movies each week, I usually like to check out what movies are playingin which auditorium to decide if I need to come back to the same multiplex to watch that other movie.

Or with screen sharing inthe digital world, is it to save staff the hassle of having to switch signs in the same day?

Oh, and quite frankly, if I missed the first 10 min of another movie, it usually was a good way to check out the stuff I missed if the times matched . [Wink]

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 06-13-2013, 03:10 AM:

My hunch is your first suggestion might be right.

It's probably about as far as they could go without posting someone at the door... for which they'd likely be labeled "admission nazis".

Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 06-14-2013, 09:31 AM:

It could possibly be a software issue. I do not know what Regal uses for their POS and Management systems but at Loews we used radiant and it controlled the auditorium LED signs automatically dependant upon the box office schedule so if you moved a screen in the schedule it would automatically update the LED signs. Maybe regal changes systems to an incompatible system or one that does not offer the capability or it's a bug in an update? This of course is all just conjecture.

Posted by Pravin Ratnam (Member # 1417) on 06-14-2013, 09:52 AM:

Actually I went to Regal Hollywood 24 in Atlanta last night. They still have the movie names displayed in LEDs. The Perimeter POint location I was referring has non LED display signs. Maybe it's cheaper to not print out signs? THey just have a generic "Digital Presentation" sign out side each auditorium.

Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 06-15-2013, 11:32 AM:

Ooooooooohhhh.......... I say laziness then.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 06-15-2013, 11:43 AM:

Are they sandwich board signs with individual letters or are they mylars?

If they are mylars, either they can't get them in the right size or somebody isn't ordering them.

If they are sandwich board signs, it's a good bet somebody is too lazy to change the signs. If movies switch auditoriums a lot, it's probably the case.

Posted by Lyle Romer (Member # 1266) on 06-15-2013, 12:43 PM:

quote: Pravin Ratnam
Actually I went to Regal Hollywood 24 in Atlanta last night. They still have the movie names displayed in LEDs. The Perimeter POint location I was referring has non LED display signs. Maybe it's cheaper to not print out signs? THey just have a generic "Digital Presentation" sign out side each auditorium.

The cost of those mylars adds up. To the point where it takes a lot less time than you'd think to pay for an LED or LCD sign system with the savings of not having to order mylars every week.

Posted by Pravin Ratnam (Member # 1417) on 06-15-2013, 03:24 PM:

The ones at Perimeter Point look like mylar signs. THose generic signs came in handy for them as they canceled a showing of Hangover 3 in the last minute(an hour to be more precise) last night to fit an extra showing of Superman. The lady at the box office seemed like an assistant manager but did not even offer me a free ticket to what ended up being the Purge. So I talked to the manager inside and he gave me a free readmission ticket(with restrictions). So they didnt have to change any signs.

Posted by Tony Gallimore (Member # 5358) on 06-15-2013, 07:12 PM:

It's probably economics... the local Regal built a new fourteen screener a couple years ago. They have cut staff so much that they only man the boxoffice in the evening when there are several customers, otherwise they send you to the floor manager's desk to get your ticket and there is no boxoffice person. The concession personnel often check the houses too in absence of any one else to do it. I'm not sure who cleans because there is noticeably no ticket checker or anyone else waiting around to do the job. It would appear there is only a skeleton crew unless it's weekend and evening. Of course, to report on the original theme of this particular thread... they have LED readouts at each house that correspond with the LED sign at the boxoffice. They're running all Sony over/under digitals, but some xenons were under rated and the pictures are dark.

Posted by Pravin Ratnam (Member # 1417) on 06-16-2013, 12:45 AM:

Most of the non IMAX big screens I have been to are underlit for 2 D presentations. So these days, I actually dont mind if I get a smaller screen because most of them seem to be lit better. At least at the 2 Regals I have been too.

And the Regals are not being cleaned lately. People are pigs too. HOw tough is it for a customer to take their popcorn bag and drinks and dump them in the garbage outside. THis way, the people can just clean the stuff that spills.

Posted by Buck Wilson (Member # 5885) on 06-16-2013, 02:12 AM:

It's due to cost. I actually saw the e-mail about it today.

Pravin- I'm curious to know what kind of readmission ticket you got... we only have 3D and regular re-admits, neither of which are restricted except for 2D and 3D.

And on the staffing issue... It is so strict, you have no idea. Skeleton crew is putting it lightly.....

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 06-16-2013, 03:50 AM:

Also, it's now easy to to have multiple showings of one feature in numerous houses along with other features in these same houses with digital, to where it's just plain common sense not to hassle with all the title changes on these hall marquees and just put up a generic indicator on these marquees.

The Doorperson has to relay to the patron on where and what feature is playing along with guiding the patron to definitely look on the received ticket of the house number.

Isn't digital fun ?

Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 06-18-2013, 09:02 AM:

In my opinion this shows a lack of showmanship or care for the impression the patrons are receiving.

Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 06-19-2013, 03:57 AM:

Since when has Regal cared about either of those? [Big Grin]

Posted by Pravin Ratnam (Member # 1417) on 06-19-2013, 02:03 PM:

Buck, maybe my mistake on the readmission. I may have misinterpreted "no special events" as "no special engagements".

Posted by Buck Wilson (Member # 5885) on 06-21-2013, 01:09 AM:

Jesse, You hit the nail on the head. Theaters appear to just be money factories to them. They do the absolute bare minimum. I get it, it's a company, they have to make money... but jeez is it disheartening. At least AMC appears to put 'quality over quantity' as it were. Who knows under Wanda.

We got lucky I guess, we have LED signs above each door and the system automatically pulls titles from the server to put at each door. You can override as well to put whatever you darn well please, from the office. Three different color choices as well! :3

Anywho, Pravin, That's just referring to Fathom events and whatnot, of which the price varies wildly from event to event. In our case anyways. I can't speak of the larger venues which may do national premiers with celebrities and whatnot, but I have no clue how those work exactly. I personally wouldn't even expect to be able to get in with a re-admit! Lol

Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 07-01-2013, 07:53 PM:

I never thought I'd say this.. but save a much larger screen and the whole "cinema" experience, this industry is going to hell in a hand basket...

Between inconsiderate patrons and lack of showmanship all the way around... it's no wonder more and more people are staying in and renting via RED BOX or whatever...

Sad. Very sad.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 07-01-2013, 10:17 PM:

Jason - it's just the chains. Go find yourself a good indie and you'll find showmanship and crowd control alive and well.

To be fair, the problem is not ALL chains. But it's probably the majority, especially in the understaffing and non-crowd-control problems.

Of course the big issue is, the "bad" chains are going to blow it for everyone eventually. I just hope I'm dead before it happens.

Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 07-02-2013, 07:39 AM:

quote: Lyle Romer
The cost of those mylars adds up. To the point where it takes a lot less time than you'd think to pay for an LED or LCD sign system with the savings of not having to order mylars every week.

About a year ago we created our own digital sign system. Essentially it is web pages (PHP & MySQL) run from an internal server, played on an LCD TV and using netbook or Popcorn Hour box as a player. We figure it will take about 2-3 years to pay for the entire system with what we are not paying to MovieAd. Because I am already on salary, the cost was pretty much limited to the cost of equipment.

Although saving the expense of buying mylars was the primary reason for creating our own digital sign system, we have also eliminated most human error resulting from auditorium swaps. I imagine most digital theatres are swapping back and forth throughout the day to optimize auditorium size for peak demand, or to provide better show times for long movies. Each time you have one of these swaps, it creates an opportunity for human error resulting in people being in the wrong auditorium.

To expand a little further, my sign system gets it times by importing from our web site database. Since we use our web data base to push all published show times, it makes it virtually impossible to have a mismatch between an advertised time and the actual show time. The only link I haven't worked out yet is exporting the POS times to the web site. This would create near 100% accuracy by eliminating virtually all human error after the show times have been input into the POS system.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 07-02-2013, 12:13 PM:

What about digital signage media players?
About the size of a paperback book. Can be bolted to the back of a flat screen TV. Centrally controlled via your local network. Probably can use the same computer you manage other stuff with.

Retail cost is anywhere from $250 to $500 apiece, depending on the features you want. For theater signage, you don't need much besides still images. A cheap, basic model should do. Wholesale pricing ought to be better.

I'd be surprised if a lot of theaters arent already doing it.

Posted by Terry Lynn-Stevens (Member # 7349) on 07-26-2013, 10:08 PM:

I noticed this today at the Cineplex I attended (Former AMC 24) and I thought of this thread. It looks cheap and tacky that they don't work.

But if they think it will curb cross-overs or people staying for a second movie, they are wrong, all it takes is a "I am looking for my husband, what theatre is this or that movie playing in?" and you will find your theatre.

People staying for a second movie is the cost of doing business when you have a multiplex.

Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 07-29-2013, 07:14 PM:

I just walk up to the ticket taker's podium or guest service where there's usually a wall schedule posted. [Smile]

Posted by Sam King (Member # 4029) on 07-29-2013, 08:44 PM:

I managed a megaplex for 5 years that was built with only auditorium numbers, no poster or sign indicating the film playing inside. We had VERY little theatre hopping, it was great! Our guests learned to actually listen to the ticket taker and/or look at the big bold number on their ticket.