Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Regal's "The 20wenty"

This is topic Regal's "The 20wenty" in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Eric Hooper (Member # 1730) on 09-14-2003, 03:40 PM:

(I know there was another very brief discussion about this, but I couldn't find it.)

I'm curious to know who has gone to a Regal theatre and has seen their new digital projection pre-show thing "The 20wenty" (or however it's spelled.) It's filled with commercials for ABC Television, Coke, and music videos.

I'm curious to know what other Film-Tech members think of this? This has just started showing up at the Regal's (actually United Artists) here in San Francisco.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 09-14-2003, 06:02 PM:

Personally I think it is quite cheesey, and way too loud for preshow entertainment. Then the show starts and MORE ADS on film. Some of them are even the same ads you just saw. Even after that they seem to have at least 6 or 7 trailers.

Maybe they should rename it "the HOUR".

Posted by Chris Hipp (Member # 1788) on 09-14-2003, 07:57 PM:

What is 20wenty supposed to mean?

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 09-14-2003, 09:07 PM:

twenty minutes

Posted by Trevor Bailey (Member # 75) on 09-14-2003, 09:34 PM:

Joe, my understanding is that the rolling stock ads are supposed to be removed once the L6 system is working. That's not to say that it actually happens though!! Also, I have been told that different films will have different lengths of the "20wenty", so perhaps it should be the "variable 20wenty" instead. Not as catchy though...

Posted by Jon Bartow (Member # 241) on 09-14-2003, 10:19 PM:

The 20wenty is approximatly 20 minutes long. Trevor is correct that it changes according to the movie. (just as the rolling stock ads were movie specific). He is also correct that there are not supposed to be rolling stock ads after the 20wenty. The 20wenty is also timed so that it ends AT the advertised show start time. So in theory what you see if you walk into the theater at the advertised show start time is a welcome tag, buy candy tag, trailers, enjoy the show, digital tag (if they want) and then feature.
The same system (Christie L6 Road runner projectors) is what is used for displaying special events such as the recent KISS symphony concert.
Jonathan

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 09-14-2003, 11:31 PM:

Jons right. If they continue to run rolling stock after the 2wenty has ended, talk with the management.

The 2wenty is time variable because advertisers can choose to target advertise certain products with certain films. Some Disney Movies do not permit the standard 1 minute sots, so in that case only the four major segments are played followed by a PSA or two. Thw twenty alos contains segments which are rating spacific.

Oh, BTW, Regal Policy stipulates that the Digital sound tag goes before the preview not after.

At advertised showtime:
1."Regal Policy" (Digital L6)
2."Regal Still Logo Card (Digital L6) stays on screen untill Start button is pressed on the 35mm projecter
---Masking changed to scope if need be ----
---Lights go to 50%-----
3. Digital Sound Tag (Film)- If the theatre is equipt/wants to play them
4. MPAA "Movies Are Worth It: Don't Pirate" (Film)- Only some theatres play it
5. Trailers (Film)
---Lights go to very dim---
6. Feature (Film)

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 09-15-2003, 01:05 AM:

Maybe they have stopped running the "rolling stock" ads by now. I know I would if I were projectionist. But it is still too loud for preshow entertainment. Management is not available at Regal theaters.

The only good thing about "The Twenty" (I refuse to spell it with the actual number, as that is just plain retarded) is that is forces actual intermission times between shows, unlike some theaters *coughMadstonecough* who insist on only having 2 to 10 minutes MAX from when the lights come up until the next show begins.

Posted by Chris Hipp (Member # 1788) on 09-15-2003, 01:48 AM:

I haven't seen Regal's digital preshow, but I think the NCN digital preshow looks pretty pathetic.

The slideshow looks great, but the rolling stock looks like an internet download. David Goldstein looks like he is sitting in a closet and all you see is his bright orange goatee, and in the dick tracy scenes you can somewhat make out a car moving.

As was previously stated, I prefer the digital much more than putting the snipes on the print. It's good to know that the ads will be over by show start time. IF something goes wrong with the times, just hit start and they are gone.

Plus, it saves a lot of time during build-up.

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 09-15-2003, 03:29 PM:

According to Mike's post, Fox's piracy snipes aren't run off of the RoadRunner... they're run off of film.

Which is it? [Confused]

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 09-15-2003, 05:55 PM:

Whenever I've come across The 20wenty I have not seen any sound format snipe or anti-piracy trailer. This is the practice at the Regal Warrington Crossing, Regal Marketplace at Oaks, and UA Union Square.

Now if AMC was as aggressive on arty product as Regal is . . . [Wink]

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 09-15-2003, 06:56 PM:

Piracy snipes and Digital format snipes are currently run on film. It would not be possable to run the sound system snipe over the twenty, because it uses the non sync inputs. Most of the Regal theatres do not run the sound system snipes anyway (But we do!)

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 09-15-2003, 11:40 PM:

I saw an NCN show last week and the anti-piracy whine was part of the digitized crap. Nice smooth transition to the film program though. This was at a fairly new AMC.

Posted by John Lasher (Member # 968) on 09-16-2003, 11:02 PM:

I don't know about theaters in your area, but a the Regal Peoples Plaza 17, if I'm not in my seat when the 20 starts, there is a good chance I won't get to sit where I want to. This forces me to get to the movie early (as the thing says) and be bombarded with this crap. When (If) I end up owning the Newark Cinema Center (my favorite theater), the first item on the chopping block will be the slide ads. I'll put the slide projectors to better use (nice projected logos on the curtains (the big house) and screens (the small houses) prior to showtime.