quote: Joe Redifer

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I myself am reminded of Madstone Theater's logo... when they existed, of course.

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quote: Joe Redifer

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Does anyone actually go to Showeast? Or is it ShoEast? Is it a ghost town? Why no ShoNorth or ShoSouth?

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I think they should merge the various "Shos" into one location and just call it ShoNuff. How does Wichita sound? At least is has a couple good theaters.

Do SWFs use SWP?
 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 10-11-2007, 09:55 PM:
 
No, sometimes they use married ones and black ones.
 

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Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 10-12-2007, 12:01 AM:
 

quote: Bobby Henderson

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Do SWFs use SWP?

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quote: Joe Redifer

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No, sometimes they use married ones and black ones.

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That's hilarious!
 

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Posted by Mike Sellars (Member # 4042) on 10-12-2007, 12:44 AM:
 
I can't make it to ShowEast this year, but I'ma gonna die if I don't know what this is.... help?



Mike
 

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Posted by Shane Cooper (Member # 2510) on 10-12-2007, 01:09 AM:
 

quote: Phil Hill

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The teaser ad for Film-Tech's new product "SWP" reminds me of the marketing of the product "VIP" in the film "Lover Come Back" (1961).

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I am reminded of the Gabbo! Gabbo! Gabbo! promos from The Simpsons' Krusty Gets Kancelled.
 

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Posted by Brian Guckian (Member # 1678) on 10-12-2007, 07:18 AM:
 
Is it...

Super Wide Platter?

Saves Waste Paper?

Sells Worthwhile Product?


 

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Posted by Dick Vaughan (Member # 540) on 10-12-2007, 07:54 AM:
 
Elma Fudd's answer to IMAX?

Single Wotor Pwojector?
 

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Posted by Robert Minichino (Member # 3495) on 10-12-2007, 08:48 AM:
 
Maybe it's FilmGuard for digital cinema, that leaves you with a Slippery Wet Projector?
 

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Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 10-12-2007, 10:35 AM:
 
There is a ShowSouth every year at Chateau Elan in conjunction with the Variety Golf tournament.
 

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Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 10-12-2007, 01:13 PM:
 
Showsouth was originally called Showeast and was begun by the New Jersey Theatre Owners. Their meeting were alway's held in Atlantic City.One of the members of NATO of New Jersey,Dick Horn approached the company that I was working for at the time Trans-Lux.

We had theatres in New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, Washinton D.C. Virginia to see if we would be interested and becoming part of Showeast.At that time we were member of New York ITOA, Connecticut NATO,Pennsylvania NATO,Virginia NATO, Florida NATONorth Carolina NATO. We were in an expansion program at the time.

Trans-Lux suggested that we involve the Independent Film Journal,get involved and help us put this program together.

That Ladies and Gentlemen was the begining of Showeast.
 

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Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 10-12-2007, 01:40 PM:
 
Shonuff!
 

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Posted by David Zylstra (Member # 4230) on 10-13-2007, 06:00 PM:
 
male SWP (Single White Projectionist) seeks female SWP with own screening room, please send pictures of screening room.
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 10-13-2007, 06:56 PM:
 
I'll guess "Soft Ware Program" since it is supposed to increase operating efficiency.

Mark
 

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Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 10-14-2007, 03:43 AM:
 
And ShowNorth became ShowCanada.
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 10-14-2007, 09:18 AM:
 
At least they dropped the Sho crap in Asia and Europe...

Cine Asia and Photokina... I bet they'll sho Canada a thing or two!
 

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Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 10-14-2007, 07:00 PM:
 
Remember SHOW-A-RAMA? Never went (to any show, for that matter), but I always saw the ads and reports in BOXOFFICE weekly (remember THAT?).
 

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Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 10-15-2007, 01:27 AM:
 
What's in booth 1202 now? The floorplan used to say "Film-Tech"...
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 10-15-2007, 09:42 AM:
 
I bet that floorplan now says "www.Phil's-Dungeon.com".
 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 10-16-2007, 06:58 PM:
 
Everyone has to admit that the projectionist schedules and the drop/cleaning schedules for the ushers are really cool (both of which we used in the 1990's at UA Greenwood).

There is at least one typo and one broken link in the web-based product description pages, though.
 

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Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 10-16-2007, 07:29 PM:
 
The last thing I want to be is a parade rainer, but don't most POS systems already have something like this built in? What makes this better than those?
 

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-16-2007, 08:02 PM:
 
Assuming you read the documentation at www.betterschedules.com under "more info", I guess we didn't do a very good job of explaining that then.

The stuff in POS software only does a basic layout of the schedule. ShoWizard Pro actually creates the schedule automatically based upon a bunch of various parameters that are specific to each theater complex, including seat counts, movie start times, movie end times, multiple copies of a movie, variations in cleaning times needed (kiddie movies during the matinee need more turnaround time...similarly horror movies during the matinee and kiddie movies at night need less turnaround time) and so forth and so on. Because of the way the engine works, we are able to provide a schedule that not only reduces the actual operating hours of a theater without sacrificing shows, but we can also reduce the number of ushers and concessionists that are needed per complex because there is no more "we just had 3 big auditoriums let out all at once" issues. This leads to not only less stress with the staff, but the customers are happier too because of less congestion and shorter concession stand lines (which means higher per caps).

Once someone starts using the product, it's true potential really starts to show. In the last 6 months we have been tracking several theater's publicly advertised showtimes, our generated schedule has been able to beat the manager-created schedule by at least 20 minutes of operating hours per day, and in some cases up to 90 minutes! (Again, this is WITHOUT cutting any shows, and usually includes adding MORE shows.)

Still, if you put every other benefit aside, what is the average payroll cost for just 20 minutes worth of employee labor multipled by 365? What if your theater is one that averaged a schedule that ShoWizard Pro could beat by 45 minutes? How about cutting back on an usher and concessionist during each weekday and cutting back 4-6 of them on the weekend shifts? Now what kind of operational savings are we looking at? How much more concession sales will you have from shorter, more controlled lines?

A schedule can make or break the theater's operation, and this tool is here to ensure that every aspect of the theater's operation in regards to scheduling is handled in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.

(Ok so I wrote that down really fast and I am sure I didn't do the greatest job of explaining it since I haven't had much sleep, but does that make sense?)
 

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Posted by Paul Goulet (Member # 297) on 10-16-2007, 08:33 PM:
 

quote: Scott D. Neff

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The last thing I want to be is a parade rainer, but don't most POS systems already have something like this built in? What makes this better than those?

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I was just thinking the same thing..although I haven't worked in a theatre for the past 3 years, the system we had (Theatron) had a scheduler that did that, plus it would set up the computer for the new movies for the ticketing system.
I tried logging on the website, but my FILMTECH log in info wouldnt let me get on. I did read the other info and I'm not sure what's different about this software compared to other schedulers.
 

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Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 10-16-2007, 09:00 PM:
 
So this is free now but will cost later?

Not that I need it with one screen, but wouldn't it be better to give a price somewhere? I'd probably be reluctant to sign-up not knowing what the eventual price would be.
 

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Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 10-16-2007, 10:14 PM:
 
Does it allow you to specify how many shows a day must be run for a certain movie (like "must have a minimum of 5 shows") and factor in if you also want, say, a 7:00PM exact start time for that movie in your largest auditorium, can it adjust everything accordingly?
 

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Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 10-16-2007, 11:33 PM:
 
Yes Brad, what you mentioned makes perfect sense.

This Showizard Pro almost looks like what REG uses in their operation in using a system called RADIANT.

REG and a host of other circuits uses this RADIANT system that had this similar breakdowns per house with showtimes including an exit times format for floorstaff to prepare for that certain house to clean after the showings. It wasn't as fancy as this program listed here, but it still had the same message for both booth personnel and floorstaff.

But, as what Brad mentioned, Showizard has a lot more bells and whistles than any other program since it also figures in productive and effective theatre operations than with just plugging in showtimes on a spreadsheet, print them out and here ya go ... make it work, or deal with it..

In fact, I would use the floorstaff copies for exits so I know when to goto that certain house, or houses to immediately lace up the machines. On that occasion that I ran a 21 all by myself, that is what I used..was the exit sheet so I could get right to that house and get it laced up immediately.

Lots of fun - Monte
 

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Posted by Lyle Romer (Member # 1266) on 10-17-2007, 04:26 AM:
 
I stopped by and talked to Brad about this yesterday and saw the demo. It looks very cool. In case anybody doesn't understand, the system actually creates your show schedule for you in the most efficient manner possible. You give it your parameters for operating hours, desired intermissions, max shows to start at same time, max shows to end at same time, and much more info in initial setup.

Then, put in your movies for the week and hit go (or whatever the actual button is) and it makes the schedule for you in the most operationally efficient manner possible.

I was very impressed by the demo and I'm very excited to try the software in the trial period.
 

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-17-2007, 04:43 AM:
 
We haven't finalized pricing, but regardless it WILL save you money any way you slice it. As far as a trial period, the aim is to give a chance to let people use it themselves to see just how much more efficient it can make your theater run. A comparison of this product to some of the built-in schedule planners from POS systems quickly reveals that this is much, MUCH more.

Of all the questions asked since I last posted, yes to all of them...it does it.
 

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Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 10-17-2007, 07:42 AM:
 
So, when does Showizard Amateur come out?

This seems like a clever idea, but it also seems to be geared toward theatres with large numbers of screens. Does it do anything that would be useful in single-screen houses?

How are showtimes normally determined in multiplexes? Is it normally a manual process?
 

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Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 10-17-2007, 08:13 AM:
 
This sound too logical. Do you think anyone in our industry's mamagement will want to be that logical? Louis
 

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-17-2007, 11:31 AM:
 
The Amateur version has come and gone. Sorry Scott.

Single screen theaters? Nope. If a manager can't make a schedule for a single screen, there are far bigger issues at hand. (Regardless we have received demo requests for 1 and 2 screeners, why I have no idea.) I would say the product starts becoming useful at 6 screens, and obviously much moreso as each additional screen is added. Most people think they can make a schedule and that it isn't hard, which is where I expect to get the most resistance to such a product. After all making a schedule isn't hard at all. It is making a GOOD schedule which is EFFICIENT that is hard. As of yet we haven't found a theater that we weren't able to knock off a bare minimum of 20 minutes of the operating day vs. the manager-created schedule (of which also inevitably contains many errors that cost extra labor and patron congestion).
 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 10-17-2007, 11:40 AM:
 
Scott, Show Izard Express (the non-professional version) was programmed by Darryl and had many limitations. For one it would only let you schedule 35mm shows, no digital stuff. Secondly it only cut operational time by up to 13 minutes per day. But it wasn't web-based, so if your internet connection went down during schedule-making time, you weren't screwed.

I keep wanting to call the software "Show Lizard". I still prefer my idea of Showtime Maker Professional (Limited Edition version 2.1 Director's Cut)
 

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Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 10-17-2007, 11:44 AM:
 
I'm curious, since this product is "patent pending", what part of it is going up for a patent?

Also, with your data showing that every theater you've compared to you could shave a minimum of 20 mins, was the data including a minimum changeover time for houses? Lots of the big chains, as you know, do ads in between and have rules/contracts governing the time between shows so that all the ads are shown to guests. And if your data didn't include at least a "guess" for that amount (assuming you don't have access to the internal contract agreements) that could give false good results for the software.
 

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Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 10-17-2007, 12:24 PM:
 
I did read all the main page links, and while I agree there are some good ideas, I think I'm spoiled because Century had developed something similar in-house, though not containing EVERY feature that SWP does.

I think that's where my concern lays: Other POS systems may have something similar, though not exact, and it may be a hard sell to those who feel they have enough functionality in their current system. Couple that with having to then re-enter the showtimes to the POS and you may have some people wondering why.

Now get the demand for an interface so high that Radiant wants to buy it from you and then you're talkin $$$.
 

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Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 10-17-2007, 01:03 PM:
 

quote: Scott D. Neff

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Couple that with having to then re-enter the showtimes to the POS and you may have some people wondering why.

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1) If they were saving enough money this would be a minor issue.

2) If there were a way to make the schedule exportable to the various POS utilities then it would make it a non-issue.
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 10-19-2007, 12:12 PM:
 
The Wizards at work at Shoeast... the one on the right was meditating.


 

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Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 10-19-2007, 07:52 PM:
 
Who are those guys? I don't recognize ANY of them...
 

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Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 10-20-2007, 12:17 PM:
 
I was actually impressed with this product. I went in with about 30 questions in mind, and they successfully answered every single one of them. I'm going to set up my 4 theatres as a demo almost immediately.
 

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Posted by Jeremy Spracklen (Member # 18) on 10-20-2007, 01:17 PM:
 
Mark,

I was not meditating...I was just preparing for the first-annual all-company Film-Tech mini-golf death-match. Trust me...it paid off. They got powned!
 

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Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 10-23-2007, 08:19 PM:
 
Boo software patents.

BTW, Joe's sort of correct... mine wasn't (only) web based, it had a CLI running off of the same Perl library.
 

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