Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: How many trailers per film?

my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

»	Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE » Operations » Film Handlers' Forum » How many trailers per film? (Page 1)

This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3

Author

Topic: How many trailers per film?

Richard Quesnelle
Film Handler

Posts: 67
From: Penetang, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 07-13-2000 08:43 PM

What kind of format do most of you guys follow when picking trailers to accompany the print and how many is too many. I put on Hollow Man, Nutty 2, 102 Dalmations + Cast Away and Bedazzled were already on X-men (and I didn't know they were on there until after I was puttin it all together on the platter--no censor bands)

Any info will be of help.

Thanks__Reg

| IP: Logged

Ian Price
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1714
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 99

posted 07-13-2000 09:39 PM

We are a small independent theatre that has trouble getting trailers. We put on what we want, where we want. We never put on more than three. No one can remember more that three, so you're just waisting your time. But we still get people who come in 6 minutes late and ask "has the film started yet?" I always answer that the film started at the posted time.

| IP: Logged

Dustin Mitchell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1865
From: Mondovi, WI, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 07-13-2000 11:25 PM

I am required to place 5 previews on every movie, plus screenvision ads, plus policy and sound format. If I had it my way there would be only on screenvision ad no longer than 45 seconds. 3-5 trailers-number depending on length of feature and wether the trailers are teasers or not. But I can't have it my way and end up playing 12-17 minutes of trailers on every movie

| IP: Logged

Ethan Harper
E-dawggg!!!

Posts: 325
From: Plano, TX, USA
Registered: May 2000

posted 07-13-2000 11:41 PM

I use to work at a cinemark 20-plex and over there we were reqired to play 5-6 trailers depending on the movie. (sometimes 4 for kids movies) but around 15minutes of trailers plus. we had to play NCN ads and coke ads before the trailers as well. ugh.

. sorry, i just dont like those commercials. nm.

Where i am working at right now, we only
play about 10 minutes of trailers. plus no commercial ad trailers . which i am really happy about.

| IP: Logged

Dustin Mitchell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1865
From: Mondovi, WI, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 07-13-2000 11:44 PM

I don't mind commercial so long as they are well done. The M&M PSA and the Kellogg's 'Floating' commercial's are good examples. The audience thought they were hilarious. But now we're playing a really stupid McDonalds commercial. Uck. Anyway, I don't one or two of the bastards, but 4 or 5 is too much.

| IP: Logged

Aaron Sisemore
Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day!

Posts: 3061
From: Rockwall TX USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 07-14-2000 02:45 AM

Our policy is whenever possible, to run seven to nine minutes of trailers (usually 3-4 trailers including the attached one) per feature.

Aaron
http://www.cinema-west.com

| IP: Logged

John Wilson
Film God

Posts: 5438
From: Sydney, Australia.
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 07-14-2000 02:46 AM

We run three trailers if we can and that's pretty standard. If we're pushed for time, we'll run less but our manager does the programmme and knows what we like to run so he programmes to that format. It makes it easier.

We also get to choose which trailers go with what film. The trailer ALWAYS suits the follwing feature.

I agree with Ian...more than three and you're wasting your time.

| IP: Logged

Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 07-14-2000 04:59 AM

You're playing that horrible McDonald's commercial too? This thing is incredibly stupid. For those who haven't had the chance to see this magnificent piece of art, the setting is a first date. The two teenagers are smiling and giggling at each other making cheezy talk "what's your middle name? He he he, giggle, giggle, giggle." Then the guy asks if she is hungry and she says that she is. So where does he take her? Well, what better place to impress a date the first time than McDonald's! He doesn't even go in, but hits the drive-through. As Hollywood luck would have it, she orders the same thing he wants, but she decides she doesn't want onions on hers...and the little order screen says "2-no onions", meaning they just screwed up the guy's order! I would expect nothing less.

Lame, just lame. Still though, not quite as bad as that Jeff Yorkes thing Coke was running last year. Oh wait, I guess I should answer the question. We play on average 4 trailers, plus policy and as of this week, commercial ads. Currently there is only one, but I'm sure greed will set in and it'll be extended to 3-5 minutes soon.

| IP: Logged

John Walsh
Film God

Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 07-14-2000 09:02 AM

We are right there with Dustin; with an "EXIT" snipe, 4 Screenvision ads, 3 trailers, ,policy trailer, THX snipe, "now our feature" snipe. Comes out to about 15 min. We are running some stupid cheese ad now.

I think that the industry would really like to beat it's patrons away with a stick. But since that's illegal, we run ads.

| IP: Logged

Paul Konen
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 981
From: Frisco, TX. (North of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 07-14-2000 09:38 AM

My theatre (Cinemark) subscribes to the Coke and Technicolor Ads. So it goes Coke, Technicolor (McDonalds, BBC, Farmer's Insurance, VW Cabrio) total time about 5 minutes. New releases during summer runs 5-6
trailers. A couple of times, 7. After first 2 weeks, down to 5. Sound then Policy, aka "Image". That usually runs about 15-20 minutes.

Paul.

| IP: Logged

Mark Huff
Film Handler

Posts: 69
From: Springfield, IL, USA
Registered: May 2000

posted 07-14-2000 10:01 AM

Well I currently work for the dreaded company that Ethan has described (Cinemark). We now have to paly 3 to 4 NCN trailers, Coke trailer, 6 movie trailers, Sound policy, Cinemark Image trailer. All of our trailers are pre selected by our corporate office.

| IP: Logged

Dave Cutler
Master Film Handler

Posts: 277
From: Centennial, CO
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 07-14-2000 10:46 AM

How many trailers do I run? Way too many. 4 is plenty, never more. Unfortunately my company (AMC) doesn't know that, and insists on running up to 20 minutes of 'pre-show.'

On X-Men for instance I have...

3 NCN Commercials (Air Force, McDonalds, Nike)
Coke Commercial (Refreshing Filmmakers)
Movietickets.com
AMC Previews snipe
6 trailers (I think it was supposed to be 7 but...)
Silence is Golden policy
Feature Presentation snipe

All is all, almost 20 minutes. But I start everything EARLY. I insist that ALL commercials are OVER by the scheduled start time (ie. the AMC preview snipe starts at show time). We run all commercials with full house lights so people can continue seating while watching something.

Personally I think commercials are degrading to my screens. I resent having to stoop to the level of TV. If they insist on running commercials, require them to shoot in 35mm and use digital sound.

| IP: Logged

Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 07-14-2000 05:18 PM

We run three or four trailers and I make sure they are appropriate for the movie. (No R-movie trailers on a PG feature.) We don't show any ads of any kind except the DTS logo and the Hollywood.com snipe.

[By the way, I HATE THAT HOLLYWOOD.COM BOUNCING BALL THING!!!!!! There, I feel better.]

As far as the "attached" and "enclosed" trailers, they're always missing from our films, so that's not an issue.

I do put on an extra one or two trailers on extra-popular movies to give everyone time to visit the concession stand.

| IP: Logged

Randy Stankey
Film God

Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99

posted 07-14-2000 07:11 PM

I'm playing just about what all the other Cinemarks are playing...

Here's what **I** say we should do...
Put our collective feet down and say that we'll only play "X" minutes of trailers. (My number for "X" is 10 but that's negotiable.)

If they make all the trailers 30 seconds long then we'll play 20 trailers! If they insist upon making those STUPID 5 minute "Mini-Features", like they did for Titanic, then we'll only play 2.

Second... If they get all the trailer and advetising requests (including the actual film) to us by Monday night at ,say 8PM, we'll have them up by Wednesday at closing. (Or whatever) If they don't then they'll have to wait until WE have time to do it!

It's not about the amount of splicing and film handling. It's about all this "last minute changes" crap they try to pull all the time! Heck! I'll splice-up trailer paks all day if I need to! Just don't go telling us that we have to get the new ads up on the screen by Friday morning when we received them at 6pm on Thurs! -- Sorry, pal! Too late!

| IP: Logged

Ethan Harper
E-dawggg!!!

Posts: 325
From: Plano, TX, USA
Registered: May 2000

posted 07-14-2000 07:56 PM

Heh Heh Heh! I know exactly what you mean there Randy.

When I too was at Skinemark. uh im sorry i mean Cinemark, We had to go through the same crap. on top of that, NCN would randomly send one of there people to watch the trailers and make sure that all of their requests are fulfilled. If they weren't, they would yell at us and we would get in trouble. They also gave us a phone call every friday morning to ask what the presghow placement was on all screens. Ugh!

down wit commercials

VIVA LA RESISTANCE!

------------------
--"That's my story and i'm sticking to it!"--

| IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3

Printer-friendly view of this topic

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.