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Topic: 3 or 4 trailers

Michael Brown
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1522
From: Bradford, England
Registered: May 2001

posted 09-29-2001 12:24 PM

As standard we run a Pearl and Dean advert reel, about 5 mins long, a 20 second "comming attractions" tag, a 30 second dolby temple tag and either 3 or 4 trailers? The question is would you run 3 or 4 trailers or less or more? Basically I am deciding between 3 or 4.

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Darryl Spicer
Film God

Posts: 3250
From: Lexington, KY, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 09-29-2001 05:28 PM

here in the states we run 5 or sometimes 6 trailers on our features...film companies have just been so demanding of wanting to get there trailers on that this is the number of trailers they want ran.....

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Joe Beres
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 606
From: Minneapolis, MN, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 09-29-2001 05:30 PM

As a film goer, I really appreciate and enjoy the trailers. If your schedule allows the time, I would say run four. Having more trailers also allows time for the latecomers to get settled so that they are not disturbing those watching the feature.

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Ken Layton
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1452
From: Olympia, Wash. USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 09-29-2001 10:01 PM

At the Skyline Drive-in we don't run ANY trailers. Our customers have spoken loud and clear that they don't like or want trailers (especially in June and July where we can't get a picture on screen until 10 pm).

However, they do enjoy and ask for the 5 minute intermission snack bar reel.

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

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

posted 09-30-2001 01:29 PM

We run 4, 5, or 6 depending on the length and popularity of the feature. If it's a blockbuster, I'll put on more trailers to give everyone time to get to the snack bar....but if it's a real LONG movie, I'll usuallly not put on more than 4.

Can't believe some of the new features now coming with 8 or 9 or 10 trailers enclosed/attached. Does anyone really run all that stuff?

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Andy Muirhead
Master Film Handler

Posts: 323
From: Galashiels, Scotland
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 09-30-2001 09:02 PM

Michael, the question you asked is fairly country specific. I know you are based in the UK, as i am, though as you posted here you can expect a fairly mixed response as to the amount of Ads&Trailers you run with.

Remember that although our equipment and views maybe the same as our film-tech brothers, our customers are entirely different.

There is no hard and fast rule about this, it's all down to experience.

Even here in the UK a single screen like your's has an entirely different A&T policy than, say, my four plex. Especially as you run a student screen. So, IMHO run what you wan't. make sure your A&T's don't run on for too long, but also make sure there not too short also, in case you have about 30 freshers turn up 15mins in!

At the end of the day, there's only one person that knows exactly what to run, and that's you! In time you'll get a feel for it, but don't expect an easy ride, it's called experience and you'll be all the better for it.

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Bob Healey
Film Handler

Posts: 93
From: Milford, CT
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 09-30-2001 09:36 PM

Speaking as someone at a student run single screen in the States, we run three different features a week. (wed, fri, and sat) For trailers, if we have them, we run trailers for the next three movies accompanied by an upcoming (fill in day of week) series presents bit.

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

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

posted 09-30-2001 11:03 PM

Our company policy specifies 7-10 minutes of trailers (which averages out to three, teasers notwithstanding) including the attachment, if any.

-Aaron

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Bernard Tonks
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 619
From: Cranleigh, Surrey, England
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 10-01-2001 09:44 AM

We usually play 4 trailers, and with the adverts depending on length make a 15-20 minute reel, followed by a 5 minute ‘sales’ interval. If there is an attachment trailer on the front of a flat 1.85:1 feature, it is removed and placed with the other trailers. If the attachment trailer is in scope, a flat version is booked when available from one of the trailer houses. Keeps good presentation with tabs & lighting etc. giving the feature a nice opening.

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James R. Hammonds, Jr
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 931
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 10-02-2001 12:26 AM

<<Can't believe some of the new features now coming with 8 or 9 or 10 trailers enclosed/attached. Does anyone really run all that stuff?>>

Actually, wehn I worked fir the theatre in Huntsville, I was told to run EVERY trailer that came with the print, and sometimes the ones that chase the print.

I had to confirm this with the manager of the place when I opened vertical limit and all 7 of its enclosed trailers and the one attached.

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 10-02-2001 02:29 AM

Four trailers should be the max. Then you have that stupid THX, DTS, Dolby Digital, SDDS, Stay-free Mini-pad, and some other worthless hunk of crap the theater chain comes up with such as Regal Enema's funky roller coaster ride. When the hell is the movie going to start?????? Jeeze......Give me a break!

Paul

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John Walsh
Film God

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

posted 10-02-2001 12:13 PM

It might be better to think of this in terms of how much time elapses before the feature starts, rather than how many trailers can be put on.

Here in the US (at least where I work) the audience' get restless after about 10 min., regardless if trailers or ads are shown. Theaters in England have had pre-show advertising for some time now, so patrons there are probably a bit more tolerant.

Question: Do patrons in England (knowing there will be some advertising at the beginning) deliberately arrive late to avoid the ads, or do they show up right at the "announced" show time?

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Joe Beres
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 606
From: Minneapolis, MN, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 10-02-2001 01:13 PM

How do you feel about starting trailers before the posted start time of the film? I guess it could get people settled sooner while not pushing the start time of the feature too far back. I've noticed some of the theaters here doing that. I am not in a position to run trailers, and I'm not sure of what I think of that practice, so I thought i'd ask your opinion.

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 10-02-2001 01:21 PM

IMHO, the best policy would be to let customers know a specific time for when the trailers/ads start, and when the feature starts. Or state in the ads and telephone announcements something like "Published times are for when the pre-show trailers start, and the feature will start exactly 15 minutes later." That way, people who want to see the trailers will come earlier, and those that don't can plan on arriving as the feature starts.

I would NOT start "rolling film" before any advertised time.

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

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Charles Everett
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1470
From: New Jersey
Registered: May 2001

posted 10-02-2001 05:15 PM

I'd say go with 3-4 trailers. If a trailer is attached to the print, play that trailer last so you'll end up with 4-5.

I don't have TV so I often find the extra trailers worthwhile to find out what's coming out soon.

AMC Hamilton in New Jersey had a good-size if lengthy preshow when I saw The Deep End: NCN snipe, 2 rolling stock adverts, MovieTickets.com promo, Coming Attractions snipe, 5 trailers, Silence is Golden snipe, Changing the Way You See Movies snipe, feature.

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