In our theatre, we begin cleaning -- discreetly -- as soon as the audience begins to leave the auditorium. (I say discreetly because we have a small number of very savvy filmgoers who stay to enjoy the closing credits and soundtrack, some of whom are relatives or friends of people who work at ILM or Lucasfilms or some other industry company.)

With quick turnarounds, every minute is important, considering the next audience is clamoring to pounce on seats for the next showing. We take pride in our presentation, which includes a clean auditorium, if at all possible. The alternative is to let the customers in right away and haphazardly try to pick up around them, but that means they watch the movie surrounded by garbage and we have to weather complaints about the filth.

Today I had a minor disagreement with our doorman, who told every ticketholder that there was a joke at the end of "Chicken Run." Consequently, we had over 250 people who did not leave until the curtain came down.

My position -- as an usher and movie enthusiast (and perhaps someday writer and producer) -- is that the added footage is a lagniappe, a little surprise present to the customer who willingly stays to read the credits.

Since the turnaround for "Chicken Run" is only 35 minutes, and the showing in question was delayed three minutes to allow everyone time to visit the snack bar, our short-handed crew (due to "holiday-itis") felt a lot of pressure to get the auditorium picked-up and swept before the next group entered, and they were quite anxious to get in.

What's you position on this? How soon do you send your crew in to start picking up?

kenn

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For most showings of "Chicken Run," we have another auditorium getting out within minutes. If it's "Titan A.E." no worry, there's almost no one watching, but "Perfect Storm" has had big crowds, "Me, Myself, & Irene" has small but messy crowds, and "Big Mama's House" is unspeakably dirty. We can let the others ride for a few minutes, but "Perfect Storm" has to be hit RIGHT AWAY, as the next crowd is already filling the lobby and tries to get in as soon as the doors open to let the other crowd out.

In the Jim Carrey movie, if someone has stayed through most of the closing credits -- which I think are neat since I have friends who work as extras or crew -- I'll tell them if they start to leave just before the bass scene.

kenn

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Kenn Fong
qwertyuiop.net
The Screenwriters Home Page

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At my 4 screen theatre I enforce that to the letter, but others I'm not so sure about, we have a 6 and a 9 that i'm sure break that rule somtimes.

Luckily we make it a practice of scheduling New Releases with 40-55 minutes of intermission so we don't run into that problem. Although there are the exceptions, or the snafus with regards to incorrect running times. (I love movies that get out 30min after they start!!)

If you're an usher and there's someone reading the credits in the theater, go the hell away.

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"And the monkey flips the switch."
- Major Don West, "Lost In Space"

When I go to my favorite venue, the Embarcadero in San Francisco, the ushers always wait until the auditorium is empty, but their houses are smaller and their audiences are much more fastidious.

As far as changing the schedule to permit more time, that issue has been raised. As my friends in the Army used to say, "that's above my pay grade."

kenn

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I admit that I usually feel disappointed if I stay for the credits and there isn't something unusual in there, though. I think it would be neat if a movie were made so that there was an important 10 minute scene after the credits.

Evans

I NEVER give my seal of approval on any movie, makes the customer feel like its a refund guarantee. Same goes with special suprises at the end. If they do not want to look at the end of the movie, screw em.

Have you ever looked really hard at all the credits? I do. Sometimes I will find my name in there and ask myself "it sure was fun doing that!" or maybe even "i dont remember getting paid, I think I will call my agent....

... Or even yell out to those that remain "SEE I TOLD YOU JERKS I MADE THIS MOVIE, NOW GET DOWN ON YOUR KNEES AND PRAISE GOD THAT YOU ARE GRACED BY MY PRESENSE!!!"

You know apparently I wrote the music for the movie "Supernova", too bad I sucked at it.

Dave

I love saying this, especially if there WAS no scene after the credits. Heck with 'em for getting up and walking out before the movie's over!