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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Author
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Topic: When does the movie REALLY start?
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Brad Miller
Administrator
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Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99
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posted 01-18-2005 08:14 AM
Interesting. It looks like a Connecticut state representative has said "enough is enough" and is proposing legislation that would require movie theaters in Connecticut to post the start time of the actual feature.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/ae/movies/2993012
quote: Lawmaker wants theaters honest about movie start times Associated Press
MANCHESTER, Conn. � Coming soon to a theater near you: movie listings that print the start time for the main feature.
Frustrated with lengthy advertisements and previews that delay movies and chew up viewing time, a state lawmaker wants theaters to be honest about when a movie actually starts.
State Rep. Andrew Fleischmann is proposing legislation to force movie listings to print the time the previews start, and when the movies start.
"We're being robbed of our freedom of choice because we're not told when the actual movie will begin," said Fleischmann, a Democrat.
Movie ads are big business for theaters. A report from the Cinema Advertising Council, an industry group, found that on-screen revenue for its members grew 45 percent from $190.8 million in 2002 to $315 million in 2003.
Messages seeking comment were left for the council, the National Association of Theater Owners, Loews Theaters and Regal Cinemas.
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Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."
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Posts: 10973
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 01-18-2005 12:47 PM
While I dislike the increased number of TV commercials tacked onto the front of movies, I disagree with the Conn. State Rep's legislative idea.
As Thomas said, if you post the actual start time in the newspaper ads then you'll have lots and lots of people stumbling into the darkened auditorium for at least the first 20 minutes of the movie, if not longer. This kind of thing would really stink in a normal sloped theater. Who can manage to enjoy watching a movie when a bunch of latecomers are stumbling by with their potato heads getting in the way of the screen? This would still pose a nagging distraction in a stadium seated theater. Viewers already have to put up with enough distractions (cellphones, crying babies, assholes putting their feet on the back of your chair, farting assholes, etc.).
I don't even agree with a compromise move of posting times when the ads start and when the show starts. You'll still have most of the audience arriving in reels 1 and 2. On top of that, most theater directory ads in newspapers are pretty small and already have microscopic copy. Who's going to get out a magnifying glass to read 2 point type needed to fit all those extra numbers?
In general, I think most people would agree movies simply should have fewer TV commercials and trailers attached to the front. But I understand exhibitors are getting squeezed further and further by distributors and have to look for additional revenue sources.
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Thomas Dieter
Expert Film Handler
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Posts: 234
From: Yakima, WA
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 01-19-2005 03:04 AM
I have to agree with Thomas on this. Customers that come to a movie late make it entirely to hard on the other customers that are prompt. I will admit that I have been to my share of late films due to miscommunication and other factors.
Here is what I want to clarify. When they refer to ads, are they referring to the on screen advertisements paid by other companies to advertise their product, or are they referring to the trailers. If i read that article properly, the theatres are already abiding by the law, before it's even passed.
I have to agree that sometimes these theatres that put every trailer on that comes in the cans is annoying. I remember a complaint when I was a floor personnel about the amount of previews that were playing. Customers movie (previews and all) started at 7:35. By the time the featured film actually started was 40 min later. Of course this could have been prevented by 2 things. Studios not putting so many trailers in the can, and studios not requiring some trailers to be programmed.
Personally, when it comes to watching a movie, I would prefer to stay in the hall or lobby until i know that the previews are started cause I don't like the advertisements of candy, pop, food, cars, lawyers, etc. etc. I would really like to see an on screen light show from lights like you see at a dance.
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