Movie seems zoomed in on screen…not sure how to fix?

[Marcel Birgelen]

Realistically, I'd be happy if we could add back proper screen masking back to the "minimum equipment list" of a movie theater. Sure, I'd love to see a proper curtain in front of those screens, but combined with a motorized masking system, I get that most locations won't be willing to spend those bucks for something that, at least according to them, will not significantly increase patronage. Most of recent upgrades I've seen went into improved seating options, which also seems to be higher on patron's whishlist than a properly masked screen or curtains, at least according to those exhibitors I speak to...

I guess marketing some fancy new recliners or fancy new food and drink options to potential customers is easier than marketing a new curtain or actual motorized masking that works. I guess the only way to get back those standars is when the studios are starting to enforce them and we all know how wgood they are at that. If they start auditing you it's not because your presentation sucks...

[Steve Guttag]

Reclining seats are certainly a preference for most customers. I don't begrudge them that. But, truthfully, customers don't even think about curtains or carpet or the other 90% of what goes into the show. That is up to the professionals. The customers will judge a theatre/movie by the entire experience they had from finding out about the movie that enticed them to the theatre all of the way until they get home. They will not be able to quantify if you changed brand of speakers or used a curtain as to what percentage of enjoyment that any one part brought. They'll know when something didn't go right. However, better-is-better. You'll act differently when you go to a theatre that appears posh and well annointed than to one that looks slapped together.

[Ryan Gallagher]

Convincing anyone in a sales conversation is a tough pitch for sure. But agree with Steve... customers appear to "care" about things they have the knowledge and vocabulary to articulate, and only when they have some reference to compare it to, it is a rare customer indeed who would comment on masking or audio issues other than volume. But that doesn't mean it's not noticed as it plays into the overall package, it's just noticed in that more nebulous region of overall "production value". TONs of things outside presentation contribute to that experience too... be it cleanliness of the space, friendly staff/ushers, on-time starts, not being beaten in the head with advertising, fast moving concession lines etc.

Case in point, even our film programmer was fairly apathetic to notice masking/keystone/plate-filing/field illumination issues on our 35/70 screenings, or he had been previously convinced it was the best our venue could manage... until I started working out a bunch of inherited issues for some of those formats in our booth, and he was literally blown away with the difference it makes, got all gushy about it. And to be honest we didn't have to change much to get there, just aligned lamp-houses, properly tuned a field, and filed a couple new plates when warranted, which permitted the masking to do it's job rather than serve in a compensation role. Of course now we have to keep doing those things right or it WILL get noticed. ;-) But that is the better state to be in.

My co-projectionist said sometimes it feels like all the work is for an audience of 1. But at least this past season, it was rewarding to know that audience of 1 felt the difference.

[Ryan Gallagher]

Also on that subject, my co-projectionist used to be in the camp of "it's time to retire these things, not worth the hassle and liability" in regards to 35/70. But this season swung him back into the other/new camp of "if we are going to keep doing this, let's do it right", and where we got to with presentation quality was what moved his opinion.

[Harry Smolin]

Late to the party here, but Mike, you might be able to get your curtain restored and/or moving again and get motorized masking. Here's a link to the company that services our curtain and masking so you can take a look and see if they might be able to do anything for you. It's really cool having a moving curtain.

http://www.majortheatre.com/index-2.html