Who hasn’t gone to the movies and grumbled about some part of the experience?
Either the seats are too lumpy, the soda prices too high or the number of people who won’t shut their yap is, well, just one is more than a sane person can stand. WWTW will be interviewing a D.C.-area movie theater owner shortly, and I wanted to reach out to Watchers to get some questions for him.
Be gentle, but don’t hold back.
I’ll compile them and include them with my own queries.
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Here’s one I always thought about and it should be easy to answer:
While Juicy Fruit, Milk Duds and popcorn help pay the bills, when a new film comes out, how long (days/showings) does it take for you, the theater owner who hosts the new film, to see some profit from the film itself? I have heard that for the first few days (week?) the studio gets 100% of the take at the boxoffice. This seems unfair.
I have also heard that if a film does very well, after a period of time the theater gets close to 100% of the boxoffice (which seems great with an Avatar or Harry Potter which is guaranteed to be a long drawn out hit from the fan boyz).
Finally, how does a smaller venue without the muscle of an AMC for example, get some of the better bigger film (read:$$$!) hits?
Hollywood needs to assist smaller venues as well to keep them a viable option to the souless multi-plexes.
Do the studios give better rates to smaller venues if the major blockbuster runs initially at the local mall movie chains and then shows up a month later at the small-number screen mom-and-pop theater?
I still hate the advertising. It’s not like TV or radio ads that you can change the channel on, you’re stuck in your seat. The alternative is to wait in the lobby for X minutes due to the unknown delay of the concession, ticket line and or traffic which gives you at least a 10 minute uncertainty.
I used to buy all the snacks from the theater, but I find the ads so annoying that we pickup the eats from the local convenience store for 1/4 the price. If we have to sit through their commercials, it’s going to cost them.
Here’s another…years ago, when people were acting up/talking loudly during a screening and annoying people all over, I would gallantly get up and approach the group and quietly suggest they be quiet. It always worked.
Now I admit to being a bit afraid since society is getting more crass (so it seems at least to me) by the minute. I don’t need to be knifed or shot by some brain-dead imbecile.
Here we go: have you as an owner ever had to call in police assitance to remove disorderly/drunk/dangerous folks? I doubt your 17-year old usher armed with only a flashlight would do the trick.
And another: I have seen films within the last year get their sprockets(? whatever the holes on either side of the film are called) get shredded and the film jump and freeze and yes, melt.
Aeons ago there was a projectionist manning the booth. Now everything seems computerized.
I volunteered to get up (to the joy my fellow lazy theater-goers) and run out to tell the manager. The film was restarted within minutes.
Question: I assume the people spliced the film to repair it. Is this still done like in days gone by or do damaged films get placed by the studio ASAP. I can’t imagine having a large “hole” in the action due to the film damage since I have not recalled seeing this in recent years (all films look great) but remember nutty film splices from my childhood.
That should have read: “do damaged films get REplaced by the DISTRIBUTORS”
Clearly the studios don’t handle the final product except to put out their hands and collect the spoils.
I would echo the statements made previously about how long it takes for a typical theater to see a profit from a film. Actually I would like to know what determines which films will run in which theaters, when they’ll run, and how much that costs the theater owner? If they want to do an event. (I.E. Midnight screening, radio promotions, or giveaways,) who determines that?
I also would like to know about the ads. I’m not talking about trailers, but the ads which run right before the trailers. (And not the ones running between films). Usually these are national ads for, like Ford, or Mazda, or Pepsi or whatever. I know these come from some marketing outfit, but do theaters really make a profit on these? And why do theaters feel they need to run? Is it because revenue is down that they need to make up the difference here?
Here’s an odd one…. How often do they fumigate and/or spray for insects and other vermin?
Here’s one-
Why hasn’t the business model changed for theaters and why do they expect to remain in business?
With exceptions like the indie theaters or the Alamo drafthouse, it seems most theaters are doing the same thing they have always done. As a result, theater goers are subjected to high ticket prices, higher concession prices, excessive talking, etc.
What’s the most memorable screening you’ve ever attended? (I’ll bet every theater owner has a great answer for this).
Great questions, all. Will compile them over the weekend and send them to my source.