Chinese Movie Industry Recognizes Movie Watching Is A Social Experience

from the at-least-someone-does... dept

Yesterday we noted that the MPAA and movie theater owners were whining about how much people coming in an taping movies was hurting their business. The obvious response, we pointed out, is to recognize that going to the movies is a social experience. It's not just about the content (though, that is important), but the overall experience. If they improved that, then people would want to go -- even if they could score the same movie off the internet or a cheap DVD bought off the street. While the folks in Hollywood refuse to entertain this idea, someone (anonymously) in the comments to that story pointed to an article in China noting that this is exactly what Chinese movie theaters have done. After years of declining attendance, they finally shaped up and made going to the movies cool again. They improved the overall experience, putting in better equipment and more comfortable seats. They improved the sound and the lighting as well. It sounds like they also made some theaters to be more like bars, to help attract young adults away from traditional bars. Yet the supposedly "creative" movie people in Hollywood insist "nothing can be done" to get people into the theater.
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  • identicon
    dorpus, 22 Mar 2005 @ 2:57am

    Optimization Issue

    If theaters were made more as a social atmosphere, as some "dinner theaters" in the USA have long experimented, then it will cause patrons to talk more, and maybe make out too. It hasn't been too successful here. I think the article is referring to the fact that China is making movie theaters approaching US standards, compared to previous generations who had to sit on blocks of hay in subzero temperatures, because wow, a moving picture!!!


    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      MobyBrain, 19 Aug 2005 @ 11:30am

      Re: Optimization Issue

      Social atmosphere? That's going in precisely the wrong direction.
      I'm from the era of the "roadshow" with reserved seats, state of the art presentation, and curtains-- and no hyper-manic trailers and certainly no commercials. People dressed for the occasion which was one of elegance and decorum.
      Cinema is not a social experience. It is a shared immersive experience, not a giant living room or bar.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Levi Wallach, 22 Mar 2005 @ 6:00am

    Theaters

    Here in the DC area, there are several theaters that I know of that cater more to the experience of going to the movies rather than simply being the same old multiplexes with your standard concessions of crappy overpriced foods. In particular there are places that are combo theaters/restaurants which serve food during the movie, but they play second run films. There's also places that are more oriented towards art films which have bars or cafes within them (Visions in DC, but I know of one in Baltimore and the Angelica in NYC are similar). Then of course there's SilverDocs, which is AFI's theater in Silver Spring, MD.

    All of these are great places to go, but I think the problem is that the movie industry sees their big market as being those under 18, and these places aren't geared to them. Of course if the movie industry and theater chains actually tried to put more of these adult-marketed theaters around, they might at least see a lot more 20+ year-olds going out on dates or even for married couples without kids.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Herbert Hoover, 22 Mar 2005 @ 8:42am

    No Subject Given

    Why don't they just offer an an anonymous bounty for turning the crooks in? If you see someone filming tell the manager and get free butter popcorn for a year? $100.00 free movie passes for a year? It seems like all these guys know how to do is whine and get suehappy.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      RuPaul, 22 Mar 2005 @ 10:33am

      Re: No Subject Given

      lol ...

      Why Herbert, that is a lovely idea that the MPAA will probably try out if any of their idiots got wind of the idea ....

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        aNonMooseCowherd, 22 Mar 2005 @ 5:59pm

        Re: No Subject Given

        Why Herbert, that is a lovely idea that the MPAA will probably try out...

        Not to mention patent it.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    beebels, 22 Mar 2005 @ 11:08am

    theaters are always packed in taiwan...

    despite the fact that there are cheap-as-dirt bootleg dvds on every street corner, and they are usually out before the movie opens. can't really explain the phenomenon. theaters there are no-frills but a little cheaper than in the US. outside food is also allowed, so you get groups of people bringing dinner and beer in and making an evening of it. it isn't any noisier than in U.S. theaters with their candy-wrapper-crinkling of wrappers and popcorn-crunching.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 23 Mar 2005 @ 12:59am

    Some more links

    On topic: I wonder if someone will make money by rediscovering old-style movie palaces.

    A search of the ChinaDaily site for "Flying Daggers" (aka the movie with the best boxoffice earnings in China) showed a few other interesting articles including one on Warners Home Video's efforts in an environment that includes significant copyright infringement. Hint to these guys: subtitled and dubbed.

    Another article talks about the Chinese film industry. The focus here is about foreign investment and an overview of the industry.

    -cmh

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    B-Man, 14 Mar 2006 @ 7:52pm

    Can't take the rude folks either

    I have an observation that hasn't been mentioned. When I'm trying to be immersed in the cinematic experience there is always some group of miscreants having a party in the back row. How about the theaters get serious about ejecting these morons WITHOUT refunding their money. Until the atmosphere is conducive to an immersive experience, I'll immerse myself in the quiet of my own home.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    John, 21 Jun 2006 @ 8:57am

    If i could smoke a cigar in the theatre like Deniro does, then i would go more often.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Richard, 17 Dec 2007 @ 11:08am

    theater-going

    even with the high prices, people would go if they knew the theater owners/managment cared- by kicking the annoying people out. someone gave a great idea- return of the theater usher...keep 'em quiet or get 'em out. i went to see The Mist the other day, and someone brought his 3yr old in, who talked to the screen the entire time! it ruined my movie-going experience. i think assigned seats would really go well too, so you automatically know that you'll have a seat with your friend/date, rather than scouring the theater or sitting in different places.
    Most important on my list, though, is the noise control...if that could be handled better, i'd go to the movies way more often.

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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