Treating People Like Criminals Doesn't Help The Movie Going Experience
from the and-they-wonder-why-no-one-goes dept
For years, both theater owners and the movie industry have complained that people aren't going to the theaters because of online file sharing. To most people, however, it seems pretty obvious that it's the theater-going experience that's the problem. Combining all the boring remakes, with high prices, crowded theaters, sticky floors, screaming babies, half an hour of commercials and (of course) ringing mobile phones -- sometimes it's a tough sell as to why you'd want to bother. On top of that, of course, you have cheaper home theater equipment, and plenty of other options for your entertainment dollars. None of these things have anything to do with file sharing of movies. And, yet, the industry still doesn't get it. This isn't particularly new (we've been hearing stories like this for a while now), but with many preview showings, the theaters are searching all patrons and forcing them to give up their mobile phones. Then, during the entire screening, security guards are constantly scanning the audience, making themselves very obvious, but making patrons feel like they're under surveillance. As someone who went through the process (and ignored the search at the beginning) notes, this doesn't make them want to go back to the movies again any time soon. In their attempt to stop the "piracy," it seems the industry has made the movie going experience even worse. Which one is more likely to have an actual impact on how many people go to the theater?
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
What if People Like It?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: What if People Like It?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: What if People Like It?
A long-winded example: I've watched the '2001' DVD on my HDTV Sharp LCD projector many times, thinking it looked great. But back when they re-released it in theatres a couple of years ago, suddenly the detail was so great that I saw all these new things. I could make out the livery on the orbiting satellites at the beginning of the space sequence. I could make out tiny brand names imprinted on the space shuttle kitchen appliances like 'Whirlpool'. In the case of the satellites, missing the livery (China, USA, and Russia, I believe) probably makes you miss a crucial plot point -- these are not just random satellites orbiting Earth, they're orbiting bombs.
My guess is that even with the best DVD player and projector, you'd never see those details at home -- I just don't think the bits are on the DVD, they're lost between adjacent scan lines.
Geek issues aside, there are baser pleasures to be had in a real theatre. A good, well-run traditional house with behaving patrons like, say, the Ziegfeld in NYC, provides a huge, immersive field-of-view that you'd be hard-pressed to create at home. Plus, sometimes you just want the group experience. When I saw "Jurassic Park" at a packed Ziegfeld on opening night, the first dino sighting sent gasps through the theatre; just remembering that still gives me a thrill.
Or when I was a kid seeing "Play Misty for Me" in a packed house. The first time Jessica Walter lunged at Clint Eastwood with that huge knife, everyone screamed, flew out of their seats, then giggled self-consciously -- what a great shared moment.
Last -- sometimes you just want an excuse to get out of the house.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: What if People Like It?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: What if People Like It?
Still, some minimum-wage security lamer says he's gonna take my phone (it's a Treo) for me, and i can maybe get it back at the end of the showing, I'm thinking that I'll go harass the manager for a refund.
I don't trust them to treat my equipment like I do (precious), and I also don't want to trust them to return it to me in pristine condition immediately after the film.
I think the manager would be hearing from me immediately, and I'll be firm but forceful until I get a refund; an apology would go a long way to actually having me ever come back to the theatre.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: What if People Like It?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: What if People Like It?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: What if People Like It?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Honestly...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Honestly...
I think we need a new government entitlement!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Screening Search
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Honestly...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Honestly...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Honestly...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Honestly...
now what were you saying about justifications?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Most people...
They need to learn that it's not worth spending more money than what you're losing to stop stealing. It doesn't work to pay a security guard $12 an hour to prevent a loss of $8 an hour via stealing.
They upset me greatly.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Honestly...
WTF?? 'out of need'? you don't NEED downloaded movies and music. i've only been out of college for a year and was living off of rice and salt for a lot of that time. i downloaded movies and music like everyone else but i wasn't going to go hungry if i couldn't get a good clean of Kill Bill from Suprnova (bittorrent)
I fully agree with everything being said about movie theaters being ridiculously overpriced but don't say a college student NEEDS downloaded movies, that just adds fuel to the MPAA's fire. Anyway, you always have Netflix and some microwave popcorn - your place is a more intimate setting for a date than a theater anyway.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I miss the good ole days.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Movie Watching
I'm not, however able to buy a huge screen to watch movies on. If I could I would. I do have to say, that most of my movie watching is done at home (NetFlix is a wonderful thing).
There are a few movies that are good enough to be watched on big screens. But those are so few in number, that I only find myself going to the theater about twice each year. There is just no reason for it!
If I didn't have a professional need for anything like my own home theater, I wouldn't even have that. Most of the movies I enjoy don't need THX, DTS, Dolby, etc to be enjoyable.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Movie Watching
oopsies... our youth cant read, i forgot we had to bend the curve for the minorities (which where im from happen to make 70% of the population)
its no wonder then is it.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Movie Watching
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Movie Watching
As for the youth and minorities comment, I'm a 22 y/o minority that's got a gorgeous library on shelf and PC. So let's think before we go typing whatever prejudice statement comes to mind. I live in a nice suburb and work in a busy office where I do even more reading and I'm sure there are plenty of minorities just like me.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Movie Watching
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Movie Watching
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No Subject Given
And besides, don't they know how painful it is to watch a movie that came from a "camcorder in a theather".
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
Do they know about having 2 cell phones?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
MOVIE VIEWING
not worth it Bad picture Bad sound. It cost me
with a family of four about 40 bucks for a night at the movies. so we wait and rent it a few months later.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: MOVIE VIEWING
Now in todays economy add to that $10 bucks in gas to get to the theater....
I work at a Public Library and checking out movies is FREE, then go to the local Dollar Tree and get the EXACT same package of snacks the theater sells (same package, same weight, same snack) for $3.50 I can buy for $1.00. I know they need some markup to make a profit, but this is a 350% markup over the Dollar Tree (and the Dollar Tree is making profit off of the $1.00 price, so....)
THIS IS WHY ATTENDANCE IS DOWN. The AVERAGE household cannot afford to go to the theater. This has NOTHING to do with downloading.
And I agree with others comments, lame remakes, poor sequels, same storylines with different locations/characters. Get new material.
I remember a time when there was not a 'fall premier schedule' that theaters stood by just to release movies regardless of quality. It really used to be that production companies would not grab a script just to have a movie to release by some date, but actually funded scripts that were GOOD.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
It is Hollywood's fault
I see movies almost weekly and I have no memory of a cell phone going off ever.
What makes my experience(s) so bad are the commericals, the prices, and the way I am treated at the theater.
I have found some small mom and pop houses here in the Triangle area that are awesome. They are about 20% cheaper all around. The sound is not quite as good nor do they have stadium seating. But the experience is much better.
The problem is in the type of corporate culture that manages the movie industry from top to bottom.
I once worked for a design house that was bought by an international publically held corporation. About a year after they took us over, you should have seen how hard they tried to assimilate a totally subjective type of workflow into a micromanaged- assembly line routine.
It failed.
The damned commercials are what ruin it for me more than anything.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: It is Hollywood's fault
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: It is Hollywood's fault
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Let's hope the MPAA gets wind of these recent arti
If the movie industries were smart they would stop the war and piracy, and stop accepting every half ass script that comes their way. Theatre's should also realize that no one is going to pay the outrageous prices for a movie ticket either.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Let's hope the MPAA gets wind of these recent
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Supply and Demand
Let Hollywood eat their own crap for a few years. Let them realize that we FUND them, they do not own us. SCREW their lame ass movies and stupid idiot moron actors.
Only decent thing to come out of hollywood in 10 years has been Matrix part 1, and even that was followed by the two suckiest sequels ever...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
The problem with boycotting...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
The real problem
You can rent a movie, let as many people see it as you want and have it cost a lot less than buying tickets for 2 people.. all you have to do is wait, and by the time it gets to where you can rent it, you've already heard if it would be worth your money or not.
Plus when your at your house, you can pause the movie to run to the bathroom or get something to drink.. which something to drink, or eat would be a lot cheaper too. The theater here charges $3.00 for a small drink and $3.50 for a small popcorn... its rediculous. And they scan the isles for outside food too, the greed is boudless.
As far as people with cellphones go.. They don't bother me as long as they either shut the phone off or answer it quickly instead of just letting it go until it stops. And once they pick it up they step outside to carry on the conversation if they need to.... But i thought most theaters were going with cell-phone signal blockers nowadays. I go fairly often for some reason anway, but if they go for my phone, I'd rather just stay home.. and even i shut the thing off during movies.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: The real problem
But I'm with you. As long as they answer and step outside I don't have a problem.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: The real problem
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: The real problem
That's a laugh!
I live in Las Vegas. I can tell you from experience, that any phone, and any carrier IS entirely blocked when you are inside most of the hotels on the strip.
If you ask, you'll be told that it is due to the "blast resistant" and "fire resistant" building materials. Again, take it from me, that's a bunch of bull. Ask the engineers who put together the blue prints.
Las Vegas casinos can do it to keep their gamblers free from nagging phone calls. Surely "blast resistant" movie theaters would quiet Hollywood's cell phone issues.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: The real problem
Trust me, I've seen the closets with all the "nextel", "verizon", "cingular" boxes and signal boosting equipment.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: The real problem
http://www.edwardjayepstein.com/tvprofits.htm
A site is a bit of an eye-opener about the business.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: The real problem
If a guard asks for something, ask him/her for a receipt. They are never prepared for you to question *their* integrity.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Arrgh
The last two movies I downloaded were Harry Potter 3 and Hitchhiker's Guide. I still saw both in the theatre and still bought the Harry Potter DVD. We'll not discuss the fact that it's probably best that Doug Adams died before the film had a chance to kill him. However, my movie viewing has tapered off - not because of the availability of a lower priced offering.
My local Crown Theatre shows between 15 and 18 minutes of commercials before the film. Literally, I don't even show up to buy tickets until ten minutes after the official start time. I refuse to pay for advertising. Fix this and I'll go back to a few movies a week. Otherwise, it's Netflix all the way.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Too Pricey
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Too Pricey
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Too Pricey
it's a shame that those that are the beginning of those things are rewarded the least....it all comes down to Greed, plain and simple.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Too Pricey
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
prices
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
burning cash
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
BULLCRAP
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No Subject Given
Fix it up, movie going isn't worth it and I hear about them making more and more crappy sequels and stuff.
Realistically, I can watch TV and get awesome quality. I hear Rome is awesome, Prison Break is great, 24, Nip 'n Tuck, House ... there's a lot of quality shows that will give me an instant and ongoing experience that I think movies have to now rival. Add in the Internet, video games, and other fads and what do you have? You have to start being more creative in your offerings. Or you can just sue people ... whichever floats your boat.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Cost
The problem with the theaters today, is they think they need to spend millions of dollars to jazz up the entrance lobby. That is poor money sense. I do like stadium seating and good audio, which I am willing to pay more. I don’t like paying for all the lobby jazz and their electric bill for the hundreds of lights to show off useless crap. One such theater had what appeared to be an astronomy map in their lobby.
Hollywood needs to get off of the high chair and come to realize people do not want to pay 10 bucks for a movie pass. Theaters need to re-evaluate their expenses to make the snacks cheaper.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
hollywood is a steaming pile of crap.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
I don't even remember the last movie I saw in a theater, which tells you something if that's typical (it is where I am). VCR's were the death note for theaters, DVD's the nails in, and the Internet the packed dirt on the coffin.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No Subject Given
http://www.drive-ins.com/detail.php?code=txlast
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Cost, shared experience, drive-ins
A commenter talked about the shared experience of going to the theater. That is so true. I went to the premiere of the Beatle's "A Hard Days Night" (Yeah, I'm old) and as long as I live I will never forget the theater going dark (there were not commercials then), a pause while the curtains pulled back from the screen, and then just as the screen lit up, the first chord from the song "A Hard Days Night" rang out. Instantly, every single girl in the theater started screaming - and didn't stop until the movie ended. It was an event. I loved it and will never forget it.
Drive-ins. What can I say. Kids today are missing out on one of the greatest experiences that can be had. In a small town of 10K people, we had four drive-ins. Each had one screen, a playground, cheap speakers, and decent popcorn. At five, I'd make a tent in the back seat if the movie bored me and write on the fogged up windows - ticking off my Dad who lectured me on how the writing would still be there when the fog dried. As a date destination for teens, and older people, there is/was no substitute. You are alone with your girl, under the stars (if you had a convertible, sun roof, or pick-up), ostensibly watching a movie (good/bad made little difference then) and making out like mad. Life was good and easy with no worries about the details. Foggy windows, having to start the car to warm up chilly nether regions, going out to get popcorn and a coke and when you open the door the dome light blinds you. The best kiss I ever got as a teen was at a drive in. I wish there were a way to revive drive-ins. But realistically, with the poor behavior tolerated by our society apparent in all too many these days, the security problems alone make it a prohibitive. Too bad, you are missing out on wonderful experience. It's one of those 'you had to have been there' things.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given : A Pirate Speaks
Hollywood and the Music companies both need to stop trying to sue/criminalize or plant rootkits on the computers of their fans or there won't be any of us left after awhile
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
movie security
I want to live where you live.
Security guards confiscating cellphones? You mean, the cellphones of people who not only forget to turn off their phones... people whose phones ring and they ANSWER them during the movie... but people who actually MAKE CALLS during the movies? You have guards confiscate their phones? I hope the guards yank them, and the people who talk WITHOUT cellphones, and throw them in a prison where they are detained without constitutional rights. "Why am I being held here? Why won't you let me contact my lawyer?" "Why don't you just sit and think about it."
Seriously, of all the horrible movie-going problems you described, and I agree with all of them, I have NEVER thought to myself, "man, there is too much security in here. How am I going to start shouting at the screen without getting into trouble?"
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
HAHA
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
TREATING PEOPLE LIKE CRIMINALS
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
right on
on the other hand, here in norway, the commercials before the film are usually hilarious and that for me is part of the great experience. commercials in the states are usually so cheesy that i want to gag, seriously! i think maybe some of the dumbest, most uncreative people in the states work in the advertising industry (and also in the bush administration).
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I commented on the same thing and offered some opt
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
MOVIE PRICES
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
this is hilarious
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
movie going experience
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
What it is really like
Another factor is the REPS or Representatives promoting it (usually from a local radio station and the studio. Depending on the REPS there you may face as much security as listed above but you may very well, and probably will, have less in the way of security.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No Subject Given
but a film projector doesn't justify the extra money out of my pocket for a still crappy movie that's not worth the $2.00 duplication cost of the DVD.
Netflix and pirating here i come until hollywood can produce something a little bit deeper than a freakin high school video project.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
What everyone seems to be forgetting
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
It's simple
I think people like making Informed Dissicions. And i think the media companies view information as thier maney maker, so they have a vested intrest in keep as much info to themselves as possible. I mean just look at movie trailers, how many of those scenes aren't even in the final movie? I don't know about you, but i think that's almost false advertising. And what if you buy a movie and absolutely hate it? Well, you can trade it in for another copy of the same movie, but not for a new movie. It's just stupid.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
it should be illegal
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Here in AK
I dont miss "the lesser 48" as much any more, thanks for this post!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Just Go With It
Movie Release Date: February 11, 2011
http://movietrailer2011.blogspot.com/2010/12/just-go-with-it.html
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Proves how out of touch with reality the industry really is.
I'm sure DRM will fix all that really good.
Couldn't really expect anything else from a parasite wearing a suit.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]