Say NO to TV commercials before feature films at movie theaters.

[vancouverman]

how about this ...

An Open Letter to Regal Cinemas and other theater owners:

This is the last straw. You've done a great job conditioning the movie-going public to accept pre-movie billboard ads, your commercial theater radio networks, and nearly every other form of commercialism under the sun. Now, after the lights go down and we're entrenched in our seats, you've decided to expand into pushing TV commercials. It now seems the only difference between a movie screen and a TV screen is size.

We, the captive audience, have had enough. TV commercials belong on television, not before movies that we pay for.

Movies have traditionally served as an escape from the real world. The movie theater was a portal into different perspectives on the world around us, and sometimes into worlds completely different than our own, be they past, present or future. The motion picture projector no longer serves to promote the business of escapism (as is the case with theatrical trailers), but now is seen as the last resort for advertisers to truly force feed the public video games and SUVs.

CaptiveAudience.org has one primary goal: to urge theater owners to discontinue showing invasive, TV-like commercials before the beginnings of movies. Because many theater chains have a practical monopoly on first-run movies in many areas of the country, we consider these practices to be unfair and intolerable.

CaptiveAudience.org will endeavor to serve as an information center and voice for movie-goers, focused on conveying the clear dissatisfaction audiences have with the movie viewing experience directly to the heads of Regal Entertainment Group and other theater owners engaged in these practices. We hope to show TV-like advertising before movies is well past the line of 'ad-creep', is unprofitable, and will lead to a consumer backlash.

Thank you for your time and attention in this matter.

Sincerely,

The Captive Motion Picture Audience of America
www.captiveaudience.org

 

[Massagegirl]

I was at the Roxy Cinema in Victoria to see Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy and to my surprise there were no commercials OR trailers!! It was very refreshing for the movie to just start without preamble or BS....and it was nice to spend less time sitting, so I'll sign that petition.

 

[yogi]

I simply won't go to any theatre that shows them. Best way to say no is by voting with your wallet.

Someone sued Regal for false advertising, i.e. saying the movie starts at 8, but as a result of all the commercials & ten prevues, actually starts at 8:20. I don't know what happened with that. I wouldn't mind the commercials so much if only they'd tell me when the movie REALLY starts, so I may schedule my arrival accordingly.

 

[BushPilot]

On the rare occasions that I go to the movies, I actually enjoy the trailers. I can do without the commercials, though.

 

[specialty69]

People should just live with the fact that our everyday lives, we are bombarded with ads - billboards, tv, radios, concerts, sporting arenas ... blah, blah, blah. Get use to it. Pretty soon, you will see ads on the DVDS. Its a business decision. Thats one reason for keeping ticket prices from inflating. In fact, ticket prices have come down ($12.95 to $10.95). Heck, put on a few more ads, maybe ticket prices will drop to $7.95. Then everyone can afford to go to the movies again.

Next thing, everyone complains about concession pricing. The theatre industry only makes a very small chunk of change from ticket sales (its the film studios spending the $100 million per movie, paying the $10-20 million dollar to the wannabe actors/actresses and the spielbergs ... they get paid the big bucks) So where do you think the theatre industry makes its revenues ... ah yes (wonderful ads) and concessions. Of course, its pricey but hell, someones still got to maintain that brand new state of the art million dollar theatre mega complex and its staff.

The film industry is going bust and running out of ideas. Come on, making remakes of old movies, movies out of TV series. At least the film industry can still make more money when it comes out on DVDs or on video games but the theatre industry can't. And soon, if the quality of films doesn't improve or people stop going to watch movies, there won't be a theatre anymore.

So lets stop all the whining and petitions. These are only use for politicians by the way.

 

[therealrex]

If I don't get 3 or 4 trailers before a movie I'm pissed off. I could do without the commercials but it doesn't send me into a murderous rage like when someone blocks the escalator though.

 

[crazydancer]

theater owner r complaining about reduced revenue. n blame it on movie piracy. in actual fact, ppl r not going to movie as they used to because of the increasing popularity of dvd n better home theater system. plus the fact that ppl r fed up with all increasing # of ads before movie start. i mean u go to theater for bigscreen, big sound experience plus no ads interuption. if u can get those at home why would u go to theater anymore?

 

[BYSON]

people are never happy, if the movie starts at 7:20 than don't go intill 7:30 welcome to the commercial world, you know this will never happen

 

[wolverine]

I don't mind the movie trailers in the theatres - they are quite entertaining, and are now an essential part of the experience. I've heard many stories of moviegoers buying tickets just to watch the trailers for the new Star Wars and LOTR films and then walking out. Don't care for the car and soft drink ads though.

I really hate it when the trailers and ads are on the beginning of DVDs and you are unable to skip over them. The Mickey Mouse Company (i.e. Disney) is especially guilty of this.

 

[Cock Throppled]

Remember a few years ago when the theatres all locked out their projectionists because they wanted to cut their wages in half? The theatres won, but the prices didn't drop. The recent price drop is not a charitable gesture on their part - it was because they priced themselves too high and attendance dropped.

 

[lenny]

if the movie starts at 7:20 than don't go intill 7:30

Yup, if you want to miss the commercials & previews.
I enjoy both. Previews give me a very good idea if i
will want to see a movie or rent it on DVD.

 

[lenny]

Who cares about the ads, the trailers, or the movie? Just get the damn lights out so I can get her head in my lap.

Is the theatre a good place to poon...

I prefer the lights on so i can see her face & lips &...

It seems that SW's always want the lights out.
Don't they know sight turns men on.

 

[HankQuinlan]

People should just live with the fact that our everyday lives, we are bombarded with ads - billboards, tv, radios, concerts, sporting arenas ... blah, blah, blah. Get use to it. Pretty soon, you will see ads on the DVDS.

So lets stop all the whining and petitions. These are only use for politicians by the way.

Ads are already on dvd's --- Finding Neverland has a car ad you can't skip over.

I hate trailers, too. If a movie is any good, there's usually enough spoilers in the trailer to lessen the surprises in the movie. I hate them, hate them, hate them.

...and commercial companies do respond to comsumer's campaigns, if you can get them to catch on. That's one of the reasons for posting on the internet -- to try and spread ideas...

 

[maverick73]

Remember a few years ago when the theatres all locked out their projectionists because they wanted to cut their wages in half? The theatres won, but the prices didn't drop. The recent price drop is not a charitable gesture on their part - it was because they priced themselves too high and attendance dropped.

Yeah, they are just too damn greedy. Hey, I've always been curious, have they done market testing on the pricing of their "meals" (I use the term loosely as a hot dog and popcorn can hardly be considered a meal)? The object is to maximize profits... high price, lower sales, or lower price, higher sales. One has to think that if they lowered their prices on their junk food just a BIT, they would probably get more sales to cover the price reduction and make more money by the end of the day.

Oh, and I'm ok with 10 min. of trailers, but please no damn Axe body spray, car, or other commercials please... 10 min is all I can handle... when it starts getting to 15, then 20... it's like START THE GOD DAMN MOVIE ALREADY!

 

[therealrex]

Can't really feel sorry for the projectionists top end on that job was like $50/hr because projectors used to be mooey complicated so when the new projectors came out there was no need for them any putz can run a projector now.

 

[lenny]

Ads are already on dvd's --- Finding Neverland has a car ad you can't skip over.

That's what a mute button is for.

Pee pee time.

 

[yogi]

I don't give a rat's ass if it's called a "business decision", whatever that means. Corporate buzzwords don't automatically make something a good decision, or a wise one.
And yes, consumer pressure & petitions, boycotts, DO work to force businesses to change their minds. It's not just for politics.

 

[specialty69]

Unless you are business owner, you will never understand the concept of "business decision". Its no corporate buzzword, and yes, I do agree with you that its not always in the best interest of the consumers. And for those people that are mad at watching the ads before the movie starts ... well, it works because you remember what the ads were ... like the AXE body spray, the milk ads, that SONY ERICSSON tune, the ALESSE ad (this one puzzles me). And if you don't want to watch the ads, then go in 15-20 minutes after the scheduled movie time.

If someone pays you to wear their corporate logo, would you do it? If you say no then you are lying. Everyone has their price ... yes, even the great Tiger Woods. And thats what the theatre industry is doing as well. Its all about making money .... pure and simple. Welcome to the REAL world, yogi

At least the theatre industry like Cineplex Galaxy & the no longer Famous Players theatres are doing charitable works in their community for example ... the Variety Hearts program, the Kids Help line, the AIDS Walk, Ridge Meadows Hospital foundation, Food Bank and so on.

So what is a few minutes of "so-called interruptions in your lives" ? To some people, its a lifetime and to others, its called "Patience", which is a virtue by the way. So lets stop whining and complaining about everything in life. We don't always get what we want .... and that is not necessarily a bad thing.

Peace ....

 

[Cock Throppled]

I think the problem is "choice". We choose to go to a theatre for a movie, we don't go for commercials - that's the whole point of paying to go to the movies. I accept advertising in newspapers, magazines and television because those outlets make their prime income from advertising to give me my entertainment at a reasonable price. Movie companies and theatre corporations are very profitable and have just added a new revenue source because they think we'll accept it - and they're pobably right because that average American movie is geared to people who don't/can't think. Those of us who don't like are rebelling by staying away. The choice was theirs and they chose to alienate a segment of their audience at their peril.

 

[yogi]

69, I AM a successful business owner. Why? Because I focus on my clients' needs, and they know that. That's my "business decision". That's what keeps them coming back to me & referring others to me. Do I meet your standard of "real" yet?

I accept commercials on broadcast TV because it's free. Also, I can get up to go to the kitchen for some food without losing my seat. Commercials in movie theatres, where I'm already paying plenty for admission & "food", will drive me away as a customer. If they wish to live with the loss of my business plus that of others, good for them (or to hell with em).

I can't go 20 minutes late, because sometimes the movie starts after 12 mins, sometimes it takes 22!