Movie theaters meet to save themselves

**Krell** · March 13th, 2006, 12:49 PM

ShoWest, the annual movie theater trade conference, will open this week to far more interest than in previous years. And a key reason for that is Napster.

DVDs and home theaters have been keeping potential viewers at home in rising numbers for years. Now, the rise of such video-sharing sites as YouTube proves that the movie and television industries are facing the kind of Napsterization phenomenon that besieged the music business. But one way that Hollywood can fight back, movie executives say, is to improve the theater experience.

At a Los Angeles conference last month, DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg said theaters must somehow recapture the magic that made it special to go to the movies when we were kids. Although such improvements as 3-D projectors or other digital enhancements would help, Katzenberg said theaters could do other things that are far less complicated: lowering the price of popcorn and upgrading facilities, for example.

No matter what, something needs to be done. As Katzenberg said, it's often much nicer to wait in the adjacent Starbucks area than it is to hang out in the theater lobby.

http://news.com.com/2061-11199_3-604...9038&subj=news

Fuck that, if I want Starbucks, I will go to a freakin STARBUCKS, having one nearby only lets me save money on LESS OVER PRICED stuff that is already way over priced.

Now STFU . . . and get your feet off the back of my seat, BIOTCH.

and close your mouth and stop smackin that popcorn you fat-ass

i hate theatres

.

**fleecy** · March 13th, 2006, 12:52 PM

about time they considered improving the theater experience.... hopefully it won't result in higher ticket prices

**Excrement_Cranium** · March 13th, 2006, 01:14 PM

I didn't get to go to it... but down in Portland there is a string of movie "theatres" that are older theatres which have been converted. The basic deal is rather than traditional theatre seating, you sit at tables, order a beer and a meal, and watch the movie. They make a killing.

**que-em** · March 13th, 2006, 02:02 PM

I don't know what's wrong with these people. First they start giving you less bang for your buck then they ask "I wonder why people aren't coming anymore". It's because people don't like getting f**ked over you dummies. I haven't been to the movie theaters in a while but I remember the days when they gave you a big ass tray full of nachos splattered with cheese. Now they give you this silly assed mcdonald's kiddie meal tray with a child proof cup of cheese. Who the hell wants that. Half way through the nachos you run out of cheese and you're stuck with the taste of some dry assed non flavored nachos and the only way to get the taste out your mouth is to order a big cup of cold drink that leaves you uncomfortable through the movie because you gotta piss. What do they put in them cold drinks, diuretics?

**cjules13** · March 13th, 2006, 02:22 PM

I still bring my own pop and candy to the movies... One can of soda and a bag of peanut m&ms is less than a dollar of real money.

For a gallon of their pop and way too many m&ms it's at least $7.

The ticket price is maybe a couple bucks overpriced, but by the time I use a "pass" discount at a matinee it's only like $5.00

But my home theater sure keeps me at, uh, home at lot instead of the movies. Can't beat my own personal shitter and the pause button can you?

**Signa** · March 13th, 2006, 03:38 PM

i went to see king kong and i was rather outraged the matenee price was up to $7.25. where i work i can BUY movies for that price (if they are old/crappy enough) yet i was only paying for myself and no one else who wanted to see it.

i wonder how lucritive a internet pay-per-view program would be for new movies instead of theaters

**shawners** · March 13th, 2006, 04:30 PM

I thought it be awesome if they selled memorbillia.. Have a shop to sell sunglasses, movie shirts, posters, film reel photos, and other nick nacks.

**Krell** · March 13th, 2006, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by shawners

I thought it be awesome if they selled memorbillia.. Have a shop to sell sunglasses, movie shirts, posters, film reel photos, and other nick nacks.

I would buy a PHUCK the MPAA shirt if they sold one

and if I actually went to a theatre

.

**Afn** · March 13th, 2006, 04:54 PM

3-D is something I know, and know how to produce. (www.Florida3d.com)

The best 3-D experience is going to be HMD displays, not circular or 45/0 degree polarized projection. (Sorry Dreamworks!) The home market is going to be the market as gas prices skyrocket over the next several years. Besides, the DVD with pause is the best device ever invented. Resume and Eject solve most time shifting problems.

Theaters are in direct competition with every video on DVD, net content, and recorded music/speech. Theaters are going to have to find other business models if they want to make money.

3-D might or might not work. I think 3-D is going to be great for home viewing over the theater experience once HMD aka "head mounted displays" become inexpensive, mass consumer devices.

**shawners** · March 13th, 2006, 05:53 PM

Best thing I have seen was IMAX showing star wars III, Spider-man, lord of the rings, and few others.. Tickets are 11 bucks a piece.

**Afn** · March 13th, 2006, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by shawners

Best thing I have seen was IMAX showing star wars III, Spider-man, lord of the rings, and few others.. Tickets are 11 bucks a piece.

Yeah, 65mm "imax" films cost more to produce, thus an increased price.

**Excrement_Cranium** · March 13th, 2006, 11:26 PM

Last time I tried to watch an IMAX was some nature film at OMSI and the experience.... put me to sleep.

It might be cool to see an actual movie, but IMAX fills my field of vision so well, I get vertigo on sweeping shots.

12 bucks, and I get to puke? Fuck yeah!

**Mels_Smileys45** · March 14th, 2006, 02:03 AM

http://www.bigmoviezone.com/filmsear....html?uniq=461

I would not mind seeing V for Vendetta or Superman returns in Imax.

**shawners** · March 14th, 2006, 03:04 AM

Originally Posted by Krell

I would buy a PHUCK the MPAA shirt if they sold one

and if I actually went to a theatre

.

Universal Studios in hollywood and florida has the same thing.. They even have a movie theater there, and all the stores have stuff from movies.. I bought my wife a Amity shirt that was from Jaws.. Brother a Spiderman shirt, he was 12 at the time.

And arent you using netflix and really arent sticking it to the MPAA after all... I guess im the true file hoarder.

**Afn** · March 14th, 2006, 04:58 AM

Originally Posted by Excrement_Cranium

Last time I tried to watch an IMAX was some nature film at OMSI and the experience.... put me to sleep.

It might be cool to see an actual movie, but IMAX fills my field of vision so well, I get vertigo on sweeping shots.

12 bucks, and I get to puke? Fuck yeah!

In 3-D when you move the camera, it is like moving your head.

For all of the hype of IMAX, it is a doomed strategy versus DVD and home theater.