Hatrack River Forum: Too many commercials at beginning of movies

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Posted by Jalapenoman (Member # 6575) on :

We just returned from seeing the new Harry Potter at the theatre. No, this post does not have any spoilers.

While we all enjoyed the film, we had some problems with the beginning. We had to sit through eight minutes of commercials, the policy trailer (don't smoke, turn off your cell phone), and another nine minutes of trailers (previews) before the movie even started.

There were eight commercials in these nine minutes for everything from Coke to American Express to the Will Rogers foundation. Some were inappropriate in their content for attachement to a family film that included small children in the viewing audience.

It was the same with the trailers. We had several for upcoming family films, but also had some for patently adult movies. While these were all green banded trailers, they still did not belong here (A green banded trailer is one approved for all audiences. A red banded trailer is one that is only shown with r-rated films and can contain nudity, extreme violence, and swearing.).

I spent about 8 years working with United Artists (I left in 1994). Our company policy back then was that we were never to have more than one commercial, one policy trailer, and no more than ten total minutes of commercials and trailers before starting the film. We were also supposed to keep all trailers within one rating (up or down) of the picture. In other words, we could not show a trailer, even green banded, for an r-rated movie on a pg movie.

It appears that these policies do not apply to Carmike or any of the other theatre exhibitors that I have visited recently. We had similar problems a few weeks ago with Shrek 2, but it did not have as many commercials (though it included more trailers).

So, anyone got any ideas? At this point, I am writing letters (that will be ignored) to both Cinemark and Carmike complaining of these actions. I will also be writing to my local newspaper's letters to the editor section. None of this venting will do me any good, but I am looking for suggestions on what can be done that would be successful.

Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :

Blowing up theaters is good.

Posted by Sugar+Spice (Member # 5874) on :

Last time I went to the cinema I was fifteen minutes late for the start of my movie. I went into the screen on the ticket, sat down and was surprised to see another film playing. I watched it for a while to check that it wasn't a trailer. Then I got up, went to the counter and ask where my film was playing. The guy directed me back to where I'd been before. The other film was still playing. Then it finished, and turned out to have been a trailer. If a trailer lasts ten minutes, does it still count as a trailer, or just a very short movie? [Mad]

Okay, rant over.

Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :

I'm...I'm...going to have to burn down the building.

Posted by Sugar+Spice (Member # 5874) on :

Yay, Arson! Fun for all the family [Smile]

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

You know, I have to say that I LOVE trailers. I do not like the commercials or those stupid "Have some yummy popcorn" commercial-like presentations, but sometimes the trailer is, sadly, the only part of a movie I ever see.

Posted by gnixing (Member # 768) on :

i also think that trailers are great. i agree they should be more appropriate to the film and those fanta commercials have got to go!

Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :

Did they used to do this in the past? It seems like to me they didn't. Like they used to have the go visit the concession stand and spend a million dollars for popcorn, then the previews.
NO COMMERCIALS.
No coca cola, pepsi, fanta stupid ads taking an extra TEN MINUTES and getting on my last damn nerves.
They used to have the trailers then start the film and I wish they'd get back to that!

Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :

I hate the fanta commercials. Directly right to males, as well.

Posted by Son_of_Priam (Member # 6411) on :

You know I can understang the commercials on T.V. because someone has to pay for the shows, but I've already forked over atleast $8.50 I don't want to spend 20 minutes watching commercials, and then some more watching previews for some horrible movies I would never see. If these movies are making so many millions of dollars in the movie theatres, why do they have to be paid for advertising some disgusting soda. *cough*FANTA!!!*cough*

[ June 19, 2004, 09:39 PM: Message edited by: Son_of_Priam ]

Posted by FoolishTook (Member # 5358) on :

Yes, I hate those bloody commercials. And the mere mention of Fanta makes me break out in hives. [Wall Bash]

I don't mind trailers, either--in fact, I quite like them--as long as they don't include Hillary Duff, Vin Diesel, or the Rock.

Posted by Jalapenoman (Member # 6575) on :

I personally have a problem with the trailers, but understand the need for them.

Back in the 80's and 90's when I was with U.A., we had to attend quarterly meetings that lasted several days. One day was spent doing nothing but watching every trailer for every movie that would be coming out in the next several months. This was called "watching product reel" and was intended to be productive. After about 15 minutes, all it did was produce sleep in everyone in the room.

After about three consecutive trailers, I am usually ready to kill a projectionist for attaching them and studio people for shipping them out.

Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :

Trailers are fine.

Commercials are not.

Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :

quote:
and those fanta commercials have got to go!

YES!!!

I don't mind the trailers, but I'm with Hector/Paris on the commercials. [Mad]

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Can I say how relieved I am that y'all hate the Fanta ads too? I thought it was just me.

I'm so used to 15 minutes worth of pre-movie stuff that I assume it. 10 minutes late for the movie? No problem -- just hope we can find seats in the dark.

And I like trailers, but NOT commercials. Although I agree on the rating issue, even though I very rarely take my kids to the movies.

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

When I went to see my last movie at the threatre, I said to my wife "All these Coke commercials make me want to never drink a Coke again in my life."

Then the Fanta commercial aired. I leaned over to my wife and said "I think I want to drink a Coke now. ANYTHING but Fanta."

Which sads me, since I actually really like Fanta.

Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :

I've always had commercials before my movies, so I suppose I'm desensitized, as it were. It doesn't me, because it's just part of what I consider the "moviegoing experience". My friends and I talk through them anyway- we talk right up to the warning that tells us to shut up. It's traditional.

So I don't mind the commercials, although I wouln't be sad to see them go (it wouldn't, obviously, be a loss). However, I do like the trailers, I like to see what's coming up (even though I watch most of them on line anyway).

[Dont Know]

Posted by BlueJacsFan (Member # 6590) on :

The commercials really get annoying -- especially when you see the same one (Caramel Kisses) TWICE in front of the same movie.

I have to say, though, that when I watched a movie in London last summer, I was wishing for the American commercials. They get a lot more commercials in front of their movies even than we do.