Theater Owners Seek New Rules About Trailer Length

[Donut]

Maybe theaters should think about playing less ****ing trailers before a movie

 

[Kane52630]

Terrible and useless idea, trailers for me gives me a buffer time to get to the theater and get popcorn and snacks so I don't miss a sec of the movie...plus I love seeing some of my movies anticipated movies on the big screen.

If anything, get rid of the ads that play before the trailers start. I used to remember back in the day where all they did is play relaxing music.

 

[Teelie]

Or you could actually show up before the movie time starts like most people do.

 

[Kane52630]

I do, majority of the time I get there well before the first trailer ever plays...but there's a few times where terrible traffic shows up or something else comes up that makes me show up late, lucky I get there and it's just the trailers playing.

 

[metaphysician]

The problem is, theater chains are strapped for cash. It isn't greed that drives them to stick ads in front of movies, its desperation. So, I'm a little more sympathetic. If showing ads and scamming the people foolish enough to buy concessions is the alternative to higher ticket prices, than so be it.

 

[Duke]

I enjoy trailers honestly what pisses me off though is when they play actual commercials that you see on tv in the theatre.

I agree with this. Theaters should do away with the lame commercials.

 

[danoyse]

I'd be happy if they limited the number of trailers they showed before kids movies. We took my nephew to see Cars 2 when he was three, and they showed about 6 trailers before the movie finally started. There are only so many times that we can reassure a theater full of preschoolers with an already limited attention span that the movie is starting soon, before they start getting impatient and cranky.

 

[Tequilla]

Good.

A trailer shouldn't be an abstract of the movie.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

I enjoy trailers honestly what pisses me off though is when they play actual commercials that you see on tv in the theatre.

I agree with this. Theaters should do away with the lame commercials.

If anything, get rid of the ads that play before the trailers start. I used to remember back in the day where all they did is play relaxing music.

They won't ever do that because unlike trailers, Movie chains (and movie theaters) make money off adds. The theaters constantly get screwed over by the studios over money, so ads (along with concessions) are where movie theaters make a lot of their money.

Also, ads play before the showtime, so they don't usually bother the time of the movies. Theaters can't do that with trailers because then they'll piss off the movie studios.

 

[MadVillainy]

We in America are a lot luckier than the British. I was in London and saw the new Die Hard and Iron Man 3. There are what feel like 35 minutes of regular commercials for things like AT&T, McDonalds, etc. even after the lights have dimmed

 

[Vapor]

I like getting there in time to see the trailers, especially being able to see something like the Star Trek or Man of Steel trailers on the big screen, and being able to quietly talk to my mate and say "that looks awesome". It's all the damn commercials/adverts they insist on playing that I find annoying.

I wouldn't be opposed to the 2 minute run time limit, I mean some trailers do give away the whole film but I don't really see the need for any other limitations... I mean, I have noticed that the amount of trailers depends on the type of film you're seeing, the time of day and how new/old the film is. A big blockbuster type at peak viewing time will often have more trailers than a comedy will not at a peak time..

I would like to see some sort of ruling or limitation on commercials... I realise that cinemas make money from this advertising but it's a bit ridiculous...

My cinema (an Odeon in England) tends to play more commercials than trailers. Commercials tend to start maybe 5 minutes before the advertised start time at which point they dim the lights but the commercials can go on for maybe 10-15 minutes in total before they start playing any trailers. Before the trailers even start there is usually a advert for the Odeon Premier (Points) Card which is usually in conjunction with a film so we often get a mini-trailer for that bfore any trailers even start. I saw Hangover recently and had 2 trailers for Despicable Me 2.... And then after the trailers we get a "Please turn off your phone" advert, then an advert about piracy and then on top of that we get the same boring advert for Orange Wednesdays (Mobile Phone/Cinema deal)....... then the film can start.

I think one thing I also find annoying which isn't exactly connected to this proposed ruling but sometime, you might be running late but you think that the adverts are so long it doesn't matter but when you get in there, it's hard to find a seat with the lights off.... Maybe cinemas should wait to dim the light until the actual trailers or film starts.

 

[Figs]

I have no problem with how many trailers they show. I love watching trailers, and the more they show the better chances I'll have of catching the new trailer for whatever future movie I'm excited for.

The Imax theater in the town over from me tends to show 5-6 trailers before a movie. My local theater shows anywhere from 3-4 usually. When there is a new trailer coming out that I really want to see on the big screen I go to the Imax theater because they actually show the new ones right away. My local theater still has not shown the third Man of Steel trailer, they keep showing the second one.

I definitely agree with those that want them to cut out commercials, or limit them as well if they do this with movie trailers.

 

[SuperJediHero]

Maybe the problem is you arrive too early? Ads show BEFORE the time on your ticket.

Lights should not be fully dimmed when trailer plays. I say maybe on 30%

People should have a choice watch trailers or not, if not, go outside! Come back when the movie starts.

 

[Hunter Rider]

I time it so i get my ass in my seat just as the movie is about to start so I don't care about the amount of time trailers eat up. I also don't think making them shorter is going to stop them putting the big moments of the movie out there, they'll simply stuff them into 2 minutes. The issues with trailers these days is they need to be smarter is showing less while still exciting people.

The rules about not marketing until 4 months before release seems a waste of time to me.

I also couldn't help but laugh at NATO being involved.

 

[dude stannis]

I'm not sure what everywhere else is like, but Australia isn't too awful, I generally wait 5 to 10 minutes before going in and I just catch the movie trailers.

However there should absolutely be a ban on footage from the third act of a film being shown in the trailer. Maybe save for some explosions and action beats.

 

[metaphysician]

I don't think there is any way to prevent bad trailers by writing fixed rules.

 

[Marvolo]

The new guidelines for trailers have been approved and can be implemented after October 1, 2014.

- Trailers can only be shown for a movie within five months of its release.

- Trailers can be no longer than two minutes -- 30 seconds shorter than is the norm.

- Trailers cannot be shown for a movie more than five months before its release. Nor can marketing materials be displayed inside of a theater for a film more than four months away from release.

- Distributors will be given two exemptions a year on both trailer length and marketing lead time.

- The new guidelines would apply to titles opening on or after October 1, 2014. - See more at: http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/theater-owners-calling-for-new-guidelines-to-shorten-movie-trailer

The rules are voluntary, but...

Although the guidelines would be voluntary, studios fear that an exhibitor could cite the new policy in refusing to play a trailer that is longer than two minutes. They also worry that some theater owners will respond to the shorter time by simply running more trailers, many of which studios pay exhibitors to play.

Honestly i dont see this lasting. Marketing is an important part of a movies profit. I think a mivie studio should be free to market their film how they see fit.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Shorter trailers? Boo!!!!

 

[Supernova]

I'm sure the studios wont mind shortening and diminishing awareness for movies they have spent millions on just so theaters can add more coke ads.


On a side note the theater I go to shows a bunch stuff in between movies like look-ins from sponsors and TV shows coming on then the trailers start 10-15 minutes then movie.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I'm sure the studios wont mind shortening and diminishing awareness for movies they have spent millions on just so theaters can add more coke ads.


On a side note the theater I go to shows a bunch stuff in between movies like look-ins from sponsors and TV shows coming on then the trailers start 10-15 minutes then movie.

Same. I look forward to the trailers, not the bull crap ads telling me to buy popcorn and soda. The movie is about to start. I am not getting up.

 

[TX85]

Hmm I'm pretty mixed on this

 

[Lord]

Seems interesting, i allways like when there are changes to the status quo in Hollywood, as long as they're not negative changes.

 

[InJustice]

Part of me wonders why the studios are thinking this way. There are other available formats that they could release trailers before relying on the theatres (this isn't to say they shouldn't put trailers in theatres). For instance, I'd reckon a lot of us saw trailers like Man of Steel and RoboCop on Youtube before even hitting the theatres.

 

[Teelie]

All of it is voluntary, and ultimately pointless without some kind of enforcement or incentive. I said last year, "There are too many and too long trailers for movies these days. I like trailers but they are becoming more and more a nuisance."

 

[Supernova]

Same. I look forward to the trailers, not the bull crap ads telling me to buy popcorn and soda. The movie is about to start. I am not getting up.

That's why I love this theater in particular. If you get to the movie early by chance yes the ads and TV show stuff is shown to pass time so there isn't a blank screen, but once the house lights dim and the trailers start, no ads besides turn off your cellphone.