What is Digg?138 Comments
- J_Omega, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Because for the same price as ONE ticket, popcorn, and drink, I can buy the DVD shortly thereafter - and watch it on my guaranteed widescreen / DTS home system.
Add in all the other conviniences of home, and I hardly miss theaters. - gotamd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Yeah, this was a screening so you should expect that given the rate of piracy they might be a little tough on people as far as what they do and bring into the theater. I've never heard of this going on at a "normal" showing of a movie.
- Deusiah, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Quite right, it's not the quality of the movie that fuels piracy, if anything it hinders it. People are far less likely to copy a poor film. The problem is the service, apart from the ridiculously high ticket/refreshment prices it would be nice if they bothered to clean the viewing rooms. All UK cinema's I have visited suffer from this problem. The other big problem is the audience. People have no sense of decorum these days, as someone above pointed out with the mobile phone incident which is only too common. More annoying than those who use their mobile phone during the feature are the undesirables who throw popcorn and talk loudly in an obnoxious fashion. What is needed is to bring back ushers, the show rooms are simply unmanned now which leads to chaos.
- Agent_M, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2This is not being done at my local theatres, so it has no bearing on how many movies I watch during its theatrical run.
Plus, this was a screening. However, I think they went a little overboard in a way that probably compromised the viewing experience of the screeners.
I stand by my longtime idea that there should be at one to two employees in a theatre to make sure no one's being too loud or kicking seats. They could also keep an eye out for recorders. - abeg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2This was not a regular showing it was a screening.. they maybe took the phones cause they didn't want any camera phones to snap pics or clips. and the metal detector same so they wont have any vid cams. as for the the guard that had the cams. they prolly were taking images of the audience so they could see reactions of them during the movie for "studies"
just my 2cents
PS I'm not a mpaa supporter - deaper, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"People who submitted to the search...had their cellphones taken from them and checked at a table set up in front of the theatre and they were given a ticket to reclaim it when they left."
Does anybody else think this is actually a good idea? I hate being in the movies and somebodys cell phone rings. I hate it even more when they answer it IN THE THEATER and don't have the decency to even walk out while they have their conversation. I wouldn't be that opposed to the cell phones being taken, but not for anti piracy purposes but to actually improve the movie going experience. LOL - mikataur, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1So, what next... Strip searching 13 year olds that have won free screenings to Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire?
Better to read the book instead. - el_jefe, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4"What a joke-- Haven't they figured they out that the only way to stop privacy is to start releasing better movies? Most movies that come out are not even worth the cost of downloading it off the net."
posted by Raian (1) at 12:57 PM 11/05/05
You actually believe that? You think because the studios make better movies, piracy will stop? People dont pirate movies because they suck, they pirate/steal them because they do not want to pay for them. Sure they may try and justify it with some "heoric damn the man cuase" but in the end its just theft.
People shouldnt be treated like this at movie theaters. But then again, if someone was stealing from me, I would go to the same type of extremes to stop it so I cant blame them. - _jd_, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1whine, whine, whine--they guy is overplaying it.
First, I can see the merit in his whine if he was a paying customer; however, since it was a free screening different rules apply. If the studio wanted all the screeners to wear red shirts, then red shirts it is. I will agree that it was probably bad PR on the part of the studio.
Second, I find his argument about video camera toting security guards banal. If your behaviour can be used to disgrace you, then (a) you were acting like an idiot or (b) you do not believe in the cause you were supporting.
Complain about something useful--craptastic movies with overpaid actors and actresses. - VPurpmalkV, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2As an employee at a movie theatre, I can tell you this is common everywhere. But seriously, they've done this for years. They are showing these movies to audience to guage how it's going to do nationwide, usually a few days and up to a few months early. Do you really think they should risk letting someoen pirate the movie before it's released, just so you can walk into a movie you're getting into free and weeks early without any inconvenience? Get over it. This isn't 1984. It's keeping your prototype product secure.
- sedition, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1This is the same problem we have with airport security. Treating everyone as a criminal doesn't work.
- amishjim, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1As a Film and Television tech(IBEW union camera op) it's hard to condone anything that would take jingle out of my pocket, but , you have to do what you have to do.. The Ditigal Age of Film has cut the crews needed drastically. I'm working on a digital feature that has 5 crew members, compared to the 40 people that were on the last film feature I did for BET(5 years ago). You don't become a Filmmaker to be a bijillionaire, you do it for the love of the art, good money is a rare side effect nowadays. I refuse to goto movie theaters to see movies even tho I'd rather have the big screen and surround sound experience. Why? Poor projection, poor audio, the seat kicker, Kanye West ring-tones, a 20 ounce cup of soda costs an average of 13 cents(cup, lid, syrup, water, ice, straw and CO2) and they charge $4.00(profit is acceptable, gluttony is not), I'm not sure what the real cost of popcorn is but I'm sure it's not much more per serving, and last but certainly not least 20 MINUTES OF ***** COMMERCIALS! So I pay 10 bux for the movie, and to see a Coke commercial that the movie theater is paid to show for the 4 buck Coke I got raped on. I wouldn't mind a camera/camcorder check, I'll keep my phone, thanks. Most Bootlegs nowadays are inside jobs anyway, video out from the projector(example), there's many opportunities for the chain of custody to be broken. I'd love to go back to the movies but the experience is so much better here, my projector, my surround sound, my Orville Redenbuckers. 4 people can watch a movie for about the price of what i would pay for myself with a pop and some JuJu Bees at the local movie house.
So in my opinion: How the Movie Theaters killed the movie theater experience, would be a better article. Sorry for my rant, In 1995, I finally found a job that I love and slowly I've watched it fade away in small markets, such as my hometown, Pittsburgh. - DoraLives, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Is it fascism yet?
- Agent_M, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1^ I forgot to add that loud talking and seat kicking are the primary reasons keeping me away from movie theatres.
- Jadey, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I've been to a few of these preview movies here in Toronto also and the ticket always says you have to submit to a search. Also, I've never been to one that actually did the search or had any cameras. Plus, he didn't mention if the the movie was good or not. ;)
- capajc, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Bah, I wish I could retract my digg. That'll teach me to digg before reading.
Who the hell does this guy think he is? He wasn't a customer, he was a _guest_ of the theater, seeing a free movie before release. He didn't have to go. He didn't pay for his ticket, so he's entitled to _nothing_. How does he not grasp that?
They should've thrown his ass out of the theater if he didn't care to follow their information security practices.
What a dick. - diggerboi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Better movies will not end priacy, but may make priacy occur more. If the movie theaters will just decrease prices abit, more people will come, and hopefully the more people makes more tickets sales, and the lost money will be back.
People are now getting the "movie-theater" affect at home, so why go to the theaters? - Raian, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1What a joke-- Haven't they figured they out that the only way to stop privacy is to start releasing better movies? Most movies that come out are not even worth the cost of downloading it off the net. Harassing and intimidating people will only work to alienate people further.
- corrosive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0The reason Sam's Club and Costco can check you is because you agree to it when you sign up to use their service. Same with libraries and similar places. When you sign up to use their service you agree to be searched.
- kevd18, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Why the hell would anyone go to a theatre to watch a movie when they can get the dvd in widescreen and watch it at home for much less than it costs to go to the movies? This is just idiotic to me.
-Kevin ;) - bash, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"This incident took place in Canada. The MPAA is a United States entity. If you're going to blame a boogeyman at least accuse the correct boogeyman."
yeah dont forget this is one theatre. i got 2 theatres down the street that dont check for *****. the closest thing they have to this kind of inspection is checking ur ticket stub. - theblooms, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Well, the dude did EXACTLY the correct thing: "No thank you." EXACTLY what I would have done. I have a Concealed Weapons Permit, and I never leave the house without a pistol on my person. What a shock they would have gotten if I was there, submitted to a search (like that would ever happen) and they "discover" my .357 Magnum on my hip. It would almost be worth it for the looks on their faces.
- vertigoblue, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0all the good pirating is done by employees anyways, so i don't see why they would go to that extent to make it look like they are having an impact.
on another note i think the cameras were probably for the previews where they splice in peoples reactions to the grotesque horror onscreen... - gregcotten, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0This has nothing to do with the MPAA.
- JetTredmont, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I've been to a few pre-screenings myself (not press, but "focus group" "what would you change" pre-screenings). On the paper they give you as an "invite", it always (in my experience; different screening companies may say different things) lists what you should not bring to the theater with you. These include cameras, recording devices of any kind, cell phones of any kind, weaponry, etc. Whining that you get to a pre-screening and have to check the cell phone you decided to take with you anyway is just plain stupid. Granted, there are plenty of people who either can not read the paper they are given or think that surely "cell phone" doesn't apply to their Treo, and there's always a huge pile of "set aside" items at the door.
This is the movie producer's gig. It is not something you're paying for, and it's certainly not something you're forced to accept. If you have to carry a concealed weapon around with you, then sorry, you are not allowed in. Wait another couple of months and see the finished product at a less-secured screening. - Mark_H, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0If something isn't worth what it costs to somebody, that person will not buy it, simple as that. I absolutely thing that the decline in quality of movies has encouraged piracy. Movies have gotten so bad that many people, including myself, download movies to screen them. If they are good, it's worth the higher quality and supporting the makers for me to buy the movie. If it sucks, I didn't lose anything.
- BeerZombie, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1 adodikan:
Hmm, must be a republican.
No rights. State Rules. Bag Searches at every checkpoint. Deal with it.
Wow adodkin, you must be a fun guy to hang out with! Lets party sometime! - fino35, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Better movies will not end piracy.
- J_Omega, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1You can jam cellphones in a theater pretty easily.
They were most likely confiscated due to many being camera-phones. - siouxmoux, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Who ever or focus group camed up with the concept of putting those over the top obnoxious loud annoying adverts before the beginning of Theatrical Movies Should be SHOT!!!
- Zeuser, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I recently went to see a movie in a theatre, first time in 7 years, and it sucked ass! Good thing I didn't actually pay for the tickets, I had free passes my company gave to me about a year ago.
Anyway the movie sucked, Jarhead, and the whole experience sucked as well. Food was ridiculously overpriced, and wasn't even good.
And I swear we were bombarded by 20 mins of commercials before the other 20 mins worth of previews. It sucked!
Needless to say, I'm not looking forward to going back. I'm sticking to renting DVDs. now, if only they came out at the same time they were shown in theatres, I wouldn't have to download pirated copies off of bittorrent.
The hell with theatres. That business model is dead! We need to go directly to a straight to the customer business model. - snoudude, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0P.S. the MPAA is a bunch of idiots anyway.... They could make about as much as the oil companies do now but, like the RIAA, have missed the boat or look the wrong direction over, and over again. Most movies used to take at least 6 months (often upto a year) to be released onto DVD. I think they (MPAA) are starting to catch on that folks who go to see movies will still do so even if they release the DVD version just a couple of months out (instead of 8-18 months). Heck, if they released it for download a week after the DVD came out I'd bet they would increase (and not detract) from profits - rental places like BlockBuster would hate that idea (unless they were the distribution mechinism). Just like iTunes and TV shows a subscription based service or flat out purchase would be fine - I'd still buy the DVD only because my time is worth more than actually sitting and downloading the content along with better quality / bonus features...
- freonchill, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0they have been doing this for advanced screeners/press screenings for atleast 2 years now
is this actually NEWS to anyone that the company who gave us the visual queues for movies such as 1984, equilibrium, brazil, etc would be trying this in REAL LIFE?! - mrmatchgame, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1If you go see a movie and the MPAA begins to search you, you have to punch them in the face and tell them "Stop being a bitch and let me in!!!"
(This is a joke, don't do it!) - kubedawg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0seriously though. Who the ***** would wanna watch a movie from a video phone??? thats worse than a freakin psp tryin to watch video.
...
This is why I'm saving to build my own house with my own movie theater and conssesions in it. :P - suMMx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0it's funny, these move execs think that piracy and such is killing movies when the reality is that the movies now days just ***** suck. They can lick my nuts along with the riaa
- adodikan, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1no digg, the guy was not justified in his actions and should have been focribly removed from the theater
- Cyberdactyl, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0The thing that pisses me off the most is you're not allowed to bring in your own refreshments. If you want something to eat and drink, you have to drain your wallet with the purchase of drinks and popcorn that costs them MAYBE 50 cents and they charge you $8!
- CoolSilver, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Someone should make one of those taplights with infrared leds and a 9v battery.
Besides ruining your eyes as you watch the movie and your invisible light in your lap, infrared cameras would have a hard time seeing you. - movieguyjon, on 04/03/2009, -0/+0to those who think that the quality of the theater experience has declined....
no one who works at a theater, save for the manager perhaps, makes good money. Everyone at my theater, including me, makes minimum wage. And I'm a projectionist. Do I really care if the movie is out of focus? Not for $5.15 an hour..
so blame the theater chain for the poor movie experience. They should pay better
:)
And I go to a movie based on its trailers. Saves me an assload of time. - terrya64, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0The Amc theater where I live is inside a mall next to a foodcourt and they let you bring in whatever food and drinks you want.
- jdavid, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I am waiting for a day, maybe like jonny nuemonic, when our own brain's neural implants are DRMed and we arent aloud to remember protected memories. ;-) Maybe its like eternal sunshine, but the other way, your ex erases herself from your memory after she reads your blog and decides she hates you for some reason.
jDavid.net - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0wah, they searched my girlfriend's purse!
try living in china dude. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0So, I suppose a lot of you ignored the fact that this was a screening? Not a regular showing of a movie in the neighborhood theater? Hmmm... Because I don't get this kind of treatment at the local theater here.
Plus. It's a screening. Ever heard of camcorders in theaters? Nobody watched that Seinfeld episode? Nobody here was born before the many references in media to sidewalk black markets for VHSes where the quality was poor because the video was taped with a camcorder in a movie theater. This still goes on. I don't know why people want to buy these pirate videos.
SO EVERYBODY MISSED THE FACT IT WAS A SCREENING? DOES EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT A SCREENING IS? NO? That's my question. - laserone, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0This is UN-FRICKING BELIEVABLE!
(no, I know, it's very believable.
BTW, I SO WANT A T-SHIRT THAT HAS "OMGMPAA1984WTF?!?" ON IT!!!!!!!!! - soyverde, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0FazzMunkle: So, what fascist country do you live in, where your knowledge of piracy stems from Seinfeld episodes and media reports?
I have been to several screenings (granted, the last was several years ago), and I never saw anything like this. I think they're getting a bit paranoid of camera phones (you could never get more than a few minutes of low res footage on today's phones), though I certainly would expect them to check for camcorders (while the feature is running...it's silly to search reviewers and take away their cell phones before a feature). Meh, I rarely go to the theatre anymore anyway. As several people before me have noted: for the price of two tickets, I can buy the DVD, then I have superior sound and all the comforts of home. - shpider, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I get invited to and go to premiers here in LA about once every month or so... At The Graumans Chinese Theatre in Hollywood you walk through metal detectors as you enter from the red carpet. They also check everyone for cameras and camcorders. They do not, however make you check your cellphone.
I wonder how big a problem "information leakage" is or was from events like premiers... I can understand strict security at a pre screening as and Joe off the street can get in... But a premier ? - TentyLinux, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I can understand from both point of views that this person might be just a whiny guy, but the principle of the matter is that:
a) Intimidation by security guards
b) Conditions of entry - Take this with a grain of salt but no movie theater I know of in Australia will frisk you with a metal detecting wand.
I understand the pros and cons of confiscation of phones, but I wouldn't want someone to take away my HP PDA/phone which I would have paid thousands of dollars for. I understand it's secure but it's the breakage factor to me.
Speaking still on the technology stream, you could set a small digital device with a recording piece and used a wireless pin sized camera to commit the piracy. Sure it wouldn't be the best quality, but it wouldn't stop someone from recording it during that showing if he/she wanted to. So I don't think piracy is the issue. Not that I condone recording things off the big screen. I prefer to wait and purchase the DVD instead.
Someone mentioned about it being free. Just because it's free does not give people a right to bully you around or make you feel intimidated, and yes it's understood that he's a guest, but guests are usually made feel welcome.
Clearly he's had a bad experience and conveying that experience. He may have got the organisation wrong, I'm not sure, but it's a horrible movie experience none the less. - theone3, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0WTF? Top comments disappeared :O
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