Trailer Checking
Last night, I helped a friend out by doing trailer checks for Spider-Man 2 (excellent movie – see Jen’s post for pretty much how I felt about it). Basically, doing a trailer check involves sitting through the commercials and trailers before the feature, noting their order and any audience reaction. I did this for three different showings: the 6:15, 6:45, and 7:15 at the Loew’s Cityplace.
When you’re paying close attention and writing down all the commercials, you really start to notice just how many advertisements you are subject to. Before the film, there were 11 commercials. 11! I was amazed.
The 11 advertisements were followed by seven trailers. Trailers I don’t mind. I expect and enjoy them.
All told, it was 7:05 before I was able to leave the 6:45 showing. That means at least twenty minutes of advertising and trailers. I’m also pretty sure that Loew’s Cityplace starts their pre-show five minutes before “show time”, so it was probably closer to 25 minutes of ads/trailers.
I know times are hard for movie theatres, but honestly, paying close to $8 to then watch advertising? Seems ludicrous to me.
only close to $8. in nyc i paid $10.25 for a movie this past weekend. it was absolutely ridiculous…. and there are way too many commercials these days…
I remember when advertising in the movies first got popular – Loew’s used to play a series of ads, then a little bump… “Only 10 minutes ’till showtime!” The audience groan was always quite loud.
I like the way the British do it – they actually advertise on the box office signs what time the “program” starts, and what time the “movie” starts. That way, if you want to skip the commercials and the trailers, you know when to go in!
Also, if I ever meet the guy who thought “The Fantanas” were a good idea…well, let’s just say he’s on my list.
I just went to an AMC theater this week, full price ticket is now $10, and the 5:50 movie didn’t start till 6:20. I’m not sure when the lights went down to start, but I know we got at least 20 minutes of commercials. Well, commercials and trailers. I’m all about trailers. Commercials are the reason I dropped my cable tv subscription.
Only 11 commercials? I’m subjected to tons in NJ.
fuck your lame adds. oops did i say that out loud?
25 Mins of Ads and Trailers – Bearing in mind that trailers are Ads too, paid for by the studios.
And lets not forget product placement, kids.
Look at what you pay for on your TV…
I don’t know what the US average is but in the UK it is 6 Mins of paid programming per hour. How often do we just sit through commercials waiting for the show to come back on. Unless you tivo it
Then add DVD’s, Video’s, Magazines, Newspapers, and Highways (you have paid for them too) to say nothing of pop up ads for the average net viewer.
That ads up to a hell of a lot of advertising that you have paid for up front.
Enjoy
Well I wish there was something we could do about all the ads, but I think they’ve got us. That’s half the reason why I’ve been listening to that new Jack FM this weekend, no commericals…I hate them…