Hello readers:
The Honcho is making his way back and I have to say, it has been a long climb and the climb goes on.
Last year I lost two important people back to back and I have not had the heart to write about anything, let alone film. However, the dark clouds are receding and I knew I would be back here when they did and I have a lot to say.
Drop off of young males in the movie theaters:
One of the first things I will mention is the drop off in young males going to movie theaters, who would rather wait and see them on DVD. Just today read a study that said as much. This is a great thing for DVD sales and rentals, not so much for going to the movies, which I really care about. When you try to understand the actions of any group (Males in their 20’s and 30’s) it is impossible to pinpoint any one thing that shifts the demographic to act one way or the other but I can sure as hell tell you a few of them and maybe give you a few ideas about getting them back to the show.
Curtin call, hit the lights:
If anything pulls at the desires of young males it’s being in middle of a ‘happening,’ when the new thing, the cool thing or the thing you can’t get anywhere else comes to town, they want in. So what does that say about seeing a movie at a theater, when you can wait a few months, see it on DVD (Soon to be HD DVD or Blu Ray, either of which will be even better looking than DVD’s) in the comfort of your own home, as many times as you like, till you have to bring it back, or forever, if you buy it. Watching it on your HD big screen, with your surround sound pumping. The cost is cheaper than going to see a movie with your friends in the theater and you save on the over priced snacks as well. Not to mention, you always find a great seat at home.
So what is the draw of going to the movies these days? Well, seeing it before everyone else, which is not a huge draw cause you will most likely see on DVD in a few months. Also, there are few movies these days that have the power of ‘have to see it NOW.’ Seeing it on a big screen but with multiplexes offering more showings on smaller screens, your big screen at home is giving it a run for it’s money. The sound, which is better than your home system but not by much. Home theater tech it getting better and cheaper everyday. What else is there to draw them in? Being with people, the communal vibe? Not the biggest draw these days, when most entertainment seems to be a solitary endeavor. Come on damn it, even video game systems are sold with one controller these days, ONE. What the hell is that all about? I digress. Going on a date will always be a draw and that won’t change. So what can save this beast that seems to be dying a slow death right before our eyes? Digital projection at your local multiplex? Don’t make me laugh.
Film takes the edge off life:
Sorry to beat a dead horse but it looks “Digital Projection” is the biggest idea that has come out of the movie industry as far as the theater going experience in a long while and has very little to do with giving the movie fan something more for their money. It’s more about how to save money, in production as well as distribution. You movie fans are suppose to be happy with digital because ahhhhhhhh, hummmmm, the first screening will look as good as the last?
Let me ask you (and me) a few questions here:
Q: When is the last time you saw a movie projected on film that you felt looked (The Film Projection) too crappy to enjoy?
A: Yeah, I can’t remember either, though I am sure there were a few.
Q: Now when was the last time you saw a movie that just sucked and you wish you could ask for your money back?
A: Now these I can remember quite a few but I won’t say which, not yet.
Q: When was the last time you went to a theater and said, Wow! Wow, because you felt the experience was made better somehow.
A: For me it was sound, first with Dolby and then with THX sound. I was born before sound was really good in theaters. Picture has remained much the same.
Q: Do you think digital is going to give us that Wow again and make the experience that much better?
A: Nope, neither do I. Just for the plain fact that it is not better.
That is the problem with this ‘digital’ plan. This is a plan for distributing films, no one will go to see anymore than they do now. Why? Cause by the time they get all this ‘digital distribution’ up and running, you will most likely have as good a picture at home. That leaves me to the other problem. By then, I am sure they will have to charge more money at your local movie house, for all the new projectors no one really ever asked for. That leads to yet another problem, computer equipment (even digital projectors) becomes outdated far too quickly. The computer I am writing on right now, is already 3 years too old.
Case in point:
All the talk of digital projection was of 2K projectors for the last few years, while all this amazing roll out (Which never took place) was to take place. Now, right now, Warner Bros. is already working on a 4K digital projector, the 2k is almost out of date already. Oh the digital big wigs say there is still a market for the 2K projectors on smaller screens but you can already see where this is going. Some theaters will have better picture and others crappy, with bad color and won’t be able to compete. I am sure the 4K will bring it closer to film but I don’t think it will top it, when film itself can get so much better. So you will be paying more for less, in a crappy cycle of theaters having to buy the cool, new projector every 5 years, which I am sure they can not afford. This is a business model that could just kill this part of the industry and I don’t want to lose the theatrical part of this business. Film projection, with a few improvements here and there, has remained the same for about 100 years and damn great if you ask me. 100 years! Not something obsolete in 5 years.
What is needed to save theatrical:
It has to be grand. Imax was a good idea but too big and impractical. After Imax we have the money driven “video projection” push, which has nothing to do with improve the movie going experience. I had written in the past about Maxi-Vision, an idea by Dean Goodhill for filming and projecting films at 48 frames per second, which is suppose to make the picture amazing, with a bigger than life feel, which is what I always got off on when I first started going to the movies. Now, I have never seen Maxi-Vision myself but from what I have heard from those who have (Roger Ebert), it’s knock you on your ass, cool. Now, this is what I want? Knock me on my ass. Seems to me, the only reason no one is considering film is money and not just the savings in distribution and production but how much is stood to gain from getting the contracts to places shinny new $100,000 dollar projectors per screen, all across the country. As always, it’s always about the money.
I want more, want that feeling I had as a kid when I saw my first few movies and thought this had to be made by pixies or something. I have seen digital projection and it didn’t give me that feeling at all. Damn it, I want more, not less. I want film makers to have more options, not less. I want to be amazed and nothing is doing that for me as far as where things are going these days. Not when you can buy movies and watch then on your PSP on a tiny little screen. I am sure those PSP owners want more too. We all do.
So my two cent about saving the theaters:
First and foremost, more and better. We need to stop thinking cheaper and start thinking better. You need to give people a reason to get off there asses and out to the movies. Digital isn’t it. Maybe it is Maxi-Vision, maybe it is something else. Not sure but then again, no one is paying me to decide that for them, so I will leave it to those making 6 to 7 figure incomes. Look at Disney World here in Los Angeles as an example, it cost $30 per person to get in but people still go and still go to the magic kingdom.
Don’t release DVD’s 3 months after the movie is out of the theaters. I know Hollywood is worried about piracy but come on, that is a different battle all together and no matter when you release the film your are still going to have pirates. Look at Star Wars episode 3, which was on the web a day before it hit the theaters. One of the most protected films I am sure and they got pirated. So one fight at a time. If the industry hadn’t been so greedy from the get go, they would have thought before making everyone go out and buy their favorite movies again on DVD digital and now with HD on the way, looks like I will be buying Goodfellas one more time. So to you movies business guys out who make the decisions about what to do next, just worry about making bucks in the theaters for now, ok? Wait 6 months to a year to get it on DVD. That would really help a lot.
How about some content you can’t get on the DVD and dropping the fucking ads at the theaters. Yes I said, fucking Ads. I have had enough of that bullshit. I mean really. People should do everything possible to make as much noise during the Ads in the theaters as possible. Maybe a sing along, maybe talking on their cell phones, maybe just sit and talk with their friends… Something. It’s nuts having to sit and watch Ads when you’ve paid money to watch a movie. What do we do? We take it and do nothing. Bullshit. Disrupt the Ads and demand more. How about short films before the our feature presentation, how about added scenes or messages from the film maker. Something! Again, no one is paying me the big bucks to figure it out. However, if someone wants to throw me some, I am sure I can do better than what I have seen in the last 10 years or so.
Also, no more calling us thieves at the theaters, OK. Getting tired of these ads boo hoo, poor us movies makers you are steeling from us. Whaa, Whaa, you are taking premium out of my Hummer. Considering we are the fucking morons who paid for the movie, why the fuck tell us about it? No more anti piracy Ads, it just makes me want to steal movies, buy bootlegs, sneak into the next showing and generally stick it to the man. For every time I see one, I think I will sneak into a movie, buy a bootleg, download, etc. So watch it.
Want to help end piracy? Fight it in court when it is a big fish making money off it. Also, get a lot of crappy copies out there on the web. You play block when you can and shut down operations of replete offenders. You release a small res copy on the web that are easy to get and download but don’t look as good as the ones you can buy. How about working on better encryption? How about spending some of the billions you are making. How about making better movies. All these ideas are all there for the taking.
Look, some of the movies I love, I have seen on the web, seen 5 times in the theaters, have bootleg copies, VHS Copies, DVD copies and will buy better copies when HD comes out and hell, would even see then again in the theaters. That is one ways to make sure people will buy your movies, no matter how many bootlegs are available. MAKE BETTER MOVIES. You know, I have to be honest here… I don’t really want a bootleg copy of “Fightplan,” doubt I will do anything but rent it and even then I an not that sure. So stop worrying so much Hollywood.
How about charging a little less for popcorn. I know the theater owners have to make money but come on. Give me a reason not to want to hide candy in my pocket and bring it in with me. We all know we going to be taken advantage of when I buy crap in the theater but no need to be laugh in my face while you do it. A little cheaper would be nice. I see real butter is coming back in fashion. Good show there folks, finally something I would pay more for.
How about randomly giving real movies posters out to people who happen to buy the 400th ticket or the 3566th? Something, maybe tickets to a movie premier in Hollywood or NYC? How about dinner with one of the stars a chat with the director… Something. I don’t give a crap about that these days but before I was in the business, I did. How about something, anything. Give us something.
How about more R rated movies kids want to sneak into? Instead of all this PG13 crap that everyone kind of likes but no one can remember once they leave the theater. Come on, two FUCKS spoken in a film, does not a R rated movie make, yet, that is the rule. As it stands right now, you are reading an R rated article, maybe it would even get an NC 17 or an X. Give me a fucking break. The ratings board worries about all the wrong things. Sex gets a higher rating that violence. Now don’t get me wrong, I love violent movies but it should get higher rating that a little T and A.
I got it, the way you make money with R rated movies is this. Release two movies at the same time, same studio, same distribution company, one PG and one R. Those young ones that want to see your R rated film, will buy the crappy PG movie ticket and sneak into the R rated one. All money goes to the same company, problem solved.
I am messing around on that one but at least I am thinking. Might be a joke but that is how I got to see the first “Exorcist.” Ahhh, those were the days.
Also, with DVD piracy, again... Just give them more. Something you couldn’t get from a bootleg on the web or one you bought on the street. Every 1000th DVD will be signed inside by the cast or director. Win a lunch with the starlet, something. Damn, feel like I am earning my 6 figures already and I haven’t even gotten started. Just takes a little thought and balls to not sit and tell the boss every idea he has is golden and maybe you can have some good ideas too. Since no one is paying me, I can be honest, that is why I can shoot from the hip.
We really have to change things guys, if we want to keep this industry alive and kicking. We can make “Being at the Movies” the hipper place to be again, with a little money, a little thought and a little hard work. It worries me, cause people are becoming more and more isolated at home and I hate to think that will be the norm. I grew up with people all around me (NYC) and it always felt good to feel like part of something, a happening, something bigger than all of us combined. I want to feel that again. I love movies and I would hate to see it become something I have to tell kids about, “the good old days.” Where people went to the movie cathedrals, to enjoy the experience together.
