I try to use exclamation points in headlines very rarely, but when talking about the movie business it seems more than appropriate as this industry thinks that everything they do or say is worthy of a lot of attention. And what gets attention? Exclamation points!!
So now that you've been drawn in, this post is about pretty much exactly what you think it's about -- my thoughts on why people aren't going to the movies anymore.
This started when I read an article in "Entertainment Weekly". (yes, I have a subscription. I write about the entertainment industry so it's sort of a must have.)
In the article, it was noted that ticket sales fell 5.4 percent. To me that doesn't seem like reason for panic, but again it's the movie biz and that means it's really important!
Reasons stated for the decline include a lousy economy, the ever-increasing number of competing entertainment options and poor quality films.
Commenting on the article, a reader also mentioned that annoyances in the theater are another factor including people talking, texting, and children at a 10pm R-rated showing.
I have to agree with all of these reasons and add one more.
As for the quality of what's in the theaters, I can honestly say that for the first time I can remember, there were several weekends when I thought about seeing a movie and then checked the listings and nothing interested me.
Addressing the other entertainment options and the economy in one fell swoop, I give you Netflix and Redbox.
It used to be that if you missed seeing a film in the theater you had to wait approximately 18 months to see it on video. That was in the infancy of the video industry. Now, films come out within a few months, usually about 3.
So, while we seem to live in an 'immediate' society, it looks like people have more patience in their movie-viewing habits that in other things.
I can wait 3 months or so to save about $9 a movie -- $10 in the theater versus $1 via Redbox.
While that seems to be about money, which it is, it's also about turnaround. If that wait was longer, then I might see more movies in the theater.
But, the movie-making financial model seems to be -- have a big opening weekend, get out of the theaters fast and into the DVD market quickly while there is still buzz about the film.
In my mind this is great for movie-goers. Sorry if it's bad for the Hollywood biz.
But here's another way you might make some money - lower your star salaries, then lower theater prices and maybe more people will go out to the movies. It kinda seems simple.
Again, these are just my thoughts. What do you think?
So now that you've been drawn in, this post is about pretty much exactly what you think it's about -- my thoughts on why people aren't going to the movies anymore.
This started when I read an article in "Entertainment Weekly". (yes, I have a subscription. I write about the entertainment industry so it's sort of a must have.)In the article, it was noted that ticket sales fell 5.4 percent. To me that doesn't seem like reason for panic, but again it's the movie biz and that means it's really important!
Reasons stated for the decline include a lousy economy, the ever-increasing number of competing entertainment options and poor quality films.
Commenting on the article, a reader also mentioned that annoyances in the theater are another factor including people talking, texting, and children at a 10pm R-rated showing.
I have to agree with all of these reasons and add one more.
As for the quality of what's in the theaters, I can honestly say that for the first time I can remember, there were several weekends when I thought about seeing a movie and then checked the listings and nothing interested me.
Addressing the other entertainment options and the economy in one fell swoop, I give you Netflix and Redbox.
It used to be that if you missed seeing a film in the theater you had to wait approximately 18 months to see it on video. That was in the infancy of the video industry. Now, films come out within a few months, usually about 3.
So, while we seem to live in an 'immediate' society, it looks like people have more patience in their movie-viewing habits that in other things.
I can wait 3 months or so to save about $9 a movie -- $10 in the theater versus $1 via Redbox.
While that seems to be about money, which it is, it's also about turnaround. If that wait was longer, then I might see more movies in the theater.
But, the movie-making financial model seems to be -- have a big opening weekend, get out of the theaters fast and into the DVD market quickly while there is still buzz about the film.
In my mind this is great for movie-goers. Sorry if it's bad for the Hollywood biz.
But here's another way you might make some money - lower your star salaries, then lower theater prices and maybe more people will go out to the movies. It kinda seems simple.
Again, these are just my thoughts. What do you think?
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