Sunday, August 16, 2009
Work-Related Stories and Info
If I hear one more person at Blue Ridge complain loudly about how expensive concessions are, I'm going to lose it. If you are one of those people, here's some information that might interest you:
1) When most films are first released, the studios take roughly 80-90% of the money made off ticket sales. This gradually drops to 50-60% after a week or two, and over time declines until the theater is actually making a decent chunk of the profit (though usually by this time, most people that want to see a film have already seen it). You know how you had to pay $8-10 to see G.I. Joe opening weekend? It's because if ticket prices weren't that high, theaters wouldn't be able to make a profit and stay in business.
2) This is also the main reason concession prices at movie theaters are outrageously high. If theaters want to stay in business, they have to somehow make enough money to offset the costs (including giving the studios their percentage), the only option is to jack up prices. Either that, or spend even more time before the movie showing pointless advertisements and commercials.
3) By the time a film arrives at a second-run theater like Blue Ridge, the theaters are (thankfully) getting to keep most of the ticket sales. Unfortunately, since tickets are $1-2, this isn't much money. So again, if we want to stay in business, the only real option is to charge $4 for a small popcorn.
4) As a few very intelligent and observant customers of mine have noted, the prices at Blue Ridge are still cheaper than the other big chains. Instead of paying $13 for a large popcorn and a large drink, you'll only have to pay $9.50. What a steal!
Now you know. So next time you go to the movies and have to spend an enormous amount of money, don't blame them. Blame the studios for spending so many millions of dollars on a film that they have to take a huge portion of theater profits if they want to be able to make a profit. Poor film financing decisions affect everyone.
***
A week or two ago at the Galaxy, I was approached by a tall, middle-aged, dark-skinned man. Once we had served him his popcorn, he began to chat with us about movie recommendations, and it became clear that this guy was either:
1) a film professor
2) a huge film buff
In other words, it made sense that he was going to the Galaxy.
"Have any of you seen Bertolucci's 1900?" he asked.
My fellow concessions attendees and I could only shake our heads. But since I'm always on the lookout for good movies, I didn't just pretend to be interested. I genuinely was.
"No, is it any good?"
"It's a true work of art!" he exclaimed. "You really have to see it! Promise me you'll rent it, and then next time I'm here we can discuss it."
"I'll add it to the top of my Netflix queue today."
"Great!"
He then left us a considerable tip. So I did go home and add it to my Netflix queue, not bothering to read anything about it other than that it's an Italian film from the 70s and Robert DeNiro is in it.
It arrived in the mail yesterday.
It is 8 hours long.
What have I gotten myself into?
1) When most films are first released, the studios take roughly 80-90% of the money made off ticket sales. This gradually drops to 50-60% after a week or two, and over time declines until the theater is actually making a decent chunk of the profit (though usually by this time, most people that want to see a film have already seen it). You know how you had to pay $8-10 to see G.I. Joe opening weekend? It's because if ticket prices weren't that high, theaters wouldn't be able to make a profit and stay in business.
2) This is also the main reason concession prices at movie theaters are outrageously high. If theaters want to stay in business, they have to somehow make enough money to offset the costs (including giving the studios their percentage), the only option is to jack up prices. Either that, or spend even more time before the movie showing pointless advertisements and commercials.
3) By the time a film arrives at a second-run theater like Blue Ridge, the theaters are (thankfully) getting to keep most of the ticket sales. Unfortunately, since tickets are $1-2, this isn't much money. So again, if we want to stay in business, the only real option is to charge $4 for a small popcorn.
4) As a few very intelligent and observant customers of mine have noted, the prices at Blue Ridge are still cheaper than the other big chains. Instead of paying $13 for a large popcorn and a large drink, you'll only have to pay $9.50. What a steal!
Now you know. So next time you go to the movies and have to spend an enormous amount of money, don't blame them. Blame the studios for spending so many millions of dollars on a film that they have to take a huge portion of theater profits if they want to be able to make a profit. Poor film financing decisions affect everyone.
***
A week or two ago at the Galaxy, I was approached by a tall, middle-aged, dark-skinned man. Once we had served him his popcorn, he began to chat with us about movie recommendations, and it became clear that this guy was either:
1) a film professor
2) a huge film buff
In other words, it made sense that he was going to the Galaxy.
"Have any of you seen Bertolucci's 1900?" he asked.
My fellow concessions attendees and I could only shake our heads. But since I'm always on the lookout for good movies, I didn't just pretend to be interested. I genuinely was.
"No, is it any good?"
"It's a true work of art!" he exclaimed. "You really have to see it! Promise me you'll rent it, and then next time I'm here we can discuss it."
"I'll add it to the top of my Netflix queue today."
"Great!"
He then left us a considerable tip. So I did go home and add it to my Netflix queue, not bothering to read anything about it other than that it's an Italian film from the 70s and Robert DeNiro is in it.
It arrived in the mail yesterday.
It is 8 hours long.
What have I gotten myself into?
# posted by Andrew Johnson : 8/16/2009 11:47:00 AM 
