Film times at The Picture House

[WC1]

I see the starting time for films is to be 7.00 on Fridays and Saturdays from January on (instead of the usual 8.00). According to the report in the Courier this is perfect for families or those who want to go to the pub afterwards. Perfect if it's a family film maybe, but what about films for older audiences? And are the pubs not open for hours and hours after the Picture House comes out? Whose convenience is this really for?

[Hels]

I think its a brilliant idea. I'm sure its difficult for those with wee kids trying to keep them awake/alert/happy for films which don't come finish 'til 9.30/10ish. For those who don't like a 7pm start there is still the other 5 days of the week at 8pm

[WC1]

The policy in the past was always to have a 7.00 start for family films (I think it has been departed from more recently). My point is that for films aimed at an older audience 7.00 is too early, and that's especially the case for people coming in from the more outlying areas. Some patrons travel from Clachan or Tarbert. At a time when the Picture House should be trying to rebuild its audience this does not look to me like a good idea (other than for family films as I've said).

[Goldielocks]

Tell me something Mr WC1 what will make you happy? first off all you are shouting about the Cinema not opening at an earlier time, now that they are opening at an earlier time (all be it that it is only the weekend) you are now shouting that this is not good enough!!!!!! I think that this is a brilliant Idea, keeping both sets happy, an early start at weekends for the ones with families, and a late start for the ones who WORK and can't get to a 7 start, this includes me by the way I dont finish work until 7 every week day, but I do not work on the weekends. When where you at the Cinema last? My own opinion is that good on the Cinema for at least trying to change some things they seem to be up against it just now and dont need people like you trying to stir things.

[WC1]

I don't remember shouting. There is no need to be offensive. My point is very simple: the Picture House should be trying to build its audience, not reduce it. For family films, yes, a 7.00 start is great - that was the policy when I was involved in running the place. Have a look at the film listings in your newspaper though - The Cinema, Newton Stewart (one screen, catchment area not much different to Campbeltown). Two films showing this week, at times cvarying from 6.00 to 8.00. The Winter Gardens in Rothesay - Harry Potter at 2.30 and 7.45. Campbeltown Picture House - 7.00 take it or leave it. We can do better than this! (And I'm still not shouting.)

[bubbly jock]

W.C.

Are you implying that the picture house was better run previously and why are you not still there if the success of the place means so much to you.

Please take the question as it reads. I am curious

bubbly

[Goldielocks]

I apologise for any offence given it was not my intention to be offensive to you,

[Jonathan]

You gotta agree - over the weekend why on Earth is there not a mid-afternoon showing of the current run of family films!

[petewick]

Can I ask why The Da Vinci code is not showing at the pictures this week?
Probably the most talked about and eagerly awaited film of this year and the Picture House is showing some drivel with those two clowns that we see enough of on tv every Saturday.
I could have gone to see it in Oban on Friday 19th when it was being premiered in every cinema in the country(except Campbeltown), but as I was coming down for a weeks holiday I decided to support my home cinema.
How disappointed I was to learn that there is no mention of The Da Vinci Code on the screening programme.
I think it's time that the planners or directors at the cinema thought long and hard about the prioritisation of what is being shown if they want public support.
petewick

[A Horse called Juan Face]

um its not easy for a local cinema to get these films

generally its pretty quick for big films, especially seeing as how its not affiliated with any larger cinema company.

[petewick]

Why is it difficult to get these films?
You would think that they would go the extra mile to get such a crowd puller, and I have noticed a lot of visitors around town who I am pretty certain would have gone to see the film rather than wait until they went home when their holiday was over.

petewick

[A Horse called Juan Face]

dunno exact ins and outs but its always been that way

[petewick]

I wonder if it can be looked into and possibly get this situation changed.
I just feel that the cinema is losing out on a great deal of much needed business because of as you say Horsie, difficulty getting films.
A wee bit of lateral thinking may be what's needed and possibly looking into a way of getting the films on time.


petewick

[A Horse called Juan Face]

if i was to guess id say whichever distributor the picture house uses
would prefer their films to go to the multiplexes first rather than an independent cinema that is struggling to stay afloat

as i said i dont know for sure but i assume the film copy we get is one thats been taken off a screen in a multiplex
and is therefore cheaper for our cinema to hire

i know what ur saying although and i think the main thing people here could do is go to the cinema and give it money.

[Malky]

Good guess horsey

There is a limited number of copies of each film made up and the film distributors are not keen to give out a copy unless they are sure of a good profit on it. They know that the multiplexes can show a film up to 12 times a day so always give them first refusal. Also for a film like this, they will want about 85% of the takings. That doesn't leave much for the Picture House to make a profit on with 45% being about the maximum they can afford.

There are a number of distributors but all films are distributed from London now and it takes 3 days to get here with a stopover in Glasgow before being picked up by a local courier. The film comes in small reels and has to be cut and spliced together, run through to check it etc. That takes a good half day - longer if the film is damaged in transit. This is then done in reverse for shipping the film back. Including the weeks showing, the copy of the film is out of circulation for nearly 3 weeks. Not a good situation for the distributors who want to make money.

By the way, the slowness of getting films is the most common complaint that the Picture House gets. Unfortunately, its not easy to find a solution to this. In the future films may be beamed into cinemas by satellite, which would obviously cut down distribution problems and allow simultaneous showings across the country but I suspect the equipment needed would be very expensive.

Malky