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» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Ground Level   » Classic Cinemas' new R-rated policy for kids (Page 1)

 
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Author Topic: Classic Cinemas' new R-rated policy for kids
Robert Harrison
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 239
From: Harwood Heights, Illinois, USA
Registered: Jun 2005

- posted 02-17-2012 07:53 PM      Profile for Robert Harrison   Email Robert Harrison   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I get newsletters from the local chain called Classic Cinemas. The following arrived today:

"To help foster a distraction-free environment Classic Cinemas will adopt two new policies for R-rated movies starting Friday, March 2nd, 2012:

- Children under the age of 6 will no longer be permitted to R-rated features at any time even when accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- We will require the applicable general admission ticket for ages 6-11 to all R-rated features. By eliminating the discounted child ticket we hope to further encourage a mature movie-going atmosphere for films that are geared to an older audience.

We struggled with this decision as our intent is not to dictate family values or determine what is appropriate for children. However, enough children become bored during R-rated features and subsequently disrupt fellow guests that we felt this change was necessary. We hope you see this as a small but positive step toward achieving a more enjoyable movie-going experience.

As always, we appreciate your support, cooperation and feedback."

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

- posted 02-17-2012 09:26 PM      Profile for Brad Miller   Author's Homepage   Email Brad Miller       Edit/Delete Post 
Classic Cinemas [thumbsup]

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Bruce McGee
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1776
From: Asheville, NC USA... Nowhere in Particular.
Registered: Aug 1999

- posted 02-18-2012 02:16 PM      Profile for Bruce McGee   Email Bruce McGee   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I wish we could do this.

I still wonder what the parents are thinking when they take little kids into the R movies...

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Frank Cox
Film God

Posts: 2234
From: Melville Saskatchewan Canada
Registered: Apr 2011

- posted 02-18-2012 02:44 PM      Profile for Frank Cox   Author's Homepage   Email Frank Cox   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
What are they thinking?

I want to see this movie. If I bring the kids with me I don't have find a babysitter, and it's cheaper than paying the babysitter anyway even if I could find one.

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Tom Wienholt
Master Film Handler

Posts: 371
From: Towson, MD, USA
Registered: Dec 2002

- posted 02-18-2012 02:56 PM      Profile for Tom Wienholt   Email Tom Wienholt   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Simple solution...no one under 17 in R-rated movies at all. This solves the problem of parents lying about their child's age if, for example, you have a no one under 6 or 10 or whatever rule. If you don't have an ID, you don't get in.

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

- posted 02-18-2012 03:45 PM      Profile for Mike Blakesley   Author's Homepage   Email Mike Blakesley   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I think the R-rating needs to be revisited. I would change the age to 15. That's when most kids get into high school and let's face it, by that time every kid has heard (and probably uses) every curse word in the book and they've all played violent video games, so they're little psyches aren't harmed by violence. There's not all that much sex in movies these days (there's probably more on TV), so that's not a big concern, plus half of them are having sex already anyway.

Since every theater gets to enforce the rating as it sees fit, we do it this way: If you are in high school you can get in without your parents. If you're not, then you need Mom or Dad or a responsible adult to accompany you.

This solution works way better because this way, a whole group of kids becomes "eligible" to get in at the same time -- a group of high school friends doesn't have to deal with one kid "not being old enough." This would work easily in any size town...just check school ID cards, rather than drivers licenses. No ID = no admittance.

We adopted this policy because in over 30 years in the business, I can count on one hand the number of times a parent of a 15- or 16-year-old has refused them permission to get in the show. In 99.9% of cases, the parent says "no" for a second, then the kid launches the "everybody else has seen it and it's not THAT bad" routine, after which the parent says "Oh, all RIGHT" and gives permission. So we're just saving time (for us), hassle (for the parents) and embarrassment (for the kid).

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

- posted 02-19-2012 12:56 PM      Profile for Mike Blakesley   Author's Homepage   Email Mike Blakesley   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Mike Blakesley
so they're little psyches aren't harmed by violence
I can't believe I did that. It should be "their" little psyches, obviously. Goes to show what a lack of sleep will do. (Long night on Friday)

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Steven Stroud
Film Handler

Posts: 13
From: Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Registered: Feb 2012

- posted 02-21-2012 01:39 AM      Profile for Steven Stroud   Email Steven Stroud   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Frank Cox
What are they thinking?

I want to see this movie. If I bring the kids with me I don't have find a babysitter, and it's cheaper than paying the babysitter anyway even if I could find one.
it's easier to turn away a family of four with a small child than having to eat crow with a whole auditorium of folks who were upset that the crying toddler ruined their night out.

Our R policy dictates that children under 5 are NOT allowed into any R feature.

Now, if I get a family looking to enjoy the newest R movie but they have a small child with them... I don't just turn them away with my sympathies... as the guy who runs the building I can also tell them that I will allow them to see any of out PG13 or under films at a discounted price... or maybe I offer them a free popcorn. It's obscenely easy to turn this into a positive situation... something where the young family knows they can bring their children and still have a good night out.

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Michael Putlack
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 187
From: Fort Collins, Colorado
Registered: Sep 2011

- posted 02-21-2012 01:49 PM      Profile for Michael Putlack   Author's Homepage   Email Michael Putlack   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I once had a guest CALL THE POLICE when they saw someone underage in an R movie. The cops walked into the theatre, and then into the auditorium without even asking for a manger or telling any employee why they were there or what they were doing and pulled the 14ish year old girl out of the movie.

He parents, who were sitting directly behind her in the crowded showing, stormed out of the auditorium to yell and berate both the woman and the police officers. It was incredible. Luckily the family wasn't upset with us.

Looking back on it, I should have called the police department to discuss with them how we would like them to handle the next situation like this and how we would like to be involved and how that isn't, in fact, against any law for anyone to see an R rated movie, but I figured it would never happen again anyways, and it hasn't.

I should probably put this in the stupid customers thread too...

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Martin McCaffery
Film God

Posts: 2481
From: Montgomery, AL
Registered: Jun 99

- posted 02-21-2012 03:28 PM      Profile for Martin McCaffery   Author's Homepage   Email Martin McCaffery   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Both the woman and the police DESERVED to be yelled at and berated.

Did you give the family passes to come back and see the movie?

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Frank Angel
Film God

Posts: 5305
From: Brooklyn NY USA
Registered: Dec 1999

- posted 02-21-2012 10:34 PM      Profile for Frank Angel   Author's Homepage   Email Frank Angel   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Something I learned in life -- it's never a good idea to yell at the police.

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Martin McCaffery
Film God

Posts: 2481
From: Montgomery, AL
Registered: Jun 99

- posted 02-22-2012 11:50 AM      Profile for Martin McCaffery   Author's Homepage   Email Martin McCaffery   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
So true [Wink]

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Michael Putlack
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 187
From: Fort Collins, Colorado
Registered: Sep 2011

- posted 02-22-2012 02:01 PM      Profile for Michael Putlack   Author's Homepage   Email Michael Putlack   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
We apologized and offered the family passes but they declined and understood that we didn't have anything to do with what had happened.

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Steven Stroud
Film Handler

Posts: 13
From: Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Registered: Feb 2012

- posted 02-23-2012 02:51 AM      Profile for Steven Stroud   Email Steven Stroud   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Mike Blakesley
I think the R-rating needs to be revisited. I would change the age to 15. That's when most kids get into high school and let's face it, by that time every kid has heard (and probably uses) every curse word in the book and they've all played violent video games, so they're little psyches aren't harmed by violence. There's not all that much sex in movies these days (there's probably more on TV), so that's not a big concern, plus half of them are having sex already anyway.
Here's how I look at it. The R rating WAS once a way to dictate morality and decency to the masses, but today it is more of a way to allow adults to have a good night out at the theater without worrying about a gaggle of stupid kids ruining the experience.

I am not the arbiter of morality. It is not my job to make sure the innocent young minds of my communitie's youth are free from the horrible imagery our industry enables. If that were the case, I would have made the entire Twilight series and every Nic Cage movie since Honeymoon in Vegas rated R.

All I want to do is make sure the people who pay $9 to sit in my building and watch a movie can do so without having to worry about obnoxious kids or crying babies. Yeah, some slip through the cracks every so often, but it makes it that much easier to prevent if I can just turn them away at the door.

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Edward Havens
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 614
From: Los Angeles, CA
Registered: Mar 2008

- posted 02-23-2012 04:21 AM      Profile for Edward Havens   Email Edward Havens   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Here's how I look at it...

Each parent has the right to decide for themselves how they want to raise their children. If they want their little 15 year old to see an R-rated movie, that's their choice. But if they come to my theatre, they have to follow my rules. And my rules are simple. Anyone under the age of 17 wishing to attend an R-rated movie must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian over the age of 21.

The MPAA rating system exists so there are not a thousand individual community ratings boards forcing their individual will on anyone doing business in their community.

Think I'm BSing you? Do your homework. Learn more about the Dallas Motion Picture Classification Board, and the BS filmmakers had to deal with to get their movies shown in this one township. (Here is a good place to start checking out the madness). Imagine this, for every city in the United States. A different set of rules. A different set of tastes. A different moviegoing experience for people seeing a movie in New York City than for people in Newark, because the ratings board of one town might object to something the other city's ratings board doesn't object. Filmmakers forced to make dozens or even hundreds of slightly different versions of their movies, to appease each individual ratings board.

No thanks.

The MPAA and its rating system is the evil I know and can accept.

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