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Author Topic: Booking questions Paul Looker Film Handler Posts: 83 From: Pittsburgh, PA/United States Registered: Sep 2009 posted 04-16-2014 04:50 PM                     I'm looking to do Midnight shows of classic titles on fridays and saturdays. I'm also looking to do children's films saturday and sunday at 10am. My first show of a mainstream hollywood feature is never earlier than 12pm and never later than 10:30pm. What's the story? Can I do those shows if I have to be running a hollywood title clean? Why won't my booker answer my questions when it comes to this either?  |  IP: Logged Martin McCaffery Film God Posts: 2481 From: Montgomery, AL Registered: Jun 99 posted 04-16-2014 05:20 PM                        Yes, plenty of theatres do this. As long as you program so your times don't overlap. Hope you can get some sleep;>  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 04-16-2014 05:24 PM                        Right, and as long as you reserve the "prime" showtimes for your main booking you should be fine. In the event you wanted to run a classic during a prime time such as 9pm, you could probably still do it but it's best to have your booker get permission from the studio. As long as your main movie isn't a blockbuster in its first week (or a Disney movie) you should have no trouble getting the OK. As to your booker "not answering your questions" -- that's a disturbing thing. Your booker is an employee of yours and if he won't answer your questions to your satisfaction, you should find another booker.  |  IP: Logged Paul Looker Film Handler Posts: 83 From: Pittsburgh, PA/United States Registered: Sep 2009 posted 04-16-2014 05:32 PM                     What about "running clean". The way I always heard it described was that it was a clause in the contract that says no other movie can show on the same screen as the main feature.  |  IP: Logged Martin McCaffery Film God Posts: 2481 From: Montgomery, AL Registered: Jun 99 posted 04-16-2014 05:49 PM                        That's usually "prime time". What they are usually concerned about is running a split show during first run (i.e.: on movie at 7:00, a different one at 9:00). Depending where you are in the life of the film, you can get permission to do so. What you asked about, kids shows and midnight shows aren't usually a problem.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 04-16-2014 06:39 PM                        Paul - what kind of regular schedule do you run? Do you play on the break, and if not, how many weeks later (on average)? If, for example you were playing Transformers 4 on the break, the studio might take a dim view if you decided to play some other movie on that Friday at midnight. But if you're 3 or 4 weeks after the break, you shouldn't ever have a problem.  |  IP: Logged Paul Looker Film Handler Posts: 83 From: Pittsburgh, PA/United States Registered: Sep 2009 posted 04-16-2014 07:00 PM                     We play on the break but we have 4 screens so we always have at least one movie three weeks out.  |  IP: Logged Mike Frese Master Film Handler Posts: 465 From: Holts Summit, MO Registered: Jun 2007 posted 04-22-2014 10:13 PM                        Time to let your booker go. How long have you been operating your theater? If at least a year, you could reasonably book your own movies and have a lot more control over what you are getting. Like the others have said, keep noon to 11 pm for the regular schedule and you will be fine. Kids: I did well and I have seen plenty of others do 10 am or so shows for free or $1 admission. Do not expect to play Disney titles though.  |  IP: Logged

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