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Author Topic: The decline of 3D Justin Hamaker Film God Posts: 2253 From: Lakeport, CA USA Registered: Jan 2004 posted 08-22-2017 04:47 PM                        As 3D continues to decline in popularity and available showings, I'm curious what others think about the eventual demise of 3D. With the lower demand from customers, and less strict requirements from the studios, I wonder how long it will make sense to buy brighter bulbs to project 3D. Especially when we long gaps without any 3D content. I had this discussion about my theatre recently and it has been concluded the additional cost per hour for 4K vs 3K bulbs does not justify ditching 3D entirely. However, we may be getting close to the time when the projector(s) will normally have 3K bulbs and a 4K is just kept on the shelf for when we have a worthwhile 3D movie.  |  IP: Logged Mike Spaeth Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1129 From: Marietta, GA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 08-22-2017 05:20 PM                        I don't even book 3d content any more. 2d only  |  IP: Logged Marcel Birgelen Film God Posts: 3357 From: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands Registered: Feb 2012 posted 08-23-2017 07:48 AM                     The market here might be slightly different, but in general we follow the same trends as the U.S. I don't think 3D will entirely go away in the foreseeable future, although it's undeniably on the way down for a while now. Especially studios like Disney are still releasing most of their tent poles in 3D and the "premium" concepts like IMAX, Dolby Cinema and other assorted PLF "formats" are still catering to the format as of now. My impression is that most customers base their decision for a particular show not so much on format, but more on a particular show time that best fits their planning. Most people I speak about it, consider 3D more a nuisance than added value. There are the occasional re-releases that specifically target 3D, like the upcoming Terminator 2 release. Also, for a handful of new releases, 3D will make some sense and you might find some people specifically looking for the 3D version, especially if it gets some good reviews, particularly because of the 3D (which is rare, but still seems to happen). As for the economics, I guess it depends on your theater and the size of the individual auditoriums. A local 8-plex for example, keeps 3D available in one of their three larger screens and one of their 3 medium sized screens, both screens also have Atmos. Another one, which has the rather unique configuration with 8 equally sized screens, also keeps two screens available for 3D, this used to be three. Another 11-plex has ditched 3D in their larger auditoriums entirely and is showing 3D only in two of their medium sized rooms. A smaller 4-plex which had 3D available in all their auditoriums has ditched 3D entirely. They do get the occasional question, why they aren't showing a particular show in 3D, mostly regarding animated stuff though. I don't think that, nowadays, you do not necessarily need to offer 3D in the biggest rooms in the house, but if you're running 4 screens or more, it's probably still worthwhile to keep it in one of your medium sized screens. The extra costs for the "bigger" bulbs should only be marginal in those cases.  |  IP: Logged Geoff Jones Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 579 From: Broomfield, CO, USA Registered: Feb 2006 posted 08-23-2017 08:25 AM                        I'm really bummed that T2 is not playing in 2D anywhere. I'm excited to see it again on the big screen, especially with my kids, one of whom hasn't seen it, but hate paying extra for a format we don't like.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-23-2017 07:56 PM                        We haven't played a movie in 3-D since April 2016, and I've probably had maybe half-a-dozen people ask about it since then, so I don't know if it's worth resurrecting our system or not. (Our Dolby 3-D unit went "down" in April and we've tried every trick in the book but can't get it to work.) That said, I'll bet the 3-D promotional machine will crank up very loud when James Cameron gets ready to roll out the next Avatar movies. After all, the original was the main driver behind most of the digital 3-D installations in the first place, and I don't think he's lost his enthusiasm for the format. He'll probably be pushing laser 3-D installations this time though.  |  IP: Logged Marcel Birgelen Film God Posts: 3357 From: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands Registered: Feb 2012 posted 08-23-2017 08:15 PM                     Avatar 2 is now scheduled for 2020. I'm not entirely sure what Cameron's plan is, but it seems like he keeps kicking the can down the alley, although the alley finally seems to narrow somewhat. It has been mentioned, he's aiming for a 4K 3D 60fps release. I guess, by now, HDR also has been added to his wish list. The only setups theoretically capable of playing such content right now are the highest end dual-stack 3D setups like the Christie Dolby Vision setup. quote: Geoff Jones I'm really bummed that T2 is not playing in 2D anywhere. I'm excited to see it again on the big screen, especially with my kids, one of whom hasn't seen it, but hate paying extra for a format we don't like. Apparently, the studio and most likely Cameron by proxy, demands exclusive 3D presentations for this release, at least in some markets.  |  IP: Logged Martin McCaffery Film God Posts: 2481 From: Montgomery, AL Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-23-2017 08:25 PM                        What will be the first film to bill itself as being shown in "Classic 2D"?  |  IP: Logged David Stambaugh Film God Posts: 4021 From: Eugene, Oregon Registered: Jan 2002 posted 08-23-2017 08:40 PM                        With very very few exceptions like Avatar, GOOD RIDDANCE.  |  IP: Logged Mark Ogden Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 943 From: Little Falls, N.J. Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-23-2017 08:50 PM                     Amen, but 3D will never really be "gone" until the last of those infuriating silver screens is replaced.  |  IP: Logged Jesse Skeen Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1517 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Aug 2000 posted 08-29-2017 06:12 AM                     As a HUGE fan of 3D, the industry has largely mishandled it this time around. Charging extra for it was a HUGE mistake- they didn't charge extra for it in the 50s or 80s. (I know someone on here will tell me it costs more to run 3D than 2D, but I doubt it amounts to $3 more per patron, and it seems they're losing more than that from the people who won't go at all because of the upcharge.) 3D should never have been treated as an "add-on" either- either a movie is in 3D, or it isn't. Separate 2D showings of 3D movies are the same as showing a color movie in black and white, or playing a surround track in mono. Shooting in 2D and then post-converting to 3D is pretty silly too- although it CAN look good, there's been enough bad conversion jobs to turn people off from 3D especially if they had to pay extra to see them. If they could shoot 3D in the 50s with dual-camera rigs, there's no reason why they can't shoot true 3D with digital equipment now. I'll just say from a patron point of view that I would have gone to EVERY 3D movie that came out since the revival (starting with Disney's Chicken Little) if theaters hadn't been charging extra for 3D. Since they did, I've only seen a handful of them (but I didn't go to the crappy 2D showings just to save money- I either see movies the right way or not at all.) It's especially sad now that 3D showings have been reduced rather than the upcharges dropped- now if there's a movie I want to see, I first have to verify that it's in 3D to begin with, and then if it is make sure I go to the "right" showing. (Meanwhile all that precious 3D equipment in the booth that cost so much money is just sitting there doing nothing as the 2D showings play through it.) Even if I go see a 2D movie, I have to double-check that it wasn't actually in 3D and that I'll miss it because the theater decided not to show it that way. I have to ask those who've been in the business at least since the 80s though, was there as much hate for 3D the prior times it came around as there has been recently? I honestly can't believe the amount of COMPLAINING I've heard about 3D from some people. It seems some people simply can't see it properly, but I definitely can and I love it!  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-29-2017 08:00 PM                        We never did 3D on a regular basis before the current iteration, but I can tell you that we got almost no compliants about the surcharge. Most gripes centered around the glasses, headaches, or "I just can't see 3D." So if we made it a freebie I doubt it would increase attendance much.  |  IP: Logged Jim Cassedy Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1661 From: San Francisco, CA Registered: Dec 2006 posted 08-30-2017 12:40 AM                     I think 3D popularity can very greatly by venue and clientele. I recently had one theater owner, who has pretty much given up on 3D ask me if there was any aftermarket for used 3D equipment, and how much I thought he could get for it if he decided to rip it all out. (I told him I don't know- - because I don't know)  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 08-30-2017 04:09 AM                     Love to get rid of 3D so we can lose that blessed "hot spot" that loves to follow you around, by putting back up matte white screens. Dolby 3D installs don't count.  |  IP: Logged Sam Graham AKA: "The Evil Sam Graham". Wackiness ensues. Posts: 1431 From: Waukee, IA Registered: Dec 2004 posted 08-30-2017 06:40 AM                        quote: David Stambaugh With very very few exceptions like Avatar, GOOD RIDDANCE. Yeah, Avatar is the one movie where watching it at home in 2D made it feel like it lost something.  |  IP: Logged Rusty Gordon Film Handler Posts: 33 From: Fairview, Tennessee USA Registered: Feb 2004 posted 08-30-2017 11:17 AM                        As a long time exhibitor (former) and lifetime moviegoer, I have never liked 3D and I certainly wouldn't pay extra for the privilege. I'm 53 now and while not quite curmudgeon I see my industry making ridiculous mistakes that are driving the decline of moviegoing. When you consider that the most reliable patron is single and of school age and dating age, exhibition has priced them out--or at least reduced moviegoing frequency to just tentpoles. What teen/young adult can afford $12 to $23 a ticket to see a film every week? Ask yourself if teens/young adults have the money for extras like 3D for a middling, non-blockbuster film. Ask yourself if a teen wants to pay $5+ extra to sit in a wide lazy-boy type chair every time he attends a film like "Boo! A Madea Halloween". Ask yourself if reserved seating appeals to a teen who wants to meet up with his friends (and sit together) at the cinema. Ask yourself, is Dolby Atmos 100 channel sound really needed or is 7.1 or 5.1 even really adequate? Indeed, these amenities are super for a person like myself who can afford them. But I see *maybe* 5 films a year in the cinema. I would never go to a cinema and sit through 95% of the drek that comes out today. Kids would--if they could afford it. Just my perspective. Two-cents if you will. Exhibitors are driving its most reliable customer from an affordable cinema experience they can repeat every week. Back in the day teens would go to the cinema every weekend and just pick and watch anything. No more. Not only are there other, less expensive choices at home and mobile and on demand, there are now exorbitant amenities one must pay for in addition to just seeing a film. No more are kids just plopping down an hour's wages to see a film. In many cases it's two--just for a ticket. It may be too late for the exhibitor who's taken the plunge and bought into this madness. Your customer base may have found more affordable options.  |  IP: Logged

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