Movie Theaters Sued Over Commercials

[DoctorJones24]

This kicks ass...

http://news.yahoo.com/fc?tmpl=fc&cid=34&in=business&cat=advertising_and_marketing_news

"It is completely ludicrous to have moviegoers pay good money to watch commercials," said attorney Douglas Litowitz, who is representing Fisch in her suit. "They can do that at home for free."


The suit seeks "lost time" damages of up to $75 per plaintiff covered under a class action, as well as an injunction to force Loews to stipulate separately when its onscreen ads will run and when movies will play.

[TheWakeUpBomb]

It's not clear if they're talking about trailers, too. It does say "pre-film product commercials", so maybe they're exempt.

I really like the trailers, even the really crappy ones. I don't mind those at all.

[DoctorJones24]

Originally posted by TheWakeUpBomb
It's not clear if they're talking about trailers, too. It does say "pre-film product commercials", so maybe they're exempt.

I really like the trailers, even the really crappy ones. I don't mind those at all.

Hm, I definitely understood it to refer strictly to the new wave of "regular" commercial programming that has become SO annoying at movie theaters. I also enjoy traliers, so I wouldn't want them included.

[amerifolklegend]

Originally posted by DoctorJones24
This kicks ass...

http://news.yahoo.com/fc?tmpl=fc&cid=34&in=business&cat=advertising_and_marketing_news

"It is completely ludicrous to have moviegoers pay good money to watch commercials," said attorney Douglas Litowitz, who is representing Fisch in her suit. "They can do that at home for free."


The suit seeks "lost time" damages of up to $75 per plaintiff covered under a class action, as well as an injunction to force Loews to stipulate separately when its onscreen ads will run and when movies will play.

This is retarded.

In a related story, Doug Litowitz is also representing Sally Johanson, a waitress from Trenton New Jersey also fighting against commercials ruining her movie-going experience. Stated Johanson, "I remember the first time I was scarred. I was at the otherwise Oscar caliber quality film Judge Dredd when I saw that Taco Bell ad blatantly thrown in there throughout the movie. I wept out loud. I know I would have remembered that as one of the greatest films of our time had it not been for that product placement. But because of it, the movie just sucked." Cleaning the ads completely would make the movie-going experience a much more pleasurable time if there were no more ads, Johanson said later. We shouldn't have to see anything that resembles an advertisement if we're paying for the film. Off the record, Ms. Johanson told us that she was doing this for people everywhere that are sick of seeing high-dollar actors on the screen for just eight bucks. People will be thanking her when they can finally go to a theater and see no-name actors in movies that cost $18.00 a ticket, like it was meant to be.


The ads pay bills, folks. It's that simple. You take away the ads, and you will pay more at the ticket counter.

[Alex_1]

I hate the commercials - and actually like the suit. It's like when you buy a DVD and how sometimes there are trailers - and you cannot fast-forward past them!! That sucks. So you have a DVD for two years and then you still have trailers for movies that were already out a year and a half ago or so.

Movie tickets are expensive enough as it is. It's sort of outrageous to buy the ticket and then sit there and watch 10-15 minutes of car and video game commercials. You see plenty of those on TV as it is - and frankly I don't go to the movies because of the stupid prices for the tickets, the idiot savants you have to deal with so you and yoru girlfriend can sit together, and then spend the first 20 minutes watching commercials and trailers. Something has to go - and right now it's me and my money. Preferably, I say cut the commercials. Trailers - okay. That is the movie industry after all.

[amerifolklegend]

Originally posted by Alex_1
It's like when you buy a DVD and how sometimes there are trailers - and you cannot fast-forward past them!! That sucks.

You need a better DVD player. Get one that has a remote with TITLE button or an advance chapter option. Either of those will work.

[3stripe]

Originally posted by amerifolklegend


The ads pay bills, folks. It's that simple. You take away the ads, and you will pay more at the ticket counter.

the prices were just as high before i started seeing commercials before the films...

the best bet is to support your local indy theater...we have a couple good ones here in indianapolis...they never show commercials.

[capt. america]

yeah, i hate the commercials at movie theaters. i purposely stare at the floor during them so i don't see what products are being advertised. it's not much but i feel a little better knowing they haven't reached me.

[655321]

Originally posted by amerifolklegend
The ads pay bills, folks. It's that simple. You take away the ads, and you will pay more at the ticket counter.

Wrong, execs saw a way to make more money. As simple as that. Very little concerning major movie industry companies is struggling right now. It's a complete violation to pay $10 and still have to watch commercials.

[_chachi]

Originally posted by 655321
Wrong, execs saw a way to make more money. As simple as that. Very little concerning major movie industry companies is struggling right now. It's a complete violation to pay $10 and still have to watch commercials.

amen

[Dr. Wankler]

Originally posted by 655321
Wrong, execs saw a way to make more money. As simple as that. Very little concerning major movie industry companies is struggling right now. It's a complete violation to pay $10 and still have to watch commercials.

Actually, AFL is partially correct. But the bills getting paid are mortgages on summer homes and carpayments, etc. for the top execs (whom you're talking about) for Loews, Cineplex Odious, etc. I doubt if those ads are helping anyone local. In fact, the non-chains that I go to never have commercials except for trailers.

Say, did anyone see the talk show where Bruce Willis started talking about the high cost of movies, then blamed the union instead of hacks like him getting $64 million per movie? It was great when the union guys in the studio killed the lights on him.

[amerifolklegend]

Originally posted by 655321
Wrong, execs saw a way to make more money. As simple as that. Very little concerning major movie industry companies is struggling right now. It's a complete violation to pay $10 and still have to watch commercials.

Okay, first of all, you are the one that is wrong. You may convince yourself that all the money generated from these comercials go directly into the pockets of movie execs all you want, but the fact is, you're just not right here. They are in there to bring profit margins back up, yes. However, every business has a profit margin they must maintain. In order to keep money coming, they need other ways of bringing it in, and in this case it's in little commercials before the show that cover a little more expense in order to cover a budget that cinematic democracy has forced them to jack up.

Second, these ads are actually not usually tacked on by the production studios. They are sold by the movie houses (AMC is one big one that uses these regularly) in order to recover the cost of running super high-end theaters with stadium seating, plush connecting loveseat-style seats, and do-it-yourself popcorn-butter dispensers, with only a relatively small fee going to the actual production studios. These things are what the masses want, and the movie houses have to pay for these things somehow to keep people coming back to their massive theaters.

And thirdly, the cost of a movie 12 years ago was $6.00. Now they are $7.50 (I'm sure both prices are inflated a few bucks in large markets, but the differential is the same.) I'd say that a buck and a half in 12 years is amazingly good. Without ads in theaters and product placement, your ticket prices would have gone up a hell of a lot more in that time period.


And besides, if you don't like it, then go to a small, local movie house with more indie-types films and better food. You'll like the movies better, you'd be supporting lesser known directors (who you'll eventually hate as soon as they become famous enough to get their films into the mega theater chains because you'll feel that they've sold out,) and you'll be helping the community by supporting a family-run business maintain their profit margin by selling you a ticket for a movie that they only show because they know they can make money off you - just like the big boys.

Business is business, big or small.

[GringoTex]

Originally posted by amerifolklegend

You'll like the movies better, you'd be supporting lesser known directors (who you'll eventually hate as soon as they become famous enough to get their films into the mega theater chains because you'll feel that they've sold out,)


This describes music snobs. We movie snobs actually like to see our indie heros sell out. Seriously.

[amerifolklegend]

Originally posted by GringoTex
This describes music snobs. We movie snobs actually like to see our indie heros sell out. Seriously.

I am a movie snob. You are a movie snob.

Music snobs think alike in all aspects of business.

[Footer Phooter]

I stopped going to movies a few years ago. having to sit through commercials was one of the reasons.

[GringoTex]

Originally posted by Footer Phooter
I stopped going to movies a few years ago. having to sit through commercials was one of the reasons.

This is almost as bad as supporting terrorism.

[Smiley321]

I'd like to see a class-action lawsuit on the $4 bag of popcorn. This is truly an outrage.

It makes me so mad, I don't buy it. Unless my wife asks for it, which is always.

[amerifolklegend]

Originally posted by Footer Phooter
I stopped going to movies a few years ago. having to sit through commercials was one of the reasons.

And haven't been to a baseball game since the strike, right?




People are idiots.

[skipshady]

Originally posted by Smiley321
I'd like to see a class-action lawsuit on the $4 bag of popcorn. This is truly an outrage.

It makes me so mad, I don't buy it. Unless my wife asks for it, which is always. It's the same deal as having commercials on the screen - theaters have bills to pay. As much as we bitch about $10 tickets, most theaters see little or no profit from ticket sales, especially when half the loot is going to the studios. So they have to overcharge on concessions and sell ads to make ends meet.

[Father Ted]

Jeez, these people have BIG problems if all they have to complain about is commercials before movies.

If thats the case, I shouldnt have to watch Man Utd wear those Vodaphone shirts, I just want to see the good old red shirt.