The Average Movie Theater Has Hundreds of Screens 924
theodp writes "The "average" movie theater reportedly has a capacity of 200-300 people. Which, thanks to the wonder of mobile devices, means that it also has hundreds of screens. And — thanks to Facebook, Twitter, and texting — hundreds of potential annoyances. Which prompts NY film critic David Edelstein to ask: How Should We Treat Texters and Talkers at Movie Theaters? 'Has our culture become so private that no one knows how to behave anymore in public?' Edelstein wonders. 'Is selfishness the rule rather than exception? Are people who say, "Shut up and turn off your phone" today's version of "You kids get off my lawn"?' Jason Bailey argues that the only way to solve movie theaters' talking and texting problem is to give in to it, perhaps with anything-goes phone-friendly talk-amongst-yourselves screenings in the seven and eight o'clock hours coupled with no-tolerance shows later in the evening. Any other ideas?" You could always throw it.
Faraday cage (Score:5, Insightful)
I've always liked the notion of enclosing the theatres in a faraday cage. In any new construction, it should be relatively cheap to include a mesh around the theatre itself -- and then you don't have to worry about people's manners. At least not as far as cell phones are concerned.
Stop going to theatres. (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:I go to a fair amount of movies (Score:5, Insightful)
I've never seen it either, in 50+ years of life in three states. The theater I normally go to has a warning at the beginning that they will throw you out. Given that I have never seen anyone with a phone screen on there, I can only presume they mean it.
This is a trivial problem to deal with - for the theater management. They will quickly get a reputation of not tolerating that kind of idiocy, and as they do, for every texting asshole they lose as a customer, they'll pick up two or three who will drive the extra distance to get to a theater that enforces their rules. If it's a problem in the first place.
So is some dickhead is bothering your movie experience, complain to the manager. Immediately. Demand they either enforce their rules (and they have them) or give you your money back. And if they don't, make it clear they've lost a customer, and anybody else who you can tell about it.
If it's a problem in the first place. I've never seen it.
Rude? Yes (Score:5, Insightful)
>"'Has our culture become so private that no one knows how to behave anymore in public?"
Yes it has. A large percent of the population are very rude regarding phones. And the younger the generation, the more rude.
Re:Get off my lawn (Score:4, Insightful)
An acquired taste that we no longer have much reason to acquire.
Not at all a novel problem (Score:5, Insightful)
This is hardly a novel problem. All manners of talking, noisemaking, and other disturbances have been problems in theaters for centuries; phones are simply another type of potential disturbance.
Yes, it is to some extent a cultural problem. I also think it tends to be a problem of lack of any enforcement of reasonable etiquette in theaters, perhaps from a concern for repercussions and retribution, but also, at least in many movie theaters, from a lack of staff.
But I think it is only through enforcement by venues, and cultural unacceptability, that disturbances like these can be minimized, especially in this case. I don't think anyone particularly wants to be in a theater full of other people on phones; the people who use them in theaters would likely be upset about others using them were they not using them at that particular time. There are already venues for watching movies on large screens while being able to talk and generally be more casual, and perhaps we could use more of those, but that's not the problem here: the problem are people who are selfish. If someone wants to be able to disturb others, but not be disturbed by others, then letting everyone cause disturbances isn't going to help: everyone will go to the no-tolerance shows, and become upset if they're thrown out.
Re:I go to a fair amount of movies (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:I go to a fair amount of movies (Score:5, Insightful)
>"If someone is bothered by a phone screen's brightness during a movie, it sounds like they aren't paying attention to the right screen."
And that is just a typical "everyone is like me" attitude. Just because it doesn't bother YOU doesn't mean it doesn't bother anyone else. This is one of the biggest issues with society- many people are simply unable to imagine that other people are more or less sensitive/annoyed by things. Even worse are the people who simply don't care that what they do annoys others because the world revolves around their own selfishness.
Re:Too Bright (Score:5, Insightful)
>"I haven't had that issue when people have taken out their phones to text or check the time."
It greatly depends on a variety of factors:
* How long it was used
* How bright the screen is
* How far away other people are
* How dark the theater is
* How dark the movie screen is at the time it was used
* How sensitive the people are around you
* How the phone is being held (this is a big one)
Generally, it is rude to use a phone at all in a theater because it has the great *potential* to annoy others around the user, just like talking does. I speculate 95% of the texting seen in theaters is totally unnecessary-it is not urgent or something that can't wait until after the movie. But to check the time or for an urgent text, the impact can be greatly reduced by:
* Doing it as quickly as possible
* Turning down the brightness
* Holding the device close to you and never facing in a way someone can see the screen
Re:I go to a fair amount of movies (Score:4, Insightful)
>"What movie theater do you frequent? I'll make sure to shine a flashlight in your eyes and tell you your attention span sucks"
You are either an uncooked teenager or just don't give a damn about anyone around you. Perhaps karma will catch up with you one day.... one can only hope.
The theater is dead. (Score:5, Insightful)
Even if cell phones were eliminated (which in my experience have been more or less a non-issue in theaters) you've still got the fact that its $8 for a ticket and then $5 for a popcorn, $5 for a soda, $5 for a box of Junior Mints... Its simply too expensive for the 2 hours of (possible) enjoyment, especially when a couple of months later you can watch the movie on Netflix or pay $1 for it at Redbox. It used to be you could offset this by the fact that you were getting a higher quality picture and sound, but anymore a HDTV and surround sound are pretty common. 3D is simply a gimmick, its fun for a movie or two but doesn't really add much to the experience. I mean, other than for a midnight premiere, does anyone actually go to the movies anymore?
Re:Too Bright (Score:5, Insightful)
I would support this. Just have the mesh around the theater rooms, rather than the whole building, and let people go out into the hallway if they need to make a call. If they to be available to receive a call, in case of an emergency or for work, then maybe they should go rent a movie instead.
Re:Too Bright (Score:5, Insightful)
No no no. People still need the ability to call 911.
Pretty sure we there was a time, not long ago where we were able to go out without constant ability to dial 911. If there is an emergency then you can easily go to the counter and have the staff call.
Re:Faraday cage (Score:5, Insightful)
Great. With your vision, doctors (or anyone else who needs to be pageable 24/7, like a sysadmin) can never go to a movie.
I'm pretty sure doctors have been going to the cinema every decade from they invented movies up until they they invented pagers, how about you have time on call (where you can't get smashing drunk, go hiking in the mountains or if this is done, go to the cinema) and real time off like in a civilized work relationship. That you in a real emergency might try calling anyway is fine, but nobody should ever really be on 24x7 call, even if you're the CEO you should have some kind of second in command that could step in if you for any reason is indisposed. If things would go that wrong without you the business is a disaster waiting to happen when you really can't be reached.
Re:I go to a fair amount of movies (Score:4, Insightful)
Just the fact that this is a problem, AND the fact of the astronomical prices of movies (and the crap they sell in the snack bar), I wait till the movie comes out at Redbox, and then rent it and watch it on my tv.. The last movie I actually went to a theater to see was the last Starwars installment, and THEN I was so pissed off at the admission price, snack price AND noisy damn kids, I swore I'd never set foot in a theater again... Its been however many years since the last Starwars installment.. Forgot just when that was.. Even though I love the Bond and Startrek franchises, I wait for Redbox on them... Just aint gonna waste my hard earned money on theaters...
Gotta agree with you there (Score:3, Insightful)
I cannot drag myself to the movie theater anymore, unless it's something I desperately need to see, or the wife really wants to go. Together, both situations add up to maybe two or three times in a year. I'm just so spoiled when it comes to entertainment. Why should I drive to a movie theater to see a movie that starts at a specific time, paying for both myself and and my wife, when I can watch Netflix, or movies on HBO or Showtime on demand, or rent via the cable box or iTunes? The movie starts when I want to, pauses if one of us has to go to the bathroom, and I don't have to pay twice.
Like others have said, the picture and sound are really the only reason to go to the movie theater anymore, and I have HDTV and surround.
The movie theater experience sucks. The only thing keeping it in business is people's impatience to see movies NOW.
------RM
Re:Too Bright (Score:5, Insightful)
Why? Did the world change so that now you need 200 phones able to call 911 immediately as opposed to walking out of the theater like everyone did before cell phones? Or were we in a pre-civilized barbaric society before cell phones removed all need for social manners? Yes, person next to you has a heart attack; stop the movie, turn on the lights, turn off the phone jammer; and simultaneously with using the phone ask if there's a doctor in the audience. Don't use a remote 911 possibility as an excuse to be an asshat, you're just answering the phone because you're addicted to it.
I have actually been at a movie premier, full theater, movie is actually running and past the opening credits, when the guy in front of me gets a phone call. After lots of shushing he says loudly enough for everyone to hear "I have to go, I'm in the middle of Star Trek". There is no possible way that the phone call can be that important. If someone is actually worried about some incredibly vital call, they should stay home and sit staring at the phone.
rudeness is not just for kids (Score:5, Insightful)
I was having dinner with an old friend of mine (I'm early 50's and he's early 60's). you might think its only kids (relatively speaking) who are rude and will break out their phones and start thumbing thru stuff while in the middle of a dinner conversation, but NO - here he was, dinking around with his stupid iGadget while I was trying to carry on a conversation with him. yes, it really annoyed me.
I don't do that to others. when I'm with someone, I won't whip out my phone and start messing around with it. not sure why people think this is the 'new normal'; its new but its still NOT polite and should not be considered acceptable social behavior.
its bad enough that you cannot find people walking on the street looking where they are going, anymore; they all look down and are thumbing thru their phones and wearing earbuds while walking. car drivers, too! I see so many people wearing earbuds while driving. so unsafe! but do they care? of course not.
I don't like the direction all this is going in. and I realize I'm in a tiny minority, on this subject matter ;(
Re:Too Bright (Score:5, Insightful)
No no no. People still need the ability to call 911.
Leave the theater and call. The ability to call 911 from anywhere is not guaranteed, nor is it a right. But if it makes you feel better, they can put emergency hard line phones on the end of every row.
Re:The theater is dead. (Score:3, Insightful)
Where I live (big bad city), it's $14.00 for a single adult ticket, plus a $1.00 fee to buy online.
Oh, you want to see "A Scientologist Actor Saves the World 3D?"
That'll be $19.00 for the "3D ZOMG1!1!!!" experience, plus a $1.00 fee to buy online.
I do the math and realize I have a pretty big HD tv and a penchant for Usenet and all of the sudden that cellphone-manners-fight-waiting-to-happen doesn't seem so appealing.
Re:Too Bright (Score:5, Insightful)
The ushers should escort the phone users from the theater. Stop the movie first and turn up lights so that everyone can see who it is and provide sufficient negative reinforcement. If you don't let the puppy pee on the carpet, then why not use the rolled up newspaper on the mentally incontinent as well?
Re:Too Bright (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Too Bright (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:I go to a fair amount of movies (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Too Bright (Score:5, Insightful)
No no no. People still need the ability to call 911.
They can do that out in the hall.
Re:I go to a fair amount of movies (Score:5, Insightful)
I just don't care, and I don't have a problem with it.
Neither do I, though, I haven't been to a movie in the theaters in many years. Before cell phones, they were already very loud, full of obnoxious teenagers, some guy with big hair and a loud laugh, and so many other annoyances that going to a movie theater is the last place I'd like to go to enjoy a film.
Re:I go to a fair amount of movies (Score:4, Insightful)
If you sit toward the back on can see the glow of a half dozen smartphone screens at any given time (or more).
I was fortunate enough to see Roger Waters at the LA Coliseum last year. Fucking amazing show. The most brilliant bit was during "Run Like Hell". Across the sea of audience, you could see thousands of phone screens, everyone taking video, snapping pics, etc. Meanwhile, Waters is mocking all of these people with images of people wearing the white ear buds on the giant projection screen (as well as a few comments before the song).
And then.... AND THEN!!! Everyone starts singing along and doing the overhead clap thing... "RUN! RUN! RUN! RUN!!"
The irony was completely lost on them. I sat and watched and just couldn't believe my eyes. Hitler would have loved these people.
Re:Too Bright (Score:5, Insightful)
then why are you at the theater????
Really. You are paying $10 or more ... to play sudoku on your phone? When people are in a theater, why can't they just watch the movie? Or leave if they are bored? Are attention spans really that short?
Re:Too Bright (Score:5, Insightful)
Being jammed into a seat for 6 hours listening to multiple phone conversations would be hell on earth... or in the skies.
Hell is other people (Score:5, Insightful)
"Hell is other people" - Sartre
That is all.
Re:Rude? Yes (Score:5, Insightful)
The current generation is taught through the education system a great deal about their rights, but very little about their responsibilities.
Consequently we get a very inward-focused generation with a false sense of self-entitlement and, rudeness in general.
Re:I go to a fair amount of movies (Score:5, Insightful)
Two part solution:
1) make it clear that cell phones and pagers must be kept OFF if taken into the theater. "You agree to hold harmless anyone taking your functioning phone or pager away from you, including any accidental or intentional damage to said device."
before we get to #2, 911 IN the theater room is not necessary. you probably can't call 911 when you're swimming in the public pool for example. It's not a civil right. If you think that it is, then I challenge you to force your local pool to find a way to accommodate this right. Cellular/landline access to 911 is only relevant when there are no other convenient ways to summon help. Being 40 feet from the theater lobby is NOT too inconvenient. I can probably sprint to the lobby faster than you can fumble for your phone in the dark and dial 911. Maybe you should insist on them leaving the lights on in the theater so you can dial 911 faster? Seconds count! now put that silly argument away.
2) theaters could offer a silent pager, similar to what you find at many restaurants. Check your cell phone or pager at the lobby and get a pager. If your phone goes off, they will vibrate your pager. Theaters should not be required to offer this, and would almost certainly charge for it to prevent half the theater from checking their phones. If you need to be on call 24/7, don't go to a theater that doesn't offer this service. (and don't go for a swim) There are some things you simply can't do if you're on call. You're probably being compensated for this inconvenience. Deal with it, it's not my problem.
Re:Too Bright (Score:4, Insightful)
Alamo Drafthouse seemed to get a good bit of business from it, but then it's not typical. People I presume will not want to return to a theater that has lots of interrupts, and return to those that doesn't.
Re:if someone threw my phone... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I go to a fair amount of movies (Score:5, Insightful)
Well, then, you're probably an old fart, as am I. There seem to be a number of generational things less seen out and about these days - wrist and pocket watches, good manners, modestly good grammar, attention span, ability to focus or pay attention, fewer interruptions, knowledge of and respect and appreciation for quiet - and the capability for being quiet, for a few.
Re:I go to a fair amount of movies (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Too Bright (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Too Bright (Score:5, Insightful)
Most slashdotters *think* they are multitaskers. Turns out they are wrong.
Re:Regional/cultural issue? (Score:2, Insightful)
I've seen this type of behavior before, but only in theaters that are located in lower income parts of town. It seems to bring out the thuggish quality of some people. If you have little power in your life, you peacock for all you are worth whenever you get the opportunity. This means playing your music in your car so loud it rattles windows on the street sets off the alarms of cars it passes by, talk on your phone in theaters, and take up multiple seats on public transportation by putting up your feet and giving shit to anyone who asks for the seat.
Re:Regional/cultural issue? (Score:5, Insightful)
You mean a good one. It's in everyone's best interests for that person to no longer be in the theater: the other theatergoers will no longer have their entertainment disrupted, the management will maintain a reputation for ensuring a quality experience, and the person who got kicked out will finally get to go take care of whatever it was that they thought was so important, without having to deal with the distraction of a movie or people around them telling them to stow the phone. Everyone wins.
Re:I go to a fair amount of movies (Score:4, Insightful)
You're the one who's checking his phone in the middle of a movie, but the other guy is the asshole?
Wow...
An overwhelming compulsion to check your phone just because somebody called you is not normal. It's, sadly, not particularly abnormal. But on the whole most people have the capacity to resist the urge. Unless your mother is in the hospital, or you're on the cusp of closing a million dollar account, I can pretty much guarantee you that it's not so important it can't wait 2 hours.
If you're checking your phone like that, I can also guarantee you that you're not the kind of person who would be worried about million dollar accounts. Not unless you had a diagnosed psychological disorder like ADHD. Success in life is strongly correlated with the ability to moderate your behavior. In fact, the capacity to delay gratification is more than correlated; on the whole its causative of increased wealth.
Re:I go to a fair amount of movies (Score:5, Insightful)
No. They just shouldn't do it while they're on call.
If they can't be incommunicado for a couple hours, they should stay home and watch Netflix, or take a jog in the local park.
Sneaking into a midnight showing with your phone turned on "just in case" is discourteous (in the extreme) to fellow theater patrons.
Yeah it's "only" a $10-20 ticket. So what?
If you buy a burger at McDonalds and someone comes by, grabs it, and smashes it into a pulp before dropping it back on your tray, is that okay? The burger is still edible.
Going to the theater, you're paying for atmosphere and presentation. Some jackass yakking on his phone or texting incessantly at full brightness ruins that.
Re:I go to a fair amount of movies (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Rude? Yes (Score:5, Insightful)
You do realise that the older generation has been saying versions of this complaint about the younger generation for all of human history, right?
Re:I go to a fair amount of movies (Score:4, Insightful)
While in general there are two electable people on the national stage, if you live in a non-swing state, there is really only one electable person that you personally can vote for. Everyone else, even "the other guy", all unelectable. And in such states, it is actually voting for "the other guy" that is equivalent to throwing your vote away. A vote for a third party, while it may not add up to overthrow "the guy who is guaranteed to win the state", there is at least a non-zero chance that it will be noticed.
"Oh look, the guy guaranteed to win the state won, and the other guy came in 2nd. Big shocker." isn't gonna do anything.
"Huh. The guy guaranteed to win the state won, and the other guy came in 2nd, but not by as much as he usually does." may make people notice.
Re:I go to a fair amount of movies (Score:4, Insightful)