The following is forwarded from H-AFRLITCINE. It raises an interesting
issue that I'd never thought of before and I wonder how valid a concern
it is in regard to box-office returns. Does anyone have further
thoughts?
(On a side note, it reminds of the time I went to THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE
and saw that some wag had reprogrammed the ticket title as SATAN'S GOOD
BUDDY!)
Don Larsson
--- Begin Forwarded Message ---
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2000 15:38:56 -0600
From: Emilie Ngo Nguidjol <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: (Fwd) Incorrect Movie Theatre Ticketing
Sender: H-NET List for African Literature and Cinema
<[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Reply-To: H-NET List for African Literature and Cinema
<[log in to unmask]>
Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]>
From: "Vicki Washington 2-3049" <[log in to unmask]>
Organization: University of Wisconsin-Extension
Subject: (Fwd) Incorrect Movie Theatre Ticketing
[Editor's Note: This discussion applies so much to the commercial
distribution of African films that I thought you might be interested. --Emilie]
:
Carlotta, thanks for the heads-up. I've heard about this problem in
the past; I'll send out the message.
Vicki
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To: [log in to unmask]
From: Carlotta Calmese <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Incorrect Movie Theatre Ticketing
Vicki,
I found my nephew's email (below) very interesting and thought it might be
helpful to pass it along. We've had many recent email discussions about how
Hollywood and major movie studios view the African American's economic power
base (or lack thereof, according to many of them) in their production and
marketing decisions. My nephew's experience clearly indicates an example of
box-office receipt misrepresentation (or perhaps collusion ?), which may
atttibute to why movies with African American leading actors or socially
conscious themes do not fair as well as other movies during the first
weekend opening and subsequently disappear from the neighborhood movie
screens. Perhaps it may be wise to pay more close attention to our movie
ticket stubs.
Thanks, Carlotta
Carlotta Verge Calmese
Assistant Dean, Student Academic Affairs
College of Letters and Science
University of Wisconsin-Madison
B12 Bascom Hall 500 Lincoln Drive
Madison, WI 53706
(608) 262-2644
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From: "Daugherty, Winfred W" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Incorrect Mivie Theatre Ticketing
Last evening (Thursday, January 13, 2000) at 10:00PM EST I visited the
Cinemark Tinseltown USA movie theater in Rochester, NY (2291 Buffalo Road
(716)247-2180) to see "Next Friday" (Ice Cube's new movie). To my dismay, I
viewed my ticket and discovered it reflected the 9:35PM showing of "Toy
Story 2". I promptly made the ticket agent aware the ticket did not reflect
the movie I requested to see. The ticket agent then insulted my intelligence
by stating, "It doesn't matter...they will let you view the movie you
requested with this ticket".
I then replied (to the approximately 16 year old ticket agent), "Well, if it
doesn't matter, then I would prefer to have a ticket that reflects "Next
Friday" as I requested". He then advised they apparently were having
difficulties with their machine and subsequently could not produce tickets
for "Next Friday". I asked to speak with the Manager, whom I was advised was
unavailable.
I recall hearing in the past, this situation occurs often to predominately
Black movies, therefore, I was wondering where I may be able to report this
so this may be addressed and the movie can receive its proper credit. I am
certain as they calculate the number of viewers that have viewed this movie,
my ticket (as well as others) will not be included in this total. Please
advise how I may be able to contact someone (I have retained my ticket stub)
to make them aware of this situation.. I can be reached either by E-mail or
at (716)264-6412. Thank you!
Winfred Daugherty, Jr.
Lead, Programs/Customer Support
(716)264-6412 / 8*224-6412
[log in to unmask]
--- End Forwarded Message ---
----------------------
Donald Larsson
Minnesota State U, Mankato
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Online resources for film/TV studies may be found at ScreenSite
http://www.tcf.ua.edu/ScreenSite
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