It's no secret that I have a few issues with people who use their phones or talk during movies. These people are not necessarily as awful as the images I conjur while building up the energy to tell them to be quiet*, they simply have a different way of enjoying their movie experience. What is challenging for these individuals and myself is that our clashing perspectives cannot really co-exist in a 200+ person theater. Unfortunately most movie theaters will only an announcement at the beginning of the film and they will leave it up to movie patrons to actually do something. I don't know about anyone else, but if I'm paying north of $15 per person before we even get to the hyperinflated snacks I really don't want to be the one who has to shush people, alas the poor/poorly paid theater staff is also not really paid enough to enforce things. Beyond that concern, there is a non-trivial percentage of the population who does want to talk/text/tweet/tinder/(t word for using the internet)/(some other t word for going against movie theater etiquette) and honestly there should be an opportunity for them to go to movies and truly enjoy themselves. For the current model of large movie screens and large audiences, there really isn't much that can be done to consistently ensure that guests get an experience that they would really enjoy. Movie theaters could embrace the slightly smaller screen experience to make people happier.
When I suggest that movie theaters could embrace smaller screen experiences, I'm not referring to a theater where everyone just brings their phone and watches a movie on their phone. (but that could be a business idea, I would just need to tell investors that it uses AI and blockchain) What I would like to propose is a movie theater franchise that would have smaller screening rooms for a small number of guests, think 1-25 person screening rooms. Reducing the number of seats would allow for the seats to be comfortably placed closer next to the screen, allowing the perceived screen size to remain roughly the same, but drastically reduing the actual size.
Smaller screens change how you can structure the movie theater design rational, instead of the theater owner needing to invest in massive infrastructure, their screening spaces can be more distributed. One could envision a movie chain where their screening spaces are more evenly distributed throughout a city, instead of having massive multiplex, screening spaces could take over more flexible shorter term leases allowing the theater owner to be more flexible in where they expand their market space. This sounds nice for a theater owner but why might consumers embrace this model? Because they get more choice, right now your choices of movie theater are basically screen size and seat type, a mini-theater means you have more choice.
Potential features/upsells to interest the business side of things
-watch movies past their theatrical release
-watch movies with people who are willing to share a space with your desired experience, aka, your baby, your friend who needs the plot explained, color commentary (obviously you use an app and AI to achieve the matching, because investors love buzz words)
-reduced transit time to the theater (there is the possibility that the small screens could take over old retail leases, in theory getting you that much closer)
-being able to pause the movie, this would most likely be an upsell, but I could see a group put up cash to allow for intermissions to make the viewing more pleasant
-stream non-traditional content, want to watch a twitch stream on the big screen, the operator doesn't care, if anything they would prefer it as they don't have to split the proceeds
downsides
more theaters at disperate locations creates the possibility that maintenance schedules would get more complicated and could impact both cost structures and prices as a result
how would concessions work for locations that literally have just one screen with like 10 seats (I say fancy vending machine, but it is a complication.
Anyways, I hope you liked the concept, feedback and comments are welcome
*note I acknowledge that I will be on the more agressive end of the spectrum in telling people to be quiet and that's probably not as nice as Mr Rogers would like me to be
When I suggest that movie theaters could embrace smaller screen experiences, I'm not referring to a theater where everyone just brings their phone and watches a movie on their phone. (but that could be a business idea, I would just need to tell investors that it uses AI and blockchain) What I would like to propose is a movie theater franchise that would have smaller screening rooms for a small number of guests, think 1-25 person screening rooms. Reducing the number of seats would allow for the seats to be comfortably placed closer next to the screen, allowing the perceived screen size to remain roughly the same, but drastically reduing the actual size.
Smaller screens change how you can structure the movie theater design rational, instead of the theater owner needing to invest in massive infrastructure, their screening spaces can be more distributed. One could envision a movie chain where their screening spaces are more evenly distributed throughout a city, instead of having massive multiplex, screening spaces could take over more flexible shorter term leases allowing the theater owner to be more flexible in where they expand their market space. This sounds nice for a theater owner but why might consumers embrace this model? Because they get more choice, right now your choices of movie theater are basically screen size and seat type, a mini-theater means you have more choice.
Potential features/upsells to interest the business side of things
-watch movies past their theatrical release
-watch movies with people who are willing to share a space with your desired experience, aka, your baby, your friend who needs the plot explained, color commentary (obviously you use an app and AI to achieve the matching, because investors love buzz words)
-reduced transit time to the theater (there is the possibility that the small screens could take over old retail leases, in theory getting you that much closer)
-being able to pause the movie, this would most likely be an upsell, but I could see a group put up cash to allow for intermissions to make the viewing more pleasant
-stream non-traditional content, want to watch a twitch stream on the big screen, the operator doesn't care, if anything they would prefer it as they don't have to split the proceeds
downsides
more theaters at disperate locations creates the possibility that maintenance schedules would get more complicated and could impact both cost structures and prices as a result
how would concessions work for locations that literally have just one screen with like 10 seats (I say fancy vending machine, but it is a complication.
Anyways, I hope you liked the concept, feedback and comments are welcome
*note I acknowledge that I will be on the more agressive end of the spectrum in telling people to be quiet and that's probably not as nice as Mr Rogers would like me to be
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