Prepare To Be Watched While You Watch a Movie

BussyB writes "Gaining entry to some movie theaters lately gives patrons an experience that is on par with going through a TSA security checkpoint at the airport. Then once you've gained access, there are cameras strategically positioned that record your every move. Unfortunately, the extent to which these companies monitor movie-goers is only going to get worse."

Comments

even more reason to wait for the dvd

[DynamoJoe]

On the upside, Hollywood keeps turning out crap so I feel like I'm not missing much by waiting for the movie to come out on video.

The bigger problem

[mwvdlee]

The bigger problem we're facing with corporate practices like this is that, when the revolution comes, we won't have a wall big enough to put all these marketing departments against. We should really start to prioritize who will be first, and who goes second, third, etc.

Monitor which ads get the best reaction?

[amaiman]

From the article: "Within the cinema industry this tool will feed powerful marketing data that will inform film directors, cinema advertisers and cinemas with useful data about what audiences enjoy and what adverts capture the most attention"

Hint: We don't enjoy the adverts, especially after paying almost $12 for a ticket. Perhaps if the whole audience gives the camera the finger through all of the ads, they will get the message? :-)

Just wrong

[symes]

This is a gross invasion of privacy - I would expect to be informed of any recording at the time I purchase the ticket, who was making the recording and to what purpose they were being used. I would also expect that I could opt out at that time and at any time in the future without penalty. If the only choice I have is to no longer visit cinemas, then so be it. Either that or I might have to find a certain mask to wear.

Re:Uh...what?

[Anonymous Coward]

I had a man pat me down and perform a full cavity search, but theater management called the police and had him escorted out. Does that count?

That AND the cost. I'll stay at home thanks

[Stu101]

I know price has already been mentioned but my wife and I went to the cinema last week. Everywhere signs about the right of the cinema to search bags etc. That was bad enough, but once we had been vetted for snacks, we purchased some. By the time we had some snacks (Nachos, popcorn and 2 colas), and the cinema tickets, we had spent about $70.

I think in future, I will just stay home. Treated like crap and ripped off, and now VIDEOD like a common thief. No thanks. It's almost like they are trying to make me pirate stuff so they can sue me ;)

Re:That AND the cost. I'll stay at home thanks

[ElectricTurtle]

I hope you're lying about being a LEO. Threatening some minimum wage jackass just trying to do his job for the property owner with murder and a cover up as a legitimate use of deadly force is heinously irresponsible and in fact criminal.

You have no right to access private property on terms other than those of the property owner. If the property owner wants all bags searched, you comply or piss off. That's how trespass law works. It's not a right to search bags, it's a condition for entry. You don't want to meet that condition, the property owner has the right to deny you entry. The end.

I am not a lawyer and the previous should not be construed as legal advice.

That won't be on the evaluation form.

[crovira]

Marketing surveys suffer from remarkably selective attention; sort of like asking "When did you stop beating your wife?" reveals a certain prejudice.

Instead of noticing that we loathe any and all of the ads, they are going to ask: "Which one did you enjoy the most?"

This assumes that we enjoyed any of the ads.

We don't, but that's not what they're measuring is it...

Re:Heh

[mcgrew]

Well, I don't fly because of the TSA, I guess the movie theater owners down't want my money any more than the airline industry.

Stupid cowardly people...

Re:Heh

[RMH101]

see also:
Girl to Bond: "Nice watch".
Bond: "Omega"
Girl: (breathes) "...beautiful"

In the UK, film critic Mark Kermode let a successful campaign to have audiences shout "KERCHING!" at this point when watching the film. More of this kind of thing is required.

use the cameras to identify the A-HOLES

[newdsfornerds]

Have the cameras identify the a-holes who can't stop talking during the movie and deliver a painful jolt of electricity to their seat until they stfu.

Re:Heh

[snowraver1]

If you're stoned anough, even Jar Jar is amusing.

Stop spreading your filthy lies!

Re:Heh

[spun]

Yes, mcgrew, but you are an old coot. Old coots have the privilege of being able to say crazy things like "I won't fly on no gol-durned airplane no more because the security people want to look at my wiener" or "I don't go to movies because they are watching me." I'm actually looking forward to my coot-hood. I'm going to believe in something really crazy, like the basic decency of human nature, or the perfectibility of mankind or something like that.