Cinema Exhibition: A ‘personal view’

“You walk into a foyer full on neon lights, TVs play trailers, there is the sweet smell of popcorn. On the floor are marble tiles, mirrored ceilings, a sweet shop on one side and an arcade on the other. You then queue up to sit in comfy seats with drink holders attached, eat sweets, slurp straws, make a mess and leave without clearing it up.”

It doesn’t have to be like this....

Types of UK Cinema Multiplex (278 cinemas)

Independent

Small Chains

2012 – 172.5m cinema admissions, £1.1bn BO.

2012: 769 Cinema sites in the UK (Source: BFI

Statistical Yearbook), 3,817 screens (50 more than 2011)

Key Facts UK box office receipts up 6%

UK Films (incl. co productions) – 25%

‘Mega-Hits’: Skyfall - £102.8m UK Box Office (highest earning ‘UK’ film), The Dark Knight Rises, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

For the first time since 1984 the net increase in ‘non multiplexes screens’ greater

90% all screens – Digital Projection

Average ticket price - £6-37

Multiplex Exhibition

1984 (Milton Keynes) – first multiplex. Cinema admissions: 70 million

By 2004: 170 million 2011figures currently levelling out –

similar Box Office/DVD curve (most people watch films on television)

Occasional film affects this curve e.g. Avatar

12-21 most common cinema going age Film more as ‘social activity’ –

mainstream film culture

Leading UK Multiplex Chains

Odeon – 114 sites, 868 screens Cineworld – 80- sites, 799 screens Vue – 79 sites, 746 screens Empire Cinemas – 16 sites, 150 screen Anderson – 11 sites, 88 screen Reel Cinema – 16 sites, 623 screens City Screen – 22 sites, 60 screens

Key facts Historical relationship with Hollywood

(Vue aquired 36 Warner Village Cinemas in 2003, Odeon owned by UCI who were Paramount and Universal)

Mainstream Films – Hollywood/British Many Multiplex chains now owned by

Venture Capitalists/Private Equity firms Out of town model (US) more popular Weather can be a factor – a poor

summer can mean a good box office

Advantages - Multiplex Exhibition

Reduced overheads (one building) Multiple revenue (up to 30 screens) Mass audiences Revenue from non ticket price sales Blockbuster – more than one screen (350-

400 screens typical release) Can move film to smaller screen Out of town = easy access (other interests) Wide choice (although mainly Hollywood)

WRITE DOWN WHAT YOU THINK WERE THE TOP TEN BOX OFFICE GROSSING FILMS OF LAST YEAR.....

UK Box Office 20121. Skyfall2. The Dark Knight Rises3. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey4. Marvel Avengers Ensemble5. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 26. Ted7. Ice Age 4: Continental Drift8. Life of Pi9. The Amazing Spiderman10.Prometheus

Compare with UK Box Office 2011

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two

2. The King’s Speech3. The Inbetweeners Movie4. Pirates of the Caribbean – On Stranger Tides5. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows6. Arthur Christmas7. Johnny English Reborn8. Gnomeo and Juliet9. X Men: First Class10.Paul

WHAT DIFFERENCES ARE THERE IN THE 2011 and 2012 FIGURES?

WHAT DOES THIS SUGGEST ABOUT THE STATE OF BRITISH FILM?

Next Year for UK films? Philomena, About Time as successful UK/US collaborations?

Independent Exhibition

Film as cultural experience (solitary viewing and couples common)

Independent/Past Run/World Cinema/Cult Films Niche, older, more educated audiences Different atmosphere and architecture Wine/Cappuccino/licensed bar instead of Coca-

cola, Popcorn and Nachos Often a single screen cinema Commonly found in cities and university towns Often independently owned

Independent Cinema Examples

Curzon Everyman The Lexi Cinema Prince Charles Cinema Electric Cinema BFI

Small Chain Exhibition: Picturehouse Cinemas Ltd.

21 sites (first in 1989) City Screen Ltd. previous Trading Name Founded by Lyn Goleby and Tony Jones Sites include London, Norwich, Oxford,

Southampton, Aberdeen, Liverpool London sites – Greenwich, Ritzy, Stratford,

Notting Hill, Hackney Dependent on area - mix a programme of

independent, art house and ‘less accessible mainstream’

Outside events – Q & A, live Opera screenings… But 2012: bought by Cineworld

The King’s Speech - 2010

Explain why this film was such a box office success at the cinema – without American investment.