The problem with Hollywood marketing isn’t that. It’s that studio marketing types have a fundamentally broken system of beliefs about the moviegoing public and what they want.

And the problem with Hollywood isn’t even really that…it’s more that the system is set up to _require_ a blockbuster-oriented product line. It’s too centralized and thus too addicted to making tons of money off a few big hits. It’s _especially_ too dependent on theater revenues. For the reasons Johnny cited above (as well as others previously explored on this blog and elsewhere), theaters are going to be a diminishing market.

One of the things my father remembers about being a kid in the forties, was how much fun the movie experience itself was, regardless of the movie on the screen. He is an interesting case, retired VP of a major bank, bought his last car based on internet research…and wouldn’t go to a movie thearter no if you paid him. Why? (I was talking to him about this after going to see the Cusack vehicle last weekend)

The movie house itself does everything in it’s power to let him know, HE DOES NOT MATTER. He is not the customer, the studios are the clients of the theater chains. I liked his point. He also made the following obversation (he started his banking life at the teller position, first management position was manager of same tellers):

Not only do the theaters dislike him, but they dislike the kids they hire too. They are unmotivated, afraid and very, very unsure of their place in the game. As a former manager, this drives him crazy (at this point we talked about the CEO of whole foods belief that it is managements job to inspire the employee’s).

In other words, while many portions of the equation are keeping up, in the end the weakest link damages them…

Is it a fun and rewarding expenditure of your time and money to see a film in a theater? No, not really. I am going to a concert tonight at the “new” northerly Isle concert pavilion in Chicago, I won’t make any comments on the political correctness, or lack of it that makes the place an issue among libertarians, but I will say this, so far, I haven’t even been there, but:

I recieved an e-mail a week in advance reminding me.
I recieved an e-mail yesterday reminding me.
Both included directions and helpful info, both were freindly, both were simple and cheap programs to run.

I am already having “fun” and I haven’t even gotten there yet. From all appeances, the venue is “fun”, after tonight I’ll know if it was all talk, or if they really follow through on the sale they have made, or if like the theaters, drop the ball once I walk in through the door.

As you can guess, what I find will determine whether I frequent the place often, or only when my “must see bands come to town.”