A recent interview with Variety and AMC Entertainment's CEO, Adam Aron, has brought up some interesting talking points for the future of moviegoers and their theaters.
The biggest and strangest, answers Aron gave was involved with texting being allowed in certain theaters. Now as this is appalling to most moviegoers, including myself, Aron justifies his belief of this "allowed texting" with the fact that 'millennials' can't be told, "to turn off their cellphone."
Yes. When you tell a 22-year-old to turn off the phone, don’t ruin the movie, they hear please cut off your left arm above the elbow. You can’t tell a 22-year-old to turn off their cellphone. That’s not how they live their life.
Movies typically run 1:30 – 2 hours long, which means if someone can't put their phone away for that long, if the specific theater allows it, you will be seeing a lot of little bright lights popping up all over the theater. However, Aron understands that this most likely annoy most consumers.
At the same time, though, we’re going to have to figure out a way to do it that doesn’t disturb today’s audiences. There’s a reason there are ads up there saying turn off your phone, because today’s moviegoer doesn’t want somebody sitting next to them texting or having their phone on.
Aron also notes that these texting allowed theaters probably won't be certain sections in the theater, but rather specific auditoriums altogether.
That’s one possibility. What may be more likely is we take specific auditoriums and make them more texting friendly.
If these texting allowed theaters are to come to AMC, you could expect a lot of people being upset. This is where the recent news of the Screening Room would kick in pretty effectively.The service is supported by many of the big Hollywood directors including Peter Jackson, Steven Spielberg, the Ron Howard/Brian Grazer team, Martin Scorsese, J.J. Abrams, Taylor Hackford, and Frank Marshall
The service will offer users the ability to stream movies that are still in theaters in the comfort of your home. But of course, it comes with a caveat, the price for a single movie will cost you up to $50 and you will need a $150 specific stream box to make it happen. However, you will be able to get the movies on day one of its release and have access to it for 48 hours.
How would you guys feel about texting being allowed in theaters? Would you want the Screening Room to become an official thing? Let us know in the comments below!
