BoxOffice® Pro - May 2012

LAW & ORDER
POLICE ACADEMY: HOW TO TALK TO COPS
A theater employee spots someone recording video and/or audio of
a movie. What now? NATO encourages every theater employee to
follow his or her company’s policies when it comes to movie theft.
If the company does not have a specific plan for this situation, we
suggest the employee follow the Best Practices guide/Take Action
program and call the police. Again, follow your company’s policy,
but we encourage you to not approach the “perp”—wait for the
police to arrive and let them handle the situation.
Okay, the police are here. Now what? Keep in mind that a camcording
incident may not be a high priority for the officer, so be
polite, concise and specific:
“I observed [the perp] camcording a movie in theater X. As you
probably know, camcording is illegal—here is a copy of our
state and federal law. May I show you where they are sitting so
you can escort them out of the theater and check their [device]
for the content?”
When the officer fi nds the audio/video content, he will either ask
[the perp] to delete the footage or confi scate the device as evidence.
Ask him to write a report and be sure to get a copy of the report/
case number. The manager may then opt to issue a trespass warning
to [the perp], depending on the company’s policies.
Remember, the majority of police officers do not know that camcording
is illegal. Our industry must focus on reaching out to
law enforcement agencies in order to educate them about this
important issue. NATO members operate movie theaters in
practically every county in North America. We encourage you
to interact with your local police precincts and educate them on
this issue.
TIPS ON HOW TO REACH OUT TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
Many theaters employ off-duty officers. Use them as a resource. Ask
how you can reach out to their department(s) and/or precinct(s).
Many police departments have officers who are assigned to patrol the
business community. Reach out to them; get to know them.
Officers spend a lot of time writing reports in their patrol cars, which
can get uncomfortable, especially in the hot summer or cold winter
months. Invite them into your cool, comfortable theaters (maybe offer
them a soda) and let them write their reports in your break room
or manager’s office. Not only will this generate goodwill, but having a
cops in your theater on a regular basis will surely discourage any bad
behavior from your patrons.
Police precincts have weekly briefings with their officers. Ask if they
would include the issue of camcording in theaters in one of their
meetings.
Ask your local precinct if they would be willing to hang one of our
anti-camcord posters in their break room.
WHY SHOULD EXHIBITION CARE?
BECAUSE MOVIE THEFT IS BAD FOR BUSINESS
Movie theft hurts exhibition’s relationship with distribution.
Camcording is responsible for supplying 90 percent of newly
released content to bootleggers.
Movie theft damages an exhibitor’s reputation.
A studio might not want to play its film if you can’t protect it—or
at least try to.
Movie theft results in lost jobs and income opportunities.
The movie industry is an economic engine that creates jobs and
contributes to the economies of countries that produce movies.
Movie theft hurts economies everywhere movies are sold, exhibited
or broadcast. Camcorder theft can drive out legitimate jobs of
theater owners and their employees.
Movie theft means fewer movies.
Making a movie is an expensive, risky venture, and fewer movies
will be made if movie theft robs those who invest in making movies.
If fewer movies are made because of movie theft, we will all be
adversely affected.
Movie thieves (“perps”) are bad dudes.
Profits from this illicit activity often go to organized criminal networks
and gangs.
(continued on page 20)
18 BOXOFFICE PRO MAY 2012