Times are hard - Europa Cinemas

Times are hard

...and cinema is changing

Cinema is changing…

And it’s coming home …

How many filmviewings per yearin the UK?5 billionTotal UK population 63m= 80 pa/1.5 pw

Piracy the biggest problem? More like value for money…In terms of cinema‐goers’ perception of value for money, Watts notes:“Audiences still think [cinema is] the best way to see a film, but theythink it¹s expensive. We believe this is a reasonably recentdevelopment, that premium ticket prices for 3D have influenced this.”‘The clear answer is that piracy is not a substitute. Thosewho pirate actually spend more money in the cinema’The survey assessed film‐goers as four self‐identified groups: Blockbuster Only(no interest in indies) at 10% of the audience; Blockbuster Mainly (open toindies) at 59%; Indie Mainly (open to blockbusters) at 29%; and Indie Only (notinterested in blockbusters) at 2%. The people surveyed were selected becausethey were engaged with film, representing the top 40% of cinema‐goers and80% of UK admissions.Chris Watts, Film3Sixty

Crossover...?Seen recently ‐ at a Europa Cinemasmember near you, or at a multiplex?

Network membercinemas are diverseBut many are alsoin historic buildings

What are the key variables?• Building and location• Programme – access to film + competition• Staffing and management• Budget – earnings and financial support

And what are the typical obstacles orproblems?• Building and location• Market position – competition for product• Ancillary sales / cafe / bar• Size and configuration of auditoria• Cost of installing 2k digital/3D• Ageing audience profile –absence ofyouth

And potential assets?• Location – central/historic/nearuniversity• Financial or in‐kind support(municipal, educational, etc)• Partnerships with organisations thatconfer prestige/bring audiences• Free publicity from sympatheticorganisations• Informed/dedicated staff + volunteers?

Europa Cinemas in Munich:1 ABC Kino1 Arri Kino2 Atelier3 City Kinos1 Eldorado2 Kino Solln1 Studio Isabella1 Theatiner

And of course we look at cinemas that performwell.. . like Le Sauvenière in Liege, Belgium andWatershed in Bristol, UK ‐ both with strong youthorientedprogrammes

How has the evolution of cinema buildings has affectedwhat people expect when ‘going to the cinema’?

And we compare programming andpublicity styles...How does asingle‐screencinema offerenough choiceto customerstoday?Here is one inNorth London

More than the movies...This is the ‘events’ programme fora big group of multi‐screen cinemas in Luxembourg

And we tryto look atcinemas fromthe audiencepoint ofview...Is itwelcoming?Is it ‘cool’?

How doaudiencesfind outabout theprogramme?How do Idiscoverwhat’s on?

Now – over toyou...Ian ChristiePresidentEuropa Cinemaswww.ianchristie.org

At the Europa Cinemas Bologna Workshop...We look at cinema in historical perspectiveWhat is has been –and what it is today