Does anyone do these for MF? What exactly is required?

I have never done these, but think they are a joke.

You have to give up your whole day to do these, get compensated very little, and are not allowed to watch the movie.

What are you supposed to do in between shows? Go home and come back every hour? Sit in the lobby and eat expensive popcorn and soda?

I have been doing trailer checks for 3yrs for Verites...for the most part I enjoy them...I've been with them long enough until I get 2 -3 theaters I do routinely every Friday...It doesn't necessarily take all day...it depends on how popular the movie is and how many screens it's playing on at each location. If I start out at 10am, which is usually the 1st showtime at most theaters, I'm usually done with all 3 locations by 5-6pm...Most movies showing on multiple screens have 20 to 30 mins lag time between start time. Of course this means I'm running from theater(AUDITORIUM) to another one, but this also means no idle time usually. By the time I'm done at one location its time to drive to the next location.

If you do have to wait an hour between start time...most theaters are located in Malls or shopping centers...so you can window shop...and almost always near a Starbucks, so you could enter some of the reports while your waiting.

Yes you are not suppose to watch the movie...however...after Mgrs get use to seeing you week after week...they offer to let you watch the movie of your choice. But I seldom have time to take advantage of the offer...

With respects to MF...I used to do trailers for them...but they became unreliable...you'd sign up for the assignment and go to printout the paper work the night before and the shop would be gone or cancelled with any explanation...I was informed by a reliable source that MF was scheduling and assigning these trailer shops...anticipating that they would get them from the client and when they didn't they had no choice but to cancel...But for the shopper you had already planned your Fri/sat around these shops.

Now to answer you basic ?...what is required...simply...you arrive at the theater at least 10 mins before the movie starts...go in the assigned auditorium and write down the title of the movie trailers in the order they appear on the screen...most movie have 5-7 trailers that are anywhere from 2-3 mins in length...this usually takes 12 to 15mins per movie. Each MSC require some additional info such as ticket prices, seat capacity of the auditorium, screen #, demographics i.e. % of males/females/kids etc... all of these additional requirement are easy to gather.

Sorry for the book...hopes this helps...

Thanks for that blaq. I was wondering about it too!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/10/2013 02:39AM by CAscotch.

In that long narrative...I forgot the most important part...your access into the theater is a letter found in your paperwork from the Movie Production co. (Universal/Disney etc.) requesting the Mgmnt. to give you access and cooperate to your request for information...for the most part Trailer Checking is always a reviled shop with most MSCs.

Also wanted to emphasis...if you're assigned to only one location...your day can be done by 2 or 3pm even if the movie is showing on 4 screens...just start early before noon...

Really !!! CAscotch...

What hard about watching 5-6 trailers before the main feature and making note of the movie for the trailer?...When you present your letter to the staff at the customer service desk you ask for a show schedule for that day...they gladly give you one without question...you then map out your game plan...you can sometime get the show time from the Internet...I don't like to rely on this it isn't always correct and a theater may change or add a screen based on demand for a particular movie...I always call late Thurs. evening, identify myself, and ask how many screens is the movie I'm to check is playing on...this gives me an idea of how much time will be involve d for this location...I also ask for the 1st showtime...

The pay is not that great...the more screens and locations adds up...Verites will usually have you checking the 2 top releases for that Friday at multiple locations...the pay varies from 9.50-12.50 for the 1st screen and 1.50-2.50 each additional screen...I average about $35 to $60 depending on the # of locations...

Oops...gotta go do an Apt. shop...get back to ya later...

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/10/2013 02:38AM by CAscotch.

It is rather time consuming. The best thing is get the First Shows even if the payment is not for that. The screen would be showing every 20 or 30 minutes and most of the time, there are only 2-3 screens per movie. Try to get more movies in the same theatre as in between, you can go to another auditorium. I usually schedule some other shops around the vicinity of the theatre to take care of the long time gaps. If the MSC is cooperating and does not cancel any movies, your organizational skills will result in a very satisfactory day.

I do this when the other shops are not very demanding. If there is really a long gap, enough for a whole feature, I buy a ticket and relax! Trailer checks are very easy and stress-free. I usually do them when I want to unwind and just be aware of the upcoming attractions. It will not make you rich but it is part of the game. They are usually held on Fridays and if you have other shops, do them first, then do the trailers at later shows. The reports are easy as pie. I'd rather do it than construct a standee.

Thanks guys. I may give this a try. Stress free sounds wonderful.

I may try the easier movie assignments. They had some nice bonuses to see the audience reaction to a trailer. hmmmmm.... But the ALL day ones, uh, I can't even think about doing that, UNLESS the pay was really good.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/10/2013 02:38AM by CAscotch.

They are refering to open or blind checks, not trailer checks, where you count all patrons for a full day at each and every showing of the targeted movie.

First time I ever did a trailer check the authorization letter said not to watch any movies. The manager signs my form and replies, "Enjoy the show" If you time it right, you can do one trailer check, watch the entire film and then complete the second trailer check. Management is too busy to play cop with you, they could care less if you watch any movies during your check unless you are visiting some tiny 2 or 3 screen theater. Once the managers gte friendly with you, they could care less if you stay for the show or not.

I never watch the movie (even when I am invited by the manager), without buying a ticket for any trailer check. That's just the way I am. I am a stickler for rules. You never know if someone is assigned the open checking or blind checking and the figures won't tally. I have been on the other side and have had some discrepancies. I have a good relationship with the managers and they know I never watch a movie during a trailer check.

The trailer check is the least stressful for me, and I do it when I want to relax. But, to each his own.

I just did a a blind checking for a movie of my choice, where my ticket and my companion's, as well as the concession cost will be reimbursed. The fee was less than another blind checking I did. The open checking is more time consuming. Don't be fooled by the rate. It can mean being in the theatre the whole day until the very last show.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/10/2013 02:38AM by CAscotch.

risinghorizon: If the theater management allows you to watch the movie, then so be it. They are licensed by the studio to exhibit the film, allowing free guests is their choice, not that of both the film studio or msc. As long as a paid patron is not denied a seat, then there is no shame in watching the movie playing to empty seats.

CAscotch: The purpose of trailer checks is to determine audience reactions so the trailer can be re edited or left as is.
Interestingly, some trailer checks that were well received by audiences were later poorly attended. Go figure!!!
The other purpose is to assure that certain trailers are actually being shown.

FYI: Even before many trailers are shown, mall marketing folks will seek your opinion in watching rough cuts of trailers to gauge your opinions before the trailer hits the theaters. Certified has shops pertaining to these market research places. Some are actually located in movie theaters such as few Regal NYC theaters. These are good, easy shops as you get paid $8.00-$10.00 by the msc plus another $2.00 by the marketing folks. If you are a serious movie buff it is fun to see a rough cuts of early trailers.

I do not want to have an argument with this but I would like to point out that a movie theatre I occasionally check had a very lax manager and a similar natured assistant. He even offered to allow my children to go see a movie for free. Once, he wanted to have a friendly conversation with me after a trailer and I said, "I have a ticket for the next show so I have to go." He said, "Why did you buy a ticket?"

So, the management have a right to offer a free movie... But the blind checkers and the open checkers must be aware of this as there will be discrepancies between the actual count and the theatre figures and they must be explained. I was actually contacted by the company to verify my records. And as for the trailers, someone called me to ask if there indeed were only two for that movie. I confirmed it because without asking, I was told three were prepared but something went wrong. I had a very odd feeling about that check. Todate, I have never seen the manager and the assistant and there was a stricter atmosphere in the movie house. I have never been contacted again about my reports. But as I said, to each his own. We do what we are comfortable to do as mystery shoppers.

actual conversation:

MF: Hi Robin, this is MF. We know that you have done the movie trailers near you in the past, and would like for you to do it again.

me: when does it need to be done?

MF: This Saturday

me: I'm sorry, I'll be out of town and can't do it on that day.

MF: How about if we paid you 25.00.

me: No, I won't be here to do it on that date.

MF: Would you do it for 40.00?


"Here's your sign."

LOL. They think you will give up your trip for a trailer?

I had one where they wanted me to do another "standee" because ---"You did a great job last time." I said no. So he up the bonus. I said, "I never, ever want to do standee again!" In an insulting voice, "Well, how much money can we offer you to do it?" Holy Moses!

I know the pay isn't much but I actually enjoy doing trailer checks. I find it relaxing and the work is a piece of cake. After a long week, it's nice to sit in a comfy chair in a theater writing down trailers and not have to keep track of timings or evaluate employees. To make the trip worthwhile, I usually sign up to do trailer checks for other movies at the same theater or schedule MS jobs in the area. If there's a long wait between screenings, I'll go to the nearest free wi-fi hotspot and fill out the report on my tablet or occasionally I'll watch part of a movie. I'm usually done after 2 to 3 hours.

I don't think the theater management knows there's a difference between the trailer checkers and the blind checkers. We're all the same to them. I'm constantly being asked by managers why I don't stay for an entire movie and when I tell them I'm a trailer checker, they always look at me like they don't understand what I'm talking about. That's probably why some theaters allow us trailer checkers to stay and watch movies for free because they think it's part of our job.

Arch Stanton Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> First time I ever did a trailer check the
> authorization letter said not to watch any movies.
> The manager signs my form and replies, "Enjoy the
> show" If you time it right, you can do one
> trailer check, watch the entire film and then
> complete the second trailer check. Management is
> too busy to play cop with you, they could care
> less if you watch any movies during your check
> unless you are visiting some tiny 2 or 3 screen
> theater. Once the managers gte friendly with you,
> they could care less if you stay for the show or
> not.

I did a lot of those 3 or 4 years ago when I was not working full time. They could be fun. You get to see some movies that I would not have gone to see on my own. During Christmas one year, I did the All Showings, on All Screens for a particular Christmas movie. On Christmas Day, this movie was on 4 different screens. It was shown about 5 or 6 times on each screen that day. I had to take other adult members of my family. We had to do trailer checks, and patron counts for every theater, every showing that day. We had to do this for 3 days straight. I did first showings on Friday mornings. They had to be phoned in before you left the theater. You know those "16 Million people watched this movie this weekend. This company helped supply some of those numbers to the movie studios. I even did some at the first midnight showings of very poular movies.