When i came up last we decided to see Somethings Gotta Give.
We went over to UGC Cinema Don Valley, and we decided to see Somethings Gotta Give........... cuts to the chase....... and half way through the movie, it cut out and the audio went then 10 mins later it happened again, and again until the manager came up after people complaining about it.

We all got free tickets, but only to that location cinema only though!!

I thought i could spend it in my local one - UGC Cinema, Rochester, Kent. But that is my 4th nearest cinema - the petrol would be more than the free ticket!
:thumbsup:

Why not give the ticket to a friend in Sheffield to use?

I did; I gave it to Craig.
:thumbsup:

Sheffield cinemas are now crap...and this is from a former projectionist! .went to see Harry potter and the film snapped and they seemed totally incapable of repairing it for 15 minutes. I can splice a film in about 50 seconds so I was very amused....its these 15 year old projectionists they use who have not a clue as to how the equipment works.....I offered to have a look myself but the glassy faced "usher" refused to let me in the proj area.

ABout 3 months ago at the same cinema they managed to wreck the sound so everything was on the left hand side, nothing on the right and all the surround sound clapped out. I was not amused and NO REFUNDS!!!


never forget seeing Goldmember a while back which was noticeably out of focus all the way through....and NO REFUNDS!!!!

However the most alarming example of cheap non trained projectionists was during GOTHIKA, fairly recently, where whichever idiot was in charge forgot to open the curtains until about 2 minutes into the adverts, and had the wrong screen ratio set for the trailors, and reel 3 had the most annoying wobble all the way through....I did speak to an usher but she was more interested in painting her nails and telling her giggling friend about who she shagged at the leadmill.

Converted my spare room into a cinema.....if you want something doing properly you have to do it yourself......have not got electric curtains though!!

I went to see a film at UGC a while ago, and they forgot to put the film on. It was only after 30mins of waiting that someone went to complain.

Snowboarder
That's one of the reasons why I avoid multiplexes like the plague. They're manned by YTS kids on the minumum wage who don't know or care about any aspect of cinema. They treat you like cattle and you can't get any "normal" drinks or snacks, just bucket fulls of cr*p.
The Showroom.......
That's a real cinema. It's staffed by students who have a real interest in cinema, has a bar and you can get a coffee, fresh orange etc in the ticket area. Best of all, there's no hoards of kids throwing popcorn around. The films aren't half bad, too.
As for home cinema, well I'm a few grand short of a good plasma.....

Originally posted by Skatiechik
I went to see a film at UGC a while ago, and they forgot to put the film on. It was only after 30mins of waiting that someone went to complain.


ha ha I love it. Yet more farcical cinema tales....that one has never happened to me...yet! Forgot to run the movie....LOL.

Did I mention I went to see Kill Bill 2 and they forgot to turn off the auditorium lights for the first 10 minutes of the whole movie....could hardly see anything.....there were NO STAFF to be found anywhere either. NO REFUNDS....NO STAFF...

And the last bond movie where some useless idiot managed to show the first 5 minutes without changing the projector lens to scope........it was all squashed up in the middle of the screen and caused a riot!!!! NO REUNDS..NO STAFF..

It's a shame as when the UGC first opened as a Virgin cinema it was really rather good, it's only since UGC took it over that they have gone to ********.
I saw the last Star Trek film there, and for the first 5 minutes of the film the projector was pointing at the ceiling, I kid you not. And because everything is automated, you have to go and find someone in the lobby yourself to tell them about it.

Originally posted by Skatiechik
I went to see a film at UGC a while ago, and they forgot to put the film on. It was only after 30mins of waiting that someone went to complain.

The UGC Cinema, down in Rochester - 20 mins down the A2 is a UGC and was around 5 years ago a Virgin, at least UGC (Your local one does) this watch as much as you want for a £10 per month scheme.
:D However, from these stories it seems 95% of the time the people responible can't even allow you to see a film perfectly without it going wrong!
:thumbsup:

When I last went to the cinema (Wanrer Bros?) in Meadowhall the sound was only working at the front. Spoilt the film as it was a horror movie, so a bit of surround would have been nice. Staff wouldn't do anything though, saying the sound was good enough.

I've found Odeon to be the most reliable. And it's the cheapest. And the most convenient.

Originally posted by Cols
Snowboarder
That's one of the reasons why I avoid multiplexes like the plague. They're manned by YTS kids on the minumum wage who don't know or care about any aspect of cinema. They treat you like cattle and you can't get any "normal" drinks or snacks, just bucket fulls of cr*p.
The Showroom.......
That's a real cinema. It's staffed by students who have a real interest in cinema, has a bar and you can get a coffee, fresh orange etc in the ticket area. Best of all, there's no hoards of kids throwing popcorn around. The films aren't half bad, too.
As for home cinema, well I'm a few grand short of a good plasma.....


good point. Back in the "old days" you actually had to be trained to be projectionist and it took something like 2 years to become a fully 'qualified' one. There is far more to it than pushing a few buttons, as anyone who has seen inside a projection booth will appreciate. Now how can any YTS kid cope with that.....


Know what u mean about the "buckets of crap" at lultiplexes. like about £5 for 3 jellybabies or a small handful of dried out stale popcorn. URGGHHHHHHH

U dont need a "few grand" for a home cinema. PLASMA screens I would not tocuh with bargepole, overpriced load of ****. I bought a video projector, the OPTOMA H30 for £1100, an £80 8ft wide screen and and re-wired a a few old amps to make a Dolby digital sound system. Stick in a few cheap speakers from Richer sounds and the whole package cost me £1500 at the tops. The picture is FANTASTIC and far superior to screenings at the Odeon on their clapped out equipment and horrible buzzing speakers. The new DLP technology means video projection is far better than it used to be.

Now, the electric curtains and auto screen masking would have set me back 5K, so I put up my own curtains from Wilkinsons and my own screen masking system for £10. Sorted.........

When I went to see the third Lord of the Rings film at UGC the sound was all distorted for the first five minutes then they switched the film of for a few more minutes to get it right!! Spoiled the intro to the film completely! No apologies and as snowboarder said... No refunds & no staff!!!

Originally posted by chill
It's a shame as when the UGC first opened as a Virgin cinema it was really rather good, it's only since UGC took it over that they have gone to ********.
I saw the last Star Trek film there, and for the first 5 minutes of the film the projector was pointing at the ceiling, I kid you not. And because everything is automated, you have to go and find someone in the lobby yourself to tell them about it.


true. Pointing at the ceiling eh? That means the projector was probably pulled off its base by a snagged film on the platter system for the previous screening. How anyone could not have noticed that is beyond me.....

When I worked p/t as a projectionist about 13 years ago we were on the old changeover system, when each film reel was 20 minutes long and you had to switch projectors with split second timing....could not bugger off for the day or fall asleep in those days. It was also expected from us that we checked the focus every 5 minutes without fail, especially during changeovers, checked the sound constantly, checked picture framing and position, and monitored the film all the way. We had to learn to repair a film break in less than 60 seconds and get the whole system running again with precision timing with the minimum of fusss. Showing a reel in the wrong order for example was an instantly sackable offence, as was showing a film out of rack, out of focus, or without "due care and attention". And I mean INSTANT sacking....

This is why I get SO ANNOYED at modern film screenings.....either the projectionist does not give a toss, or the automatic system is badly set-up. It is an ordeal these days......

Lets hope that things get better in the future with digital projection - less to go wrong [i hope !]

I go to the UGC with an unlimited card and in past couple of years I've only seen two films go pear shaped - guess I've been lucky !

Agree that things were better under Virgin though :P

Originally posted by rtapper
Lets hope that things get better in the future with digital projection - less to go wrong [i hope !]


True, without the mechanics of film, it will be much easier to automate successfully in multiplexes. Computers will run everything to the nanosecond, equipment will constantly monitor itself with auto-focus and various other automatic everythings...
the quality is now better than film anyway....I have a budget priced DLP (digital light processing) movie projector with a 9ft screen and it blows the pants of 35mm film...think what a state of the art DLP system will achieve once they convert...

Digital Cinema is not far off, 2 or 3 years I reckon. Will be awesome, no flickers on the screen, absolutely perfect picture every time. No need for film, movies can be transmitted via satellite. Makes sense in the long run for cinema companies, although the initial investment is quite large.

I went to see a film at the Odeon in Town once, think it was the first Harry Potter, and for about the first 10 minutes of the film, there was NO sound!

Naturally I went and reported this to someone, a whole 5 minutes or so later the sound was back on... WTF?! 5 minutes to fix a sound error in this day and age?! Even I could've done better than that :loopy:

Originally posted by Micky
Digital Cinema is not far off, 2 or 3 years I reckon. Will be awesome, no flickers on the screen, absolutely perfect picture every time. No need for film, movies can be transmitted via satellite. Makes sense in the long run for cinema companies, although the initial investment is quite large.

At the moment yes but digital light processing technology is already advancing so fast the latest 2004 DLP "budget" high definition projectors are awesome. I say within the next 2 years pure digital projection will hit the UK on the main circuits, as prices will crash by 50% or more by then.

The initial investment is large, but thats only for projector and computer terminal. The other fittings remain unchanged, audio system, screen, etc. The long term benefits are tremendous savings for exhibitors as the huge cost of producing each film print will no longer be a factor, but the film distributors will maybe not pass these savings on.....who knows?

Originally posted by Rich
I went to see a film at the Odeon in Town once, think it was the first Harry Potter, and for about the first 10 minutes of the film, there was NO sound!

Naturally I went and reported this to someone, a whole 5 minutes or so later the sound was back on... WTF?! 5 minutes to fix a sound error in this day and age?! Even I could've done better than that :loopy:

TRAIN TO BE A CINEMA PROJECTIONIST TODAY AND LEARN HOW TO:

Put together last weeks trailors for films already finished at the start of DAY AFTER TOMORROW to really **** off your audience..

Show VAN HELSING with 1/3 of the previous frame showing at the top of the picture for a full 12 minutes, and really get people mad...

Show SCOOBY DOO 2 with a mis-managed soundtrack set-up that sounds like a 25 year old C60 cassette tape in distorted marvellous mono sound....

And REALLY annoy the poor fee paying public by
forgetting to turn off the lights, forgetting to start the projector, forgetting to open the curtains, forgetting to set the right screen ratio and lens so the film looks all squashed up, forgetting to turn on the sound, forgetting.....forgetting to turn up for work at all........

Originally posted by snowboarder
TRAIN TO BE A CINEMA PROJECTIONIST TODAY AND LEARN HOW TO:

Put together last weeks trailors for films already finished at the start of DAY AFTER TOMORROW to really **** off your audience..

Show VAN HELSING with 1/3 of the previous frame showing at the top of the picture for a full 12 minutes, and really get people mad...

Show SCOOBY DOO 2 with a mis-managed soundtrack set-up that sounds like a 25 year old C60 cassette tape in distorted marvellous mono sound....

And REALLY annoy the poor fee paying public by
forgetting to turn off the lights, forgetting to start the projector, forgetting to open the curtains, forgetting to set the right screen ratio and lens so the film looks all squashed up, forgetting to turn on the sound, forgetting.....forgetting to turn up for work at all........

Lol, that sounds about right for that cinema!
:thumbsup:

i 've read the above posts and feel i have to say that, as someone who visits the cinema regularly that i've had differing experiences in the same cinemas.

on the whole, every time i go to ugc the films (well, the ads) start promptly and if something goes wrong, and i go + complain, the staff are usually quite good. Mind you, I almost always visit in the day so maybe it's easier for them to deal with when its quiet.

Stuff's only gone wrong a few times there - occasionally the film has been scrolled slightly offscreen. the worst thing that happened was when i went ot see Harry Potter + it just didn't start... after 5 mins I went + complained + they sorted it, moving us to a different screen coz the motor had gone.

Someone mentioned on an earlier post that they'd waited 30 mins before someone else went + said something... why didn't you just go straight away yourself?

Now, the Showroom, I have had more things go wrong - films starting late, being sent into the wrong screen, at least 2 or 3 times the film's snapped (worst time when i saw Requiem for a Dream + it snapped right at the end emotional climax of the film - ARGH!)

At least if i pay my 9.99 a month at the UGC i can go back again and not feel it's cost me any more...

Has anyone reserved seats on the phone at the UGC ? You phone up and the automated voice say's they will book you the most central seating. Then when you go there you find yourself at the extreme side of the cinema. In a crap seat basically. I wouldn't mind so much but the screening was 3/4 empty so loads of central seats available (which is where I moved to eventually).

All that plus an extortionate booking fee for booking over the phone.

With respect to problems with watching the film, I've been fortunate but then again I probably don't go as frequently as you guys. However, the general feeling is we should employ more people who care about there profession and customers, than paying for cheap labour and getting crap service. I suppose the only way to show your dissaproval (besides complaining) is not to go to that establishment. I think that goes for everything as well as cinemas.

Originally posted by Cols
Snowboarder
That's one of the reasons why I avoid multiplexes like the plague. They're manned by YTS kids on the minumum wage who don't know or care about any aspect of cinema. They treat you like cattle and you can't get any "normal" drinks or snacks, just bucket fulls of cr*p.
The Showroom.......
That's a real cinema. It's staffed by students who have a real interest in cinema, has a bar and you can get a coffee, fresh orange etc in the ticket area. Best of all, there's no hoards of kids throwing popcorn around. The films aren't half bad, too.
As for home cinema, well I'm a few grand short of a good plasma.....

erm you'll find that the Showroom pays £4.50 an hour and they have a lot more porblems with the films than either mainstream cinema.
I really do enjoy watching films in the Showroom more (no idiots or talking) but its getting shabby as hell....

from my experiences:

UGC: Brillintly huge screens and loud loud loud. Queues to get tickets, Often an error with the film but rectified pretty quickly, lots of muppets and scallies whose parents have bought them a £9.99 pass to shut them up. They are bored and go to films they don't car about and make a nuisance of themselves, lots of big blokes to tell them to shut up.

Odeon: Crap screens and dirty cinemas, Fewer people but equally vocal and talkative during films, Terrible sound (that is not surround sound at most there are 4 speakers. Tend to put big films on the little screens. First showing of Two Towers. turned up at noon and was in the smallest screen, useless staff, often a problem and takes ages to sort. Interesting time keeping on films.

Showroom: good staff, no idiots, small screens and geting old, good sound, lots of problems with films

I feel quite lucky coz Ive never had a problem with UGC except for the people talking and phones going off!:mad: :rant:

Went to see Chronicles of Riddick today at the UGC. Film broke just as it was starting ! Credit to UGC for getting it fixed in just a few minutes, although there was a scary moment when it restarted and the film was being projected off-screen and we thought we'd just see the lower half of the movie :P

I've only ever had one problem at a cinema, I once had to go and tell an usher that the sound "died" during a viewing of the first Harry Potter at the Odeon in Town.

Rididick was of kilter at the start yesterday as well. Luckily the lad sat next to me works there so soon sorted...

THE VILLAGE at MEadowhall cinema was off centre with half the picture hanging off the screen. It was a farce....and quite frankly the sound system in my 27 yr old Fiesta was better than that particular screen ,whichever number it was, , all muffled bass and no clarity. They ruined what was actually an interestingly different film and as usual refused to issue a refund as the supervisor was on her lunch break......strange time I thought as it was 4.30 in the afternoon!!

I've never had a problem with a film at the cinema but I have had a problem with the seat reservation system at UGC.

When you get your ticket they ask where you want to sit but when you get into the cinema people sit wherever they want. There is not usher to sort the seating arrangement out.

Myself and my boyfriend went to UGC last week and as someone was sat in our seats we just sat down somewhere else as we weren't that fussed. However just as the film is about to start we are asked to move because we are in someone elses seat. We try to explain that as she is already seated and has been for the past 10 minutes what is the problem with us all staying where we are? Anyway she is driving us crazy so we move.

I would have been happy to move had she not had a seat but her and her brats, sorry children, had already been seated for at least 10 minutes. They obviously decided they didn't like the seats they had and went to reclaim the ones they booked.

Fair enough I suppose but they really should have ushers to sort the seating out because it's just chaos. We didn't ask the people in our seats to move because we couldn't be bothered with all the fuss.

All the seats in UGC allow a good view anyway so I don't see a reason to choose specific seats.

Get yourselves to the showroom!! The best cinema around, with the best selection of films oldskool!!!!