Do we do the free film next year

[gemini]

The cinema are keen to have us back however your thoughts are sought?

[PDleeds]

My thoughts are with Gemini. HUGE thanks to everyone who turned out tonight - this annual event can only continue if people continue to come to the venue. Whilst it was rather disappointing that over 30 people who requested tickets and subsequently confirmed their attendance never actually attended the event in the end (meaning all those cars and people on the reserve list who wanted to come, never got a chance), it was pleasing that those who did make it down enjoyed the evening. Those owners who did come down tonight will get priority acceptance should we stage the event again next year. The people who confirmed and then never showed (without informing the cinema beforehand that is) will be allocated to an immediate reserve list.

Every year, we try and pick a film which has a link to sports or supercars starting with Swordfish in 2001, Fast and the Furious (and its sequel); Cars; even Mission Impossible 3 (because a Lambo featured in it) to last years Oceans 13 (theme of wealth and high stakes).

We then approach the distributor to see if they will give us a "free" screening to save everyone paying nearly £7 a ticket entrance fee and once agreed, Gemini and I then set about organising the event to have a private screening. With Speed Racer, you were amongst the first people in the UK to see the film and my thanks go to Waner Brothers for being so generous.

We could, in the future, just pick a weekend which would be then the same weekend every year to stage the event (which would be the luck of the draw in terms of film) OR... we pick a film with a car theme in it as we have done in previous years OR... we try and target a "Big" release picture such as an Indiana Jones etc but the downside is that it becomes a chargeable entry as the distributor would be reluctant to provide it for free.

At the end of the day, all these events have been provided free of charge (in terms of entry) and I would dearly like to keep it that way. You dont get much in life for free and if I, in my capacity as the General Manager of a cinema can stage an event such as this for free, I would like to continue doing so.

Any feedback would be welcome though but once again, my thanks go to everyone who came this year and I look forward to seeing people over the next 12 months!

Edited by PDleeds on Friday 9th May 00:48

[Greensleeves]

Does it just have to be one a year? One a month would be too much, we'd soon get fed up or it would lose it's exclusivity.

It doesn't have to be free. Give it a purpose. Richard went round with a hat which I beleive got quite full. I think everyone there (with the possible exception of the bloke that polled up in an old Micra) can afford the seven quid, so if Warner would meet us in the middle, we pay but they don't want it, we could have done two and a half grand for a charity tonight.

(PS No offence to the bloke in the Micra, I was kidding, I'm sure his TVR broke down or something, fair play for turning up in the Datbug)

[BlueMR2]

Thanks for both your efforts in arranging the evening as well as warner brothers for the film, i quite enjoyed it as did my Dad who came along.

I had only just joined PistonHeads when the event started last year so i came along but didn't go into the film or park in the reserved parking, i spent most of my time looking round the cars and taking a few hundred photos as well as chatting to some people i met a few weeks earlier at a more local meet.

Everyone seemed to be having a good time, wandering around looking at the other cars and chatting to others there.

It seemed the same this year as well.

I imagine if people didn't want to watch a film that much then they may be reluctant to pay to go in but may still come over and park up but just stay outside.

If the film is free you cant really complain and if you really don't want to watch it then just stay outside chatting to people instead but the car theme seems a pretty good idea so far.

Perhaps you could do as Greensleeves said and have a reduced price of entry but donate it to charity so maybe a simple round amount of £5 each although people may be less likely to give a film a try if they are not really interested in it but have to pay.

Maybe its best to wait till nearer the time and find out what films would be available at different price points eg a free film or a chargable film if its more of a blockbuster and hold a poll to find out what those who are interested in attending would prefer. Or even 2 different films if you could arrange 2 showings as you mentioned previously.

However i enjoyed the film and i have seen all the other previous films bar swordfish all the way through and enjoyed them too so maybe you have just chosen the type of films i like for the previous events anyway.

[therealpigdog]

who cares what the film is like (although i actually enjoyed speedracer it was so bad).

it was a great evening, and we raised a bit of cash for a good cause.

thanks to those who organised it - much appreciated.

[Jonty355]

I like that idea of the £5 that goes to the charity. I'd be up for that every once in a while.

I enoyed speed racer. I want to learn how to spin and drift like that!

[designer]

I think we should keep the 'car' theme when deciding the next film as this keeps it special and news worthy for the cinema. It would be great if Vue could still offer the film free, but a nominal charge it collected for charidee

[chilled]

It was disappointing to see so many empty spaces in the car park. Especially as I turned up but didn't have a ticket as I applied too late. Admittedly I could have walked the 3 minutes to my house to pick up my car, but as I didn't have a ticket I'd organised other things for the evening.

[BatleyBoy]

It’s a shame that people didn’t turn up, and places and tickets were wasted.
I enjoyed the event, but maybe the number of 'now-shows' is an indication that peoples enthusiasm is on the wane?
Thanks anyway to Rich and Paul, as I know how much effort goes into organising things like this.

[p1carl]

well I thought it was a good night and I enjoyed it All those fantastic cars in one place almost made me wet my pants

[G1ABB]

We certainly enjoyed the evening. However, if a more regular meet is possible then the quality of the film is likely to become more important.

Thanks
Graham

[kfozz]

I had a great night, good run down, loads of great cars and good company and an unusual film, a bit too colourful for me but that could just be my age.
Thanks for organising it, I appreciate all the hard work that goes into organising an event like this

[johnzo]

For what they are worth, my comments....
1. MANY THANKS to the Vue Manager (sorry didn't get your name) and Rich for the hard work to make this happen for our fun
2. How do you always manage to get such good weather? Peeeeeeerfect roof-off sky!!!
3. Lots of hard work goes into this, yet people abuse that by signing up, not turning up, not even informing. It means others who want to come can't, and it "takes something away" when there are empty spaces
4. Any of us can find that for whatever reason we can't bring the car that got us the free place, and the daily runner has to be used. OK, that's life, but to then park them with the sports cars is arrogant ... a lot of work went into keeping TVR's with TVR's ... Porsche with Porsche etc, then someone puts a Lexus or Micra in there. Looks like a 2-finger gesture to those who have spent hours trying to bring the best presentation of the cars
5. Once a year means that it's a special night, more often will mean interest drops off. I am not too bothered what the film is, it's a great fun night I look forward to and enjoy anyway, thanks again guys...
JOHN

[skamanfrank]

"4. Any of us can find that for whatever reason we can't bring the car that got us the free place, and the daily runner has to be used. OK, that's life, but to then park them with the sports cars is arrogant ... a lot of work went into keeping TVR's with TVR's ... Porsche with Porsche etc, then someone puts a Lexus or Micra in there."


Good job when I rocked up they wouldn't let me stick my Imp on the end of a line, sounds like it might not have been too popular! !;);)


I've only just signed up on here after seeing the meet, so I will keep my eye open and look out for the next as it was great fun coming down and having a look round all the cars

[BlueMR2]

The yorkshire Railway pub meet is next monday, (2nd monday of the month) top thread in the yorkshire section near the bottom of the forum.

[jagdpanther]

Every month would be too much, but once or twice per year would be fine!

The film that's showing isnt that important as its a free night, good publicity and raising a bit of money for charity is always worthwhile!

My 2p

[TVRinBFG]

Once (or even twice) a year is fine and help keeps the event special.

There were a lot of "ordinary" cars this year which dilutes the event though?

And something, but I don't know what, should be done about people reserving tickets and then not showing up, thus stopping others from coming......?

Thanks to Rich and the cinema for arranging last thursday's event.

[PDleeds]

TVR - with people having to apply for tickets by email this year, I've now got a list of those who didnt show up and those who didnt let the cinema know beforehand that they werent going to make it.

Simply put, if [when] we run the event again, any of the same people who apply again will go immediately to a reserve list and will only be sent invites out if places are made available last minute. Also, I might give a larger window to confirm RSVP's next time - that way if people havent confirmed by a cut off point (7 days beforehand?) they will get bumped from the list.

Its a line myself and Rich certainly didnt want to take - previous events have been extremely well supported in the past but we, together with all those people who did attend, feel that tickets and invites should go only to those who are genuine in their support/interest rather than those who apply on a whim.

[burriana]

I'll fit in with whatever. To me it is more the social occasion, the free film is a bonus. Having to pay, whether to the cinema or charity would not put me off.

I agree though, the quality of the film should be considered, though Speed Racer was ok in a no-brainer car chases kind of a way

How did the "normal" cars get into the car park anyway? The staff should have simply pointed them to the main car park.

[gemini]

The normal cars were last minute replacements for the sports cars

It was unfortunate that the staff allowed them to park in the slot where their sports car should have been

Paul and I both agreed that we spoilt the line ups by allowing that to happen.

However weve learnt from that and if it happens next time we will "bump" them to another area of the car park.

This event is something we can build on
Any ideas are very welcome