Confiscation Of Mobile 'Phones At Major London Previews

[bevvy]

On the SFF website under "synopsis" for 500 days of Summer it says

Please be aware that there will be security present at the screening and we will need to remove all mobile phones, blackberries, laptops etc ? so you may prefer to leave at the office if you are able! We will also ask that NDAs be signed prior to the screening

It doesn't mention this on the ticket or on the e-mail confirmation, so many people may be unaware of this until they get to the cinema. In central London there will be quite a lot of people going straight from work with such items on them - I for one woukld not fancy handing over my laptop to be looked after by security. If the security is any good , all they have to do is look to see if anyone is using any of these devices and eject them if they do. Anyone intent on piracy will get round this anyway.

[AYBG]

NDAs? For a film first screened in January?!
I'd take all that with a pinch of salt if I were you...

[Ms Thrifty]

Well I'm grateful for the warning, anyway, and will look out for this at other screenings. I don't think this level of security will extend outside central London but it's something to look out for, and Bevvy's point about some people having to go straight from work is very valid.

[Beate]

Well I never look up SFF synopsises so for all I know it could have said that for every other film I saw and is just as ineffective as their general "you will be ID checked and not let in after the film has started".

[steve9872]

It also says:
Running Time: 0 mins

So, what is the point of NDA's at free screenings? We're there to help promote the film, prior to its release, by word of mouth. An NDA would curtail such promotion so one wonders why the movie is even being shown.

[bevvy]

Well I never look up SFF synopsises so for all I know it could have said that for every other film I saw and is just as ineffective as their general "you will be ID checked and not let in after the film has started".

I often look up the synopses and have never seen it before. It is the only one of the current crop of SFF films that mentions confiscating phones etc. Having said that, I can't see them bothering to do all that at all the venues either.

[thibaud7]

Wow, that is quite scary.
I've never been to the Odeon in Covent Garden (yet) but I work 5 minutes away and would definitely bring everything back to the office if they actually expect me to hand them in.
I'm not willing to hand over stuff to security people. For instance, I know what happens in cloakrooms when you go to a gig (fashion shows by the attendees...). I'm not even tempted to record a video on my iPhone or BB, why would I? it's so crappy quality, nobody wants to see that. However, if they made tickets to the cinema cheaper than 12 pounds nobody would have to get illegal dvd's.

At least, that is my point of view.