Scorsese\'s Hugo Gets Wallpapered With Unwanted Product Placement

[Brendon Connelly]

Below, a video from last night's screening of Hugo at the Regal in Union Square, New York. There's an awful lot of laughter on the soundtrack... at first.

But first, some context from the clip's uploader:

Dear Mr Scorcese [sic].This is what they did to your movie last night. This is how a couple of hundred people at the regal Theater in Union Square experienced the last 20 minutes of your tribute to the magic of film on the evening of January 14th.This occured after the film broke twice during the screening. Have a nice day

Now, get ready for the most intrusive product placement you'll ever have seen. Or at least since Mac & Me.



It's a love letter to barefaced commerce.

Thanks to Gothamist for the clip.

[MyInfiniteAbyss]

How does this go on for so long without anyone doing anything? Is this just how you watch your films in the UK?

[thekeith82]

How does this go on for so long without anyone doing anything? Is this just how you watch your films in the UK?

Below, a video from last night's screening of Hugo at the Regal in Union Square, New York.

Yeah, I can see how you'd miss that one, being the first line of the article and all...

[Jay Kay]

WOW. If that happened to me, I'd definitely ask for my money back. Probably wouldn't go to that theater again either.

[Comedian]

Yeah, I can see how you'd miss that one, being the first line of the article and all...

What? You expected someone to actually READ the article before posting some inane comment? New to the internet and especially this site, are you?

[rassmguy]

How does this go on for so long without anyone doing anything? Is this just how you watch your films in the UK?

Yes. Union Square, in New York, was moved to the UK late last year.

[mquitney]

Regal Theaters have been doing everything they can over the past year(s) to keep as much money as they can. This has primarily been through ridiculous downsizing. Running the projectors was always a managers job, but they demoted many of those managers and turned it into a lower level position. This has led to many many screenings having problems and no one to fix them properly, or by someone that even really cares. As many theaters are turning full digital, they keep people out of the projection booths because they expect the things to be fully automated. Outside of the high ticket prices, these kinds of poor experiences are what is really killing the movie house business.

[Candletric]

I know the point of the video is to show how a theater could fuck up a movie projection, but there's another side to this that it also shows: piracy. It's still illegal to record a movie in theaters.

[thekeith82]

I know the point of the video is to show how a theater could fuck up a movie projection, but there's another side to this that it also shows: piracy. It's still illegal to record a movie in theaters.

I don't think they were filming the whole movie. They just wanted to record the fuckup...

[Captain Comet]

A couple things: this looks like a 3D showing (if it was a 35 this would be solved with the press of a button). I dont know what type of projectors they have but the Sony's just started playing the First Look out of one lens only. Covering up the offending lens definitely could've been an option, even if it did negate the 3D aspect. That or just plain stopping the film and rebooting the projector, although if the film had already stopped twice and the 20 minute preshow was starting they may have just been trying to finish this one so they could start the next. Cutting their losses so to speak, an unfortunate judgement call on someone's part. Hopefully there was a manager standing outside the door with a thick roll of ReAdmits and a mouth full of sorrys.

Two shows playing at the same time...that is a new one, although if this already stopped twice and was within twenty minutes of it's next show I can see it. Digital projectors have these kind of weird hiccups all the time. It's really the technology's fault. I hope someone in the audience alerted management, because honestly folks, if they dont know about a problem, they can't fix it. If they were aware of this I guarantee there was someone up there glued to their cell phone waiting for the help desk to key in. Problems like this happen all the time, and they will continue to happen, in my opinion, until booths are fully automated. Until then, these things happens, an unhealthy byproduct of the changing times.

And while you're at it, when things like this happen, try not to take out your frustation on the Regal (or any theater) employees. They're underpaid, overworked, and as stressed out about this as you are. Now management on the other hand.....