FrightFest 2014

Taking place over the Bank Holiday weekend, 21st - 25th August 2014
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Re: FrightFest 2014

Post by DJBenz »

kickasschewgum wrote:The one thing we all agree on is that it would be a tragedy to get rid of the 'buy a seat for the whole festival' concept.
I wholeheartedly agree with this.
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Re: FrightFest 2014

Post by ArghZombies »

I'm sure it will be different. Different doesn't necessarily mean bad either. Something had to change anyway just because of how popular it was getting. Screen 1 wasn't getting any bigger, but demand was increasing each year so something was going to give. Unless FF wanted to take over a whole field and build a bespoke giant screen outdoors (sitting in the sun / rain for 5 days watching movies would not be ideal!) then something like this was bound to happen anyway. It just seemed to have been kicked up because Empire made changes themselves, before FF had to.

Perhaps it'll be something like Reading / Leeds festival - the same acts perform at both sites over the weekend, just rotating what plays on which day. Perhaps Screen 1 will be for those lucky / crazy enough to brave the sleepy queue and Screen 2 (or whatever) will be for the others, with the remaining screens being used for discovery films? That way everyone gets the chance to see the same guests (many of them stick around all weekend anyway, so hopefully they'll do the same this time around too) and the same films, just in a different order.
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Re: FrightFest 2014

Post by iomega »

I'm working on a better system for discovery screen tickets. Thinking of some type of online system using smart phones and tablets. It would be along the lines of entering films you want to see in order of preference the day before. Tickets would then be allocated and would be waiting for collection on the morning of the screenings.
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Re: FrightFest 2014

Post by Critter Egg »

iomega wrote:I'm working on a better system for discovery screen tickets. Thinking of some type of online system using smart phones and tablets. It would be along the lines of entering films you want to see in order of preference the day before. Tickets would then be allocated and would be waiting for collection on the morning of the screenings.
I really like this idea, but how about we get to pick the Discovery films we want to see in order of preference before the Fest - eg from the Monday (18th August), or even from the morning of the Thursday. Choosing the films each day will still result in everyone having to set alarms early to be the first one to login into the webpage (cue webpage crashing :p ). Having just one set day to choose the films would be less stressful, and people could always go back in and adjust their choices for the following day (by a set time cut off point) if they change their minds.
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Re: FrightFest 2014

Post by TheDukeAbides »

Surely I can't be the only one who doesn't mind queuing for Discovery tickets every morning?

Of course, like the Sleepy Queue, the more popular something gets so the queuing time gets earlier and earlier, and more ridiculous.

Most Discovery films are screened twice, so always far better chance of getting into the second screening.

Some people just have to learn to live with loss and learn to wait to stream/buy missed films.

Patience is a facet slowly evolving out of the human race.

Whatever happens with ticket and screen allocations, we can all just deal with it.

I trust the judgement of Ian and all the others to put on another fine festival with the resources available.

*And this isn't me having a go at anyone, apologies if it sounds aggressive, its my default.*
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Re: FrightFest 2014

Post by iomega »

In the end I don't think we will please everyone. Things are changing this year and everyone is just going to have to get used to it. Sorry, if that sounds harsh, but it is going to happen. We will of course retain the best of what has gone before making FrightFest so unique while introducing the changes needed to adapt to what we have to work with.

We will continue bringing FrightFesters the best horror and fantasy films available, we already have over 30 films in the bag, along with all the normal stuff and surprises, it's just that it will be wrapped up a little differently.

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Re: FrightFest 2014

Post by streetrw »

iomega wrote:I'm working on a better system for discovery screen tickets. Thinking of some type of online system using smart phones and tablets. It would be along the lines of entering films you want to see in order of preference the day before. Tickets would then be allocated and would be waiting for collection on the morning of the screenings.
Some of us don't have smart phones or tablets! :(
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Re: FrightFest 2014

Post by halloweengirl »

streetrw wrote:
iomega wrote:I'm working on a better system for discovery screen tickets. Thinking of some type of online system using smart phones and tablets. It would be along the lines of entering films you want to see in order of preference the day before. Tickets would then be allocated and would be waiting for collection on the morning of the screenings.
Some of us don't have smart phones or tablets! :(
You're dead right, streetrw. Also for those who stay in hotels/hostels etc there isn't always free wi-fi and I do worry about online systems crashing. Hey-ho, maybe I'll just come along for the beer this year!
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Re: FrightFest 2014

Post by sherbetbizarre »

Will the no-wanking policy still be in place?
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Re: FrightFest 2014

Post by ArghZombies »

sherbetbizarre wrote:Will the no-wanking policy still be in place?
That was still the policy last year. There was no policy about getting someone else to do it for you though!
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Re: FrightFest 2014

Post by iomega »

As I said, difficult to please everyone. There is still heaps of time before August to get this all worked out and come up with a solution the pisses off the fewest amount of people.
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Re: FrightFest 2014

Post by sandwoman »

Hi Ian - thanks for asking the forum for feedback, really appreciated.

I've been coming to Frightfest since the Odeon days and have loved every minute, the festival is great.

If I could change one thing ... well, if you stick to a "one seat for the whole festival" concept, I'd love to be able to choose that seat from the whole auditorium, not just the allocated blocks. I always liked a quieter seat in screen 1's circle and it also meant if I was with friends who were coming in on a day pass or an individual screening, I had more chance of sitting near them ...

If that could happen, that would be fab ...
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Re: FrightFest 2014

Post by soberdave72@hotmail.com »

A Sleepy Q Screen would be great, because it would mean most of the die hard fright festers will be together...

The only thing I hope that doesn't change, is that we, the audience don't have to make too many choices, The great thing about Frightfest is that even if you dislike some of the films selected, the programme itself is always so well balanced,and varied. For example at this year's sensational Glasgow event, we had a popcorn horror in Wolf Creek 2, followed by the serious and disturbing The Sacrament, followed by Dracula meets Chronicle with Affliction. The guys always produce the goods with excellent scheduling.

Other than that, Really looking forward to it, I've been coming since the year they showed Bundy and Halloween: Resurrection, and its always Bloody Brilliant.
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Re: FrightFest 2014

Post by Phil Newton »

Blimey, it's so long since I posted on here I've had to re-register!

As someone who has been to every FrightFest since it began,it's been an incredible journey from those initial years at the Prince Charles Cinema to where we are now, and I'm sure that Alan, Paul, Ian and Greg will adapt to the changes enforced by the refit at the Empire very capably.

From my own personal standpoint I do think it would be a shame to dilute the camaraderie that has built up over the years, so my perception of how this might best work would be as follows: the large 700 seater screen should be the principal screen for weekend pass holders, with reserved seating for the duration of the event - this is where each 'main screen' film receives it first screening; day passes could make up the remainder of these seats, if there is still space after the initial month's sales, but if not would take up a percentage of the second screen, with the remainder of those seats then available for individual bookings; the programme in screen two would be a repeat of the 'main screen' films (although a couple would need to spill over to the discovery screens) with the two discovery screens operating as in previous years. I would also suggest that 50 tickets per screening - including the second screen - be held back for weekend passholders on a first come first saved basis on the day, again as per previous years. This would allow passholders the opportunity to have a second chance to catch a main screen film they may have missed earlier.

I look forward to reading other people's suggestions here over the coming weeks, but whatever happens, of course it will be different this year but it will still be the FrightFest that we know and love.
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Re: FrightFest 2014

Post by TheDukeAbides »

Phil Newton wrote:Blimey, it's so long since I posted on here I've had to re-register!

As someone who has been to every FrightFest since it began,it's been an incredible journey from those initial years at the Prince Charles Cinema to where we are now, and I'm sure that Alan, Paul, Ian and Greg will adapt to the changes enforced by the refit at the Empire very capably.

From my own personal standpoint I do think it would be a shame to dilute the camaraderie that has built up over the years, so my perception of how this might best work would be as follows: the large 700 seater screen should be the principal screen for weekend pass holders, with reserved seating for the duration of the event - this is where each 'main screen' film receives it first screening; day passes could make up the remainder of these seats, if there is still space after the initial month's sales, but if not would take up a percentage of the second screen, with the remainder of those seats then available for individual bookings; the programme in screen two would be a repeat of the 'main screen' films (although a couple would need to spill over to the discovery screens) with the two discovery screens operating as in previous years. I would also suggest that 50 tickets per screening - including the second screen - be held back for weekend passholders on a first come first saved basis on the day, again as per previous years. This would allow passholders the opportunity to have a second chance to catch a main screen film they may have missed earlier.

I look forward to reading other people's suggestions here over the coming weeks, but whatever happens, of course it will be different this year but it will still be the FrightFest that we know and love.
To get the thread back on track.

Also noticed link to this thread posted on the FF twitter feed.

Are we taking it as read that FF will get the new main screen - I know it seems the most obvious and logical thing, but Empire are still running a business.

It is of course all conjecture and speculation, which I suppose actually lends to the hype of the festival.

I think I, like the many long-serving stalwarts, wish to feel, well special.

I love that you have one chair that is your own and you can set up camp. Coat as a marker, posters and goodie back as little turrets, building your own fort.

Scowling as the interloping day-pass holders and one-film light-weights ask to get to their very normal and not-so-special seats.

Talking to random strangers, building a sometimes unspoken kinship with fellow weekenders.

I think that is what is the main over riding thing, our own private domicile (seat) where we won't be harassed.

In short, I tend to agree with the above.
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