I have several questions related to the movie industry's practice of
holding "test screenings" prior to a film's theatrical release.

1. How common is this practice today? Is it something that only huge
blockbusters do, or do movies of all budgets participate in test
screenings?

2. Where are test screenings held? Do they primarily show them at the
studio, or an unaffiliated theater? If a theater were interested in
hosting a test screening, who or whom would they contact at the
studio? In essence, who, or what studio department, is in charge of
scheduling test screenings?

3. Are the majority of test screenings held either in LA or NYC? Do
they ever stage test screenings in other parts of the US to try and
better guage the "general population's" opinion of the film? If so,
how are these locations chosen?

4. Is there a company that studios contract to survey the test
audiences, or do they preform the metrics in-house?

5. Finally, how are test audiences selected? Is it by invite only, or
"first come first serve?"

Thank you for your consideration and research. Please let me know if
you need further clarification.

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Request for Question Clarification by denco-ga on 10 May 2006 00:44 PDT

Howdy moxie_cinema-ga,

Did you want me to post my comment as the answer to your question?  Thanks!

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

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Clarification of Question by moxie_cinema-ga on 10 May 2006 16:42 PDT

denco-ga, yes. If you would like to post your comment as an answer, I
will accept it. Thank you for your information!

Howdy moxie_cinema-ga,

Thanks for accepting this as the answer to your question.

As someone who has seen hundreds, and possibly close to 1000 screenings,
I can give you some personal experiences on the topic.

1. The practice is very common and used for the entire spectrum of movies.

2. In Chicago, where I started seeing screenings, and then in Denver, the
main location where I saw at least 2 screenings a week for over 20 years,
the screenings were shown in a select set of theaters.  As such, these
appeared to be long standing arrangements between the studios and the
theaters. The showings that I attended were mostly arranged by the public
relations (advertising) department of the studio.

3. I have seen screenings, or seen screenings advertised, in all sorts of
cities; Iowa City, St. Louis, Kansas City, Champaign (Illinois), etc.  It
would not surprise me that Los Angeles might have more than anywhere else.

4. I have seen the studio do the feedback, as well as theater workers hand
out and collect the "cards."  Most screening did not have any "cards," etc.
at all, so I don't know if they were just looking for reaction.  All had a
studio representative at the screenings.

5.  I have received specific invites, but most of the screenings I attended
were through advertisements in newspapers, both dailies and weeklies, radio
promotions, email lists, etc.  There were various film groups, and theater
mail lists that provided yet other tickets.

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

Very quick and informative answer. Thanks for your help denco-ga!

Howdy moxie_cinema-ga,

As someone who has seen hundreds, and possibly close to 1000 screenings,
I cam give you some personal experiences on the topic.  If it will do as
an answer to the question, feel free to tell me and I willpost it as such.

1. The practice is very common and used for the entire spectrum of movies.

2) In Chicago, where I started seeing screenings, and then in Denver, the
main location where I saw at least 2 screenings a week for over 20 years,
the screenings were shown in a select set of theaters.  As such, these
were long standing arrangements between the studios and the theaters.
The showings that I attended were mostly arranged by the public relations
(advertising) department of the studio.

3. I have seen screenings, or seen screenings advertised, in all sorts of
cities; Iowa City, St. Louis, Kansas City, Champaign (Illinois), etc.  It
would not surprise me that Los Angeles might have more than anywhere else.

4. I have seen the studio do the feedback, as well as theater workers hand
out and collect the "cards."  Most screening did not have any "cards," etc.
at all, so I don't know if they were just looking for reaction.  All had a
studio representative at the screenings.

5.  I have received specific invites, but most of the screenings I attended
were through advertisements in newspapers, both dailies and weeklies, radio
promotions, email lists, etc.  There were various film groups, and theater
mail lists that provided yet other tickets.

My favorite screening was that for "A.I." which was by invite only for the
participants of the online mulit-website mystery/promotion for the movie.

At the screening we were given "one sheet" "A.I." movie posters that were
custom produced for the screening that had our online contest screen names
printed on them along the logo of the movie.

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

Thanks denco-ga,

You've certainly seen a lot of movies. I'm going to wait a bit to see
if anyone else answers, but thanks again for being the first out of
the gates.

moxie_cinema-ga

Apologies on the typographic errors in my comment.

My pleasure, moxie_cinema-ga, and much thanks for the kind comments and 5 star
rating.  Glad to have been of service.

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher