How Do You Get Tickets to A Movie Premiere

Started by Hawaii596, 03-10-2011 -- 11:30:02

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Hawaii596

03-10-2011 -- 11:30:02
I live in the Austin TX area, and there is a premiere of a new Mel Gibson / Jodie Foster on Wednesday, March 16th at the Paramount Theatre in Austin for the new movie "The Beaver."  It's probably totally a pipe dream, but I'm trying to figure out if there is a way to get tickets to a premiere.  I'm presuming not, but wanted to pass it by the folks here in case any of you may have some ideas on how to do it.
"I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind."
Lord Kelvin (1824-1907)
from lecture to the Institute of Civil Engineers, 3 May 1883

Hawaii596

#1
03-17-2011 -- 10:27:46
I went to the movie premiere last night.  Jodie Foster, the writer (Kyle Killen or something like that), and a young man who played her son in the movie were all there.  It was really a neat experience.  This was the actual world premiere at The Paramount Theater in Austin Texas.  I tried getting photos of Jodie Foster, but the press was in the way, and I couldn't get a very good shot.  Oh well, I can cross this one off the bucket list.
"I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind."
Lord Kelvin (1824-1907)
from lecture to the Institute of Civil Engineers, 3 May 1883

Skippy

#2
03-18-2011 -- 12:28:22
you never said how you got the tickets, dish dude, it sounds like a great time if they ever do one in my area :-)

Hawaii596

#3
03-25-2011 -- 08:04:16
I did get the tickets and did get in.  The premiere was held at the Paramount Theater in downtown Austin TX.  They were just $10 each.  The way you get in (at least at this one, and perhaps at some others) is that this actual World Premiere of the Jodie Foster/Mel Gibson movie was held as part of the film festival portion of South By Southwest festival ("SXSW" - a music, media and film festival).  The film portion is kind of like the Sundance festival, or Cannes Film Festival, etc., and is little by little getting as much of a reputation.  You can go to www[dot]sxsw[dot]org for details about the festival overall.

The Paramount Theater seats about 1300 people.  The way the ticketing works is that film festival attendees (like they're registered for a professional conference sort of thing) get to go in first.  There are BADGEHOLDERS (conference attendees), PASSHOLDERS(film portion only attendees), and SINGLE TICKET HOLDERS.  The first two are registered for the full event for conference type pricing.  Once the first two types of people got into the movie, they let single ticket holders in (what I was - and I'll explain).

Some movies you could get them online in advance (single tickets), but not for this movie.  So I had to show up on the day of the movie (I got there 2-1/2 hours before show time, and was first in line).  After they let he Badge and Pass holders in, us single ticket types (who at that moment did not have anything other than crossed fingers hoping there would be seats left).  Then the South By Southwest Staff person waved us in.  So I went to the box office, bought two tickets (my wife and I) for $10 each in cash only - no cards).  and we got in.

Bottom line is I think you have to do a little homework for any premiere you want to go to.  I have no idea if you can do it for a hollywood premiere.  But if you really want to go to a premiere some time, if it is at SXSW, it would probably work about like my experience.  For other venues (a stand along premiere), I am guessing there may be a way to get in.  In Hollywood, for a major blockbuster, I would bet you couldn't get tickets, as the theater would be filled with all the people connected with the movie.  This was a smaller movie, and because of Mel Gibsons troubles, I am guessing they didn't want to or couldn't do it in hollywood (sad, as Mel Gibson is a great actor - no pass for his bad behavior though).

That's about it.
"I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind."
Lord Kelvin (1824-1907)
from lecture to the Institute of Civil Engineers, 3 May 1883

Skippy

#4
03-25-2011 -- 08:30:07
Thanks for the info, sounds like if you do some homework you can get into these type events on occasion.   I'll be watching in my area, as I'm close to the city I bet I can get to see one too.

Hawaii596

#5
03-25-2011 -- 09:02:45
The one negative is that they don't advertise.  I think they're desire is to fill the theater with critics and professionals and other industry types.  I got that hint from something Jodie Foster said, with one of the questions, she remarked about how wide the distribution would be was going to be based on the response from the people there that evening.  So I had never thought of the premiere as being such an important marketing tool.

In retrospect, I wish I had done a little more homework.  I was so focused on trying to get into this movie, that I didn't notice some of the other movies being shown.  Rainn Wilson and Conan O'Brien both had world premieres of movies during SXSW.  Oh well, it is definitely a good "bucket list" item.  Never done that before, and I may never do it again (hopefully, I will though).  But it was worth it.  It was cool being a small part of a little hollywood glamour.
"I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind."
Lord Kelvin (1824-1907)
from lecture to the Institute of Civil Engineers, 3 May 1883

MRD

#6
03-25-2011 -- 15:45:20
I haven't been to a premiere but I've been to quite a few screenings, before the movie's been released.  They can be fun and interesting, sometimes you see an unfinished version or they have you watch multiple endings to get your take.

Here's a link, you register and then they send you emails when one is in your town.

http://www.thescreeningexchange.com/
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