Before the World Sees It: Early Viewing for Movie Theater Employees

Do you ever wonder if the thrill of seeing a new movie comes before the general public, reserved only for select few? In the movie theater industry, it is not uncommon for employees to have the privilege of viewing films before they are released to the public. This access can come through special screenings or previews designed for staff, but specifics can vary widely depending on the theater chain and location. Not all employees are guaranteed early screenings, and the availability can depend on a variety of factors.

Historical Context: Tech Check Screenings

In the pre-digital era, especially during the days when 35mm films were the norm, tech check screenings were a necessity. These screenings were used to verify that the film prints were free from defects, ensuring that they could play flawlessly during regular screenings. Tech check screenings played a crucial role in maintaining the quality of films that were about to be seen by millions.

The Digital Revolution

The advent of digital cinema has brought significant changes to how films are distributed and screened. With digital cinema packages (DCP) and digital cinema management systems, tech check screenings have become redundant. Instead of painstakingly checking each print, the digital process ensures that the files are verified against a checksum, guaranteeing that they are copied correctly.

Modern Digital Cinema Packages (DCP) and Digital Cinema Management Systems (DCMS)

In the modern age, the process has been streamlined. When digital cinema packages (DCP) are ingested into the theater management system (TMS) or directly into the screen management system (SMS), the files are cross-verified with a checksum. This ensures that there is a 99.99% chance that the rest of the film will play correctly if the first few seconds are okay. The rarest issue would be errors in the DCP mastering process, which are extremely uncommon, especially with major distributors like Hollywood studios.

Decryption Key Management and Box Office Security

Decryption keys (KDM) sent by distributors to theaters are specific and are tied to a particular screen, date, and time window. For example, a KDM might authorize Screen 5 in a multiplex to play a specific film from a certain time on a specific day. Distributors typically do not issue KDMs to regular theaters that open significantly before the first scheduled public screening, ensuring that no one can play a movie before its official release date.

While some venues might allow technical screening checks on the opening day, doing so is often not cost-effective due to the potential need for paying staff overtime. This decision is based on a careful economic analysis of the potential quality benefits versus the expenses involved.

The single biggest cause of lost shows in the digital age is still administrative errors, such as the failure to distribute a working KDM in time for the first scheduled show.

Whether it's an early preview or technical checks, the digital revolution has indeed changed the landscape of the movie theater industry, impacting everything from how films are screened to the way theaters maintain quality. Yet, even with all these changes, the allure of seeing a film before the world remains a unique perk for those lucky employees who get to watch cinema unfold just as it does for the first time on the big screen.