BEIJING, Nov. 12 (Reporter Zhang Xi) "Do you want a ticket for Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk?" On the afternoon of 11th, a scalper walked back and forth at the entrance of Youtang Cinema in Chaoyangmen, Beijing, selling movie tickets for Ang Lee’s new films to passers-by from time to time. The original ticket price of this 120-frame, 4K movie has reached as high as that of 320 yuan, and despite the exorbitant price of scalpers, fans still pay for it.
It is the most expensive movie ticket price.
The cinema admits that it is difficult to make ends meet.
For four years, Ang Lee’s new work Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk was released in China on November 11th. The film tells the story of Billy Lynn, a 19-year-old American soldier, who was praised as an American hero for bravely rescuing his comrades-in-arms in the Iraq war, and was recalled to China for a tour of publicity with his comrades-in-arms. During the halftime performance of a Thanksgiving rugby open, Billy experienced the "most glorious and worst day" in his life.
As a famous director who has won three Oscars, Ang Lee has great box office appeal. In addition, this time he adopted a new technology — — Shooting in 120 frames /4K/3D format, which is beyond the existing shooting format, makes this film particularly attractive.
However, only five cinemas in new york, Los Angeles, Beijing, Shanghai and Taipei can show the highest configuration version of 120 frames /4K/3D, and only Hall 2 of Chaoyangmen Youtang Cinema in Beijing.
The reporter learned from the cinema that the current tickets for the 120-frame /4K/3D version are 230 yuan, 288 yuan and 320 yuan respectively, and the tickets for cinema members are 180 yuan, 238 yuan and 260 yuan.
"This is indeed the most expensive movie ticket price." Wu Junling, general manager of Bona Cinema Investment Management Company, told Zhongxin. com.
In order to show "Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk" with 120 frames /4K/3D, Bona Cinema has invested tens of millions to renovate Hall 2, but because there are only 290 seats, even if there are six shows a day, it is still difficult to make ends meet.
However, Wu Junling said that Bona didn’t care about the rate of return of this hall. "We are very proud to try and popularize new technologies in the first time.".
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Each person is limited to 4 tickets at a time.
Because of the scarcity of 120-frame /4K/3D projection theaters, Bona is currently selling in the form of pre-sale, and each person is limited to 4 tickets at a time. In view of the fact that tickets can’t be bought, the cinema suggests that viewers can watch the lower version. Director Ang Lee also pointed out at the Beijing premiere that he also made 60 and 24 versions, and claimed that each version was adjusted and recreated by himself, which improved the viewing conditions in the past.
On the 11th, the reporter went to the ticket office for consultation and was told that all the tickets of Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk were sold out. Wu Junling said that Bona will increase the arrangement of Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk in the future.
In response to scalpers’ fare increase, Wu Junling said frankly that he was very helpless. "It is difficult to control because scalpers also buy tickets through normal channels, and we are not a law enforcement department.". However, he revealed that the ticket price will be adjusted in the future. "We first thought about 500 yuan or 480 yuan, and thought it would cause fans to vomit, but if it is too cheap, and we are worried that it will be bought by scalpers, the price in the hands of the audience will not be much lower. After all, this is a special event, and it is difficult to achieve preferential prices."
The reporter also randomly interviewed several viewers who watched the 120-frame /4K/3D version. Many people mentioned that they saw this technology for the first time, and the picture quality was very clear. They thought that the fare of more than 200 yuan was very worthwhile. However, some viewers believe that in the state of 120 frames, because of the rich details, there is no small difference from the previous viewing experience.
The special cost of glasses is as high as 800 yuan.
More than ten pairs are lost in one day.
On November 6th, when attending the premiere of Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, Yu Dong, president of Bona Film, mentioned that the cinema specially equipped 3D glasses with high frame rate for the 120-frame /4K/3D version, and the price of a pair of glasses was as high as that of 800 yuan. On the same day, he called on the audience not to take away their glasses. "We can’t sell the next ticket without a pair, because it’s too late to match. The fare is only a little more than 200 yuan, and losing a pair of glasses will cause heavy losses. "
However, the reporter learned from Bona Chaoyangmen Cinema that as of the 11th, the cinema had lost more than ten pairs of high frame rate 3D glasses. Wu Junling said that in the future, he would remind everyone or ask the staff to collect it, but mainly by his own initiative.
In view of the loss of glasses, many viewers bluntly said "it’s immoral" when interviewed, "the cinema is also to satisfy everyone’s viewing experience, so it’s better to return it after reading it" and "it’s more expensive than the movie ticket and can’t be taken away". (End)