Btron said:
BCSWguru said:
Went to see the secret movie series tonight and was hoping for something like Sinners. Got Companion instead.
How do you get on the email list for things like this or are you in the industry somehow? I'd love to be a test screener!
In LA, representatives from the various test screening companies literally stand outside of busy theaters with a little sign and a clipboard or iPad or whatever and ask you if you want to attend a future test screening, usually one scheduled for a few days later, next week, etc. They often won't tell you the title of the movie, but depending on the test screening they're recruiting for, they'll ask if you're interested in seeing "a big new sci-fi movie," "a new romantic comedy," etc. If you say yes, they'll get your email, then, at least the way it used to be, you'd get a confirmation email with a link where you officially sign up for the screening, and then sometimes they'd reveal the title at that point. Other times it's a complete mystery until you're seated in the theater and they introduce the movie.
But yeah, I'm sure if you just google movie test screening companies + your city you can find out more that way, as long as you live in a big enough city. Basically, the studios hire out these companies to conduct the screenings and process the questionnaires. Most are in LA and NY, but just so they're getting Average Joe Movie Goer opinions as well, they test in Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, etc too.
That said, it's been forever since I've been to one. When I first moved to LA, nearly two decades ago, I used to go to them all the time. And sure, they can be super cool/interesting, especially if you're chosen to be part of the smaller focus group afterward (for instance, to this day I swear my buddy and I had a part in deciding the ending of
I Am Legend while participating in a smaller focus group). But the down side, for me, was that when the movie finally came out months later, I consistently found myself jealous of everyone (as in the rest of the country/world) getting to see it for the first time opening weekend, and even getting to the experience all the marketing in the lead up without knowing exactly how the movie plays out. It got to be a weird, isolating, FOMO-type feeling, and considering how much I love the communal aspect of going to the movies, I stopped going to test screenings altogether.