Lawmaker: Post reel times

Duane Cheney is tired of sitting through commercials when he goes to see a movie.\nThat's why the Indiana representative, a Democrat from Portage, Ind., is drafting a bill that will require theaters to advertise the start time of the actual movie, not the commercials.\n"It's a matter of truth in advertising," he said. "(The theater) removes the consumer choice of whether or not they want to hear a chorus of 'Let's Go Out to the Lobby.'"\nCheney's idea has met criticism from the movie industry and pundits alike. However, he said most of his constituents have responded positively.\n"The common (argument) is 'Why don't you just come 15 minutes later,'" he said. "That argument fails because I don't know that the commercials are 15 minutes or five minutes."\nCritics have suggested Cheney's bill would waste time the General Assembly could spend on more pressing matters. Although he said he has stronger beliefs on issues such as organized labor and public education, Cheney feels his proposal will be the most efficient use of his legislative powers. He said because Democrats hold the minority in the assembly, partisan bills are less likely to survive.\nWithout the numbers to make serious impact on these issues, Cheney said he decided to focus on issues with a broader appeal.\n"It's certainly not the cornerstone for world peace," he said. "But little improvements add up to make a better place for all of us."\nBut Ann Craft, executive director of the Theatre Owners of Indiana, said the bill would present serious logistical problems if enacted into law. She said theater owners are contractually obligated to play the promotional materials prior to the movie, which come attached to the film.\nMovie theaters typically receive the film for new movies less than 24 hours before it is showed, Craft said. Because theaters must place advertisements several days prior to receiving films, they cannot realistically advertise the exact start time of the movie.\n"I'm very sorry if this upsets Rep. Cheney, but it's a business situation that we can do very little about," she said. "It doesn't seem to be a general problem -- certainly not of consequence to require law."\nAtticus Westerfeld, who oversees the Union Board movies shown in the Indiana Memorial Union, said he is not sure whether the bill would apply to his operation. He said he usually tries to avoid playing trailers, although some films require Union Board to do so.\n"I do think (the bill is) a bit frivolous," he said. "But I do know that people are upset when the trailers take 15 minutes and they aren't told that ahead of time."\nHowever, if the bill becomes law, he said Union board would probably just start the film reels a little earlier.\nCheney's proposal is not the first of its kind. In March, Connecticut state Rep. Andrew Fleischmann (D-18th District) proposed "that advertisements for movies and movie listings provide separate start times for both movie trailers and the actual movie," according to proposed house bill No. 6270. The Connecticut house defeated the bill.