Thailand Cinema Experience
Today is the first day in the year that I am actually in town and got nothing to do. I have never had a free time to spend in
You may not believe me that I have not been in the movie theater for almost 6 years. It is not the reason that I don’t like watching films, but I enjoy the movies played on my PC in this little cubicle much more.
Here is what I found out about the cinemas in
First, Thai people spend the longest time in the world just to buy a movie ticket. The film I watched today started at 9:30pm, so I went to the box office at 9pm. There were about 12 people in the line and 4 opened registrars, it took me 21 minutes in the line!
Each and everyone of them actually spent 5 minutes or more purchasing the tickets. Why? Just pick a seat, pay the money and retrieve the ticket and stub, the process should take only 20 seconds. They had to ask the clerks once again what was the best time, the differences among the fancy theaters, what the movies about and so on. Can they just find out the information before actually going into the line? Do Thai people love to make decision at the last minute one more time?
Second, the popcorn clerks in the movie theaters are the least productive workers. After I got my ticket, I wanted to buy popcorns and Coke just like the common movie goers, so I was in the line again. There were just only 3 people in front of me, but it took me 11 minutes!
The clerk sold a set of popcorn to a customer then he walked out to chitchat with friends, and he did it again and again for the next customers in the line. Are they so lonely selling sodas and popcorns?
Then it was my turn, I ordered “One popcorn and a Coke.”
He asked, “What kind of popcorn? We got salted, buttered, salted buttered, sweeten, caramel, BBQ, seaweed and …" (another I forgot).
“Salted, please.”
“What size do you want?”
“Medium, please.”
“We do not have medium. Just large and small.”
“So, large please.”
“What kind of drink?”
“I told you I wanted a Coke.”
“What size?”
“Medium, please.”
“Sorry, we do not have medium.”
“I saw you have three sizes of cups”, I also pointed to the cups.
“Those are our special cups that go in the set.”
“Okay, I’d like to take the set with this medium cup”
“Sorry, you must pre-purchase at the box office to get this promotion”
“So, just a Coke then”
“What size, Sir?”
“Big”
“Large?”
“Yes”
“And you said you want a popcorn too?”
“Yes”
“What favors?”
“Salted”
“Salted buttered or just salted”
“Just salted”
“Would you like to get it in a set?”
“No. You said it must be pre-paid.”
“We have a special cups promotion…bla..bla..bla….”
“Just a large Coke and salted large popcorn, please.”
“Total of 120 baht, please.”
“120 Baht! I can watch another movie!”
“That’s our price, Sir.”
I finally got a Coke and a popcorn. The clerk went out to chitchat with his friend again, while there were 5 more customers waiting in line.
It was already 15 minutes late, so I rushed to the 11th theater. There are so many theaters in one place, and the signs are so confusing. I got lost for almost 10 minutes more just to find the right one. Then I got another road block, a group of security persons.
“Please open your bag for us, please.”
“What for?”
“Just for security, Sir.”
“Okay”, then I showed them the contents inside my backpack.
“Sorry, you cannot bring your camera into the theater.”
“I always carry my camera and it’s just a small camera.”
“You must leave it in this box.”
“No! It’s an expensive and sensitive one. I have to keep it with me.”
“You cannot bring your camera into the theater.”
“Okay. Okay.”
They gave me a check ticket for me to claim the camera back after the film is over.
I finally went inside the theater. I thought it was already too late, but they still projecting the commercials and trailers. Twenty more minutes, the film actually started!
I will not go see movie in any cinema in Thailand again!
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