Sony will no Longer Pay for your Real D 3D Glasses
Sony Pictures has made a decision that they will no longer pay for your Real D 3D glasses when you go to the movies to watch a 3D film. Theaters already charge up to $5 dollars extra for viewers to see a movie in 3D, now if you want to see a Sony movie in 3D like the upcoming The Amazing Spider-Man and Men In Black 3 you're going to have to throw down even more money to pay for the 3D glasses. The studio has notified theater owners in a letter stating that they will no longer pay for 3D glasses as of May 1st 2012, "marking a major policy shift that many other studios are likely considering."
Sony worldwide president of distribution Rory Bruer had this to say in a statement, "This is an issue that has to be resolved between us and our exhibition partners. We are trying to give them a very lengthy lead time in regards to the change in policy." This obviously isn't going over well with theater owners, and I imagine movie going audiences wont be too happy either to have to pay even more money to go see a 3D movie. According to the report studios can spend $5 million to $10 million worldwide for a tentpole, and studios pay after the fact, based on how many glasses were actually used.
According to THR, "Sony, along with other studios, is in favor of moving toward an ownership model, requiring moviegoers to buy their 3D glasses at the theater (the studios argue that it could be a new revenue stream for exhibitors)." In my opinion most of you should already have a pair of Real D 3D glasses from any previous 3D films that you've seen. I don't know about you, but I've taken a few home. But if they "require" the consumer to buy the glasses does that mean the movie goer doesn't have a choice? Will we be forced to buy 3D glasses everytime we go to the theater even if we own a pair? They aren't clear if we will have an option, but it doesn't make sense to do that unless they are hell bent on raping us.
If we are forced to buy 3D glasses everytime we go to the theaters I'm going to be pissed off, as will the rest of the audience. If it comes to that you won't see me watching 3D movies anymore. I can barely afford going to the movies as it is!
What do you think about this Real D 3D glasses madness?