By Hollie McKay

Pop Tarts

Published July 23, 2012
FoxNews.com

FILE - In this July 20, 2012 file photo, people walk past a "The Dark Knight Rises," at Regal Cinemas at Crossgates Mall in Albany, N.Y. (AP)

In the wake of Aurora’s tragic ‘Dark Knight Rises' screening massacre, the entertainment industry has been abuzz with speculation and concern about the safety of moviegoers and how this could impact the theater industry long-term.

Stephen Galloway, The Hollywood Reporter’s Executive Features Editor, tells FOX411’s Pop Tarts column that incident will likely cause theater owners to debate stepping up security – which would in turn impact ticket prices, and that in turn could affect movie theater stock.

Meanwhile, Thelma Adams, Yahoo! Movies contributing editor questioned why all cinema guests can’t be “bag-checked and wanded” the same way critics and the press are prior to advanced screenings.

But such measures come at a cost, and Hollywood movie producer Mark Joseph is not convinced that cinema patrons will be willing to pay even more to see a movie, even if that does translate to an added feeling of security.

“You can never guarantee safety and movie tickets are already too high,” he said. “There will be efforts to ban costumes, check bags and increase security but in three months it will be back to normal.”

However, leading crisis management expert, Gene Grabowski of Levick Strategic Communications, argues that the latest tragedy will have a permanent effect on the once simple adventure of going to the theater.

“Parents are very concerned that their children are being frightened by news reports and so business will likely drop of for a while,” he explained. “Many theaters, especially those showing movies with violence, will be equipped with metal detectors. The major theater chains will certainly enforce these restrictions across the country in order to protect against copycat incidents and to protect against lawsuits.”

And it seems truly passionate, costume-wearing movie goers will have their cinema experience taken down a notch with the possible enforcement of a long-term no-costume policy, given that shooting suspect James Holmes reportedly wore an elaborate assassin-like outfit complete with a ballistic helmet and gas mask to the screening. He also dyed his hair red and later referred to himself as “The Joker” when taken into custody.

“We will not allow any guests into our theaters in costumes that make other guests feel uncomfortable and we will not permit face-covering masks or fake weapons inside our buildings,” Ryan Noonan, AMC Director of Public Relations, said in a statement. “If you don’t like it, they will give you a refund.”

The representative also noted that the prominent cinema chain had no plans to alter its show schedules, but are working with local law enforcement agencies, landlords and local security teams nationwide to “provide the safest environment possible for guests,” and a spokesperson for the National Association of Theater Owners concurred that members were in the process of reviewing security procedures.

“It’s not unlike the ramped-up security in schools across the country after Columbine, and the increase of security at airports after 9/11. It’s just what needs to be done right now,” Jami Philbrick, Managing Editor of movie news site iamRogue.com. “The effect this all has on the theater industry is the true question. With the advent of HD TVs, Blu-ray, Netflix and especially VOD, the theater industry was already in trouble … and this could make it worse.”

However, veteran Hollywood entertainment and pop culture reporter Scott Huver, said too many stringent changes could turn away patrons in the long-term and that clearly wouldn’t be good for the industry. “

As a nation we must be careful before being too reactionary and implementing measures that do more to impinge our personal freedoms than they do to ensure public safety,” he added. “Some things as fast and simple as a bag and coat check might be an acceptable price that patrons are willing to pay to feel more secure, but ultimately moviegoers may be more likely to accept that sometimes the bad things that occur are beyond reason and control, and attempts to guard against them aren’t worth the cost of every day liberties.”



Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/07/23/dark-knight-massacre-could-prompt-massive-expensive-security-changes-at-movie/?intcmp=features#ixzz21T0g5Cic

rubiksnoob wrote:Oh my god! They might possibly install metal detectors at movie theaters! But probably won't because it will hurt business! We're all slaves! Freedom is dead, America is no more!

djones520 wrote:Kind of knee jerk considering the guy came in through an emergency exit that was supposed to be locked.

Frazzled wrote:

rubiksnoob wrote:Oh my god! They might possibly install metal detectors at movie theaters! But probably won't because it will hurt business! We're all slaves! Freedom is dead, America is no more!

And search your bags? No way. Why should I? Not for some pissant film I'm already paying too much for. I'll send off missives tonight to AMC etc. about this and vote with my dollars.

I'll get searched to get on a plane because I have to get on a plane or courthouse because its a government building and stuff goes down there. . No ing anywhere else thank you.

Jihadin wrote:Seems to me its the movie theater coorperation and not the gov't doing it.

hotsauceman1 wrote:Worse. They wil catch you when you bring in your own candy.

Palindrome wrote:Cinemas are an excellent terrorist target, probably even better than trains, so for the only real suprise is why some kind of semi decent security measures took so long to be implemented.

Jihadin wrote:Well can't really say enough to enough to private coorperation if they themselves implemented safety standards to protect their customers only recourse for citizens is to boycott the coorperations. If the government enforced the safety issue for the theaters and develope something like TSA then its a different ballpark

Frazzled wrote:

Jihadin wrote:Well can't really say enough to enough to private coorperation if they themselves implemented safety standards to protect their customers only recourse for citizens is to boycott the coorperations. If the government enforced the safety issue for the theaters and develope something like TSA then its a different ballpark

Well thats what I meant. When do you personally say enough is enough?

Jihadin wrote:When the last known terrorist is dead or access to mental records is implemented when purchasing a fire arm. Just off the top of my head

LoneLictor wrote:I'm just dreading the day a guy goes on a shooting spree in a bathroom.

I don't want to be strip searched just to go piss!

Iur_tae_mont wrote:I agree with Fraz on this.

If they do implement this, I'll just start getting all my movies from my friend the shut in. I'm not getting searched to see A superhero movie.

On a slightly related note, My sister's wussy boyfriend said he wanted to go to see the Dark Knight rises, but was too afraid of a Copycat. I told him "Once you start planning around what a nutjob might do, you might as well lock your door, bar your windows, and never leave your house again."

And that's what I've been pretty much telling everyone that has been saying "I'm not going to see the movie because there might be a Copycat."

Crazy people will still find a way to hurt people regardless of what measures you take to stop them. All you can do is make sure they are removed from society before they can cause even more damage.

Iur_tae_mont wrote:I agree with Fraz on this.

If they do implement this, I'll just start getting all my movies from my friend the shut in. I'm not getting searched to see A superhero movie.

On a slightly related note, My sister's wussy boyfriend said he wanted to go to see the Dark Knight rises, but was too afraid of a Copycat. I told him "Once you start planning around what a nutjob might do, you might as well lock your door, bar your windows, and never leave your house again."

And that's what I've been pretty much telling everyone that has been saying "I'm not going to see the movie because there might be a Copycat."

Crazy people will still find a way to hurt people regardless of what measures you take to stop them. All you can do is make sure they are removed from society before they can cause even more damage.

Albatross wrote:Unless it's your own bathroom there's not a whole hell of a lot you can do.

azazel the cat wrote:Wow. For the first time ever, I completely agree with everything Frazzled has said in this thread.

On a slightly related note, My sister's wussy boyfriend said he wanted to go to see the Dark Knight rises, but was too afraid of a Copycat. I told him "Once you start planning around what a nutjob might do, you might as well lock your door, bar your windows, and never leave your house again."