I hate that.

I hate that I have to tell myself to go do something.

I have the gear. I have way more gear than I did before, stuff I always wanted to have.

I have the abilities. Heck I have more than I used to.

I have the time.

I have everything I need to do it, but I’m not. Why?

I hate this.

I need to make something or I will go crazy.

I don’t care what people think of what I make, yet I don’t make it.

I like making stuff, yet I consistently talk myself out of making something.

I don’t get it.

It’s time to go, I just hope this time I’ll listen to myself.

mah

• Top Five ‘Phrases’ That Grate – Matthew A. Hawkins
• And the Winner Is…
• Post Processing Ideas

Here’s what we came up with:

Spa Rivier Theatre Ad from Matthew Hawkins on Vimeo.

• Celebrating FilmAds
• Beacon Theatre – Burns Lake
• Park Theatre, High Prairie AB: FilmAds Movie Advertising

Often I get asked what kind of ad a business should put on the theatre screen. I say the same things over and over…
- Highlight one or two products/services (don’t overwhelm the audience with too much info) You only have 15, 20, 30 or 40 seconds to teach them about who you are and what you offer.
- Be clear in what you want them to know.
- Have simple and easy contact info… ie. Next to A&W or FILMADS.ca (the moment you add DOT CA/COM people know it’s a website, no need for WWW)
- Make it entertaining. (This is the point I try to stress all the time)

People are showing up to a movie to be entertained; to forget about their real lives and enjoy 90-120 minutes of freedom. Why not add some heroes and villains to your ad? Why not make your ad a little bit suspenseful or mysterious?

Advertisers with FilmAds should use the theatre screens to their advantage. People are coming for entertainment, so educate and entertain them.

If you entertain them, they will come.
Your ad becomes memorable and people know what you have to offer. We can help with this and make it cost effective. 

Give FilmAds a call to help you entertain people in your local theatre.
FilmAds is offering great prices on ad creation and $100 monthly airtime in a number of our locations.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Matthew A. Hawkins

• Cineplex Media & FilmAds
• FilmAds September 2011 Monthly Report
• FilmAds

One of those is Amy Quarry from Quesnel, BC. She runs AdBoom Studios which does advertising in establishments throughout Quesnel. She’s worked with numerous local businesses and has a passion for her community.

Amy started up a movement (I say movement, because it’s more than a business or a book) of building connection and awareness of local businesses in her town. She calls it Small Town Love.
Small Town Love, or STL, started out as a book to profile and highlight local businesses with insightful write-ups, great photos and a coupon section in the back. STL has really made a stir in Quesnel and will be expanding in new areas very soon I’m sure. STL is more than just a book too, it’s opened up a website (www.smalltownlove.ca) that highlights and showcases local businesses as well.

Amy had requested I film a couple things for her. The first thing that is under wide release is the shoot we did featuring some of her clients from STL. We had a lot of fun filming these businesses and look forward to people signing up for the next book release and getting on the website.

Cheers.

• 1Day Design Launches
• FilmAds Promo: Williams Lake & Quesnel
• FilmAds September 2011 Monthly Report

It all started out of two dates to a local theatre in Chilliwack. My wife and I went to see Ocean’s Thirteen and Transformers. We had gotten to the theatre early to get a decent seat and to try to beat the crowds. We were 20 minutes early and the theatre had nothing on screen and no kind of audio playing. The theatre was full with people, waiting in anticipation for some entertainment. I remember saying to my wife, ‘Why isn’t there something on screen? I should talk with the owners about running advertising on screen for businesses.’ My wife replied with her usual comment about my crazy ideas… Go For It.

I contacted Carin Bondar, the owner/operator of the theatre at the time, we sat down for one coffee meeting (of which she brought her beautiful newborn daughter along with her), and by the end of the meeting we had come to an agreement and the start of what has been an incredible friendship. Theatre Advertising and Matthew Hawkins had begun and has it ever been a crazy ride.

The amount of lessons I have learned along the way is too much to type here. Marketing, finances, sacrifice, dedication, passion, doubt, loss… I have grown through this whole process so much.

I started with one local theatre and then expanded to a theatre in Salmon Arm, the Salmar Theatre. 5 beautiful screens that sit downtown Salmon Arm. Shortly after working with the Salmar, the local theatre in Chilliwack took new ownership and I began working solely with the Salmar. Almost 3 years ago… crazy to think. The Salmar and their manager at the time have helped me develop FilmAds into what it is today. Out of the Salmar we began to expand into other areas of BC; Golden was next, then Williams Lake and Quesnel, followed by Trail and Terrace. People began talking and things started coming together. Our services began and continue to expand all across Western Canada.

Almost 2 years ago I left my full time job and began travelling to these towns to promote FilmAds and get local businesses to buy airtime. I put thousands and thousands of kilometres on my car. I poured everything into it. One road trip in particular I remember we were down to our last dollars. My credit limit was stretched. I had enough money for fuel, to print sales flyers off and to stay at a campground that had wifi. I needed contracts signed if I expected us to make it through. It was during this particular trip that the idea of working with the biggest theatre ad company in Canada as a representative came to mind. I knew what direction I needed to take FilmAds and there was nothing that could stop me. Partnership with Cineplex Media would be 6 months down the road.

That road trip changed a lot in me and my company. To say I am thankful for the last 5 years isn’t enough. To say I’m grateful for the people who have believed in me and helped along the way, falls short of how I really feel. FilmAds has been born out of not only my own heart and desire, but through the willingness and efforts of others. I feel like I have been able to accomplish something I never thought possible and the best part is I didn’t do it alone.

I’m hoping for many more years to come.
Cheers,
Matthew A. Hawkins (that FilmAds guy)

• Movie Theatre Ad Stats
• Park Theatre, High Prairie AB: FilmAds Movie Advertising
• Salmar Theatre, Salmon Arm BC: FilmAds Movie Advertising

Actually what we did was take some windy, crappy sound footage and turned it into something AWESOME.
When I had showed up to Regency to film an ad for them to show at Carib Theatres in Quesnel, there was a big wind storm happening outside. My initial thought was ‘Crap, this shoot is not going to happen today.’ (We had planned to film something completely different that day, which we still ended up filming). My second thought and I’m glad I pushed for it, was ‘Let’s use the wind. We can muffle the sound by putting the mic under Lisa’s jacket and her hair blowing everywhere will look ridiculous’

I filmed everything on the 7D and then went to town in After Effects. I muted colours, added a cheezie star stream from Particular and added some awesome tracking marks to it.

You can take a look at the side by side below and see what the original and faked VHS look like together.

*When I sent this to the production team to add to the pre-show for the Carib Theatres I had forgot to mention it was supposed to look like a really old 80′s VHS tape, I got an email back immediately saying that the file looked heavily interlaced and the sound was terribly muffled. We all had a good chuckle once I told them it was supposed to look like this.

Cheers,
Matthew A. Hawkins

• Regency Chrysler
• FilmAds Feature: Paradise Cinemas & Carib Theatres
• Carib Theatres, Quesnel BC: FilmAds Movie Advertising

Now take a look at Alcatraz. A fantastic show on the chopping block. Or is it?
If you look over the list of shows here, do you know what the one thing in common is? It’s one word. One studio word. The F word of all television. FOX

FOX knows how to stir up a scandal. They bring people on to American Idol with outstanding warrants. They make lofty promises or throw out TV death threats to stir up the masses. What better way to drive fan craze then to threaten to take away their favourite TV drug.

Maybe next time you hear of your favourite show getting thrown on the chopping block, take a look what studio is behind it and maybe an honest look at the show. Are you being made a puppeteer in a studios form of propaganda? Who knows maybe your show should get the axe, NCIS is actually quite terrible if you would just be honest with yourself.

Cheers,
Matthew A. Hawkins

• The TV Series
• My Take on American Idol by Matthew A. Hawkins
• My Take on Avatar

I wanted to film the family checking the zoo out again, but I wanted to do it a little bit different this time. I wanted to try something I had been thinking about doing for quite some time. I got a little crazy with camera and I turned it sideways!
(I hope you have a big resolution set for your screen because I turned this 1920×1080 video to 1080×1920!)

• Hawkins Seattle 2010
• Day 22 – Photo Challenge
• Day 13 – The Enns Family

• FilmAds: Entertaining
• FilmAds September 2011 Monthly Report
• 1Day Design Launches

Not only will you find entertainment at the Carib, but you’ll find great advertising exposure for your business on both of these state of the art of screens and projection. The exposure is excellent and the price is more than hard to beat. You’ll love advertising at the Carib.

Monthly Attendance
Average Monthly Attendance: 2,500
Monthly Highs: 3,600
Yearly Attendance for 2011: 36,907

Advertising Costs
15 Second Spots – $200/mth
We also discounts for long term contracts.
30 Second Spots – $400/mth
Please contact us for more info.
We offer 2 Screens Total

Specials
We are now offering a limited space special: 30-40 Second Spot for $300/mth for 6 months. This also includes 1 motion graphic designed ad.

Spots are limited and cost varies, so please Contact Us for more information to utilize this great form of advertising.

• Star Cinema, Sidney BC: FilmAds Movie Advertising
• Tillicum Twin Theatres, Terrace BC: FilmAds Movie Advertising
• Golden Cinema, Golden BC: FilmAds Movie Advertising