Frequent increases in ticket prices and concession goodies cause many students to smuggle their Junior Mints and generic-brand sodas into movie theaters. An overpriced ticket, small soda and a bag of buttery popcorn quickly adds up.
The establishment of two Web sites may have solved that problem, though.
Wildaboutmovies.com and reeltruth.com help the public pocket their ticket money by sending out passes to free, advance showings of films.
When there's an advance screening in town, one will be that much closer to getting in with a pair of free passes, according to wildaboutmovies.com.
On the site one can choose which screening to attend and register. Within a day or two, they send out an e-mail including a pass with the date, time and location of the screening. The pass can be printed out and presented at the theater with a form of identification.
The Reel Truth organization is an online community of movie enthusiasts created as a means to enhance the Phoenix metropolitan area with free or low-cost film-viewing opportunities, according to its web site.
Unlike the process at Wild About Movies, after signing up for a free membership with Reel Truth, one will receive notices of upcoming movie screenings, which includes where and when the showing will be held.
The recipients may reply to the notice to receive the pass through e-mail, then print the pass and bring it to the screening with identification.
"I think the Web sites would be beneficial to students because it would save them money and they would be encouraged to go out more," said Chantanese Washington, a family and human development sophomore.
Journalism junior Lindsay Walker said, "I would attend more movies if I received free screening tickets. I think anyone would take advantage of the tickets if they're free."
Seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis. The tickets do not guarantee seats, and one may be turned away if the screening has begun. If one happens to be without a seat, there are no substitutions.
Reach the reporter at: brittnee.penson@asu.edu.
