NEWS / COMMENTARIES

The Chudnow Report©, by Jim Chudnow (jimchudnow@compuserve.com)

Phonecard to rate movie "FREQUENCY"

Once upon a time, people used to be handed written questionnaires to rate new movies. That process has now gone "high-tech", with a PHONECARD used to replace the imprinted questions

On Saturday, April 22, New Line Pictures held a special "sneak preview" for the fantasy film "FREQUENCY" at LOEWS / CINEPLEX ODEON Theatres around the country.

In full page newspaper ads running at least twice before that date in Chicago-area newspapers, they offered a limited-edition free 10 minute PHONECARD to people attending the Preview.

From a discussion I had with the manager of one of the theatres, there were only 200 cards available at each of the 15 or so Chicago-area theatres, & he assumed that was also the case at most if not all of their other 285 or so theatres around the U.S.

You got one phonecard for each ticket purchased (at around $ 8 each), and any cards not handed out were required to be RETURNED to the distributor. Since the theatre I attended wasn't full, I'd estimate that maybe half the cards were not given out.

The card was from MCI, utilizing their break-apart "KEYTAG" design I'd reported on recently, with the addition of black tape covering the PIN

#'s on the 2 separate portions of the card. The image was the general

"poster" for the well-done Twilight-Zone-like movie, showing the 2 stars

(Randy Quaid & Jim Caveziel), with the tag line "The Future Is Listening".

And, like those other MCI keytag cards, this one was designed to require that a SURVEY be answered before the card was activated with the 10 minutes:

After a voice announcement THANKED you for attending the Preview, you were asked how you'd RATE the film (which opens nationally on 4/28)- press 1 for Excellent, 2 for Very Good, 3 for Fair, and 4 for Poor... Next, would you RECOMMEND the film to others?-Press 1 for definitely, 2 for Probably, 3 for Probably Not... Would you urge those other people to see the film 1= Right Away, 2= When they get a chance, 3= Rent it on Video...

Then, you were asked to punch in answers describing your Gender, and then punch in your AGE group-1 for 13 to 19, 2 for 20-29, 3 for 30 to 39, 4 for 40-49, and 5 for 50 or over... You were then thanked for doing the survey, & advised you now had 10 minutes of domestic calling time...

All in all, a very GOOD, EFFECTIVE way of getting quick feedback on a production like a film, while at the same time offering the public something of VALUE for their time (-- plus a COLLECTIBLE to boot)!...

Another new phonecard offer, appearing in the 4/23 Sunday newspapers in Chicago: CIRCUIT CITY offered a free 10-minute phonecard to those purchasing the new TONY BRAXTON CD "The Heat" (to be released 4/25).

The cost was simply stated as "Guaranteed Low Price" (which is what other chains NOT offering the card stated was their "rate"), & it didn't detail what the card - available "While supplies last" -- looks like (though it implies it'd be like the cover of the CD showing Toni in a sexy outfit).

Comments on the New Zealand Market

There is still no news on whether the fabulous work that Event Masters did in bringing us the Disney, Looney Tunes and Peanuts cards will continue. I have been told that the release of more Disney cards will eventually happen. We just have to be patient.

After the large number of new cards just before the end of 1999, Telecom

New Zealand have slowed down their releases, with the following since

the new year.

$5 Telecom Christmas. A limited run (1500) of cards showing Santa in one

of Telecom's new phoneboxes surrounded by snow. These cards were sent to

Telecom's customers in a Christmas greeting card.

$5 Kapronol. A limited run of 2000 cards as part of an advertising

campaign for this product.

A set of 8 general issue cards featuring Super 12 rugby images. There

are $5, $10, $20 and $50 cards, with issue numbers ranging from 5000 for

the $50 card to 110,000 for the 5 different $5 cards.

If you would like to know more about any of these phonecards, please

email me for details.

Canadian 2000 Phonecard Show

Phonecards - Cash Cards - Transit Cards - Casino Cards

Sportcards - Postcards - Stamps - etc...

Drop by to see the displays

Sunday, MAY 7, 2000

Ramada Hotel, 1677 Wilson Ave.

Toronto, CANADA

(Jane & Wilson, 400/401)

Take Bus 96 or 165 from York Mills or Wilson Station

TTC Info (416) 393-4636

Free Admission / Free Parking

INFO

Joe De Freitas: (416) 245-9808 foncard@idirect.com

Dave Evans: (519) 823-1098 monte@sentex.net

Ramada Hotel OnLine Reservations & More

Table: $25.00 Canadian

AUCTION

EXHIBITORS

Phonecards del Mundo (USA) (phonecards)

Daniel Deslauriers (Montreal) (World Wide Cash Cards - phonecards)

Rosemary Warren (Montrel) (phonecards)

Andrew Czajkowski (phone, post and sport cards, stamps)

Lou Kurowski

Ben's Phonecards

Mondo Telecards (phone and sport cards)

Joe's Trading Corner

World Transit Card Authority (transit, phone, sport cards, skeds)

PROMOTIONAL NEWS

Sam’s Club Soap

At Sams club if you buy lever soap you get a free phonecard inside.

From: Juanita Gibbons

Until Next Time,

Alan

Distribution

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