Mareel (Discontinued 25/11/2016)
Various items of work were suggested and developed to help promote the new cinema venue.
Widgets
Two dynamic widgets were created. The first was a long side bar (as used on the right and on the watch section on Mareel's website), and the second is a small dynamic interactive widget, displayed top-right on the Shetland News website.
These widgets were a once off development, and cleverly self-update from the existing Mareel website and box office system. They can also be used on any website - see widget page.
This offers good exposure by allowing people to see at a glance what's showing at the cinema and navigate between different days to plan viewings. Direct links to book take the customer straight to the specific area on the box office website to purchase tickets, offering instant access. The small interactive widget also contains film information when mousing over each image to help engage interest and maximise the advertising space.
Indications are also given of how busy a film is when seat numbers are becoming low. This works two-fold: it allows the customer to determine when screenings are likely to sell out and plan ahead to avoid disappointment, and helps the venue fill seats.
Cinema Listings Mobile Friendly Website
This spin-off website conveniently displays film information in an easy to read schedule format with direct links to book, and conveys availability information similar to the widget.
It is mobile friendly and resizes to work well on devices such as iPhones, iPads, which now account for 1/3 of website traffic, even locally. This offers a convenient way to get information and book on the move when out and about.
Recently added was film trailers - view a trailer by clicking the play button on the film's image, and bus times, to help customers choose films that can tie in with their schedule.
Film & Events Integrator
This was an internal development to tie several systems together to greatly reduce admin work.
Information is extracted Newman (Picturehouse Cinema's system - the supplier) and a film database, and imported into internal systems Artifax (Venue and Management software) and Tessitura (Box Office System for front of house and online ticket sales).
This solution accurately creates all films and their screenings with correct pricing, saving many hours of input every week and reducing scope for error.