The practice of YouTubers interviewing audiences immediately after first-day-first-show (FDFS) screenings and publishing their reviews online has sparked concerns among theatre owners, who claim it negatively impacts box office collections.
Many theatre owners allege that some YouTubers deliberately post negative reviews to damage a film’s reputation right from the opening day, leading to a huge drop in revenue. This issue has gained traction, with the Theater Owners’ Association urging the Tamil Film Active Producers Association to take strict action against the trend. The TFAPA has released an official statement addressing the matter:
“In 2024, big films like ‘Indian 2’, ‘Vettaiyan’, and ‘Kanguva’ faced considerable damage due to negative public reviews and talks being shared widely. All cinema-related associations must work together to restrain this practice and protect the interests of the film industry.
As a first step, we urge all theatre owners to prohibit YouTube channels from recording public reviews on their premises or nearby areas. We request full cooperation in eradicating the FDFS public review/talk trend to safeguard the future of cinema.”
The announcement reflects a growing effort within the film industry to control the narrative surrounding new releases and ensure that public perception isn’t unduly influenced by immediate and potentially biased reviews. This move aims to balance creative freedom and protect the business interests of filmmakers and theatre owners alike.
திரைப்பட விமர்சனம் என்கிற பெயரில் தனிமனித தாக்குதல் மற்றும் வன்மத்தை விதைத்தல் – #TFAPA வன்மையாக கண்டிக்கிறது ✍️@offBharathiraja @TGThyagarajan @TSivaAmma @Dhananjayang @prabhu_sr #SSLalitKumar @sureshkamatchi pic.twitter.com/bQ1FMZZdMx
— Tamil Film Active Producers Association (@tfapatn) November 20, 2024