/


The FAQ page is designed to help answer all your questions, and then some!!
If you can't find the answer to what you were after, go to number 19 for an email link.

--1 - I can't view the recent cinema guide
--2 - What does it mean when a film is advertised as a "No Free List Film"
--3 - What is the difference between a Distributor and and Exhibitor?
--4 - How can I get a job at The Oatmill Cinema?
--5 - What age restrictions are placed on children and seniors?
--6 - Do you have special screenings for crying babies?
--7 - What are the benefits of becoming a Gold Card Club Member?
--8 - Why doesn't your cinema have EFTPOS facilities?
--9 - Can I book tickets?
10 - Can I use a Hoyts or Village Cinema pass at your cinema?
11 - I have a free pass to see a film, can I use it at your cinema?
12 - What is Digital Sound?
13 - What is Digital Ex Surround Sound?
14 - What do the different ratings mean?
15 - I want to buy a movie ticket as a gift. Where can I get them? How much are they?
16 - The information on this site is old! What's going on?
17 - Why is the cinema screening program only done weekly and why is it impossible to get
........times earlier than the Tuesday before the week commencing on a Thursday?

18 - Pleas
e explain the conditions of entry.
19 - You haven't answered my question!

 

1- I can't view the recent cinema guide
If you can only view an old version of the cinema guide: Your computer may have cached a version of the page on your hard drive to make return visits to the same page load faster.
Hold down the shift key and press the refresh button at the top of your browser and this should bring up the new version of the cinema guide for you. Or re-type the website address in full www.oatmill.com.au and follow the links to the session page as it may be taking you to an old link.

2- What does it mean when a film is advertised as a "No Free List Film"
No Free List is a restriction placed on a film that means nobody can see the film for free. Therefore, complimentary passes, buy one get one free vouchers (2-4-1) and VIP passes cannot be used.
Gift vouchers and movie saver booklets can be used as they are a pre-paid ticket.
The No Free List restriction may be in place for up to three weeks. Please check the weekly program for details.

3- What is the difference between a Distributor and and Exhibitor?
Film distributors in Australia often represent their studio in the US and own the rights to distribution. They are responsible for negotiating film rental terms with exhibitors, arranging dates, providing prints and promoting the movie. In Australia the main distributors are Roadshow Distribution, Columbia Tri-Star, Twentieth Century Fox, United International and Buena Vista International.

An exhibitor is a company / person that owns cinema/s and rents first release films from distributors to screen in their theatres. Cinema exhibition represents a major source of revenue for film distributors and accordingly, the success at the box office is crucial to the over.......... film studio and distributor.

back to top.....

4- How can I get a job at The Oatmill Cinema?
If you are interested in working at the Oatmill Cinema simply drop your resume in person into management. We will then keep your resume on file and if anything comes up you may be called in for an interview.

5- What age restrictions are placed on children and seniors?
A child ticket is restricted for use for those aged 3 - 14 years.
A seniors ticket is for those aged 60 years and over, and with proof of Government Seniors Card.

6- Do you have special screenings for crying babies?
click here for more info

back to top....

7- What are the benefits of becoming a Gold Card Club Member?
Would you like cheap tickets all year round?
Oatmill Cinema Complex Gold & Silver Cards are available to purchase.
A GOLD CARD costs just $49 for one year.
This entitles the cardholder to purchase their own tickets for just $7.00 (a saving of up to $6.50 per ticket).
There is no limit to how often you can come to the movies in that year.
You will also receive a monthly newsletter outlining forthcoming films and it gives you discount candy bar vouchers as well.
You also Receive a complimentary pass during your Birthday month...

A SENIORS SILVER CARD is available to Seniors 60+ for just $25 per year.
This entitles the card holder to purchase tickets for just $5.50 (A saving of up to $4.00 per ticket).
You also receive the monthly newsletter.

You also Receive a complimentary pass during your Birthday month...

8- Why doesn't your cinema have EFTPOS facilities?
Outside of school holidays, where mayhem reigns, The Oatmill Cinema's daily business is inconsistent. When all film sessions are in we may have hardly an customers walk through our doors. If a film is due to start we may have anywhere from 1 to 300 people all wanting to be served in the space of 5 minutes to half an hour!! When we are busy it can get pretty mad in the foyer - so imagine if we are trying to get 100 people into the theatre before the feature starts, a customer wants to purchase tickets and candy bar with a card and the account is declined. Imagine the hold up that can cause. Not only would it slow down service, but also make the customer embarrassed and other patrons agitated.
So even though a customer might want to use a card when times are not busy, it would be too hard to enforce when times were busy. So to avoid any confusion and to ensure efficient, smooth service, The Oatmill Cinema management have unanimously decided to make do without an EFTPOS machine. This means no creditcard, debit or any card of any sort can be used to purchase tickets or candy bar at anytime at the cinema.

back to top.....

9- Can I book tickets?
The Oatmill Cinema does not reserve or hold tickets over the phone. It is recomended that for busy periods that tickets are pre purchased from our ticket box to avoid any dissapointment.

10- Can I use a Hoyts or Village Cinema pass at your cinema?
If the ticket or pass is specifically issued for a certain cinema or franchise it is most likely The Oatmill Cinema being an independant business will not honor the ticket or pass. If you are in doubt please check with management staff to confirm.

11- I have a free pass to see a film, can I use it at your cinema?
If a pass was issued by the distributor or The Oamtill Cinema Complex and this can be proven on the ticket then the Oatmill Cinema will honour the pass, subject to validity of the pass.
If the pass was issued by another cinema, franchise or like, The Oamtill Cinema has the right to not accept the pass.
As with all passes and tickets, please check with management staff to ensure it is ok to use a pass. The Oatmill Cinema reserves the right to refuse a pass that they deem to be illegitimate, or not of the kind that we usually honour. The Oatmill Cinema also reserves the right to confiscate any passes deemed to be illegitimate.

12- What is Digital Sound?
The Digital Sound system provides six channels of crystal clear digital sound. Left, centre and right channels in front of you provide precise, clear positioning of dialogue. Seperate or "discrete" left and right surround channels on the side and int he rear immerse you in the film with atmospherics and ambient sounds. And a subwoofer/bass effects channel contributes extra punch top action and special effects sequences.

13- What is Digital Ex Surround Sound?
The new Digital Ex Surround Sound format provides filmmakers with greater flexibility. With conventional surround sound technology, the sound field in the back of the theatre can be perceived as coming from a general area to the left or right of the auditorium. With Digital Surround Sound, back surround information is reproduced by the theatre's rear speakers, while left and right surround information is reproduced by the side speakers. The addition of a new surround channel with this use of speakers allows a sound designer to create true "fly-over" and "fly-around" effects that are smoother and much more accurately placed, either directly behind or directly beside the audience.

back to top.....

14- What do the different ratings mean?
Ratings are classificatios which assist adults to make an informed decision about the movies they wish to see. Providing advice which is consistent with community standards.
For more information on ratings, including a detailed explanation of each, please
click here...

15- I want to buy a movie ticket as a gift. Where can I get them? How much are they?
For information of prices of vouchers, movie books and gold cards please click here...
They are available from the candybar at The Oatmill Cinema anytime in opening hours.

If you are from out of town or away and wish to purchase a ticket as a gift:
It is recommended that you call the cinema and talk to, management staff - either Teena,Tracey
or Jan.
They will help you work out exactly what you wish to purchase and the amount.
Send a money order and a self addressed, stamped envelope to 7 Percy Street, Mount Gambier, SA 5290.
Attention the envelope to whoever you spoke to on the phone and when it arrives they will personally take care of it for you. This way we can ensure it gets done, and the person who opens the mail knows what it is for.
Also include a reminder note of what it is you are purchasing - e.g. 1 adult voucher with $5.00 on the candy bar?

16- The information on this site is old! What's going on?
Some web browsers do not look for or download the latest version of a webpage that they visit. If you suspect information on a particular page is old then simply click REFRESH in your browser or clear your internet cache to download the latest version of that page. Once you have done that you will be viewing the latest information available. If You have bookmarked our website before February 2005 you may need to re book mark( shortcut) the site by entering the web address and bookmarking the entry page from there...

17- Why is the cinema screening program only done weekly and why is it impossible to get times earlier than the Tuesday before the week commencing on a Thursday?
Every cinema and every cinema chain NATIONALLY works to a weekly schedule of programming. It is not just our cinema that cannot schedule in advance.
Each cinema works differently, our cinema works with a booker in Adelaide, who also books for a number of cinemas across Australia.
Each week varies dramatically. Things to consider on a weekly basis are film contracts, films commencing, any special events such as fundraisers, premiere screenings, in-house screenings. If a film didn't perform the week before, we may ask to cut back on the required number of daily sessions, therefore we would be able to fit in another screening of another film or bring in a film for one week only.
We receive a proposed program the week before and this is reviewed by the manager on the Monday. Over the next two days the program is revised and accepted by the distributors. We can then send off confirmed times to the media and print them on our weekly program for patrons to take.
We cannot confirm film or session times until the Tuesday night before the week commences on the Thursday. Session times and films can be change by the booker, management or distributor at any time before Tuesday
close of business.

On the rare occasion we may be able to lock in a session time of a film at an earlier date. We will only do this for a large group booking (depending on the night depends on the numbers needed), a fundraiser or premiere screening. We will not do this for a small birthday party or a small group booking.

18- Please explain the conditions of entry.
NO - Hot food or drink, cans or glass bottles allowed into the cinema. The smell of hot food gets into our air-conditioning system and carries through to the other cinemas and into the foyer..
For safety reasons we don't allow cans or glass bottles into the cinema, plastic bottles are fine. We are safe guarding ourselves in the instance that a can or glass bottle could be used as a weapon.

NO - Chewing Gum or Wizz Fizz style sherbert bags. If dropped or not discarded of properly these can do damage to our seats and carpet, or damage to your shoes or clothing. .

FOOTWEAR must be worn at all times. This is an Occupational Health and Safety issue. In the case of an accident in our foyer or theatre. Patrons without will be refused entry.

MOBILE PHONES are to be turned off when in the cinema. Phones on silent disrupt other patrons and interfere with the digital sound causing harm to the projectors. We reserve the right to eject patrons using a mobile in the auditorium.

back to top.....

19- You haven't answered my question!
If you would like an answer to a question that doesn't appear on this page then please drop us an email
and we will get back to you as soon as possible.


click here to look at The Oatmill Cinema's fascinating trivia