While I’m writing to you, are you guys (or GOFOBO or BuzzBo) responsible for running the “day of” logistics of the free preview screenings? Or is it the actual studios that control the lines, entries, seating, security, and all that stuff on the day of the screening?

If YOU guys are the ones working the “day of” logistics, I want to pass along a disturbing trend that is becoming increasingly unfair to the fans and will eventually build only bad press for the movies. (If it’s the studios, tell them, PLEASE!)

It’s ALWAYS been the case that you have to get in line early for a screening and that people will save a place in line for a second person for whom they have a pass, but recently, a few (for now, but growing) people get to the line right near the front and then each saves places for 20-30 people!! As a result, those of us who play by the rules and get there an hour and a half or two hours before the screening and, at that point, are towards the front of the line and would definitely get into the screening, are, by about a half hour before the screening, WAYYYY back in line and don’t get in!! I was in line two hours before “Super 8″ on Tuesday (Denver Pavilions theater) and would have gotten in easily, but the front of the line swelled by well over a hundred people in the last 30-45 minutes (all arriving in big groups and let into the line by one placeholder) and I got left out.

I am willing to put in a 1 1/2 to 2 hour wait, but now that is not sufficient, as all the people saving massive spaces for others are cheating the long term waiters. There was an angry mob on Tuesday, as we were all turned away and had been observing all the people “cutting” in line with absolutely no control from the people running the screening. This is becoming worse rapidly and you will have massive bad press on your hands if you or whoever is in charge of control of the lines don’t fix the situation fast.

So please, stop this practice of massive placeholding (again, saving a place for a person for whom you are holding a pass is okay, but not the practice of letting 20-30 people join you!) before it gets really ugly. I guarantee this will lead to trouble if the placeholding doesn’t get controlled soon. I’ve already witnessed ugly swearing and yelling. I don’t want to be there when it escalates to worse!

Please pass this complaint/plea to those who control the “day of” logistics, if you guys are not responsible. The problem is growing fast and will lead to bad publicity, not good anticipatory “buzz,” if it isn’t stopped NOW!

A concerned and disappointed fan