Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Megastar Cinemas..Any impressions?

my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

»	Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE » Operations » Ground Level » Megastar Cinemas..Any impressions? (Page 3)

This topic comprises 4 pages: 1 2 3 4

Author

Topic: Megastar Cinemas..Any impressions?

Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 10-30-2001 05:02 PM

I wonder what kind of non-disclosure agreement would say "Thou shalt not talk about thy booth equipment". The stuff inside MegaStar isn't exactly unique, so what's to hurt by discussing it?

I bet MegaStar would be the type of cinema where if a patron asked for a quick, guided projection booth tour that they would be swiftly denied. I was always happy to give booth tours as long as people didn't wander and it only took about 5 to 8 minutes of my time.

| IP: Logged

John Walsh
Film God

Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 10-30-2001 05:20 PM

Non-disclosure agreements are pretty standard now, even for jobs that no one really cares about. Also, they are worded pretty "open," meaning the management can interpret and apply it anyway they would like. Yes, you could fight it in court, but it would cost more money than the average theater employee could afford.

As a condition of employment, many companies are now requiring employees to sign away their right to sue the company for grievances. They must agree to a hearing before an independent arbitrator.

| IP: Logged

Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 10-30-2001 05:46 PM

So if you sign away your right to sue and the company does something to you that is very very bad, what legal recourse do you have? Any company that makes employees sign something like that obviously has something to hide.

| IP: Logged

Jesse Skeen
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1517
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 10-30-2001 06:21 PM

I couldn't think of a good way to say what I really wanted to say here without possibly getting in trouble with someone from my past or future, so I'll just say I'm getting a real kick out of reading this!

(And yes, I AM afraid to show my face!)

| IP: Logged

Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 10-30-2001 07:54 PM

I wish I was afraid of everybody

| IP: Logged

Bob Maar
(Maar stands for Maartini)

Posts: 28608
From: New York City & Newport, RI
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 10-30-2001 08:37 PM

I wish I was afraid of someone....but I 'm not.

| IP: Logged

Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 10-30-2001 10:26 PM

Disclosing proprietary information is obviously wrong (and probably grounds for termination with any employer), but that is an entirely different thing from asking legitimate generic questions about how to best serve customers.

Nothing posted to this thread was remotely proprietary--opening dates and locations of businesses are public information and are obtainable through the city and state governments. Booth equipment is hardly proprietary (and it's easy enough for customers who are denied a booth tour to look through the porthole glass to see what equipment a theatre has).

In short, any company that tries to control what it's employees say and do on their own time is not a company that I would want as my employer.

This does sort of beg the question of why someone at that company reads Film-Tech. Is it out of a genuine interest in improving the movie-going experience for their customers? (If so, then why is the company trying to punish an employee for contributing to that goal?) Or is it to snoop on employees? Or something else entirely?

| IP: Logged

John Walsh
Film God

Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 10-30-2001 11:43 PM

For Joe:

Requiring employees to sign away their right to sue is becomming popular, even with reputable companies. It's a "no-lose" kind of thing. Even companies with the best of intentions figure, "why not?" And now, with unemployment so high, it would be tough to turn down a badly-needed job if an employer presented such a contract. It's legal to a degree - after all (a company would say) no one had a gun to your head to sign.

This has been upheld by the Supreme Court:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A39424-200 1Mar21

Terminix (the pest control company) requires customers signing a contract to wave their right to sue. http://www.syix.com/emu/html/arbitration.html

It's also used when laying off workers; If the worker signs a no-sue agreement, he gets severance money; otherwise, he doesen't. http://www.findjustice.com/mmr/news/about/010224.htm

Personally, I notice the "independent arbitrator" almost always sides with the company.

| IP: Logged

Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 11-04-2001 09:26 PM

Sounds like the kinda thing that will get increase trade-unionisms. Personally, I would go for a law or constitutional amendment that precludes a citizen from EVER signing away their "rights".

But that is just me.

Steve

------------------
"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"

| IP: Logged

Jim Ziegler
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 753
From: West Hollywood, CA
Registered: Jul 99

posted 11-05-2001 12:24 PM

Steve,

You realize such an amendment would cripple the crimnal justice system? If people want to sign away their rights, let them... Besides, even if you sign an agreement, you can still turn around a sue if the employeers conduct is outrageous or illegal.

| IP: Logged

John Walsh
Film God

Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 11-05-2001 11:15 PM

Taken from another topic: the US Supreme Court ruled you can not give up your constutional rights even if you want to in, "Fay vs. Noia - 1963."

| IP: Logged

Bruce McGee
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1776
From: Asheville, NC USA... Nowhere in Particular.
Registered: Aug 1999

posted 11-07-2001 12:42 PM

JC:

If this job with these Megastar goons does not pan out, I think that with your knowledge and genuine interest in "Film Done Right," you will have no trouble getting employment with a company that can use your talents to their advantage.

Gee whiz! You said NOTHING but fair and good things about the start-up, and I was looking forward to hearing about what happened after the opening.

Good thing we can still email one-another privately, when necessary.

| IP: Logged

Dwayne Caldwell
Master Film Handler

Posts: 323
From: Rockwall, TX, USA
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 11-08-2001 05:13 AM

This is so much horseshit. So much for knowledge is power. These Megastar morons probably thought I good projectionist should know everything to begin with. This is what I see.

FADE IN:

INT. CORPORATE OFFICE - DAY

Corporate Moron #1 is at his desk working at his computer. He sees Corporate Moron #2 just passing by.

MORON #1 Hey. You should take a look at this.

MORON #2 (circles around desk) Yeah what's up?

MORON #1 You ever hear of this web site Film-Tech?

MORON #2 (looking at monitor) No. Is it anything like Variety
or Box Office?

MORON #1 Well no. It's more technical. But check this
topic out. It's about our company.

MORON #2 Oh good. I sure hope it's flattering.

MORON #1 No. In fact it makes us sound like we just got
out of college and decided to start a business
on a whim.

MORON #2 You told me nobody would know!

MORON #1 Well nobody had to. Until this... (glances at the
computer monitor) ... J.C. guy started asking
questions. Just read it.

Moron #2 starts reading. He turns red and his neck veins protrude as the post processes.

MORON #2 What did we even hire him for!? With all the damn
questions he's asking. It seems he doesn't know
anything about anything!

MORON #1 Well this... (glances back at monitor)
... J.C. guy certainly makes us look inexperienced.

MORON #2 BRING HIM TO ME!!!

J.C. enters the office before the two morons.

J.C. You wanted to see me sir? Sirs?

MORON #1 Yes. Why are you posting things about this company
on this web site?

J.C. Well sir... I just wanted to know as much as I
could to make our presentation the best it could
be. Give it my all and all that.

MORON #2 Well that's fine and dandy but we look stupid.

J.C. Sir?

MORON #2 You are a projectionist. Not a P.R. agent. We don't
expect you to understand anything but film. And from
all your questions it doesn't seem like that much.
(glances at monitor) J.C. You are forbidden to post
any messages on this web site ever again if you wish
to remain in our employ.

J.C. Yes sir.

MORON #2 And you are to delete all the posts that you have made.
I no longer wish for you to exist on that web site.

J.C. Yes sir.

MORON #2 Good. Now you may lick my shoes.

FADE OUT:

Megastar. HA! More like Megadickheads.

------------------
The man with the magic hands.

| IP: Logged

Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-13-2002 08:56 PM

It was interesting that at the Intersociety meeting at Showest there were 2 reps of MegaStar who both got up and left when Film-Tech was discussed

| IP: Logged

David Stambaugh
Film God

Posts: 4021
From: Eugene, Oregon
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 03-13-2002 09:14 PM

Gordon, thanks for bumping this up. Sad but interesting to read. The sad part of it is there are probably plenty of lurkers who are afraid to identify themselves and/or their employer for similar reasons.

| IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 4 pages: 1 2 3 4

Printer-friendly view of this topic

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.