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Topic: Are these people retarded?

Jon Miller
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 973
From: San Diego, CA, USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 01-11-2002 12:06 AM

Sounds like Carmike is placing too much faith on start timers, the ability of their "projection ushers" (or whatever) to thread each film perfectly in frame, and the projectors to remain in perfect focus each time.

Looks more like a recipe for disaster to me.

On the issue of how a film is supposed to leave a theatre for a temporary showing elsewhere...A long time ago, I received a print for a sneak preview showing at a local university, picked up by a student from an AMC theatre some thirty miles away. D*#n film came on two 6000-foot reels and a shipping reel; no way I could accept that as the (since dismantled) system, changeover projectors, rewinds and all, at the university could only handle twenty-minute reels. To cut to the chase, I gave the AMC a piece of my mind and, after sending back the poor student courier who picked up the print, finally got the print on shipping reels. The show went on, about an hour late. Some people won't learn...

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Heyward Garner
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 101
From: Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 01-19-2002 03:08 AM

Mark, we sell our 7:00 shows ALL THE TIME...
And guys, you think that schedule is bad... It has been about a year now, but there was a time period of approx. 3 weeks where I had ten... TEN 7:00 shows. 10 of 12. Now that Sir, is retarded. And Jon Miller, Carmike is too cheap for timers. Please specify when you are speaking in general, because your statement does not apply to every *single* Carmike.

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Charles Everett
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1470
From: New Jersey
Registered: May 2001

posted 01-19-2002 11:01 AM

Out of curiosity I checked the show schedule for Heyward's theater on the Carmike website. The 7 PM round has shows at 7:00 (5), 7:10, 7:15, 7:20 and 7:30 (2). "Mandatory showtimes" as done by Carmike isn't just retarded. It's bad for business!

The stadium theater closest to me has no "mandatory showtimes" -- running length is always factored in. Tonight the equivalent of the 7 PM round is a 6-8 PM round. Shows in that round are at 6:00, 6:10, 6:20, 6:30, 6:45, 7:00 (2), 7:30 (2), 7:45, 7:50 and 8:00.

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Paul Harnden
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 107
From: Chandler, AZ, USA
Registered: Oct 2001

posted 01-19-2002 11:01 PM

Well I have to say those stories of Brad's are doosies! I have in fact moved a print fully built, but only once in an emergency, placed in the trunk of my tank '79 buick, on one of those cardboard film carrier doughnuts on both sides, multiple clamps holding it, and since the theater was just up the road a quarter mile the ride was very smooth, also the print was covered in countless trash bags, and it was from a dollar theater for a private screening. Needless to say that the GM, and my booth manager both watched, helped, and ok'd that the film was ok for travel, and yes the theater got their center ring back

. Funny thing was the next day when threading and running the movie we found out the hard way that there was some mis-communication and we ran the wrong movie (The Replacements instead of Remember the Titans for a church group)...but that's another story.

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Heyward Garner
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 101
From: Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 01-21-2002 02:22 AM

Thank you, Charles. You are quite correct Sir. Carmike has to make money. Period. Great example right now is Vanilla Sky. Assuming the show begins promptly, I have two minutes between shows. Ugh!

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Manuel Francisco Valencia
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 151
From: Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 01-22-2002 10:46 PM

As far as all the movies starting at seven is concerned you need to see the rest of the schedule to really get an understanding of what is going on. My only guess is that they are trying to get as many shows throughout the day as possible. I used to work at a discount theatre and the only rule is "get by." Especially when working for a piss poor theatre chain. The GM of this theatre is probably trying to do just that.
I only had a print delivered to my theatre once in an unorthodox manner. It was from our Tulsa theatre. Since we both have Autowinds they just picked up the platter, put the tarp on the print and drove it to our theatre. The print was put inside the car.
As far as Brad's comments about the Cinemarks in Dallas, Dallas is where the HO is and Legacy, the "Flagship Theatre." In other words Dallas is somewhat the Mecca of Cinemark. Those were BOLD BOLD BOLD comments from Brad. You must clank when you walk Brad!

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 01-22-2002 11:16 PM

They weren't bold comments, they were the truth. Nothing bold about that.

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Neil Hunter
Film Handler

Posts: 74
From: Salisbury, NC, USA
Registered: Oct 2001

posted 01-30-2002 01:32 AM

I am going to have to agree with Jim on this. I have worked with Cinemark in two regions, Northeast, and Southeast, and every one of their theaters I have worked at has had good operators. Even their dollar house where I am from had a good staff of operators.

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Steven Privett
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 208
From: Pasadena, TX, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 02-01-2002 12:40 PM

Brad, I am just wondering why you put up with these guys damaging your equipment, taking your reels and rings, and dictating your work schedule. If your theatre does not have a policy of "Employees Only" in the booth, you might think about getting one. All the theatre chains I have worked for have had a policy of breaking down all films, and not letting one leave on a ring. (At least thats what I always told the managers.) On a ring?? If the film is damaged, wouldn't your theatre be liable?

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Brent Arnold
Film Handler

Posts: 20
From: Grapevine, TX, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 02-12-2002 08:45 AM

Sounds real fun, thankfully I work in a 1plex (if thats a word) so I dont have problems with many movies starting at a time

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