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

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Ground Level   » AMC application advice? (Page 2)

This topic comprises 3 pages: 1  2  3

Author Topic: AMC application advice? John T. Hendrickson, Jr Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 889 From: Freehold, NJ, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 03-11-2010 03:08 PM                     You have to wonder who dreams those things up. Another case of absentee management trying to make a simple task difficult.  |  IP: Logged Manny Montes Master Film Handler Posts: 270 From: United States Registered: Feb 2010 posted 03-12-2010 12:16 AM                     I know that when the AMC took over a small chain here, they retrained the GM and management and staff, everyone got to keep their jobs. Most managers quit within a couple of months though. This happens with every takeover I've seen though, the old managers don't like the fact that their "way" is no longer correct. A few stay, adjust and move up in the company, but most leave.  |  IP: Logged Christopher Crouch Expert Film Handler Posts: 128 From: Holywood, ca, usa Registered: May 2006 posted 03-12-2010 08:26 AM                  quote: Sean McKinnon They also don't "micromanage" from what I know they will fly out from Kansas City and tell you what hey want you to fix/change. Six months later they will come back and if the things they wanted fixed/changed are'nt done then they dump the GM. That's basically their management style in a nutshell. I worked for them back when they still had a regional system in place (shortly after they had dumped their district system) and, even back then, they didn't do a lot of micromanaging. Their approach was more "if we need to constantly look over your shoulder, you aren't the right person for the job." However, they also had a very exacting operations program in place and conducted a lot of training, so the "you should know how to run a theatre" mentality wasn't without merit (this was well over a decade ago, so I don't know if this still holds true). Having worked for some companies that do tend to micromanage their theatres, I can say that I actually prefered AMC's approach. I felt it helped to develop stronger management skills and I always prefered being allowed to run my theatre over having someone constantly second guessing me and "checking up on things".  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 03-12-2010 12:17 PM                        Chris, I really liked the way that LCE has thier radiant systems set-up. Of course there was always room for improvement and some things were frustrating (remember the LaborPro system for payroll? and running the in house written combocash program?) but all in all compared to other systems it worked ok. Having the stock room seperate was great too. I never worked with the AMC version I just noticed how "old style" the tickets looked and asked around and found out that they downgraded everything. I think a regional system done right is a good idea. You have someone locally (or more local than a corporate office) who can help to implement new policies/procedures. Help to manage issues such as one location having too much stock and another being short on some items. It should be a person who can get the local managers to work together as a team, and to bring the "best practices" from one location to the others. A good DM or RM should also be able to see through the BS that comes from corporate and fight for the theatre level people to get what they need. They should also be able to see what "really" goes on in the theatres day to day not just how well they clean up for that once a year visit from corporate. Even when corporate comes "unnanounced" you know they will hit every location in a given area to maximize thier travel budget. So in reality only one location gets "suprised" as soon as the corporate people are out the door (or sometimes way before they leave) every other location in the area is getting a heads up phone call. A local DM can get past that by being able to hit different locations more often and spend more time at each one to really peel back the layers and see what's really going on. I am sure we all know Bad DM's and RM's. The ones that never visit the theatres or micromanage to an insane level. There was one Loews RM (Who is now an asst. chef for Emeril Lagasse actually) who would sit in his office and watch the surveilance cameras for the location his office was in. If a customer dropped even one peice of popcorn on the grounf he would be on the phone to the GM before it even hit the floor! Crazy!  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 03-12-2010 11:09 PM                     quote: Sean McKinnon I never worked with the AMC version I just noticed how "old style" the tickets looked and asked around and found out that they downgraded everything. When we switched, the tickets from the ABOs were similar to the ones we'd previously used with LCE and only the ones purchased on the regular box office were different. But they've switched styles in the last year or so since I'd quit to work where I'm at now.  |  IP: Logged Todd Cornwall Film Handler Posts: 91 From: Madison, WI Registered: Feb 2004 posted 03-13-2010 12:21 AM                     So, any advice on how to contact AMC about getting noticed for a potential job opening?  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 03-13-2010 11:34 AM                        I would fill out an on-line application for a management position at another theatre in the area you want to work at. Management hiring goes through an area coordinator (usually one of the local GMs) who is responsible for recruiting and managing the hiring process in that area*. If you have no luck finding a place to apply on line I would call a local AMC and ask who the local management hiring coordinator is and which location they are based out of and send your resume and cover letter there. *At least this was the case many years ago when I applied for a position at an AMC location in the Boston area.  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 03-13-2010 02:27 PM                     And regardless of where you get hired, there's a good chance they'll want you to move around to other theaters in the area. That's the way it was both when I worked for them in Seattle and here in Houston. All the managers I worked with would get shuffled around quite often.  |  IP: Logged Todd Cornwall Film Handler Posts: 91 From: Madison, WI Registered: Feb 2004 posted 03-15-2010 06:43 PM                     Last time I checked, there wasn't anything around this area. I think Milwaukee is the closest AMC theater, but there weren't any hiring. It's frustrating.  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 03-15-2010 07:40 PM                     You could ask the people working your local Kerasotes for what they'd advise.  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 03-15-2010 08:33 PM                        Or you could just wait until it becomes an AMC.  |  IP: Logged Frank Bruno Film Handler Posts: 50 From: houston, tx Registered: Aug 2003 posted 03-16-2010 01:21 AM                     Self-deleted.  |  IP: Logged Todd Cornwall Film Handler Posts: 91 From: Madison, WI Registered: Feb 2004 posted 03-16-2010 05:00 AM                     Normally I would wait. The theater I'm looking at is in such bad shape, I'm confident that they will be replacing management. There are so many things that are done there (and not done) that it's a no-brainer. I've worked at these local Kerasotes theaters and I know a lot of the people. They are keeping an ear out for me, but a lot of them of in fear of losing their jobs so I don't think walking in and asking about future employment would be good. I'm sure that if anything happens in regards to hiring, I'd hear about it. I was just hoping to see if there was a quicker way to get my resume me. I can wait, but I am just afraid that I'll miss the opportunity to get my resume in on time.  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 03-16-2010 12:44 PM                     Then I'd think it best to call up someone at the nearest AMC or drop by and ask them if they have any idea on what to do, although Madison is a ways away from Milwaukee from what I remember when we lived there, but you seem to be really worried about missing the opportunity.  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 03-16-2010 01:14 PM                        you could even try calling Kansas City and ask for human resources. Ask them if you can send them a resume for any future positions in your area. I find that if you call first they might actually look at your package rather than just put it in the circular file.  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 3 pages: 1  2  3

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

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.