Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: No CP at Imax Theatre at Birmingham UK!

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Posted by Ben Wales (Member # 92) on 03-02-2002, 05:18 PM:

I have been for the past 6months Chief Projectionist at the Imax Theatre Millennium Point in Birmingham UK.

On Friday, out off the blue, I was ask to attend a meeting with the Operations Manager and was told my position no longer existed as they had to cut costs and I was to leave within a hour, as it seams the Theatre is looseing so much money and will before time will as I see it will close.

As it now seams,they will operate with no Chief Projectionist!, will be staffed just by two full-time Projectionists, which may not have the experience to deal with any major technical problems, and quite how they can get away without a Chief Projectionist managing it and to what saving!.
I am sure Imax would would be some what concern that one of their Theatre's is to managed in this way and the way I was treated by this shabby operator!.

They do not and should not deserve to operate a Imax Theatre.

I wish the other projectionists remaining there, all the luck in the world and it was a pleasure to work with them and sadden that I do not now have a career working in a Imax Theatre.

Ben Wales
Former Chief Projectionist
Imax Theatre
Birmingham UK

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 03-02-2002, 09:35 PM:

Well, that's a fine how-do-you-do. There are several Imax theaters opening here in the States soon, if you're interested in this side of the pond.

Posted by Joe Beres (Member # 678) on 03-03-2002, 02:13 AM:

Ben, sorry to hear about the demise of your position. I applaud you for your good attitude about it. Good luck finding something new.

Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 03-03-2002, 06:49 AM:

Ben, surely thay have to give you more notice than that???

There's a large format (Megasytems) theatre opening up here soon, it will also be equipped to run 35mm. They will be looking for an experienced operator I would think.

Posted by Dick Vaughan (Member # 540) on 03-03-2002, 07:34 AM:

Ben this is a bit of a shocker.

Try giving Dennis Laws a call at BFI / Science Museum I think he could do with some help at the moment.

talk soon

Dick

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-03-2002, 09:36 AM:

Ben,
You seem to be taking it well and I think you'll continue that job at another place if U follow up the leads that others have pointed out.
IMHO, its just another place that Imax is sucking all the funds out of anyway and I wonder if they'll yank the stuff out when the contract is up and replace it with something that can turn them a bit of profit. This is the same thing that has happened here in the states at numerous locations.
Mark @ GTS

Posted by Bernard Tonks (Member # 809) on 03-03-2002, 10:42 AM:

Having the pleasure of meeting you Ben when you visited Cranleigh recently I am sorry to hear your news. I do hope better things come your way soon. Good Luck.

Is not Bournmouth Imax getting off the ground at last ?

I heard that the chief projectionist at the Odeon Brighton is reaching retirement.

Posted by Alan Plester (Member # 852) on 03-03-2002, 11:59 AM:

Ben, I wish you all the luck in the world.
It made me see red when reading your writeup, and I think you have been treated in the most dispicable way.
Someone out there, I feel sure, will give you a home to go to.

Posted by Tristan Lane (Member # 1169) on 03-03-2002, 02:27 PM:

I have been there too.

The Edwards Boise IMAX Closed abruptly with no early notice. The chief projectionist there had just bought a house and had two young children. He had to make a big change in very little time. Now he is the CP at the Imax here in Spokane. I lost my job as well, but found a new one in very little time. The good part is that this particular theater is owned by the city, and does very well. There is no risk of closing in the near future. In fact, there are plans of a 3D SR theater in the works. I hope it all works out. If it does they will be looking for a CP to take over the old theater, as we will both move to the new one.
I wish you luck in finding another booth to call your own.
It all works out for the better anyways!!!!

Tristan

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-03-2002, 06:34 PM:

Tristan,
Believe it or not all the equipment is still in place in Boise. As though Imax have abandoned it there. I was in the booth a little over a month ago.
Mark @ GTS

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 03-04-2002, 03:29 AM:

Ben:

British employment law says that once you've been in a workplace for a certain length of time you're entitled to a notice period and redundancy pay in the event that your job ceases to exist. Sorry to be so vague in failing to remember the details (I guess I'm lucky in that all the companies & institutions I've worked for have been relatively good employers, so I've never needed to look them up) but I'd be really surprised if they're just allowed to make you redundant with so little notice.

Secondly, are you a member of BECTU [the trade union representing UK cinema workers]? If so call 0800 587 1278. This is their members' legal helpline. If not, I'm sure they'd still like to hear about this and it might be worth contacting Willy Donaghy, who is their supervisory official for arts and entertainment (wdonaghy@bectu.org.uk).

Posted by Bernard Tonks (Member # 809) on 03-04-2002, 04:02 AM:

Ben,

There's an advertisement in this weeks Screen International.

TECHNICAL MANAGER

Applications are invited for the position of Technical Manager within a Group of Westcountry Cinemas.

Experience in the Cinema Industry with all types of projectional equipment is essential. Applications by CV and covering letter to:

Box No 67 Screen International, 33-39 Bowling Green Lane, London. EC1R ODA

Posted by Michael Hunt (Member # 772) on 03-07-2002, 12:44 PM:

And there was me thinking about visiting the Birmingham Imax...

As a lifelong Trade-unionist I don't think I'll bother now...

Ben, good luck in the job hunting...

------------------
There must be more to life than Film and Rugby...

Gwan Glawster!!!

Posted by Tristan Lane (Member # 1169) on 03-08-2002, 10:43 PM:

Mark,

Strange. The CP with whom I am working with now said that he stuck around long enough to oversee the removal of the eqipment, but maybe he was just referring to the films and non IMAX related equipment. Now the gears in my head are working. I still have the master key to the Building, maybe I will stop in there and see for myself the next time I am in boise. I really miss that theater. But there was one problem: There was a serious engineering error when the building was designed, because they fogot to put a toilet in the booth.
It still kills me to think that the theater is closed. I would give anything to be back there.

-Tristan

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 03-09-2002, 06:49 PM:

That is a shock
I am suprised as that is a very stupid move to do, do you have any legal recourse under your employment standards

Posted by Tristan Lane (Member # 1169) on 03-09-2002, 07:20 PM:

I agree.
Why would you want to remove all the equipment that was so painstakingly installed in the first place? I have gotten so many mixed responses on the condition of the theater that I might go there and check it out for myself.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 03-14-2002, 04:54 PM:

IMAX + No Chief Projectionist = DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN.

The amount they are now 'SAVING' will be lost 10000 - fold the day the machine throws the registration pin alignment and that's it for the rest of the day. This, hopefully, will happen on a Saturday or a Sunday for these jerks.

Beancounters have taken over the asylum...

------------------
"It's not the years honey, it's the mileage". - Indiana Jones.

Posted by Sandie Caffelle (Member # 1168) on 03-19-2002, 04:00 AM:

Hello Ben

Just seen your post (a bit late, I know!!).

Doesn't seem 5 minutes since you went to Birmingham.

Let me know if we can help at all (we don't have any job vacancies by the way!!)

Keep in touch.....

Sandie
Jack Roe (CS) Ltd

Posted by Ben Wales (Member # 92) on 03-26-2002, 04:40 PM:

Just a quick thanks to eveyone who kindly suggested some possible new leads for me to find work, since my departure at Birmingham and special thanks to Sandie for the kind words.

Since I have left, I belive most of the remaining FOH staff and some managers have resigned or were sacked!

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 03-26-2002, 08:24 PM:

Looks like they will be out of business soon at that rate

Posted by Peter Hall (Member # 695) on 03-28-2002, 12:20 PM:

There's always plenty of projectors to rebuild here Ben !!