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

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Posted by Scott Madsen (Member # 167) on 05-09-2001, 01:09 PM:

Megastar Cinemas is close to opening two multiplexes here in the Minneapolis area. Anyone have any impressions of them as far as operations or anything? I guess they have a few theatres already around but are fairly new.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 05-25-2001, 07:51 AM:

I don't do impressions...my speciality is the law.

(Airplane 2...The Sequel)

------------------
Children really brighten up your life...they never turn off lights.

Posted by Michael Barry (Member # 237) on 05-25-2001, 02:09 PM:

Hehehe...John, that's amazing! I saw the title of the thread and my first thought was to post, 'I'm sorry, I don't do impressions - I'm a projectionist', but you beat me to it!

Posted by JC Cowles (Member # 914) on 10-06-2001, 04:06 AM:

...

Posted by Michael Barry (Member # 237) on 10-06-2001, 10:26 AM:

What equipment do you have there?

Posted by JC Cowles (Member # 914) on 10-06-2001, 06:32 PM:

...

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 10-07-2001, 12:30 AM:

Sweet setup! Same as my last theatre, except Dolby CP-500 instead of 650 and AP platters instead of DMC. (I never could understand the point of the DMC system.) If you have any questions about the stuff, feel free to ask me.

Ken

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 10-07-2001, 02:36 AM:

The DMC...and now SCDC...is simple...they are always perfectly timed! They are smooth on payout too. The DMC had to be recalibrated from time to time...the SCDC...is SelfCalibrating.

Steve

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"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"

Posted by JC Cowles (Member # 914) on 10-07-2001, 05:51 PM:

...

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 10-07-2001, 07:56 PM:

Whoa! I just came from a 1999-built Regal. That's why it's the same equipment. I know we are closing a lot of theatres, but what theatre that new did they close???

Posted by JC Cowles (Member # 914) on 10-07-2001, 10:33 PM:

...

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 10-07-2001, 11:25 PM:

OHHHHHH..... You mean it's the next generation AFTER the equipment that you used. I thought you meant that your equipment is second hand, from your last theater. My mistake.

Posted by JC Cowles (Member # 914) on 10-08-2001, 12:34 AM:

...

Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 10-08-2001, 02:59 AM:

You are right about those SCDC platters Steve, we used AP's until quite recently, then we did a couple of jobs with the the DMC type. What great running piece of kit! The operators love them too, because there are fewer switches etc. Only problem we have is the MUT keeps blowing fuses, this I believe is caused by Strong and most other American manufacturers making their equipment rated for 220v, and not the 240v we have here in the UK. A lot of transformers don't like 50Hz either, so often we have to change them for locally made ones. After that, all is well. Not too keen on the Simplex Millenium, though. The picture stability is not great and they leak oil somthing terrible.

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 10-08-2001, 07:04 AM:

Pete,

It's been my experience that every Simplex will eventually leak. And you're right abut picture steadiness.

Ken

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 10-08-2001, 12:33 PM:

JC,

Do you have the standard Strong "high reactance" rectifiers, or the new switchers? The switchers are really cool because you don't have to mess with taps or diodes, but they can be unreliable. So if you have switchers, make sure you have at least one spare.

My last theatre (the 1999-built Regal I mentioned above) had swichters, and within a year of opening, 3 of them went bad. I've heard of cases where 3 went bad in a week! That's about the only bad thing I can think of about them.

On the other had, they are nice because if the recifier is the the cause of bulb trouble, you know it because they have warning lights right on them! No other rectifier I've seen has that nice feature.

Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 10-08-2001, 02:53 PM:

Ken, I have heard this of Simplex before. I don't have great experience of them, apart from these new Millenium machines. Given the choice I'd have the Century over the Simplex, but then again, we didn't supply any of this gear, just installed it for them.

Re: Switchers. We have had terrible problems with them, they don't like more than 220v, and as I've said before, here in the UK we have at least 240v. Only trouble I've had with teh high reactance has been the step down transfomer that drives the fans, again it doesn't like 240v. For ease of service I'd take the old fashiones diodes and coils of wire!

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 10-08-2001, 03:26 PM:

Yeah, I could see where having the switchers for you would be a major pain. But it certainly is sweet being about to adjust the current on the fly with the potentiometer, rather than shutting everything down, discharging the bulb, and adjusting the taps! Also, my concern is operators who really don't know what they are doing messing with the taps and the diodes. The switcher are pretty much fool-proof.

To be honest, I've never changed diodes. First of all, my first theatre had switchers, so it wasn't an issue. But I worked a lot with my tech at other theatres, so you would think I would learn, right? But he didn't want any of the operators touching the diodes or taps in case they screwed something up. To be honest, I can't say that I blame him. That's where the switchers come in handy.

Posted by JC Cowles (Member # 914) on 10-08-2001, 08:15 PM:

...

Posted by JC Cowles (Member # 914) on 10-29-2001, 10:21 PM:

All msgs by JC Cowles removed due to complaints from MegaStar Cinema representatives.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-29-2001, 11:36 PM:

Megastar Cinemas...any impressions?

Yeah here's an impression, they are obviously a joke of a company. JC comes on here inquiring to everyone's experience on how to make a theater open smoother and run better, and from the sound of it, he was probably threatened to remove all postings (which he has been doing all over the forums tonight)...or lose his job. Heaven forbid JC care enough about his job to go that extra mile by asking questions and learning from others here. Pathetic, pathetic, pathetic.

I can see the conversation now:

UPTIGHT CORPORATE PERSONNEL TRYING TO FIND A USE FOR HIMSELF
"Oh my! Look at this everyone! There is a website online and one of our evil employees has posted, using our world-recognized MegaStar Cinemas name!"

OTHER UPTIGHT CORPORATE PERSONNEL ALSO TRYING TO FIND A USE FOR HIMSELF
"Oh no! Do you know what this means?"

UPTIGHT CORPORATE PERSONNEL TRYING TO FIND A USE FOR HIMSELF
"No, of course not. I'm just an uptight corporate person who is trying to find a use for myself."

OTHER UPTIGHT CORPORATE PERSONNEL ALSO TRYING TO FIND A USE FOR HIMSELF
"This means that everyone in the world will read this and think that MegaStar Cinemas' personnel do not know how to properly open up a theater!"

UPTIGHT CORPORATE PERSONNEL TRYING TO FIND A USE FOR HIMSELF
"Are you sure about that? Don't you think that people will realize that this JC problem of ours is just trying to make our opening even better and that he is trying to do film right?"

OTHER UPTIGHT CORPORATE PERSONNEL ALSO TRYING TO FIND A USE FOR HIMSELF
"Do film right! What the hell is that? And no, everyone will think that we do not hire competent people and this must be stopped! Call JC into the office right now!"

*A short while later*

OTHER UPTIGHT CORPORATE PERSONNEL ALSO TRYING TO FIND A USE FOR HIMSELF
"JC, you are a bad, bad person. Shame on you for making MegaStar Cinemas look like fools! I am going to fire you if you do not rid that evil website of all MegaStar Cinemas comments and qustions!"

JC COWLES
"Yes Sir. I should be shot."

I'll bet 90% of the members here can honestly see that conversation happening. At least the rest of the members and lurkers here now know to stay away from MegaStar Cinemas, or is that Area 51?

Posted by Sean M. Grimes (Member # 445) on 10-30-2001, 12:41 AM:

You know what, and excuse my language - that is fucking stupid. For the four years that I was a manager for Hoyts I was open to all and even on this forum, which I know of at least a dozen home office people read very regularly, they never ever ever had any type of problem with what I had said. Megastar assholes you are what is wrong with companies today.

I have never ever seen JC post anything that was a direct flame against your business. grrr I am way to upset to even speak at this moment. They can rot in hell hell hell.

Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 10-30-2001, 12:55 AM:

At least Cineplex hasnt asked me not to post (and hey Mega Star there a REEL COMPANY!!!)

------------------
--Sean McKinnon
Manager
Loews Cineplex Entertainment
Liberty Tree Mall 20
Danvers, Mass
www.enjoytheshow.com

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 10-30-2001, 01:54 AM:

Wow. I'm glad I created the

and

icons. Perhaps I should also create an icon that is a picture of a bigger pile of crap and make the code to show it on the forums :megastar:

I wonder what kind of secret information Megastar is afraid that JC will pass on to the rest of us? How dare we know what kind of equipment is in their booths! If something were to go wrong, we might actually be able to help them FREE OF CHARGE!!!! Megastar can't have any of that. My guess is that Megastar's lawyers are not only very inexperienced and completely unfamiliar with the industry, but that they are also very very greedy. If this was not the result of the company lawyers then obviously the corporate people need to research the industry a little more before stepping in. Some people here have been in the industry probably before you were born. It's OK. We're all friendly. There is no information provided by members of this forum that can make a negative impact in your profits if possessed by your competitors (or anyone else).

Oh well. We will now be watching Megastar to become the ultimate theater chain, better than every other that has ever existed, since they know something we don't. I'm holding them to that. Just remember people, this is the theater industry, not the CIA. Everything will be OK. I promise.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 10-30-2001, 03:32 AM:

The funniest part is their name...Megastar Cinemas! THAT is a joke, right? Megastar??? Sounds like one of two things...

1. Daddy's little boy wanted to do something with daddy's money and so daddy made him a little cinema company of his very own to play with and employ dickhead directors to run it.

or...

2. Dame Edna Everage has gone completely off the rails.

I go for number one.

JC, when you leave that short-sighted 'company' make sure you come back and flame the crap out of them.

Morons...

Oh, and to Megastar (I just have to laugh whenever I hear that name!) That's the way to treat your employees. Start filling out the chapter eleven forms now eh? Save some time for later.

Posted by Michael Brown (Member # 890) on 10-30-2001, 05:52 AM:

Hmmmmmm

(chuckle)

Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 10-30-2001, 07:50 AM:

Wow what a bunch of crap. I just was recently hired by a Theatre here in Austin, Brad knows which one, and I hope they do not ask me not to post anything in here if I can get some helpful or constructive critisism or help with problems out of the forums and questions I might ask.
Hey Joe, since we have the Finger and Pile of Shit. Now might be a good time to break out that Icon on someone bending over mooning the crowd as a sort of :Kiss My Ass: type of comment. I leave that to your discretion. As to my impression of MegaStar. I give them

MegaStar should change thier name to Cinema Nazi..... "You write anything in Film-Tech again... NO MOVIES FOR YOU"

Rant Over it is time, Oh wait I am at work right now can't do that just yet. Oh well.

Posted by Joe Beres (Member # 678) on 10-30-2001, 08:49 AM:

JC, if you read this, I hope that you soon find a job working for a company that will let you give a

. Their apparent threats are ridiculous, and I hope they don't keep you from doing your best to have the theater "doing film right."

Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 10-30-2001, 10:51 AM:

How foolish I was to think the First Amendment of the Constitution gave us freedom of speech...

My guess would be that their next step will be to annex, the State of Minnesota from the U.S.A.

Shame, Shame.

Posted by Dennis Atkinson (Member # 345) on 10-30-2001, 04:28 PM:

Maybe J.C. signed something saying he wouldn't devulge company secrets.
But then again, maybe the management have to wiggle their ears to scratch their asses.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 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.

Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 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.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 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.

Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 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!)

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 10-30-2001, 07:54 PM:

I wish I was afraid of everybody

Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 10-30-2001, 08:37 PM:

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

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 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?

Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 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.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 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

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"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"

Posted by Jim Ziegler (Member # 86) on 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.

Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 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."

Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 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.

Posted by Dwayne Caldwell (Member # 417) on 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.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 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

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 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.

Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 03-13-2002, 09:16 PM:

Thanks Gord,

Could the man with the magic hands be right.

Posted by Ron Lacheur (Member # 1126) on 03-13-2002, 10:57 PM:

I guess they are still pissed off that their company got roasted pretty bad from members of this forum.

Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 01-21-2004, 03:19 PM:

quote:
I guess they are still pissed off that their company got roasted pretty bad from members of this forum.

Well you know what..... the FUCKERS deserved it. [evil]

Posted by Ron Lacheur (Member # 1126) on 01-21-2004, 04:03 PM:

Oh there's no doubt about that [Big Grin]

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 01-21-2004, 08:13 PM:

Bored Todd?

Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 01-21-2004, 08:20 PM:

Daryl,
Would that be bored, or bitter? [Smile]

Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 01-21-2004, 08:26 PM:

Me, I am never bored Daryl. Just been so damn long since this thread came about it kinda quietly dissappeard so nobody got JC in trouble, now that thier gone and he is gone from the orginaization. GLOVES OFF BABY