Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: No Yoda masks allowed: Quebec cinema bans lightsabres, face coverings

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Posted by Frank Cox (Member # 6258) on 12-14-2015, 02:03 PM:

No Yoda masks allowed: Quebec cinema bans lightsabres, face coverings

quote:

The new Star Wars movie premieres tonight in Los Angeles, and while it doesn't officially open in Canada until Friday, fans in the Montreal area can see a special screening this Thursday night at Guzzo Cinemas.

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The only catch? No masks or lightsabres allowed.

Vincenzo Guzzo, CEO of Guzzo Cinemas, says there's a general policy against masks, and he's not making an exception for fans heading to Star Wars: The Force Awakens at several cinemas in and around Montreal.

What's a Chewbacca costume without the mask?

"Call me the party-pooper," he says, adding his main concern is the anxiety it could cause if people were allowed to cover their faces.

"People are not identifiable ... You can imagine some guy with a Chewbacca mask who's not just going to walk in normally. He's going to pretend he's Chewbacca. And he may yell every once in awhile and he's going to scare people."

Guzzo says his customers are paying to see a movie, not attend a costume ball.

He says people are allowed to dress up on Thursday, as long as their faces are uncovered and they don't bring any props that resemble a weapon — fictional or otherwise.

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 12-14-2015, 03:38 PM:

Saw a similar posting at our AMC yesterday. It says you can bring your lightsaber, but leave your Darth Vader mask at home.

My policy would be the exact opposite.

Posted by Frank Cox (Member # 6258) on 12-14-2015, 04:35 PM:

I wouldn't be allowing light-anything into a movie. I've "impounded" glow sticks and the like from kids on numerous occasions in the past. I took some kid's shoes away once, believe it or not. He had flashing red LED's built into the heels and couldn't or wouldn't shut them off while the movie was playing.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 12-15-2015, 06:58 AM:

Why not have an event before the movie where people can wear their costumes but then ask people to stow them before going into he movie?

Just thinking out loud, here... Maybe a costume contest or something. Could somebody get a local radio station to do a remote setup? How about TV news?

I understand about expense, logistics, time and effort but my point is to use a little bit of creative problem solving to try to turn this into something positive that, maybe, you can gain some publicity from.

Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 12-15-2015, 07:21 AM:

My theatre is following the same general policy. We are allowing light sabers, but no masks or full face paint.

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 12-15-2015, 01:19 PM:

It's easier in Hollywood:

quote:
Among the Hollywood onlookers in attendance Monday night were Spike Lee, Matthew McConaughey, L.A. mayor Eric Garcetti and actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who painted his face in full costume as Yoda."

Posted by Buck Wilson (Member # 5885) on 12-16-2015, 03:23 PM:

Posted by Michael Putlack (Member # 6523) on 12-17-2015, 12:00 AM:

Those folks at Regal sure make some classy signs.

Posted by Rex Oliver (Member # 7593) on 12-17-2015, 12:08 AM:

I would think it could be difficult to watch that new Star Wars movie with a mask on!And could block the soundtrack to your ears if the mask should cover them.

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 12-19-2015, 08:31 AM:

Meanwhile, in the irony dept:

quote:
This is disturbing. At the Marcus Corporation theaters (NYSE:MCS) in Nebraska people with concealed carry permits can bring their real guns into the movies anytime they want. This includes the opening night of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. However, their costume policy says you can't bring fake weapons or props that look like real weapons into the theater. Fictional props, like light sabers, are okay.

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