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

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Ground Level   » Jahlil Okafor Travels From Philly To New York To See Movies

Author Topic: Jahlil Okafor Travels From Philly To New York To See Movies Michael Putlack Expert Film Handler Posts: 187 From: Fort Collins, Colorado Registered: Sep 2011 posted 10-12-2017 10:49 AM                        Source Jahlil Okafor likes movies. A new profile of him at SB Nation opens with Okafor watching Home Again with his girlfriend. And he mentions at curious fact: Okafor has “been known to take a train from Philadelphia to Manhattan just to catch a flick or two at the iPic.” That wording doesn’t explain how often he does this, but on multiple occasions he has literally taken a train from Philadelphia to New York in order to see a movie. This is bonkers, of course. In order to see a movie at that theater in New York City, Okafor has to get an Amtrak train from 30th Street Station in Philadelphia to Penn Station in New York City, then get to the iPic theater in Lower Manhattan. It’s at least a two-hour trip each way. Let’s try to work through Okafor’s thought process here: Center City, Philly’s downtown, has four movie theaters. But the three Ritz theaters are part of the Landmark chain and primarily show independent films, foreign flicks and documentaries. The fourth theater, the Roxy, is run by the Philadelphia Film Society and is old and small. (Okafor might not fit in one of its seats.) But there are plenty of big movie theaters that show all the new movies just outside Center City. Why would he go all the way to New York?! On the other hand, Okafor makes $4.5 million a year. He’s 21. He’s just looking for ways to spend that much money! And, after looking up his favorite theater online, it does seem pretty nice. It has two levels of seating, and they’re called “Premium” and “Premium Plus.” Okafor can relax and see a crappy Reese Witherspoon movie while getting food delivered right to his table. There isn’t a theater this nice in the Philadelphia area, not even Movie Tavern. Fortunately, construction has begun on a new movie theater right in Center City Philadelphia, at the site of the old Gallery mall. It’s expected to be open sometime in 2019. So if Jahlil Okafor is still on the Sixers at that time… well, that would be a more surprising twist than anything in an M. Night Shyamalan movie.  |  IP: Logged Martin McCaffery Film God Posts: 2481 From: Montgomery, AL Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-12-2017 11:15 AM                        If he's trying to spend all of that money, he's not trying hard enough. He should be hiring a limo. Or a copter. Or, better yet, start his own movie theatre. He can plow through that money in no time.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 10-12-2017 11:42 AM                     Why is this news? If he loves that theater so much, he should contact the parent company's corporate office and tell them he will foot the bill for one built around the corner to him and subsidize any amount over the break-even point should the theater not be successful in his area.  |  IP: Logged Mitchell Dvoskin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1869 From: West Milford, NJ, USA Registered: Jan 2001 posted 10-12-2017 01:11 PM                     quote: "Michael Putlack" It has two levels of seating, and they’re called “Premium” and “Premium Plus.”... while getting food delivered right to his table. There isn’t a theater this nice in the Philadelphia area, not even Movie Tavern. While I have never been to the iPic in Manhattan, the iPic in Fort Lee NJ (across the river from Manhattan) is my favorite first run movie theatre. I have not come across another dine-in theatre (including Alamo) that comes close for comfort, service, and presentation. The "Premium Plus" seats are powered recliners, complete with a pillow, blanket, and unobtrusive table service, in private alcoves for two.  |  IP: Logged Mike Spaeth Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1129 From: Marietta, GA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 10-12-2017 08:55 PM                        My favorite concept is Cobb Cinebistro.  |  IP: Logged Martin Brooks Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 900 From: Forest Hills, NY, USA Registered: May 2002 posted 11-20-2017 11:00 PM                        While the iPic does have some deluxe seats, the seat counts are incredibly small. The seat counts are: 43 43 43 53 61 63 64 138. I haven't been there, but I suspect the screens are very small and I don't know why anyone would travel several hours to see a movie there. I could see traveling that distance to see an IMAX film at the Loew's Lincoln Square, which has a 101 foot screen or a 70mm film at a good theater or the Dolby Vision theater at the AMC Empire 25 or even to attend a 4DX theater (if that's your thing).  |  IP: Logged Sam Graham AKA: "The Evil Sam Graham". Wackiness ensues. Posts: 1431 From: Waukee, IA Registered: Dec 2004 posted 11-21-2017 02:06 AM                        I’ll just point out that I live SIX hours from the theatre I watch the vast majority of movies at, so consider this kid a rank goddamn amateur.  |  IP: Logged Mark Ogden Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 943 From: Little Falls, N.J. Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-21-2017 07:21 AM                     Keep in mind that the person mentioned in the original post, Jahlil Okafor, is nearly seven feet tall, he is a center for the 76ers. I can see how the iPic would become his go-to theatre with its recliners and leg room. On the other hand, I once flew from New York to Los Angeles to go to the movies, specifically to see This is Cinerama in it's original three-strip format at the Arclight Dome. It was one of the greatest movie-going experiences of my life (and booth pics are in the Warehouse).  |  IP: Logged Daniel Schulz Master Film Handler Posts: 387 From: Los Angeles, CA USA Registered: Sep 2003 posted 11-21-2017 04:23 PM                        I don't think this is crazy at all. Manhattan is a nice place to visit, and if you have time and money to burn a train trip is very pleasant. Taking a day to read a book on the train, catch a couple of flicks, have a nice dinner in New York, and finish your book on the trip back sounds to me like a perfect day.  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

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.