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

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Ground Level   » Best chains to work for. Mostly morale related. (Page 1)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Author Topic: Best chains to work for. Mostly morale related. Kevin Wale Expert Film Handler Posts: 167 From: Guymon, OK USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 12-11-2003 11:18 PM                     I'm curious to hear from our big chain employed forumers on what the morale is like in thier theatres. Are there chains that have an overall good reputation as being a fun and positive environment to work in? Or chains that have a decided tendency to have ill tempered managers who throw hissy fits and could turn coal into a diamond? I know Crown in Kansas had a reputation of being a supportive and positive company to work for if you were in management. They would send even assistant managers to trade shows and conferences. District managers were known on a first name basis and were accessable and took a mentorshiip role on. Is Regal per say generally similar? Or does thier managment structure tend to be "it's all about me and how good I am" in mentality? Sometimes we hear the negatives about the big companies that it makes you wonder why anyone would want to work for them at all. Yet many of them have really good people who enjoy working there. I can see this one getting a bit heated so just try to be as unhateful as you can in your rants. LOL  |  IP: Logged Jason Black Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1723 From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 12-11-2003 11:45 PM                        Kevin, I'm not sure what sort of responses you'll get with this thread, as many will be fearful to respond with their TRUE feelings for fear of retribution on behalf of their employer. While I love my job, and the theatre business, I can't say that I have the same feeling for the company I work for. Morale, for the most part, is generated soley at the descretion of the on- site manager(s). For example, I have many employees whom have remained under my employ for upwards of 8 years. I routinely have staff stay through high school and college, until they enter the real world... OTOH, morale from our corporate office, is, for the most part, non-existent. Our company is very micro-managed due to, in my opinion, too many unqaulified managers out in the field. I won't delve any deeper, as you mentioned mainly morale. Dustin, what do you think? You pretty much read the same memos I do....  |  IP: Logged Travis Hubrig Expert Film Handler Posts: 175 From: Minot ND, USA Registered: May 2003 posted 12-12-2003 12:01 AM                     I agree with Jason, 100%. For my company, it all depends on local management. I like my job and the theatre I work at. There are times I get frustrated with higher ups, and sometimes other managers. I know many who get thrown into a theatre with little or no training. I have experience with different District Managers and I think that makes a difference also. Each of the District Managers I worked for had their own advantages and disadvantages. Overall I am happy with my company and plan on staying in this industry for a long time.  |  IP: Logged Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 12-12-2003 01:36 AM                     I have found that locally owned independent chains have a more relaxed atmosphere.  |  IP: Logged Adam Wilbert Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 590 From: Bellingham, WA, USA Registered: Mar 2002 posted 12-12-2003 01:47 AM                        Paul, That isn't always a good thing. Remember, "relaxed atmosphere" translates to "siezed intermittent due to lack of oil" or other such problems. Too laid back is bad. Being professional, accountable, and responsible can create a better work environment. Personally, I can't stand picking up the slack of someone who promotes a "relaxed atmosphere"  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-12-2003 09:41 AM                     There is in my opinion a diifference between a relaxed atmosphere and an unproffesional one. Many independents have terrific loyalty because there is no later on layer of bureocracy.  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 12-12-2003 10:18 AM                       I'm not afraid. I'm out of exhibition now anyway, so what the hell? My Best Experiences: Chakeres Theatres - Felt like a valued employee. Treated like family by the late Frazee brothers. General Cinema - the old GCC, before ex-AMC people seized control (way before the AMC buyout). Carmike - I was only contracted to service with these guys, but they treated me like gold. Goodrich (service only) - Great people, all the way around. Kerasotes (service only) - They ran hot and cold, I mostly have good memories of them, though. GKC Theatres - same as above. Worst (all service work) [flame on]: National Amusements/Redstone - What a whiny bunch of self-important, overbearing, bureaucratic titty-twisters! They have nothing better to do with their days than think up new titles for themselves, to place a false prestige on their jobs. Cinemark - 'We're important! We're in the movie business!' Please! How can you take any company seriously that believes CFS, Peavey, and Speco are top-of-the-line!? These dolts were so enamoured with being in the movie business that they wouldn't listen to reason. They insisted that I set up their equipment INCORRECTLY, just because their inexperienced head tech guy said so. Losers. The best thing about this outfit was the people that came with the Premiere Theatres acquisition Mike Campbell, Neal, Bobby, and the rest... later of Regal. Hoyts - [edit] Died a merciful death, I suppose. (Am I getting paid this week, or never?) AMC - Does ANYONE believe this outfit is good to work for?! Too paranoid for my taste. Always looking over your shoulder for a reason to fire you. Loews - Can't show up for appointments. Tech service was an interupption to their day or something. [flame off] As with everything, of course, your mileage may vary. [ 02-13-2004, 09:43 AM: Message edited by: Tim Reed ]  |  IP: Logged Emma Tomiak Expert Film Handler Posts: 238 From: Carrollton, TX, USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 12-13-2003 03:36 AM                        The GM at my theatre is great, and I love it there. I do think morale has a lot to do with your location and its environment.  |  IP: Logged Christopher Duvall Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 500 From: Denver, CO Registered: Dec 1999 posted 12-13-2003 04:37 AM                     I have been with Regal for almost 9 years now and have almost nothing but good things to say...however, I have been in the good graces of some great people in the company. I can start on a propaganda type rant and try to steer you to Regal but that may not be fair to you in your area. You may be in an area that has bums for GM's and a worse DM. Then again you could be the right place as well with perfect managers. I have heard horror stories from ALL chains including ours and I have great things as well from all chains including ours. The best advise I can give is shop around and get to know the somebody at the different locations in town and see what suits you. Or you can come to Vegas and work for me at Regal here. I try to keep it fun but professional. I will also plug Dennis over at the Crown at Neonoplis. He is someone that gives a damn about the business as well. I will not talk about the other chain here...that usually leads to longs rants of profanity...  |  IP: Logged Dustin Mitchell Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1865 From: Mondovi, WI, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 12-13-2003 01:45 PM                     For my part, I enjoy working for Carmike. Our district manager is great, my current complex manager is great, the service tech Carmike contracts with (Dan Jorgenson) is great...not much to complain about. That being said, I have heard plenty of negative things about Carmike, quite a few coming from the district just to the west of us (Montana). In the end I think I'd have to agree with Christopher, it all depends on local/district management.  |  IP: Logged Dennis Benjamin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1445 From: Denton, MD Registered: Feb 2002 posted 12-13-2003 11:00 PM                        I have said a lot of things about companies that I have previously worked for. It is always the same thing "6 in one or a half dozen in the other". All of them are pretty much the same. It depends on what stage the company is in when you go to work for them. I worked for Cobb Theatres for 5 years, I think Mr. Cobb (Bobby and his father) are great guys. I worked for Regal for 5 years, and I have the upmost respect for Mike Campbell. It is all the people underneath the head guys who mess everything up for us people in the field. When the companies start out - they are all 'independents', eventually they get bigger and more people are hired - and everyone becomes numbers. My advice is to start out small - and work into a bigger company later. Maybe you will luck out and get in on the ground floor of the next big thing. Then when you get promoted, people can come on this forum and complain about you. :-)  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 12-14-2003 10:53 AM                       Btw, I've gotten a couple of private messages echoing my sentiments about Cinemark. Guess they haven't changed after all.  |  IP: Logged Gary Crawford Expert Film Handler Posts: 200 From: Neptune NJ USA Registered: Nov 2003 posted 12-16-2003 02:19 PM                     Back in the 70s everything around here was Walter Reade (except for a couple small single-house indies) and they really weren't too bad to work for. The local managers dreaded visits by the brass. I hear they were brutal, but those old guys couldn't be bothered climbing way up into the sky to the booth so they left us alone. As long as our shows looked like they should have we never caught any grief from them. Reade closed and Music Makers and GCC took some of the houses. Again, not bad as the visiting brass never climbed up to see us. They ran a tight ship but kept the terror to a minimum, as far as the local managers were concerned. I work for a single-house indie now and the owner is the manager. We have our moments of course, but he is great to work for. Since we are so small, 11 employees total, we really are more like a family than most places. Dysfunctional perhaps, but still family.  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 12-17-2003 03:09 AM                        quote: I have been with Regal for almost 9 years now and have almost nothing but good things to say...however... You may be in an area that has bums for GM's and a worse DM. Good point, Chris. Before our drive-in owners' association was established, I only knew of a very few of Regal's districts; all of them in the West. I can't speak at all for management, but these areas are a mixed bag as far as the level of service they give their infrastructure (read: how often they change the oil in their projectors, among other things). Some theatres seem to get very good service, while others can have screens down for some time before they get service. The Eastern side of the country, from what I hear, seems somewhat more stable. In any case, I know of one senior tech that supervises a LOT of their theatres. They're on maintenance schedules, actually have a preventive plan, and there's an effort to teach the local operators enough about what's happening in the booth so they understand how much they can mess up a sound system when they get the urge to take a screwdriver to a CP65. Even with a chain, it seems there's a lot to be said for where you're at, and how far it is from corporate headquarters. In any case, I'm with Paul on this one... Per capita, Indies are best! ...not that I'm biased or anything!  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-19-2003 11:59 AM                     I've always only worked on Independent Chains and smaller mom and pop theatres and plan on keeping it that way. They easily excell at the exhibition end of things far better than the chains ever will, and these hard working people deserve good service! Although I really like all my customers the nicest ones by far are up north in Idaho, Montana, and over in Wyoming and Colorado. We have a customer in Wyoming whose theatres would make Hollywoods finest look bad! I'm always treated like family where ever I go out here and I treat my customers the same way. I also had very nice customers over in western Wisconsin and my customers in Northern Indiana gave you the Hoosier treatment when ever you were doing work for them. Those Hoosiers don't seem to have a worry in the world!! I'd have to add that in 22 years now of being in this buisness I've only ever dropped servicing two customers due to rudness, wanting to own every minuite of your time, or just plain stupidity. One was a large Independent Chain in the Western Chicago burbs and the other was an independent in LaGrange, Il. I also walked off one film in Philadelphia at the mid point of production. "Twelve Monkeys". It was all politics on that production and the Film Editors projectionist didn't get hired and so on and so forth...... Interestingly I service the Star of that films theatre! Mark  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

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.