IFC Center
323 6th Avenue,
New York,
NY
10003
323 6th Avenue,
New York,
NY
10003
34 people
favorited this theater
Showing 101 - 125 of 202 comments
Well, I would rather see a projectionist get paid a livable wage, even $54 an hour, than see the money go into the rapacious Dolan/Cablevision’s pockets.
And the money they are saving by not paying union wages for projectionists is not reflected in the ticket prices, a hefty $10.75, which as far as I know is the highest in the city.
Anyone who has worked in the New York film industry can tell you that theatre managers have little control over the Union Projectionists. Diligent, hardworking and proud are words I can associate with many projectionists I have met around the world. Those words do not apply in New York where only a handful would qualify. The majority of New York projectionists behave like civil servants with jobs for life.
Perhaps the kid behind the counter can bring a little pride back to the job as he could actually get fired for not giving a damn.
Only in New York do theatres fail to open when it rains or snows because the projectionist won’t come to work. A living wage requires minimal standards. Local 306 demands professional wages for amateur work.
The lesson for the IFC Waverly is not to repeat Cineplex Odeon’s mistakes and corner themselves into incompetence overhead and lazy programming. They have already addressed the other issues.
Running a projector is not nuclear science and I am sure they will pay some conscientious NYU film student of their own choosing a fair rate.
Alvarez, I don’t see how “mainstream movies, shabby seating and bully unions” can be laid at the feet of the union projectionist trying to make a living wage. If the complant is “poor presentation” then maybe he manager should more carefully monitor the proceedings and advise his projectionist on any perceived flaws in the show. I’ve known and met many union projectionists over the past 30 years and every one of them were diligent, hardworking and proud to give the best possible presentation.
JackM, many union projectionists are important contributors to this site, so don’t be so “amused.”
Yeah, why should “fragile” Cablevision pay a projectionist a decent wage when the kid behind the candy counter can do both jobs (poorly) for the bare minimum.
Well said, Mr. Alvarez. Indeed, I am amused that a contributor to a site titled “Cinema Trasures” recommends support of the projectionists union, a business that seeks to act contrary to the best interests of the business of film exhibition.
The support is particularly poignant heard in coment about an exhibition business such as the IFC, a theater focused on so fragile a specie of cinema. I wonder if any commentors on this board have any film exhibition business management or ownership experience?
Aside from my personal thoughts about the operations practices, role and broad brush value of unions, the facts are clear on the subject of public opinion of labor unions operations in US. Support of unions, by both US individuals and the public as a whole, is in the tank.
A pragmatist, a realist, will likely comment that the public does not support unions because unions don’t work well for the majority of those affected by their operations.
Of course the operations focus of unions is revenue flow and salaries of officials, not the good or welfare of either their dues paying members or third party businesses at which uniion members are employed.
A person that supports the projectionist union activities at the IFC seeks to put a thoroughly unecessary expense in the operation of the “Cinema Treasure” at the former Waverly.
That person likely offers support of lip service, not funds, for either a doctrinaire reason or agenda not revealed. I’m not the person to argue or discuss their zealotry with those that cling fervently to idealistic theory or views not informed by experience.
I’ll lurk with interest though, as picket line supporters respond to your thoughtful position. I may comment, time to time, from knowledge gained over 45 years engagement in administration, architecture, design, development, construction, engineering and marketing in both manufacturing & retail business experience gained in both public and private ownership companies. Oh! I almsot forgot ……….. I am a union member. I am a SAG Principal Player with experience in more than six less than a dozen features.
I didn’t realize that the projectionist banner-wavers were standing, whining, behind the portable galvanized fences with the purpose to browbeat and dissuade customers from purchasing tickets. They should be ashamed of themselves for behaving so rudely to total strangers.
Couldn’t they better use the time looking for another job? Are picket line standees paid for their time in front of IFC?
I had my problems patronizing the theatre, but when I attended the show the pickets weren’t out there yet. They were there when I exited the theatre, though.
I wish I had waited and gone to see “The You, the Me…” because instead of paying $10.75 to see it at the IFC, I could have seen it for $5.50 at the Kew Gardens Cinema.
I love the Waverly and this site and I feel this forum is perfect for this discussion. If we deny that poor presentation, mainstream movies, shabby seating and bully unions closed the Waverly last time, we will lose it again. Cross the picket line and support the Waverly. The local leftists may be idealist but we are not stupid. We demand excellence and reasonable prices, not crap presentations and obsolete unions.
Good idea, Mr. VanBibber.
Dunno about your 699 other defining moments. The one in focus in this exchange is the one in which you suggested that IFC submit to histrionic pressure to conform to desires of a third party business with no liability in the matter and no money in the deal.
Sounds, to me, like a terrible idea.
Thanks for the accolade, by the way. I’m happy to have accomplished in 10 what took you 700. Communications are best conducted in concise, clear terms. I’m pleased to have done so.
Thank God there’s no organ at this theater…then things could get really messy.
In approximately 700 posts on this site, I’ve established and defined myself; in about 10 posts on this site, you’ve done the same for yourself, Jack. Case closed.
“Left leaning?” The understatement of the day. I imagine a seeker will need to go deeper than the molecular level to find a conservative in this ‘hood.
Having a picket line outside your theatre in a left-leaning neighborhood will definitely hurt its business. I’ve seen this personally in my own neighborhood.
first, br91975 wrote:
>>John Vanco, Jonathan Sehring, and the IFC management change their stance (or show some spine and demand a change) and hire union projectionists.<<
then, br91975 wrote:
>>I suggest you respect it by not utilizing its cloak by taking unwarranted swipes at others… <
What’s it gonna be, br91975, swipes or no swipes? Or maybe swipes are OK for you and not for others?
I stand by my comment, which was: It’s not great for one man to attempt to tell another how to run his business. You may applaud the idea and it may be “legal” in one jurisdiction or another but I surely don’t hold with the concept.
Moreover, I don’t think its a good business idea …… well, except for the party who’s successfully shoving his ideas down the other guys throat. In the case of labor union businesses, doesn’t the union shove it’s management ideas down the throat of both businesses and workers? Doesn’t sound great to me, br91975, though be my guest.
And by the way, as regards your “I’d defend to the death your right to do so.” Properly dramatic, your statement, though please do NOT come to defend me. I’ll handle it myself.
AMC and all the other theaters in Fla and here in Asheville, NC have the managers and regular staff run the projectors. I remember when I worked at the Festival in 80-82, Ben the projectionest there was making $54.oo and hours.
The projectionists at the former Cineplex Odeon Waverly were always late, incompetent, overpaid and could care less about the theatre. Hurrah to the IFC for confronting the dinosaur bullies from local 306. New York movie-goers have experienced the worse projection in the Northeast for too many years. Maybe the IFC will pioneer the first good presentation in the village. Poor standards, closed shop, defending incompetence, and demanding unrealistic wages is what Local 306 brings to th etable. I hope AMC tosses them out as well and hires people who have to do their job right unstead of hide behind a union contract because they can’t be bothered. As a Union supporter I feel Local 306 is an example of why Unions get a bad rap. I will happily cross this picket line.
I saw the projectionist picketing a week or so, and spoke two one or two that were on the line. I made the decision to not patronize the IFC until a change is made and union projectionists are hired. The “Independent” in IFC doesn’t mean “independent” of the standards and ethics of the theater business. But in this current climate of apathy I’m not surprised they made that move.
Yet another case of a corporation (Cablevision) thinking that they can do whatever they damn please without any reprecussion. Screw that!
You can obviously disagree with me, Jack; it’s your right and, to borrow from the classic expression, I’d defend to the death your right to do so. What I DON’T agree with is you tying me and my pro-union stance with two well-known organized crime figures. The facts are, you don’t know me and you paint what I believe, the positive effects I saw unions have on my family, on my father to provide for my family growing up, and for myself when I was a member of unions, with an extreme broad brush. Are there – have there been – corrupt union officials and individuals who muscled in and manipulated unions, individuals such as Jimmy Hoffa and John Gotti? Absolutely. But there are plenty of legitimate, honest unions that provide for and defend their members, and my respect for the good that the vast majority of unions do VIA THROUROUGHLY LEGAL MEANS is what has ultimately been the deciding factor in my decision to not patronize or otherwise support the IFC Center until they hire unionized projectionists.
Part of the beauty of this message board is the option of anonymity it provides its members with. I suggest you respect it by not utilizing its cloak by taking unwarranted swipes at others… you know, the ‘decent’ and ‘common sense thing(s)’ to do…
Jimmy Hoffa, John Gotti and others surely will applaud your idea that the concept of one man muscling into another’s business is “decent.”
I urge that you and the union leave managmement of IFC to Vanco and others who are qualifed. Thats the “common sense thing” to do.
I have to admit I haven’t been able to bring myself to see a film at the IFC Center, despite the one-man hype machine I was acting as last month. I grew up in a liberal, pro-union family and every time I walked by the IFC Center the last couple of weeks, I was tempted to go in and see ‘Me and You and Everyone We Know’, but then I’d look at the projectionist union members protesting, at one point reading their hand-out flier, and continue walking my way down 6th Avenue. I did see ‘Me and You’ when I was in Boston earlier this week, enjoyed it enormously, and want to see it at least another one or two times; those opportunities won’t come until John Vanco, Jonathan Sehring, and the IFC management change their stance (or show some spine and demand a change) and hire union projectionists. It’s the decent and common sense thing to do.
I made my first there this weekend to see “Me & You and Everyone We Know” and really like the theatre, if not the movie. I was in Cinema 2 upstairs and the seats are comfortable and sight lines appear to be pretty good.
One complaint is the bathroom situation. When will these theatre owners learn? Only two bathrooms on the second floor, both unisex, and there are two theatres. There will be long waits if they get any kind of crowd.
As a life-long New Yorker, and frequenter of The Waverly for years, I can appreciate the naysayers' take that this might be a high-gloss corporate brand adopting pseudo-hip garb at the new IFC Center. But I basically applaud it and expect good things. They (IFC) have reason to make the place a true innovator and maintain the spirit of the original Waverly, and not just another “art house” venue. I for one am hopeful that they do this and listen to the film-loving community. Though I do agree with other posters here that we’ll still call it “The Waverly”.
“bold” of IFC to showcase short alternative works?"
Welllll… I wouldn’t say “bold.” I would say it’s a marketing stance, and, the concensus among contributors to this board appears to approve of the marketing position taken. So be it.
They’re surely not for me. I’m not crazy about the navel gazing displayed. In fairness, I must reveal I’m not crazy about George Lucas' navel gazing either.
“bold” of IFC to showcase short alternative works?"
Welllll… I wouldn’t say “bold.” I would say it’s a marketing stance, and, the concensus among contributors to this board appears to approve of the marketing position taken. So be it.
They’re surely not for me. I’m not crazy about the navel gazing displayed. In fairness, I must reveal I’m not crazy about George Lucas' navel gazing either.
Yeah, and the fact these are alternative films that rarely are shown except at Avent Gaurd film festivals is diffinatly a plus, although these are new digital artists instead of Brackhage classics or that sort, but who knows, they just opened (they’ll be showing a new short every week). It’s nice to see this type of filmmaking at a commerical cinema verses at a film festival or college setting. Vanco is on to something here, the Angelika ought to take notice.
Decades ago, it was common to run short subjects before a main feature. I like the idea of restoring this tradition.