Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Working Holidays/4th of July

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Topic: Working Holidays/4th of July

Ian Price
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1714
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 99

posted 07-04-2000 10:10 PM

As I sit here on the 4th of July, bemoaning my very existence and wishing I were at a fireworks display with a jumpy girl who would cling to me after each explosion...

Whoops, get back to the subject.

I have always worked for large chains in competitive markets. We only canceled one show each year. We don't run the last show on Christmas Eve. Do any of you cancel more than this?

I was thinking of no last show on July 4th, Christmas Eve, New Years Eve. I also think it would be cool if we could leave the theatre dark for one day around the holidays, perhaps a Monday in early December. What are your thoughts?

On another related subject. Does anyone pay his or her staff time and a half for holidays? I want to, but I haven't run the numbers yet or decided which holidays. Do you have any thoughts or suggestions?

I worked all those holidays as a staff member and groused that management didn't pay extra. Now I'm the guy and I am still wrestling the same question.

Two members of my staff didn't show up this evening. But because the attendance declined, they weren't really missed.

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Ian Price
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1714
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 99

posted 07-04-2000 11:39 PM

The 4th of July!

Total Attendance = 388

Attendance After Dark = 41

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Kenn Fong
Film Handler

Posts: 47
From: Oakland, CA 94610 USA
Registered: Aug 1999

posted 07-05-2000 12:02 AM

Ian, I think you should pay time and a half if for no other reason than to thank anyone loyal enough to show up instead of calling with some some lame excuse.

Otherwise you risk burning out your loyal staff -- who are probably underpaid considering what they could get at other retail outlets or online businesses -- and engendering bitterness.

I wouldn't be working in a movie house at my age except for the fact that I love movies and write them... I was offered twice what I'm getting to work in retail.

kenn

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Aaron Mehocic
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 804
From: New Castle, PA, USA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 07-05-2000 12:08 AM

We cancel our 7:00's and 9:00's on Christmas Eve every year. We also cancelled our 9:00's on December 31, 1999, because we couldn't get a staff that wanted to work when the Y2K hit. Most wanted to be out drinking than being afraid of the computers crashing. As to a dark day in early December, how about a dark week! Imagine the maintence I could get done in the booth without rushing to get everything back together by noon. I do most of my work in the mornings. An old manager told me that back in the 1920's and 30's being down a week in November or December was common place for building and machine maintenance. Anybody know if thats true? About time-and-a-half, we never get it and I was told the reasoning is that we are considered seasonal employment and exempt from overtime wages. Anybody know if thats true?

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Tom Ferreira
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 203
From: Conway, NH, USA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 07-05-2000 08:40 AM

That 'seasonal employment' thing sounds like bull to me for a business operating year round. Check with a Pennsylvania labor board. The laws are different in every state, but I would still think you'd have to get time and a half over forty hours.

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Lance C. McFetridge
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 135
From: Penn Yan, New York
Registered: Jul 99

posted 07-06-2000 01:46 PM

We never play evening shows on Christmas Eve, or matinee shows on Chrismas day, But our evening shows on Christmas are usually well attended. When my staff is working on holidays, I am sure to rotate them so no one works every holiday, and for those that do work, always find either lunch or dinner delivered to the theatre right after the first round goes off. But I think they finally figured out who was sending it.

lance

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Richard C. Wolfe
Master Film Handler

Posts: 250
From: Northampton, PA, USA
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 07-06-2000 10:58 PM

In Pennsylvania theatres are exempt from paying overtime!

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Jason Black
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1723
From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 12-22-2002 10:57 AM

There are many states that are exempt from paying overtime in the 'entertainment industry'. This translates down to movie theatres, amusement parks and other venues.

I can't agree with it, but it's the way it is. I recall not long ago UA got socked with a state or federal judgement aginst them for failing to pay overtime to a theatre employee. I don't recll the specifics of the ruling, but I do recall reading it in the local paper andthinking what if it happened to us here....??

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Charles Everett
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1470
From: New Jersey
Registered: May 2001

posted 12-27-2002 02:41 PM

Talk about a working holiday: Fox is giving you a double shot for New Year's Day.

Antwone Fisher goes national on 1/1 from its "Oscar Bait" opening at Xmas. Just Married has a sneak preview on New Year's Night.

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Mike Spaeth
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1129
From: Marietta, GA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 12-27-2002 03:48 PM

Due to the underperforming of "Antwone Fisher," Fox is greatly scaling back it's rollout of the movie. For instance, all Kansas City market playdates for 1/1 were pulled.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 12-27-2002 11:07 PM

Seems like I used to work every holiday under the sun when I worked in TV. Since becomming a film technician I have had most holidays off, with only an occasional emergency call thrown in to remind me of the good ole days.
Mark

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Charles Everett
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1470
From: New Jersey
Registered: May 2001

posted 12-28-2002 09:05 AM

Mike S: Thanks for correcting me. Fox has moved the national break of Antwone Fisher back to 1/10.

Oh, well, a quiet New Year's Day . . . then About Schmidt (possibly Chicago, too) on 1/3 and a pile-up on 1/10.

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Rachel Craven
Madam Moderator

Posts: 2190
From: Pensacola, FL
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 12-28-2002 02:51 PM

This year I worked the 4th of July, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Presidents Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, went in Christmas Day but got sent home by the other manager due to snow (I had a longer drive), I'm working New Years Eve, and New Years Day. There are probably more but I can't think of them. I think I figured out pretty much every holiday except Christmas Eve. [Smile]

Don't you love this industry!

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