The new CEO of AMC is a moron
16Hey there, twentysomethings, are you all idiots with absolutely no self-control or respect for others? I don't think so, but apparently Adam Aron does. I won't link to the dangerous motherfucker's dumbass interview with Variety, because I didn't even bother to read it, and he's proven to me that you shouldn't either (I've seen the quote in enough context). Instead, here's what Tim League at Alamo Drafthouse has to say (much more politely than I would have).
Tim League Responds to Texting in-the Theater
God bless you, Tim.
In case you haven't seen them, here are a couple of Alamo's ads:
In fairness, there are plenty of inconsiderate, oblivious, self-absorbed assholes out there who do text or check Facebook or whatever the fuck else they fucking feel the need to do with their goddamned phones--sometimes every fucking five or ten or 15 minutes--in the middle of the rest of us trying to watch a movie. But they shouldn't be catered to; they should be flogged. And while they may disproportionately impact the rest of us, they're by no means the majority--of any particular demographic, least of all of all movie-goers--and, nope, they're not more important than the rest of us either.
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I really don't see the problem. I can't imagine that there is enough demand for this to actually exist, but if there really is a market for people who want to text during movies enough to go to special screenings, then let them do it! Get them out of normal theaters! It seems like the arguments against it are:
1) Film is art and should be enjoyed in a specific way
2) People should just not use their phones
3) How dare you say that about millenials
To which I would say
1) Yeah but Alamo has screenings where everyone can quote along with a movie which, to me, is 1000% more annoying and disruptive than someone texting. Also waiters running around and shit. Shut up Tim League. Idiot.
2) Yeah but in a world where this is a "good business strategy" (which I don't think it is) then people obviously won't
3) MILLENIALS
Paging @chadp for counter-counter-point
@Moose I agree with the idea of segregating folks who can't bear to not look at their phones, especially if it were accompanied by a stricter--and strictly-enforced--policy against that kind of behavior in normal showings.
@Moose 1) You're misrepresenting the argument. It's not that film can or should only be experienced a particular way. The point is that when a group of strangers gathers in a theater to see--presumably most of them for the first time--a movie, the default, polite behavior is to not introduce unnecessary distractions, but allow space for the film itself, hell, even if it's shitty. But certainly if the movie is any good, it should be granted a degree of respect.
Again, if you want to create special viewings that allow who-the-fuck-cares-whatever shit, that's fine.
But the argument for a default to silent blackness is more than reasonable, especially to the extent that we recognize that film is or can be art. Beyond that, hell, I hate the stupid fucks who, when I'm trying to listen to a speech or even just attend to a meeting, feel the need to talk to me and, ha ha, make dumbass remarks that they think are clever. When you have the stage--or, yeah, in the right context--make all of the noise you want.
Just as importantly, what you're suggesting is that folks should remain attached to their devices and the rest of us should just deal with it. Bullshit. If your phone is that fucking important to you, fine; take your goddamned phone someplace else and you to have a nice time together. We don't like your phone. Your phone is an asshole. Tell it to shut the fuck up.
@Moose 1 (your response) ) So this is funny, because you're suggesting that the idea that sometimes there are special showings where people quote along to the movie is in itself intrinsically offensive to you. As, apparently, is the idea that there are places where people can knowingly go and be served food with their movie. Don't you see that this is a little hypocritical in light of your snarky dismissal in framing point #1 in the first place. And, well, just stupid. I actually mostly agree with the food thing. I don't think anyone's done this right yet. But I'll just avoid those theaters.
@Moose I don't even get your responses to #2 and #3. But I'll be honest, I don't think you've summed up the arguments at all well anyway. So, yaknow, whatever, that's just like your opinion.
@joelmw We're on the same page. I'm not arguing that people should text all willy-nilly in theaters (they shouldn't), I'm saying that if the AMC guy really thinks there are so many people that want to text during movies that he can make special showings for them to go to and profit off that, then that is an okay thing for him to do. I am not offended by the quote-a-longs that Alamo does, nor their food; I love those dinner-theater places and go to them as often as possible. But for a guy who runs one of those theaters to say texting in designated theaters is an affront to the cinematic art is hypocritical and dumb.
Let me be clear: I don't think people are as attached to their phones as AMC guy thinks, but if he really thinks they are, then offering those people a different theater to not bother others is fine. Same with a special theater that allows crying babies or people who crunch their food.
@Moose For the sake of commerce, if AMC wants to have texting-ok showings, that's fine. I don't think it will be as successful as they think.
I'm the guy that yells across a theater telling people to put their phone away, so I'm obviously against this. I want a certain experience in a theater, and phones take away from it. Same with talking. I'll give you a couple whispers to your friend or partner, but stop it.
In terms of Drafthouse as an example, I think that the experience of a quote-along vs. text here show is clear. You go to a quote along for a certain experience, a "whole crowd" experience. Texting in the theater is uniquely selfish and experience-less.
What I like about Drafthouse is that the servers are trained to be less distracting, and I sometimes never noticed them, compared to Studio Movie Grill, where I have to communicate with the staff.
I think the movie problem is deeper than "we can't text here." What I'm afraid this will cause is a situation where I can't see a movie because the time I want to go is a texting-allowed show.
But whatever.
Goddamnit, @Moose, don't be so agreeable.
@ChadP Everything you said. @Moose, everything @ChadP said.
@Moose our local theater group just banned all persons under 12 from all R rated movies. I highly approve of this decision since I will no longer hear crying babies ruin those movies.
I feel this is missing some context.
The AMC world headquarters is not far from my house and I've got a lot of friends over there . . . they're being bombarded with "I'll never go to AMC again" calls and emails - and they're being killed on social media. Expect this texting in a theater issue to go away in the next couple of hours (or sooner) to be replaced by the story on how they fucked up big time and changed their mind.
Bottom line - it is NEVER going to happen.
@Pavlov They've already walked it back, sort of. But I think they deserve all the shit they've received. It just sets the wrong tone.
@joelmw Expect a small press conference and (something of a much larger issue) a major shareholder conference call before 5PM central today. Lobby cards are being printed with the no-texting position and they're shooting two commercials this weekend backing away from the text friendly showings and they're rush producing a 30 second leader to be played on screen before every showing clarifying their position - which is NO TEXTING ALLOWED. They're considering what they are going to have to do short of ejection as many people are going to be confused about the entire issue and think it is okay to pull out their phones.
They're going to be handing out a lot of passes, IMO.
Adam Aron might want to be calling headhunters . . .
@Pavlov
@Pavlov I think this is maybe the best case scenario. Stupid remark turns into renewed commitment to do the right thing.
@joelmw They were actually seriously considering this - focus / opinion groups had been impaneled . . .
Only in America. SMH.
@Pavlov
I don't mind special Rocky Horror style showings, as ling as they are labeled and advertised as such. As for the rest of it...i see most films at home, and multitask as much as i want, as long as others arent distubed. If a film is good, and it's a 1st viewing for me, i'm not multitaaking.
I pull out my phone every chance i get in daily life, like everyone else, but i don't have cell conversations in bathrooms or elevators unless i am certain i am alone and likely so remain alone.....And i put away my phone in a theater, because the light will bother other people and interrupt the flow. Sometimes i'm bored and want to get it out, or i think of something clever to say, but i dont. If the film is good enough for me to sit thru it, i'm not messing up the experience for others.
If i were alone in a theater, i still doubt anyone would be all that interested in my clever texts.
Came for:
VERY disappointing OP!
@therealjrn I was going to make a Gremlin joke, but I see I got here late. Still, I found a photo of a purplish one, so
@brhfl yeah, dang. Really late to party. Was going to include a Pacer, just for fun.
That said, I might be the only guy posting that owns an AMC. Though probably not the only one who wishes he also had that Javelin.
I say if a phone screen is too distracting for you then you're a terrible movie watcher! boo to you!
Every theater already has a place for people to check their phones. It's called THE LOBBY! It's not like obsessive phone people are paying attention to the movie anyway.
When I read the headline, I was expecting something about the Gremlin 2.
@SSteve That's alright I thought it was going to be about The Walking Dead!
I want a theater where everyone is watching the same movie on their phones. And the big screen is showing our Twitter feeds.
I think everything should pander to the ADD generation.
Just saw on the news today that they scrapped the idea of texting during movies. "Left on the cutting room floor"
People and phones, just one of the reasons I'd rather watch a movie at home. Home screens are big enough now and sound systems are good enough now that I see no real advantage to being in a room with other annoying people.
@pitamuffin I find that comedies, including very good comedies, are much, much funnier when you're surrounded by a laughing crowd; similarly the simultaneous tension and breath-holding in a horror movie multiplies the experience.
@madamehardy I agree with that. It's a shared experience that makes it fun for some movies.
@canuk
When i first saw Firestarter i lived in Manhattan. At the end, when Drew B and Gramps go to the NY Times to expose all, you see them entering the NY Times building front door.
Someone in the audience yelled "Drew, burn it down!".
Best moment in the film.
Films I see in the theater are often ruined by hoppers; people who didn't even pay to see the movie I came to watch. Also the sticky floors they leave behind. Like howler-monkey/slug hybrids. Of course, I like to keep a running commentary on the film myself, which I have to suppress in a crowd of strangers. I do understand the social experience of a movie, but in a crowd of strangers, all of whom have different rules, it isn't as good. Plus, at home I can pause and -30s the film if a particularly cutting comment overrides dialog. Sometimes, though, you just have to see it on the big screen. But put away your phones, please.
I'm waiting for the "screaming toddlers are encouraged" screenings.