Yep, it's really taken seriously...

[LillFilly]

I'm beginning to hate the movie theater. The one where I work in particular. Not only do I see people getting away with lots of crap, like bringing-in the food, oversized bags, and talking and texting in the theaters, the employees are powerless to do anything!

If the employee stops someone with food, they're overruled. If the employee tries to check a bag, the customer refuses, complains, and gets a free ticket.

One employee that I talked to has told people to put away their phones when he catches them during theater checks. They complained to the manager and got...free tickets and an apology! Never mind that one of the people he spoke to regarding the phone shoved him!

And then he told me this gem. He just caught a woman filming in the one of the theaters. She had her video camera propped-up on the banister, red light shining, etc. He brings her down to the office to speak with the managers. (Federal offense, plus a bonus of $1,000 to an employee that catches filming) The managers didn't want to do paperwork that late at night and so told the woman 'just stop filming' and sent her back to the movie! Of course they never documented the incident either, so the employee didn't get recognized nor did he get the bonus, and now there's a nice bootlegged copy out there. I think she got a free movie ticket for the 'inconvenience' too!

They employees really have no reason for even being there, since every decision they make is vetoed by the managers, and they are essentially kept from doing their jobs. I hate this theater and am going to write it's corporate office. Not that that did anything the last time.

[Tuxian]

Yes, you, and the other employees that are being constantly overruled by management need to go to corporate, NOW. Also, you need to get the employee that caught the bootlegger to contact the maker of the movie that was being filmed, I very much doubt that the studio will enjoy being told that their rules regarding movies being filmed are ignored at the store level because "We don't want to do the paperwork." Get that asshat of a manager under some VERY powerful microscopes, and then stand back and watch the fireworks. And don't stop enforcing the policies, keep doing your job and calling out these people who bring in food, etc. If management overrules you, and keeps giving out free movie passes, eventually someone up the chain is going to be asking "Why is this theater having so many free passes given out?" Protect your job, let the management dig their own graves.

[Teskeria]

I second Tuxian. Especially the call to the studio. Let the employee tell them, 'I caught her filming, brought her to management and they didn't want to fill out the paperwork, so they gave her a free ticket and sent her back to the movie, WITH the video camera and the film. So she has all but 10 minutes of the movie.'

[The cat whisperer]

As a former manager I third! I'm not sure which company you work for but go to corporate to cover yourself if nothing else. The studios have ways of tracking where bootlegs come from (theatre not the actual filmer) and are not afraid to confront the proper company and theatre. And, if the managers are ignoring company policies regarding outside food and oversize bags then corporate needs to know. Again, just to cover your own backside if it comes down to it.

[eltf177]

I don't think the studios will be happy with management letting this asshat get away with this. I see the chain getting boycotted from getting any new films very quickly for allowing her to get away with bootlegging.

[Jay Fear]

As a victim of weak willed managers (albeit ones who are at least nice) I can say that it's all you can do really. Even if you aren't looking at this job long term it needs to be done, and there's nothing like angry movie studios and corporate HQ to motivate lazy or spineless types.

Good luck!

[Marszenka]

I really don't understand the 'Outside Food' rule. The main service a theater provides is showing films, not feeding people, so doesn't that rule create a monopoly on food? And isn't that completely illegal? I have to admit that I wouldn't be happy if someone checked my bag---I always bring in a thermos of water. I wouldn't pitch a fit about it, however. Even if I don't agree with a rule I'm sane enough to admit that I'm breaking it.

The filming, though, that's ridiculous. That's outright theft, and your managers should have taken care of it! At LEAST confiscated her camera until the movie was over. I mean, for crying out loud. *headdesk* That's just pathetic.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I really don't understand the 'Outside Food' rule. The main service a theater provides is showing films, not feeding people, so doesn't that rule create a monopoly on food?

As I understand it, concessions are where the profit is for movie theaters.

I very highly doubt this constitutes an "illegal monopoly."

[fireheart]

The food one I can understand.

The rest of it....corporate. Now.

Alternately, a nice call to the local constabulary should do wonders for the lady with the camera

[bainsidhe]

I'd file a complaint with both corporate and the studios. Cutting me out of a thousand-dollar bonus isn't just normal management fail, this is my livelihood. I'd make sure the karma burns.

[joe hx]

And then he told me this gem. He just caught a woman filming in the one of the theaters. She had her video camera propped-up on the banister, red light shining, etc. He brings her down to the office to speak with the managers. (Federal offense, plus a bonus of $1,000 to an employee that catches filming) The managers didn't want to do paperwork that late at night and so told the woman 'just stop filming' and sent her back to the movie! Of course they never documented the incident either, so the employee didn't get recognized nor did he get the bonus, and now there's a nice bootlegged copy out there. I think she got a free movie ticket for the 'inconvenience' too!

You could always leave an anonymous tip to the FBI.

[Broomjockey]

As I understand it, concessions are where the profit is for movie theaters.

I very highly doubt this constitutes an "illegal monopoly."

You're correct about the profits, and also about the not being a monopoly. Except, apparently, in Germany. Go figure. But they've likely got higher prices all-around.

[EricKei]

The food one I can understand.

The rest of it....corporate. Now.

Yup. This.

Agreed. Not really a monopoly, tho it is dangerously close -- BUT it is true that concessions are where the money comes from for theaters; the studios (I'm looking at YOU, LucasArts) often get most or all of the box office money for the first few weeks or a release, and likely still "most" of it thereafter. Then again, governmental bodies ARE allowed to grant exemptions for "legalized monopolies". Where I live, power is monopolized, and cable service was until satellite really took off. The head of a major cable provider here (rhymes with rocks) supposedly said -- in public -- that "competition for the cable dollar is BAD for the consumer". Said former head of cable company later became Mayor.

Me, I just eat dinner before I go to the movie...

[Zellie Crescent]

I had an ex boyfriend who I'll refer to as B, had a cousin who worked in a movie theater. I remember one time he told me his cousin delt with a similar situation, and she told the guy she would hold onto the camra for the rest of the film or he could be escorted out by security right then and there. Apparently it took four guys to get him out the door and he was banned for life. She told her manager and he contacted all other appropriate parties to let them know what happened.

[LillFilly]

I gave the employee everyone's suggestions. He said he would like to report the managers to corporate, but he also knows that there would be serious retaliation against him and he really needs his job. I guess it would be a 50/50 chance of either the managers getting fired and him getting commended, or the managers being investigated, nothing being done, and him getting fired for ratting them out.

I don't know if something like this is reportable to the FBI; I wonder how much information they need; names of the managers, name of the movie, etc.?