My Movie Theater

So tonight could very well be the last time I ever work at surf and sand. I have worked there for almost four years (In April). There is a very good chance that it is closing very soon. There are some screwy things going on with the lease and because of numerous other factors. We haven't had a new movie in over a month so its a good sign. There are a million things wrong with the place. Our ice machine is broken, the heat is out in two theaters, the roof leaks profusely when it rains hard, our registers are over 20 years old, the projectors have multiple problems. I honestly believe that if someone put the money into the place to renovate it and fix a few things then it would gain alot of attendance back.

I have this tiny void within me with the idea that it will be shut down.(yes a very emo statement I know. But hear me out.) That place is such a big chapter of my life. I mean there were weeks at a time when I would spend more time there than I would at home sleeping. Hours upon countless hours walking up and down the hallways patrolling movie theaters, sweeping up an infinite amount of popcorn kernels, dealing with unruly customers. I have seen alot of people come and go. Made some friends. Got most of my friends to work there with me which was really great. But its just strange to think of that place just NOT being there anymore.

I've seen SOOOOO many movies there. Previews are the best! All of the employees together just watching a movie and cracking jokes at the same time. The best one probably was Alien Vs. Predator. The worst movies make the BEST previews. It was also really great seeing movies a few days before they actually came out.

I came to work there because it was one of my dream jobs. I mean in a basic sense. My ULTIMATE dream job is a film director, but a projectionist will do for now. Anyways. I was 15 and working at Chesapeake Bagel and the people at surf and sand would come in and order food. I would talk their ears off about how I would want to work there, but couldn't until I was 16. So when I was about to turn 16 I put in an application and got hired. Out of all the people that were working there when I started only less than 5 still work there. I still talk to a few of them that moved away.

A year goes by and I move from snack to door. and a little while after that I get trained in box. And around the third year I get trained in projection which is awesome. It really is such a great job. The projectors are very fickle machines. One wrong move could fuck up the entire film print. I don't think alot of people don't fully understand how they work. When you don't do projection for a while and come back, its like riding a bike.

So the next logical conclusion would be that I would become a supervisor. But because I goof off alot and had a tendency to not follow some ridiculous policies, I wasn't made a supervisor. But it was strange. When I left for college 60% of the floor staff left for college as well. After that the theater wasn't really the same again. The responsibilities of the different positions weren't held in as much high esteem. I mean positions that took me years to get promoted to took people months to do now.

So I left for college and had to get other jobs up in richmond, and i never have enjoyed any place that I've worked at since. In a totally mutant way we were kind of a family. So strange but kind of true.

I was mentally writing this post during my shift and I was going to write out a whole movie theater etiquette guide but being that it is 330 in the morning and I have alot! of stuff to do tomorrow before I leave early Saturday I need sleep.