NY Hairspray Screening Disaster — Page 7

In NYC there were people with the black passes that didnt even get in to the theatre. It was very clearly mismanaged. If the advance screening was bought out by the salon people, that would have been fine had they then had the presence of mind to tell New Line not to paper the event. Someone should have been able to figure out that they had too many people with the black and yellow passes for anyone else to get in.

The only way I could see them not knowing this information is if the theatre was changed to a smaller auditorium or if those yellow and black passes were duplicated, but given their glossy thicker cardstock, that wouldnt have been an easy accomplishment for most people (and knowing it happened in a few cities, I think someone was just inexperienced with event planning). Its a simple matter of ratios... you have x number of seats, you invite y number of people and paper z number of people to cover for at most a 5% wiggle room of people not showing up and any unused seats.

For me the worst part was that we were specifically told there were two screenings so even the staff at the AMC seemed to be misinformed as to what was going on that day, or maybe they were just trying to keep the crowd calm as they ushered in other people. When they sent one guy out there to tell everyone to disban (and two mins later someone else saying stay on the line), I could just sense a riot breaking out. Im sure they called the cops as a precaution to prevent such a thing from happening, but many people were ushered away without hearing any explanation, especially if they were at the end of the line. A number of people started asking other patrons what was going on which just led to a rise of rumors and misinformation. With conflicting knowledge from staff as late as 6:40pm, I understand the frustration. I was there for four hours, and fairly close to the door, I was sure I was going to get in.

When the blonde girl came out taking everyones email address, I wasnt exactly sure what that was supposed to solve, I guess she was going to put them on a list for future screenings but I dont know how that would have instilled confidence that it wouldnt happen again. I felt bad for her too, I didnt think it was her fault, she was probably a nobody and people were surrounding her yelling at her.

Its just unfortunate that so many people had to have such a lousy experience just trying to get into a movie.

I still think that some people are WAY over-reacting. It is a movie people.

It is not like we were all told there where weapons of mass distruction there....

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So was the site we got those passes owned my New Line? Because we gave out our personal information on it!

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Contact: Gordon Paddison: Gordon@paddison.com about the data-mining.

Whois Record
Registrant:
New Line Cinema
Gordon Paddison
116 N. Robertson .
Los Angeles, CA 90048
US
Email: Gordon@paddison.com

Registrar Name....: REGISTER.COM, INC.
Registrar Whois...: whois.register.com
Registrar Homepage: www.register.com

Domain Name: hairspraymovie.com

Created on..............: Fri, Mar 05, 2004
Expires on..............: Tue, Mar 05, 2013
Record last updated on..: Tue, Jan 17, 2006

Administrative Contact:
New Line Cinema
Gordon Paddison
116 N. Robertson .
Los Angeles, CA 90048
US
Phone: 001-310-9676615
Email: Gordon@paddison.com

Technical Contact:
New Line Cinema
Domain Administrator AOL
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Dulles, VA 20166
US
Phone: 001-703-2654670
Email: domains@aol.net

DNS Servers:

twdns-03.ns.aol.com
twdns-01.ns.aol.com
twdns-04.ns.aol.com
twdns-02.ns.aol.com

False Advertising? False Pretenses? Exactly. New Line Cinema gathered personal information from each person who requested a Screening Pass. Each Screening Pass had the name of that person printed on it as well as a Screening Pass Number#. This was a well organized attempt to gather information on potential moviegoers for future New Line Cinema films. The "free screening" was just a way to do it. They now have our street (mailing) addresses, e-mail addresses and favorite film genres stored in their database for future New Line cinema mailings/adverisements, etc. Good job New Line.

11/11/05, you raised some very good points.

If others let themselves be lied to and mistreated then by all means, enjoy your miserable lives as pushovers. However, others who were taught to stand up for themselves and not be lied to, will continue to make noise until this matter is addressed.

I hear what you're saying, JRybka. For what it's worth, I am actively involved in two of the causes you listed. It doesn't mean people can't get involved in smaller issues too. Besides, is it really any of your business to tell people what to fight for/how to live their lives? Couldn't the scenario be reversed on you? I could easily tell you that all the time you've wasted chastising people for their feelings could have been used toward one of the causes you listed. But I won't...because I don't tell people what to do/how to feel. I leave that to the current administration.

I don't like being lied to, whether it's by my family members, the current administration, my students, or in this case, the studio. I'm not going to roll over and say "Well, that's life." Some people want to live their lives like that, so be it. I wasn't raised to accept lies/mistreatment from anyone. I saw too many people shuffle away last night angry at being lied to but too timid to take a stand. I can't be one of those people. This poor policy will continue unless noise is made.

Updated On: 7/17/07 at 05:29 PM

I hear what you're saying, JRybka. For what it's worth, I am actively involved in two of the causes you listed. It doesn't mean people can't get involved in smaller issues too.

Exactly. I'm not going to tell myself, "Well, I won't complain to my doctor that they left a scalpel in my chest -- I mean, I could be trying to get a C-Section in Darfur..."

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KuhnKrazy~ I am not saying that we should not vocalize our disapointment for the fiasco that was Hairspray: The Preview but I am just saying that some people are treating it like it was the fall of western civilization that is all.

I guess I just find it humourous that people are screaming injustice and crimes against humanity about the whole deal.

I am all for emailing New Line Cinema. I do it all the time with television when they mess with my shows (i.e. BBC America and what they are doing to Hollyoaks) but to start a revolution (so to speak) sounds like a little extreme.

And actually, I do raise thousands upon thousand for AIDS charities. And I actually work on Capital Hill fighting for my basic rights (like being gay and not having many)

I guess I am just suprised how extreme some of the people are acting that was my point. Of course, words on a blog and seeing me actually voice my opinion can come off two completely different ways.

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Jimnysf~ Actually I did stand in line for hours in at the Washington DC one. So you comment seems to be null and void.

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Actually his comment is neither null or void because even though you stood online for hours you got to see the movie therefore have nothing to be upset about.

Exactly! Thanks for pointing that out!

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Actually I would be dissapointed but I would not have caused a major hissy fit. I guess I had the idea in my head that there may actually not be a chance that I won't get to see it. That there could be a big line or it just wasn't in the cards that day. I didn't put all my hopes and dreams on getting into THAT particular showing. Yes, I got into see it but really had I known that some people where THAT upset (declaring war againts not only New Line Cinema, Sebastian Hair Products and the such), I would have gladly given them my free passes (I won mine) and ponied up 10bucks for a ticket after the Friday.

If we did not get to see it, we had all decided that we would go across the street to the Cheesecake Factory.

We all knew that there standing in line that there could be a chance that one MAY not actually get in to see a show.

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Updated On: 7/18/07 at 10:57 AM