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I read this in Yahoo News today and wondered if all theatres let actors in for free all the time. If I got a big name actor up here in the mountains I would be thrilled and probably let him/her in for free, but I sure wouldn't do it as a standard practice--Oscar contender movie or not. I do have a member of the Academy, who has even won an Academy Award himself, who frequents my theatre several times a year. He has always paid and has never even hinted at free admission. Of course he has class.

When did NATO make this decision anyway? I wasn't advised of it. You can all laugh now like any of them would come here anyway, but that's not the point. Here's the article:

"Hollywood Actors in Ballot Protest
Thu Feb 6, 1:42 AM ET Add Movies - Reuters to My Yahoo!


By Dave McNary

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Rank-and-file members of the Screen Actors Guild (news - web sites) have launched a grassroots campaign to leave ballots blank in film categories while voting for SAG Awards.



They are upset at the decision by movie theater owners to take away their free-admission perk during awards season.


"This is a slap in the face to SAG members," said actor Brian Hamilton, who initiated the campaign through his Web site, [url=http://www.idotvads.com.]http://www.idotvads.com.[/url] "So leaving the film part of the ballot blank is an appropriate protest."


SAG warned members last week that some exhibitors were no longer following past practice of accepting paid-up SAG cards for admission to nominated films, and added that it was attempting to persuade the chains to relent. The National Assn. of Theater Owners refused to comment.


"People have to understand this is a financial decision between exhibitors and studios," SAG spokeswoman Ilyanne Kichaven said. "Since members were admitted free in previous years, they had become accustomed to the practice."


The 2,100 members of SAG's nominating committee were allowed into screenings before film nominations in five categories were announced on Jan. 28. All 98,000 members will vote on the nominations, with ballots going out Tuesday and winners announced March 9.


Members of Hollywood's writers and directors guilds have not lost their freebie privileges since their numbers are dwarfed by SAG's 98,000-strong contingent."

They should remember that it’s a courtesy, not a benefit nor a requirement.

We have honored cards during award season. We have denied cards during the summer.

Since the distributors WANT their movie to be seen by voting members of the Academy, wouldn't they reimburse the theatres for those admissions "for your consideration"? At the very least, there should be way of admitting Academy members and not including their pass in the reported boxoffice used to calculate film rental.

Although the distributors do arrange special screenings in production center cities, many Academy members prefer to see the films at their local theatre.

If a SAG member is not a voting member of the Academy, why would they have a right to ask for free admission?

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
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In Los Angeles, you have more guilds than you can shake a stick at. Writers guild, Actors guild, Directors guilds, even a Producers guild. Then you have craft, or what are commonly called 'below the line', organizations for Editors, Sound Editors, etc. What they all have in common is each one hosts an awards ceremony specifically designed for the members of their craft. Many local theaters honor membership cards from these various organizations for admission to movies the studios have a sniff of getting an award. This is usually starts around October, I think.

It use to be just Academy members were offered this courtesy but then, everybody and thier damn dog jumped on the bandwagon. ESPECIALLY ACTORS.

There are more than enough opportunities to see industry or guild sponsored screenings on the lots of studios. I receive tons of notices each week telling me where they are. I personally view this as just another whiney child who thinks the world owes him a living...oh, crud, I'm going to stop while I'm ahead.

[This message has been edited by Jon (edited February 13, 2003).]

I think if a famous personality visited my theater I would let him or her in for free if it were a one time deal. But like all of us the stars are a diverse lot. Some of them are as ordinary as you and I and would think nothing of paying to get into your theater. That's the trouble with blanket articles like the one you read Burney.