Austin Film Critics Association Takes Stand Against Alamo Drafthouse Mobile Ordering; Critics group adds voice to chorus of complaints about movie theater chain’s new phone policy
Austin Film Critics Association Takes Stand Against Alamo Drafthouse Mobile Ordering; Critics group adds voice to chorus of complaints about movie theater chain’s new phone policy
>The Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA) strongly condemns the Alamo Drafthouse’s plan to implement a mobile-based ordering system during film screenings.
>”Don’t talk. Don’t text.” has been the Drafthouse’s mission statement since its earliest days as a single-screen cinema in Austin. Its growth into a national cinematic institution has been in no small part due to audiences knowing they can have a disturbance-free experience, and that staff will intervene to prevent the distraction of cellphone usage.
>Removing the paper option and call buttons for ordering and assistance, instead forcing people to use their phone during screenings, is the antithesis of what made the Drafthouse what it is. As press, we seek to appreciate films in optimal conditions, and this shift does not support that.
>Aside from the simple matter of increased distraction, the new process puts staff in an impossible position of policing the ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ kind of phone usage, opening the system to abuse, and the potential for piracy. This is particularly worrying as Drafthouse locations are often used for festival and pre-release screenings, potentially damaging the ability of filmmakers to get distribution.
>Furthermore, we stand with Drafthouse theater staff: replacing human interaction with automation threatens the livelihood of the dedicated workers who are the backbone of the Alamo experience and will diminish the experience for customers.
>Moreover, the new process is discriminatory at multiple levels: against those who either do not have or do not wish to have a cell phone, that can’t or don’t want to use online payments, and against customers with disabilities that may require more assistance, especially those with visual impairments that make ‘dark mode’ apps unusable.
>As a critics association, we ask our PR partners to join us in condemning this shift, and to be cognizant of our position when scheduling press and promotional screenings. As the Drafthouse’s own PSAs put it: keep your devices dark, silent, and out of sight.
Snow88 on
Super dumb, the paper method works great.
IniNew on
Not shocking Sony is trying to do this. Alamo is a movie theater I went out of my way to go to for the experience. The pre-movie rolls, the solid pizza, the fun experience showings, and most of all: no bright ass screens popping up in the audience during the movie. Shit change.
kgb17 on
Do you know what’s distracting during a movie? It’s people constantly walking in and out going up and down rows dropping off food and then right during the important moments at the end to have them come in and drop a bunch of checks off.
I would be fine if they went away with the waiter food service entirely.
Canavansbackyard on
Disappointing to say the least. Theaters offer a unique experience when it comes to watching movies. Why then do theater owners want to make the experience as much as possible like sitting in your own living room where you’re free to talk and look at your phone?
Squibbles01 on
Alamo Drafthouse was the only theater I really liked going to anymore with them actually enforcing the rules on no distractions, but of course all these corporations want to do is enshittify the things I like.
whyheonlysayneat on
They are hanging on by a thread… don’t make the situation worse..
superdudeman64 on
Alamo is the only theater I’ll see a horror movie at. I’ve been burned too many times by people talking in the past and Alamo has been such a great space for peace that I gladly dive 40min just to know I won’t have to deal with talking.
If they add this stupid phone ordering, I my as well just get an AMC membership.
DoctorDrangle on
We don’t have this company where I live, but I already stopped going to movies because everyone was on their phones and talking.
Frankie_Soup on
The first time I went to the drafthouse I was very excited given their reputation for curating an ideal theater experience. Particularly, a very strict no phone policy to avoid distractions.
Well very quickly after the movie began, someone’s phone loudly went off. “What are the odds?” I thought. I guess I’d see the policy in action. Absolutely nothing happened. On top of that, when the food trays arrived I could hardly pay attention to the movie. Clinking and moving around all at once. I brought this up to a friend recently and he told me I should have “written down on the paper that someone had used their phone.” I might as well just tell them to put it away myself. So this policy is really no different than an AMC, if you’re not willing to create more interruptions to stop the phones then you waive the white flag. I think the drive in was more audience friendly than Alamo drafthouse.
10 Comments
Full statement:
>The Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA) strongly condemns the Alamo Drafthouse’s plan to implement a mobile-based ordering system during film screenings.
>”Don’t talk. Don’t text.” has been the Drafthouse’s mission statement since its earliest days as a single-screen cinema in Austin. Its growth into a national cinematic institution has been in no small part due to audiences knowing they can have a disturbance-free experience, and that staff will intervene to prevent the distraction of cellphone usage.
>Removing the paper option and call buttons for ordering and assistance, instead forcing people to use their phone during screenings, is the antithesis of what made the Drafthouse what it is. As press, we seek to appreciate films in optimal conditions, and this shift does not support that.
>Aside from the simple matter of increased distraction, the new process puts staff in an impossible position of policing the ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ kind of phone usage, opening the system to abuse, and the potential for piracy. This is particularly worrying as Drafthouse locations are often used for festival and pre-release screenings, potentially damaging the ability of filmmakers to get distribution.
>Furthermore, we stand with Drafthouse theater staff: replacing human interaction with automation threatens the livelihood of the dedicated workers who are the backbone of the Alamo experience and will diminish the experience for customers.
>Moreover, the new process is discriminatory at multiple levels: against those who either do not have or do not wish to have a cell phone, that can’t or don’t want to use online payments, and against customers with disabilities that may require more assistance, especially those with visual impairments that make ‘dark mode’ apps unusable.
>As a critics association, we ask our PR partners to join us in condemning this shift, and to be cognizant of our position when scheduling press and promotional screenings. As the Drafthouse’s own PSAs put it: keep your devices dark, silent, and out of sight.
Super dumb, the paper method works great.
Not shocking Sony is trying to do this. Alamo is a movie theater I went out of my way to go to for the experience. The pre-movie rolls, the solid pizza, the fun experience showings, and most of all: no bright ass screens popping up in the audience during the movie. Shit change.
Do you know what’s distracting during a movie? It’s people constantly walking in and out going up and down rows dropping off food and then right during the important moments at the end to have them come in and drop a bunch of checks off.
I would be fine if they went away with the waiter food service entirely.
Disappointing to say the least. Theaters offer a unique experience when it comes to watching movies. Why then do theater owners want to make the experience as much as possible like sitting in your own living room where you’re free to talk and look at your phone?
Alamo Drafthouse was the only theater I really liked going to anymore with them actually enforcing the rules on no distractions, but of course all these corporations want to do is enshittify the things I like.
They are hanging on by a thread… don’t make the situation worse..
Alamo is the only theater I’ll see a horror movie at. I’ve been burned too many times by people talking in the past and Alamo has been such a great space for peace that I gladly dive 40min just to know I won’t have to deal with talking.
If they add this stupid phone ordering, I my as well just get an AMC membership.
We don’t have this company where I live, but I already stopped going to movies because everyone was on their phones and talking.
The first time I went to the drafthouse I was very excited given their reputation for curating an ideal theater experience. Particularly, a very strict no phone policy to avoid distractions.
Well very quickly after the movie began, someone’s phone loudly went off. “What are the odds?” I thought. I guess I’d see the policy in action. Absolutely nothing happened. On top of that, when the food trays arrived I could hardly pay attention to the movie. Clinking and moving around all at once. I brought this up to a friend recently and he told me I should have “written down on the paper that someone had used their phone.” I might as well just tell them to put it away myself. So this policy is really no different than an AMC, if you’re not willing to create more interruptions to stop the phones then you waive the white flag. I think the drive in was more audience friendly than Alamo drafthouse.