The Grinch is back…
This time out courtesy of Kansas City-based – but now Chinese-owned – AMC Theatres. However, instead of Christmas, AMC’s Grinch is going after Independence Day.
Is nothing sacred? Guess not.
“AMC’s request for proposals to move from downtown Kansas City to their new offices in Leawood was for 4th of July weekend,” sources say. “Despite the holiday AMC was all for it. They couldn’t give a (damn). They asked to be moved over the 4th to shorten AMC employees down time – fuck the movers!”
While some film industry types have jokingly wondered if AMC’s new HQ will fly a Chinese flag, it’s not like there isn’t a precedent for the company working on important holidays.
“The Chinese don’t care about the 4th,” says one movie insider. “And why should AMC? All their theaters will be open on the 4th. Movies are a 365 days a year business.”
Another major local worry where AMC is concerned:
“There are several people in the industry who think that AMC’s life in Kansas City will be super short,” says the source. “That the Chinese owners will buy their way out of the new lease in Leawood because they want AMC to be headquartered in Los Angeles where the main film industry is. Wouldn’t it make sense to have your headquarters where the rest of the film industry is?”
Stay tuned…
Is anyone surprised, honestly? You sell to the internationals, good-bye local industry. I wouldn’t be surprised if Sprint follows suit in the near future.
Buh bye Leawood, hardly got to know ye.
Unsincerely,
AMC.
It won’t be long before we’re all eating rice. Back in the late 80’s, early 90’s it looked like Japan was going to take over the world but it’s just a matter of time before the Chinese beat them to it.
Didn’t happen then and I doubt it will happen now or any time in the near future.
Our major problems lie in our financial forecasting and planning don’t look past the next fiscal quarter. That will be our undoing- not having enough longview.
China is having their own financial problems at the moment, I wouldn’t be surprised if AMC goes back on the auction block once the Chinese debt bubble bursts.
China’s growth numbers are a lie and every academic economist I know, whether left or right wing says so.
The reason?
The rest of the world measures real estate when calculating GDP by sale price. China uses real estate constructions regardless of sale or vacancy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPjGWcM3Awc
The full episode is on HBO on demand.
expat and balbonis are correct. The Chinese economy is a house of cards.
I caught a screening last night at AMC Town Center on Leawood and as far as I could tell rice hadn’t replaced popcorn.
How will a moving company force their workers to do this on the 4th of july..
and what company would allow that to happen? You’d think the Chinese
would respect our workers…..and our holidays and time off work.
this is America…and the fourth is to celebrate our history….moving on the
4th of july is like moving on the Chinese new year.
Well, kidding aside, the Chinese are probably not the ones calling the shots on the moving date. In all probability, that distinction goes to AMC honcho Gerry Lopez .
I seriously doubt however that Lopez will be the one making the ultimate call on whether to remain in KC
So what you are saying is that the main premise of this story in nonsense. Got it.
Well I think it still behooves AMC – now that its Chinese owned – to be mindful of the impression disrespecting a major, truly american holiday.
Could land Lopez on the hot seat for insensitivity
Harley, you must be distracted by the Shrimp Flied Lice in your hair.
Just last week, June 12th was the “Dragon Boat Festival”, a big deal in China.
You can bet those poor bastards making I Phones didn’t let up for a fuc*in minute.
Sorry but AMC not first company to do a move over a holiday period. Been done many times in past years by many American based company’s. I could also list the many company’s who have major cleaning, carpets shampooed, and spraying for bugs and what not all done over holiday periods.
No apology necessary.
Just telling you how some of the folks felt about being asked to do the honors.
it was a request for proposals. if you don’t want the job, don’t bid. non-story as usual here.
The word I’m getting is the 4th of July weekend move is a go, Mr. Non Story
guess what, people work on July 5th, and the weekend is business as usual. these office moves always occur on weekends. what’s the grace period supposed to be? Non-story.