Wednesday, August 18, 2021

EP238: Attending movie screenings


Industry people in Hollywood don’t go to movies, they go to private screenings. This week Ken’s describes his screening adventures. Lots of inside info and laughs along the way.

Become a member today by going to https://feals.com/levine & you'll get 50% off your first order with free shipping!

More podcasts at WAVE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/artist/wave-podcast-network/1437831426


Listen to the Hollywood & Levine podcast!

5 comments :

Jonathan Weiss said...

Hi Ken, I didn't know where to leave this question, so....

Whatever became of Al Conin? His last year with the Angels was my first as a cub radio reporter. He was an acquaintance of my mom's (as was the late David Courtney, Kings and Angel PA), so I spoke with him often during the season. After he was let go, I don't remember hearing anything about him.

Thanks!

VincentS said...

I can certainly relate to these experiences, Ken. I'm in SAG-AFTRA and a few years ago I was asked - totally at random - to be on the nomination committee for the SAG awards which entitled me to attend free screenings for all the contending movies that year. I was very excited to see one movie in particular because in it were three big-name actors, one I had previously met and he/she was very nice to me and the other two were near-legend Oscar winners. The lights went out and as I was watching the movie I saw all three of them pass me in the isle. They were there! Well, you can guess the rest: The movie was HORRIBLE. I couldn't believe how bad it was and that these three great actors wasted their time doing it. After the movie they were all onstage for a Q & A. Not only did I keep my trap shut (a rare occurrence) but I PRAYED I wouldn't see any of them on my way out of the theater. At another screening that year I saw that year's best picture Oscar winner. The director got up onstage after the movie with the stars and, as you say, I couldn't believe how full of himself he was! You'd have thought with this one movie (which I still think is fair at best) he cured cancer AND discovered the secrets of the pyramids.

By Ken Levine said...

Al is alive and well and living in Southern California. I really miss him on Angels broadcasts.

YEKIMI said...

Back in the late 70s/80s running theaters got me invited to advance screenings of a lot of movies. What was strange is seeing the movies and then when released certain parts had been edited out[one of the Porky's movies come to mind, a scene I thought was hilarious was gone when released to the theaters]. When Disney's The Black Hole was released we saw the movie minus a few of the special effects that hadn't been completed yet and the music/soundtrack hadn't been added to the film yet so it was synced up by a recording. They pulled out all the stops, marching bands, catered lunch, basically whatever we wanted. Nowadays all we get from the film companies is the finger. Sometimes a big shot from the studio was there, other times nobody showed from the studio. That's when we knew it was probably a piece of shit.

Mike Barer said...

Fun and interesting podcast.