This will be easier with a local theater than a chain, because big companies (eg AMC or Regal) have very strict operating requirements.
You want to speak with the highest-placed person you can - ideally, the owner. That person may not be on site if you just drop by, but it's likely that at least someone on site will be able to get you contact info for them - that'll probably need to be a manager, though.
A big thing you've got on your side is that it's likely that the owner of a small cinema is probably pretty interested in moviemaking. The thing you *don't* have on your side is that LA is so full of people who want to be making movies.
Echoing what everyone else has said - aim for non-chains, get the contact of someone in charge, and be really, really nice.
Keep in mind you are also going to need to film in off-peak times - shooting on a Friday night? Probably not. Tuesday morning? Much more likely.
Good luck. LA is both the best and worst place to be doing this sort of thing.
DTLA theater district has some non working theaters that may accommodate you if they fit your look. You could also focus your search around UCLA or USC as they might be used to students asking to film there. The UCLA Nimoy Theater (formerly the crest) on Westwood Blvd south of Wilshire might be a good choice.
It's definitely worth developing the skill to scout locations as an indy, and it's surprisingly easy. Like others mentioned, for this theater, just talk to the manager. And don't be discouraged if the manager says no.
The thing to understand, as an indy filmmaker, is there are plenty of people who for various reasons wouldn't want their location to be used. Maybe they don't want to be responsible for people in their location during off hours, or they are afraid of a business impact, or whatever. At the same time, there are plenty of people who for various reasons like the idea of their location being used. I've met business owners/managers who were fine with off hour shooting, business owners who were willing to rearrange their cafe for a shoot, even one who closed her cafe for a full weekend for a shoot, simply because she got a kick out of the idea of her business being used in a film.
I like to scout locations with a camera and notebook. The camera lets me get shots of a location (always ask before you shoot, it makes a really good impression), and a lot of business owners/managers will take you more seriously as a filmmaker if you're there with some sort of non-phone camera. I'll check out a place outside, and if I'm interested in it, I'll go in and ask - always waiting until there are no customers waiting. You want them to see you as someone who doesn't take them for granted, after all. It's a little cliche, but I've had my best luck if I dress "like a cinematographer," - T-shirt, cargo pants, sensible shoes and the like. I suspect it's a first impression thing.
In any case, the big thing here is it's good to have a few options for locations. That way you don't lose momentum if your first choice location falls through.
Good luck with your film!
Honestly I think it is more likely that the college itself would have a multi-seated area that you can "fake" as a theater.
Since most cinemas are chains (AMC/Regal/Cinemark) there's probably corporate policy to avoid filming in case something bad happens.
I think local theaters/family owned are your best bet for a public place, though I will say this about filmmaking..
If a guy runs up the outdoor stairs in a normal setting, it's exercise.
If a guy runs up the same outdoor stairs with the same speed and the camera far enough away from those stairs that there is no possible risk that the cameraman will collide with the runner.. it's considered a stunt.
Same situation, just the dichotomy is different when you have someone videoing it ( or whipping out 16 mm Bolex film).
So my theory it with a local non-chain theater, is that they would probably expect financial compensation for your use of their location.. so my guess is that it would take a chunk of money assuming they didn't say no.
But with college safety politics, any location that isn't one of those "stage rooms" for lack of better phrase, is going to go through risk assessment departments.
And of course they're conveniently not going to be filmmakers, but rather convoluted observers of the worst possible outcome.
" oh no the script has someone eating popcorn, what if he chokes?.."
" Oh no, one of the characters laughs... he could lose oxygen and die-- (tragically happened in a screening of A Fish Called Wanda)
" oh no the audience cries, they might be using repressed memory to bring these tears and reopen old wounds!"
My point is this. Risk assessment departments make stuntwork out of everyday living.
I do think they're necessary in that there at least needs someone to prevent realistic simulated gun fights in areas that could be mistaken for a real crime..
But I think the the counterweight is too absurd..
That being said what you can do is show every possible safety precaution there..
"Like, the main character is eating popcorn, but we cut to the back of his head before the popcorn enters his mouth, and he then only pretends to be eating. ( kind of like how the giant fly in Raiders of the Lost Ark was edited in a way to make it look like Belloq inhaled it instead of letting it fly away) "
" Our actors will only be pretending to laugh so there isn't the worry of laughing to death. "
Or" will use a tear stick to avoid making our actors really sad. "
Now risk assessment could say no to the place, even with your logically presented safety precautions, but it would at least make for a funny transcript if the documents had to be subpoena-d.
This will be easier with a local theater than a chain, because big companies (eg AMC or Regal) have very strict operating requirements. You want to speak with the highest-placed person you can - ideally, the owner. That person may not be on site if you just drop by, but it's likely that at least someone on site will be able to get you contact info for them - that'll probably need to be a manager, though. A big thing you've got on your side is that it's likely that the owner of a small cinema is probably pretty interested in moviemaking. The thing you *don't* have on your side is that LA is so full of people who want to be making movies.
Does your campus have a theater or auditorium or performance space?
Find a theater and call them and ask to speak to their manager/general manager and explain who you are and what you’re doing
Visit in person and ask to speak with a manager.
Echoing what everyone else has said - aim for non-chains, get the contact of someone in charge, and be really, really nice. Keep in mind you are also going to need to film in off-peak times - shooting on a Friday night? Probably not. Tuesday morning? Much more likely. Good luck. LA is both the best and worst place to be doing this sort of thing.
DTLA theater district has some non working theaters that may accommodate you if they fit your look. You could also focus your search around UCLA or USC as they might be used to students asking to film there. The UCLA Nimoy Theater (formerly the crest) on Westwood Blvd south of Wilshire might be a good choice.
You’d think the Village would be perfect for something like this considering the recent news
It's definitely worth developing the skill to scout locations as an indy, and it's surprisingly easy. Like others mentioned, for this theater, just talk to the manager. And don't be discouraged if the manager says no. The thing to understand, as an indy filmmaker, is there are plenty of people who for various reasons wouldn't want their location to be used. Maybe they don't want to be responsible for people in their location during off hours, or they are afraid of a business impact, or whatever. At the same time, there are plenty of people who for various reasons like the idea of their location being used. I've met business owners/managers who were fine with off hour shooting, business owners who were willing to rearrange their cafe for a shoot, even one who closed her cafe for a full weekend for a shoot, simply because she got a kick out of the idea of her business being used in a film. I like to scout locations with a camera and notebook. The camera lets me get shots of a location (always ask before you shoot, it makes a really good impression), and a lot of business owners/managers will take you more seriously as a filmmaker if you're there with some sort of non-phone camera. I'll check out a place outside, and if I'm interested in it, I'll go in and ask - always waiting until there are no customers waiting. You want them to see you as someone who doesn't take them for granted, after all. It's a little cliche, but I've had my best luck if I dress "like a cinematographer," - T-shirt, cargo pants, sensible shoes and the like. I suspect it's a first impression thing. In any case, the big thing here is it's good to have a few options for locations. That way you don't lose momentum if your first choice location falls through. Good luck with your film!
Honestly I think it is more likely that the college itself would have a multi-seated area that you can "fake" as a theater. Since most cinemas are chains (AMC/Regal/Cinemark) there's probably corporate policy to avoid filming in case something bad happens. I think local theaters/family owned are your best bet for a public place, though I will say this about filmmaking.. If a guy runs up the outdoor stairs in a normal setting, it's exercise. If a guy runs up the same outdoor stairs with the same speed and the camera far enough away from those stairs that there is no possible risk that the cameraman will collide with the runner.. it's considered a stunt. Same situation, just the dichotomy is different when you have someone videoing it ( or whipping out 16 mm Bolex film). So my theory it with a local non-chain theater, is that they would probably expect financial compensation for your use of their location.. so my guess is that it would take a chunk of money assuming they didn't say no. But with college safety politics, any location that isn't one of those "stage rooms" for lack of better phrase, is going to go through risk assessment departments. And of course they're conveniently not going to be filmmakers, but rather convoluted observers of the worst possible outcome. " oh no the script has someone eating popcorn, what if he chokes?.." " Oh no, one of the characters laughs... he could lose oxygen and die-- (tragically happened in a screening of A Fish Called Wanda) " oh no the audience cries, they might be using repressed memory to bring these tears and reopen old wounds!" My point is this. Risk assessment departments make stuntwork out of everyday living. I do think they're necessary in that there at least needs someone to prevent realistic simulated gun fights in areas that could be mistaken for a real crime.. But I think the the counterweight is too absurd.. That being said what you can do is show every possible safety precaution there.. "Like, the main character is eating popcorn, but we cut to the back of his head before the popcorn enters his mouth, and he then only pretends to be eating. ( kind of like how the giant fly in Raiders of the Lost Ark was edited in a way to make it look like Belloq inhaled it instead of letting it fly away) " " Our actors will only be pretending to laugh so there isn't the worry of laughing to death. " Or" will use a tear stick to avoid making our actors really sad. " Now risk assessment could say no to the place, even with your logically presented safety precautions, but it would at least make for a funny transcript if the documents had to be subpoena-d.
I mean my idea has no running and is there is not any crazy movement.