Applicants wait in line for Rave Theater jobs
Local job fair saw a turnout in the hundreds last week.
Brian W. Carter, Sentinel Staff Writer
Last week, the new Rave Motion Pictures (RMP) held a job fair in the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw (BHCP) Plaza from May 12-14. The three-day hiring extravaganza looked to fill up to 80 positions in the new theater formerly known as the Magic Johnson Theatres.
RMP’s new theater will boast state-of –the-art multiplexed theaters and accommodations. The new theater’s transformation and facelift are going for $12 million. The new theater is expected to open for business July 2011.
“We’re conducting a job fair to fill positions for the theaters [that] we’re opening,” said Robert Boelman, General Manager at RMP. “
Most of the jobs available were for general floor staff and assistant managing positions. Boelman stated that many employees would be cross-trained in order to fill other positions as well.
“We’re very excited about bringing a state-of-the-art movie theater to Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza,” said Boelman. “We’re going to have 3-D technology, stadium seating, large format, all digital—state-of-the-art.
We’re very interested in working with the community in terms of hiring. We’ve got multiple theaters across the country and we’re very big about being a part of the community.”
The line for hopeful applicants, of all ages, was wrapped around the corner and down the way. Many of the people were either out of a job or just looking for one. The job fair came at a critical time for the community and was very welcomed.
“There’s a lot of people out here, so that tells you there’s a lot of people unemployed right now,” said Tracy McGreen. “ Our economy is really bad and so I’m just out here hoping I’ll get a chance.
“I’m glad they’re out here doing something to make more jobs for our community because we don’t have a lot of jobs left.”
Deshon Woodson was also one of many applicants looking to land a job with RMP. “Everybody in the economy needs a job…some people can get hired, it’s good,” said Woodson.
“I think it’s great bringing more businesses to the community for the youth and also some of the seniors, who [still] also want to work,” said Kendra Griffin.
Alfred Jackson expressed some of the same sentiments, especially with the locale of the theater. “I thinks it’s pretty good, it’s in the community, it’s close by the house—more job opportunities for the neighborhood,” said Jackson.
“We’ve got a lot of people here, we’re so excited about the fact that Rave is going to be here to begin with,” said Sharon D. King, SCSM/SCMD General Manager for BHCP. “The fact that they’re bringing so many jobs to this community, to the mall itself, is really the most exciting part of this.
“We’re looking forward to working with Rave as our new tenant, looking forward to the first class state-of-the-art facility that they’re going to bring to the community—which has been asking for it for so long.”
RMP has since finished the first phase of interviews and is now moving into the second phase. Last week’s job fair brought up to 900 applicants looking for positions. Boelman has stated at this point, it’s about weeding through the best of the best.
“We’re going to have the best movie-going experience in Los Angeles,” said Boelman.
