New: Member Spotlights!
Connecting and Celebrating Our Community
We are thrilled to announce a new feature: Member Spotlights! At our events, it's not always easy to find the time for meaningful conversations. Therefore, we have decided to highlight our members right here. Our goal is to help you learn something new and discover common ground with your colleagues. You may also discover some fascinating insights about the industry along the way.
To kick things off, we are pleased to introduce Rob Lawinski. Thank you, Rob, for being our inaugural interviewee and for sharing your fascinating journey and business experiences with us!
Hi Rob, Please share a bit about yourself and how long you have been in the industry.
I began my career in business in 1976 — 49 years ago! I started at American International Pictures as an Assistant Head Shipper, where I coordinated the shipping and receiving of 35mm prints from deluxe labs. These prints came in on plastic cores and were mounted on 2000-foot metal reels (each reel represented 20 minutes of the movie), they were packed in metal cases and shipped to the theatres.
Once they were returned, it was my responsibility to inspect them and ship them out again. If a print was damaged, it had to be junked. I would put on gloves and goggles and use a band saw to cut them up so they could be placed in metal drums.
I then transitioned to Bonded Film Distributors, where I worked with every distributor shipping prints. Over my nine years at Orion Pictures, I held a variety of positions: Booker, Sales Manager, and Vice President of the New York Branch.
In 1989, Peter Ellison at Guild Enterprises created a job for me. He owned several theaters, and Disney only played its films at his locations in New York. My role involved collecting payments in cash, which meant I was often carrying a suitcase full of money around Hell's Kitchen! The late 1980s and early 1990s were pretty wild in New York.
I started at Lesser Theater Service in 1990, later purchasing the business and renaming it Brielle Cinemas. Over my career, I have worked on every movie…you name it! Rambo: First Blood, Robocop (1987), Platoon, Terminator, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Hannah & Her Sisters, and Bull Durham.
And as they say, the rest is history……
As the owner of Brielle Cinemas, could you also tell us about your role and the theaters you represent?
I collaborate with every studio and distributor in the industry to discuss film placement and screenings in the theaters I represent. I manage a range of venues, from small art houses to commercial theaters, across the east, including Bermuda and the Bahamas.
How long have you been a member of the MPC?
I joined the MPC in 1980, Nick Guadagno (President 1982-1983) Invited me. He said, “Kid, I want you to join the club, I’ll pay for it”. My first event was a luncheon at Sardi's, which was a great introduction to the MPC!
What initially drew you to join the MPC
The camaraderie. The friendships established in the club are unique. In this business, members are not just colleagues but friends, and the club nurtures that connection.
Which MPC events or activities have you enjoyed the most?
The golf outing is always a great time, even if you don’t golf!
Back in the day, the motion picture club luncheons hosted at the Marriott were phenomenal. Everyone attended, and having a dais featuring Eddie Murphy, Sly Stallone, Meryl Streep, and Abe Vigoda was incredible! Organizing such a large event was a significant undertaking, and I must give credit to Bill Thompson, who was a guiding force behind those events.
It’s a shame that the industry has changed so much that those events are no longer feasible in NYC.
How would you describe the overall club atmosphere?
Fun. Welcoming. As someone who has been in business for a long time, I appreciate that the club allows me to connect with the “New Young Blood”. It provides a chance to meet in person and get to know the people I interact with on a personal level.
How has being a member of this club impacted you outside of the club?
Life-long friendships and relationships have grown through the club's activities and events.
What are your top 3 Movies?
The Green Book *2018
A Beautiful Mind *2001
The Greatest Showman * 2017
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