“JBFC is the power of social change disguised as a movie theater,” Dem said. Once said..
But now, more anxious than the sudden cinematic cut to black, has sparked controversy at the Pleasant Building facility, about 30 miles north of Manhattan.
Former programming director Brian Ackerman was quietly dismissed in May after working for over 20 years. The film center did not publicly announce his dismissal, but later decided that he became a bully at work, threatened staff and lost control of his temperament.
Two then left in protest, one a longtime employee and the other working part-time for years, and Ackerman wrote several letters of support.
“It was completely inconsistent to me to work with someone who felt threatened by him in such a way that he had to insist that he be removed from his position.” Said Karen Goodman, who worked with Ackerman in programming at Burns, in an interview for years. “It’s almost funny that it’s so crazy.”
But the movie center holds firmly, abandoning the first hesitation to discuss personnel issues, Ackerman’s dismissal was based on multiple episodes of bad behavior, a statement said.
“In the last 14 months of Ackerman’s intimidation, intimidation and harassment behavior, the film center has a well-documented history of at least four cases, most of which involved female staff.” Said. “Several Burns employees thanked Burns’ management for taking action to eliminate Mr. Ackerman and explained additional cases of Mr. Ackerman’s bullying.”
In a recent development last week, Ackerman sought millions of dollars in damages, and in a 39-page proceeding, his dismissal was a plot hatched by movie center founder and former executive director Stephen Apcon. Claimed to be part. The proceedings accuse Mr. Apcon of trying to regain influence in the heart of the city. He can then work with well-funded donors to leverage those relationships to support the rethinking of a new nonprofit. Nonprofits describe their mission as “addressing mental health and social challenges by supporting the emergence of transformative drugs, including psychedelics.”
In the statement, Mr. Apcon “”When he learned of Ackerman’s behavior and assisted the board, executives and employees, he said he was “very in trouble.” However, he did not directly address the proceedings allegations regarding him.
For movie centers, the problem is straightforward. An employee has shown serious harassment and has been dismissed. It characterizes the proceedings as part of an ongoing effort to distract, seek attention and harm the organization.
“We believe the proceedings have no merit and are actively defending the Jacob Burns Film Center and its people,” the film center’s board said in a statement.
The four episodes quoted in Ackerman’s dismissal began last year, the movie center said. One movie center threatened a female executive and said, “I was deciding whether to quit or go back and destroy you.” Others said film center officials used blasphemous words to despise a female colleague after disagreements over the theater’s renovation plans. He shouted to a colleague who asked him about the feasibility of using the hybrid model for the upcoming film festival. I yelled at the person in the meeting.
A few months before the dismissal, Mr Ackerman was formally warned of his actions by the director of relationships, the movie center said.
According to Ackerman’s proceedings, when the final termination occurred, it was carried out by the Executive Director of the Film Center and then immediately relayed to the Board of Directors. According to court documents, the Film Center refused to tell Mr Ackerman why he was dismissed and ignored the request for a document outlining the illegal activity he was accused of.
Regarding the details of the allegations provided by the Burns Center, Robert D. Piriero, one of Ackerman’s lawyers, said the information “clears how the whole thing is an excuse.”
Ackerman said in a statement: “The co-founder wanted to come back and turn his beloved institution into a toy for his own personal benefit. I didn’t allow it.”
For some, Ackerman’s dismissal emphasizes that the culture of the film center has changed significantly from small, friendly and family to larger and more impersonal.
Janet Maslin, president of Burns and former New York Times chief film critic, said Ackerman’s dismissal process was “totally unprecedented” and his dismissal proceeding was “in my satisfaction.” Did not reach. ” In earlier times, she said, people in such a dispute would have settled things around the table.
“It was ratcheted to just 11 and it should never have come to this,” said Maslin, who has been affiliated with the center since the early days. “I wish I could have solved it more humanely, so I wish this hadn’t been a war.”
Maslin, who reviews The Times books from time to time, said he knew of Ackerman’s frustrating complaints. “He started acting,” she said. “He said no to things. It was very difficult to program something.”
Still, when she said it “really hurts” Recent screening with Ethan Hawke, Ackerman realized that he would never come to the theater with her again. “I don’t think this would have worked without Brian.”
The story of the Jacob Burns Film Center begins in 1998 when Pleasantville resident Apcon purchased the Roman Theater, an old cinema that was closed by a nearby multiplex. With his help he set up a non-profit organization, bought land adjacent to Rome, and launched a $ 5 million capital campaign to build a movie center.
From the beginning, the effort has attracted celebrities. Glenn Close and Martin Scorsese helped lead the capital campaign. The center opened in 2001, and Ackermann, whose family owned many arthouse theaters in New York City and beyond, became the first and only programming director. (The center’s tax return for the year ending September 2021 stated that his salary was $ 154,000.) Center website list page “Special guest” Contains a photo of the smiling face of Armir “Thompson” known as Questlove. Bong Joon-ho; Meryl Streep; Michael Douglas; and George Clooney.
The center with a budget of $ 6 million To tell Over 200,000 people screen over 400 films each year. According to court documents, it was “the highest-selling suburban art house in the United States” for some time. However, the screening of the movie eventually turned out to be inadequate.Today in addition to the center 5 screens, it has The Media Education Center hosts discussions, accommodates artist-in-residence, and teaches students filmmaking.
In his role, Ackerman curated independent documentaries and world cinema presentations at the Film Center. He was believed to be proficient in acting, but is now partly performed by the committee. Proceedings. “Brian was instrumental in creating this unique facility,” Dem’s widow Joan Howard wrote to the film center’s board by email.
But the movie center said his bullying was simply unbearable. According to the center, at least one of his riots wept his colleagues and “had to end his employment.”
Sheelagh McNeill and Alain Delaqué rière contributed to the research.
