Guild Theater Announces April Reopening Dashboard Dashboard

For member Adam Schwartz, this means a return to matinees and daddy-daughter days.

By Adam Schwartz
(3/25/2022)

Three years ago, I’m sitting in a darkened movie theater, sobbing, heartbroken, tears streaming down my face. I furiously dig in my pockets, reaching for napkins to wipe my wet eyes. No, I’m not watching the latest tearjerker; I’m sitting next to my 4-year-old daughter at the Wreck-It-Ralph sequel, Ralph Breaks the Internet (screenplay by Pamela Ribon and Phil Johnston, story by Phil Johnston and Rich Moore and Jim Reardon and Pamela Ribon and Josie Trinidad). It’s the first movie my daughter Avery was able to sit through in a theater, and now, her 40-year-old dad is ruining it by weeping and convulsing like he’s at his best friend’s funeral.

My daughter looks at me, confused, and asks why I’m crying. After all, she’s 4 and she’s not crying—why the hell is her dad? I try to explain that it’s sad that Wreck-It-Ralph and Vanellope have to say goodbye, that their beautiful friendship has to come to an end, and even though they love each other, it’s time for them to move on. But instead, I get so choked up just thinking about this that no words come out. Avery grows frustrated. “Daddy, WHY are you crying?” I end up just muttering “allergies” and then quickly change the subject. And thus began the tradition of taking my daughter to see movies at the Writers Guild Theater…

As a parent, you never know how an activity you do with your child for them is going to affect you. This was definitely the case as I walked out of the Writers Guild Theater that day, holding my daughter’s hand while still holding back tears thinking of Ralph and Vanellope. On the car ride home, we talked about the movie, and all the parts that made us laugh. Then there was a moment of silence as Avery became lost in thought. She said, “Daddy, that’s my favorite movie theater.” I perked up, surprised, and asked why. She shook her head in disbelief that I didn’t know. “Because it’s my favorite color—because it’s blue.” I smiled, loving the simplicity and sweetness of her answer.

I never thought about it before, but if you’ve been to the Writers Guild Theater, you’ve probably noticed that, yes, the seats, carpet, walls, and curtain are a soothing deep blue, and of course I knew blue was Avery’s favorite color. Now that it was clear this was her favorite movie theater, combined with my strangely intense emotional reaction to Ralph Breaks the Internet, I knew I’d be taking Avery to see movies at the Writers Guild Theater regularly. And that’s exactly what happened for the next two years…until the pandemic hit.

When the Writers Guild Theater closed during Covid, not being able to see movies with my daughter at her favorite theater was difficult. We lost our special bonding time and I felt that loss acutely. But it’s also allowed me to take a step back and appreciate all the great times we had there together. It’s made me reflect on how our daddy-daughter days at the Writers Guild Theater began, and then evolved into our favorite tradition.

The truth is, that fateful day when I turned into a puddle of tears at the Wreck-It-Ralph sequel, was not Avery’s first experience at the Writers Guild Theater—that came almost a year earlier. She had recently turned 3, which is the youngest age the Writers Guild Theater allows kids in. Now that she was “of age,” my wife and I were excited to take her to see Moana. It was going to be perfect—a new animated Disney musical, a wide-eyed 3-year-old girl, and her amazing, Parents Magazine cover-worthy mom and dad. Unfortunately, 30 minutes in, when Moana went into the cave, Avery got so scared that she wanted to leave. I spent the rest of the movie in the lobby with Avery while my wife watched Moana alone (we’re still in a fight about this, btw).

We didn’t try taking her to a movie again until a year later when Avery was 4 and Ralph Breaks the Internet was at the Writers Guild Theater. This was also the year that our second daughter, Quinn, was born. So, because my wife was watching our new baby and because your WGA card is NOT interchangeable with spouses (my wife found this out the hard way—another fight), it became “daddy-daughter time,” purely for logistical reasons.

Our Writers Guild Theater father-daughter movie traditions began right away: Avery was in charge of holding our parking ticket after we arrived. Just to be clear, this was not about giving her a useless job that I pretended was important. No, the first time we parked in the structure, the ticket fell right out of my pocket and onto the ground. Avery found it, and from then on, holding and not losing the parking ticket was her job. As we entered the theater lobby, Avery was also tasked with giving my WGA card to the attendant. After the card was scanned, we raced into the theater to find seats. Once seated, we always took a selfie before the movie and sent it to my wife.

As the months and years went by, Avery went from sitting on my lap during the movie, to sitting in her own seat. She went from asking me to explain certain jokes to howling at every joke. She went from smiling in our pre-movie selfie to taking our pre-movie selfie.

At one of our early outings, Avery and I were in our seats before the movie started when an old friend approached me. The two of us chatted for a few minutes and then he left. When I turned back to Avery, she was scowling. I asked her what was wrong. “Daddy, I don’t want you talking to him.” I explained that he was an old friend and we were just catching up. She looked even more annoyed. “Daddy, this is OUR time.” I thought she was overreacting until weeks later my wife suggested I invite one of Avery’s friends to the Writers Guild Theater with us. Turns out I had the exact same reaction!

Seeing Frozen II was one of our last times at the Writers Guild Theater together before the pandemic hit. Avery dressed up as Anna and my wife made special Frozen-themed cupcakes for us to eat at the theater. When we arrived, little girls dressed as Anna and Elsa—wearing sparkly tutus, tiaras, and holding scepters—danced and twirled in the lobby. It was magical. Little did we know that in just a few short months the whole world would become frozen and we’d all plunge into the unknown.

Now, over two years later, the Writers Guild Theater is finally reopening! My thoughts shift from all the bonding time we lost during the pandemic, to all the new memories we’ll make. I can’t wait to race through the lobby with Avery to find seats. To take our pre-movie selfie. To laugh with her again in a movie theater. And not just any movie theater: the Writers Guild Theater. My daughter’s favorite theater. “Because it’s blue.”

Screenings at the Writers Guild Theater will resume starting April 2, 2022. Masking will be optional and N95 or KN95 masks will be available at check-in.

For guest safety, the theater HVAC system has been upgraded with high-grade air filters and ultraviolet (UV-C) technology, and auditorium seats will be sanitized between screenings using electrostatic sprayers. In addition, guests are required to provide proof of full vaccination (including a booster) upon entry.

Stay tuned for more information on April’s Guild Screenings schedule or check back in the coming days for film listings on the wga.org homepage. If you have questions, please contact Guild Screenings. The WGAW headquarters will remain closed to the public. More information about member building access and in-person meetings will be released as it becomes available.