Updated with more information from the SPD.

Slog tipper Jade was at the Harvard Exit’s 7:00 p.m. showing of If A Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front, a documentary on the eco-extremist organization, when staff evacuated the theater:

The film had already started when it was abruptly cut off. A sold out crowd was told to exit the theater because of technical difficulties. Later SIFF staff member said there was a mysterious 911 call and that this was a fire drill. Strange… because after we evacuated there were no fire trucks, police, etc. Only confused film goers standing in the rain wondering what was going on. People asked when there would be another showing and they said they would not reschedule.

I called the Harvard Exit to find out what happened—Was there a threat? Do they have something against elves?—and an anxious-sounding man said, “We can’t comment on that.” Then he hung up. I called back but, again, he hung up the phone.

UPDATE: Theater staff had seen a man with a backpack acting suspiciously and requested help of police officers, says Seattle Police Department spokesman Mark Jamieson. Shortly after the show began, the man left the theater, unresponsive to employees, and refused to accept a reentry ticket, according to a police report. “Theater staff were concerned that he may have left something in the theater,” Jamieson says. However, the report says nothing about what they believed may have been left inside the theater. Jamieson notes that officers didn’t order the evacuation—that was the theater’s call—but they did search the venue. Jamieson says, “We said there is nothing here.”

42 replies on “Harvard Exit Theater Evacuates Audience Midway Through Documentary on ELF”

  1. The House Manager said we had to leave because of “security reasons,” and he wouldn’t say anything more, even though I asked him directly why the film was cancelled. I stood outside the theater until 7:45 pm, but no cop cars, fire trucks, or ambulances showed up. Theater staff stayed inside the building all that time, and the box office stayed open. I think they cancelled the film because the FBI called and told them to stop it “for security reasons.”

  4. I was there, heard the SIFF staff talking, before they cancelled it, about some guy carrying a bag who mysteriously exited before the film started. Chaotic situation for sure. It was odd that the police (no fire) didn’t show until maybe 10 minutes after the theater was cleared. They stayed for maybe 30-40 minutes before they let people back in.

  5. After they had us exit the theatre, a manager came out and said we should actually stand away from the building–across the street, or even down the block. Also, they did give out vouchers to use for any other regular festival screening.

  6. Does dummy derrickito still post to slog?

    He posted a 1 star (out of 5) review of the movie on the siff.net site simply because he only got to watch 90 seconds of the movie tonight. What’s the point of doing that?

    In any case, tip the venue managers: When you have hundreds of people outside waiting for more info, don’t just go up to a small section of them, make an announcement, and then disappear. Make the announcement, move along 10 or so feet, and then make the same announcement so that eventually most people hear what you’re saying. It cuts down on rumors, etc. Thanks.

  7. btw, SIFF has 7 to-be-decided slots in the Seattle theaters near the end of the fest. (Usually popular/sold-out films and winning films get another showing in these spots.) They really should show If a Tree Falls during one of those spots.

    (Yes, the film plays again this Sunday evening in Everett, but that doesn’t really count.)

  8. yup. still here 🙂

    i heard some of the theater people say something about a bomb scare while they were ushering us out.

    retarded. i wanted to see that film too.

  9. 1 star out of 5 because they only showed me a minute and a half of a movie, i think that’s pretty damn fair.

    hell, i went to the opening gala (only other movie ive been to at siff so far this year) and they had technical difficulties there too. the film jumped back 3 minutes and just replayed what we had all watched. in a packed mcgraw hall. luckily they didn’t boot us into the street on that one.

    fucking amateur hour this film festival

    at least have the damn balls to tell us that it was a bomb scare or something, first thing they said was technical difficulties but i knew that was bogus. if that was the case they just would have fixed it and restarted. they said it was technical difficulties then asked us to quickly leave through the fire exits. whoever spoke to us on the corner wouldn’t answer any questions as to why.

  10. Ok, so you were frustrated that they didn’t show it. How is that the fault of the film? It’s like those user reviews on product detail pages at Amazon that say things like “Received damaged book, seller won’t refund! One star!”

  11. @10, well you just answered why the “Seattle International Film Festival” is only known about in Seattle. And then only on a limted basis.

  12. @10: Two whole mistakes, one that you weren’t even present for, and suddenly EVERYONE involved (even the filmmakers!!) are amateurs?

    You are a moron.

  16. @12: No, if that’s true (which is arguable), it has nothing to do with the technical troubles SIFF has. Even Sundance has major technical troubles from time to time.

    Instead, it has more to do with the size of the fest and the films shown. Check out this essay:

    “SIFF in 2011: bigger than ever … but better?”
    http://queenannenews.com/main.asp?Sectio…

  17. Seriously Slog. This is what you are here for. This could be an opportunity to exercise the heart of journalism, and your duty as American citizens: Fuck up the FBI’s plans, Disseminate accurate information, and grant Americans the FREEDOM to make informed decisions. You are maybe one of the last bastions of honest journalism in this city. Help me LindyDan andGoldy, you’re my only hope.

  20. Why won’t the Harvard Theatre comment on the issue, and why wouldn’t they reschedule the show? Both seem like logical and obvious things to do.

  22. The more interesting point is who would protest a film…about a bunch of protestors?

    Was it some disgruntled logger from Randall?

    A former real estate developer from Bellingham who couldn’t meet his note because of an excessive regulation forcing him to preserve a percentage of local evergreens?

    Who?

  24. I’ll bet the phone call will be traced back by the feds to a disposable phone bought with cash by a disgruntled SPD …

  25. speaking of films, had a great time with one of the actresses and the director of Co-dependent Lesbian Space Alien last night – they should be at showings this weekend at the Egyptian.

    Great set of Hong Kong movies this year too.

  28. Yes, WiS, I read the article. I was also at the showing (or non-showing). It has been confirmed that the Exit made a phone call to 911. You assumed “mysterious 911 call” (reported by a tipper very early on) meant that they received an incoming 911 call. If they did indeed receive an incoming 911 call (from a disposable phone or otherwise), please link me to info about that. Thanks.

  29. I expect that theatre managers will respond in the same manner when this happens at other film showings consisting of different subject matter; otherwise one might tend to think this was a means to suppress something for its controversial content under the pretext of “public safety”. Or National Security. Or whatever.

  31. @32: If that’s true then I and others will be annoyed. We were told by some venue people that the showing was cancelled and would not be re-started. So I and others left the area.

    The movie has a running time of 85 minutes and the next show there was at 9:30pm, so I guess it’s possible they could have squeezed in an 8pm showing.

  32. they told us all several times that it was canceled and everyone got in line to get their free tickets then left. if it replayed at 8, it was probably to a mostly empty house

  34. Yeah 35 and if the theater blows up with you in it, you’ll be the first asshole to blame everyone and hire an attorney to sue for damages because people were not paying attention and doing their f**king job, if you survived it. Nice to be able to use 20/20 hindsight to judge. How about commending people on keeping everyone’s safety in mind, especially with the history of the group the film was about? A guy in a camoflage jacket and backpack running out of a theater as the movie starts…. you’re right absolutely nothing suspicious about that. Too bad they couldn’t stop him and ask how his date was…. oh wait they tried to stop him and he ran off. Oh well….

  35. “but really…wouldn’t you rather miss a movie than risk getting blown up by an eco-terrorist organization?”

    nope

  36. Yeah 35 and if the theater blows up with you in it, you’ll be the first asshole to blame everyone and hire an attorney to sue for damages because people were not paying attention and doing their f**king job, if you survived it. Nice to be able to use 20/20 hindsight to judge. How about commending people on keeping everyone’s safety in mind, especially with the history of the group the film was about? A guy in a camoflage jacket and backpack running out of a theater as the movie starts…. you’re right absolutely nothing suspicious about that. Too bad they couldn’t stop him and ask how his date was…. oh wait they tried to stop him and he ran off. Oh well….

  38. How about the people sitting around you are they bomb proof too? Or will your low IQ, not susceptible to damage from a bomb blast, envelope and protect them too at that end of the gene pool? You’re right, a myopic approach is so much better, this is just all about you….

  39. @11: Derrickito is that guy who posts 1-star reviews for sushi joints on Yelp because “it turns out I’m allergic to fish.”

  40. it’s true, my low IQ does in fact envelope and protect the less fortunate around me. have you read my white paper? im touched

    fact, i do not have a yelp account but i love sushi

    i am however scared of the dark and heights. please, run with that a bit?

  42. Spoke with a SIFF-related person who confirmed that it *did* end up playing at 8m or so. At the time of the incident, some SIFF people were telling us it was cancelled and to leave (after getting refunds or vouchers). What a crock.

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