Volunteer Guide

WELCOME & THANK YOU!

Each year the Santa Barbara International Film Festival brings together a dedicated team of volunteers to help ensure the best film-going experience possible for our patrons, filmmakers, jurors and international visitors. As a non-profit organization we are grateful for the effort and considerable contributions made by our volunteers every year. We recognize the volunteers returning from years prior as well as welcome all the new faces for this year! We could not present the Festival without your hard work and absolute dedication.

As with last year, the Shiftboard website is the primary tool used for scheduling and communication. With this program you can decide what your schedule looks like. This program allows each volunteer to pick-up and drop shifts as well as simplifies communications between volunteers and team leaders. Shiftboard can be accessed through any computer with internet capabilities at www.shiftboard.com/sbiff.

*See attached Shiftboard basics at the end of this packet.

EXPECTATIONS OF A VOLUNTEER

Volunteers are the face of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. As a host, we ask you to always be respectful and gracious. We ask that you become knowledgeable on the many aspects of the Festival such as: theatre locations, different types of passes, levels of priority, ticketing options, and the variety of programs being offered. This information can be found on our website (www.sbiff.org) in our online program guide, which will be available at all of our theatres during the Festival.

As a representative of the Film Festival you should refrain from distributing self promotional materials while on duty e.g. scripts, headshots, business cards, etc. Make yourself available to answer questions or direct patrons, and be conscious of allowing people their personal space. If you don’t know the answer to a question, be honest, and make every reasonable attempt to find out, or direct them toward a knowledgeable source.

Scheduling 400-500 people to handle over 250 events in an eleven-day period takes a tremendous amount of planning and cooperation; we appreciate your willingness to help us make this year’s Festival the best yet, by honoring your shifts, showing up on time and staying until the job is done.

VOLUNTEER INFORMATION

NOTE: All volunteers are required to be 18 years or older. Volunteers who work parties or special events are required to be 21 or older.

ATTENDANCE:

During the Festival there is an influx of people to Santa Barbara. With increased traffic and tougher parking, please allow extra time for your arrival. Parking is the responsibility of each volunteer, and we encourage you to consider using alternatives to driving, when possible.

Please check your Shiftboard calendars for your scheduled shifts and arrive on time! Any “no-shows” or habitual tardiness could result in disqualification from the current and future Festivals and Festival events. If a scheduling conflict arises, please attempt to cover your shift with the help of a fellow volunteer.

If this is not possible, alert the Volunteer Coordinator (Amira Bailey) at least 24 hours before the shift is scheduled to begin. Shiftboard or emails are the best forms of communication, as the Volunteer Coordinator has limited access to phones during the Festival.

Email: Amira@sbfilmfestival.org

Arrive at your designated shift wearing the provided 25th Annual SBIFF Volunteer Shirt. Check in with the Theatre Manager on site. They will provide instruction and any special information needed for your shift.

APPEARANCE:

Remember that you are a representative of both the Festival and Santa Barbara. Please dress appropriately. The 25th Annual SBIFF Volunteer Shirt will be provided at the Volunteer Screening of the Opening Night film. This shirt should be worn for all your volunteer shifts, along with clean slacks and shoes which are presentable and also comfortable. For colder weather, it is recommended that volunteers wear layers of clothing underneath their Volunteer Shirt. It is the volunteers’ responsibility to be properly dressed and prepared for the weather during their shift. So, check the forecast because it usually rains at least one day during the Festival.

While on duty, refrain from eating, smoking, chewing gum or drinking beverages other than bottled water. Also, please leave all cameras at home during your shifts. We understand the desire to have a photo taken with your favorite celebrity, but please refrain from this during your shifts.

SCHEDULING:
All volunteer scheduling will be handled through the Shiftboard webpage. Volunteers will be able to add shifts based on their own availability and interest. The Shiftboard program also allows volunteers to view and print their schedules from any computer with internet access. A brief “Shiftboard Basics” guide is provided at the end of this packet. Shifts will be made available to add at the beginning of January. If you do not have a computer, please fill out a paper application (available at the meeting) and turn it in at the end of the meeting.

PASSES & TICKETS:
Become familiar with the passes and ticketing options described in the Volunteer Training Video. The Program Guide and the SBIFF website both feature this information. Remember that all Passholders have priority entrance to events, in the order of: Private Access – Platinum – Cinema. After Passholders, bearers of the Mini-Pak and off-duty volunteers with a Volunteer Mini-Pak are allowed into theatres, followed by Ticketholders (see end page for a detailed description of Festival Passes).

FESTIVAL STAFF:
Festival Staff are allowed immediate access to all events. All Festival staff will be wearing passes that indicate their Staff status. If someone claims to be “Staff” but does not have a pass, check with a Team Leader, before admitting this person to any privileged areas. The Volunteer Advisory Committee (V.A.C.) are the faces of experience you can look to when you don’t know the answer to a question, or you become aware of a situation that does not “seem right.” The V.A.C. members will be serving as Theatre Managers and will be wearing Staff passes.

PRESS:
Members of the press credentialed with a 25th Annual SBIFF Press Pass, are allowed Passholder priority entrance to regular film screenings, only if they have previously RSVP’ed to the Press Office. Before entering a venue they must check-in with a representative from the Press Office who will be on hand at each venue. Theatre volunteers (especially Line Monitors) should keep an eye out for individuals with press passes and direct a Press Office representative toward them, before the theatre is opened to the public.

Members of the press attending special events, must check-in with a Press Office staff member to be allowed admittance.

BENEFITS:
Once signed up for shifts, each volunteer will receive and be able to keep their 25th Annual SBIFF Volunteer Shirts and will receive Mini-Paks to attend regular movie screenings, in alignment with the number of hours volunteered. Everyone will be invited to an ice cream social sponsored by Coldstone Creamery and volunteer-only screening of the 25th annual SBIFF Opening Night film on Feb. 3 (evening before the Festival begins).

DEPARTMENT POSITION DESCRIPTIONS (not a complete list)
The Volunteers are an integral part of the film festival. Below are brief descriptions that include, but are not limited to some of the duties required in each Department:

Press Office:
(if you are interested in joining the press office team, please contact Beth Binker directly at beth@cmarshallpr.com)
• Serving as a liaison between the festival headquarters and the press office.
• Checking in members of the press for regular film screenings and special events.
• Providing hospitality to the festival press attendees (ie. Answering questions, checking out press screeners, assistant with film sign-ups).
• Assisting festival publicists throughout the film festival.

Hospitality:
• Assist Hospitality Liaison and Support Staff to oversee Hospitality/ Filmmaker Lounge.
• Meet and greet Filmmakers and Platinum Pass Holders as they arrive in the Lounge.
• Communicate information to guests and assist them with their needs.
• Oversee cleanliness in the lounge.
• Refresh beverage and food station as needed.
• Assist support staff in opening and closing of Hospitality Lounge hours.

Special Events:
**Must be 21 years of age or older.
• Duties include meeting and greeting guests.
• Running food and beverages
• Some clean up.
• Experience in working in restaurants is helpful but not mandatory.
• Certain events require nice slacks and a nice blouse or shirt. Please see Shiftboard for details.

Pre-Production:
**Must be able to lift at least 50lbs. Only select these shifts if you are physically capable.
• Set-up Red Carpet events.
• Typically involves assembling backdrop, laying out red carpet, and setting up stantions.

Theaters: (Lobero, Metro 4, Victoria Hall, Arlington, SB Museum of Art)
While helping to run the theaters you become the face of the Festival. It is of utmost importance that you are friendly and possess good customer service skills. Some duties include, but are not limited to:
• Ticket taking
• Checking passes
• Managing lines
• Collecting ballots
• Selling tickets and merchandise
• Answering questions

VENUE LOCATIONS & IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Volunteer HUB
• Located @ 935 State Street (cross street is Carrillo)
• Will host the: Volunteer Check-in Table, Merchandise Table, and an excellent place for volunteers to sit and mingle.

Box Office Information:
• SBIFF Box Office
www.sbiff.org or 805-962-8543
During the festival, will be located at the front box office at the Arlington Theatre.
Minipaks will be sold at all screening venues as well.

Film Screening Venues:
Metro 4 Theatres
618 State Street

Santa Barbara Museum of Art
1130 State Street

Victoria Hall
33 W. Victoria St.

Lobero Theatre
33 E. Canon Perdido

Arlington Theatre
1317 State Street

2010 TICKETING INFORMATION

Festival Passes, Mini-Paks & their prices:

• The STAFF recommends that all Pass & Mini-Pak holding patrons arrive at least 30 minutes early to screenings & events, as they are expected to sell out.
• Pass and Mini-Pak do not guarantee seating.

PLATINUM PASS $1,655
General Information:
• Platinum Pass admits (1) Passholder priority admittance to ALL: Film Screenings, Tributes, Panel Discussions, Special Events, & Galas (must be 21 or older to enter parties).
• Upon arrival to any screening or event, Passholder must queue in the designated line to ensure early entrance.
• For Film Screenings, Passholder must arrive at least 30 minutes prior to show time for priority admission.
• For Events other than film screenings, Passholder will have priority admittance for Tributes, VIP and special event receptions and parties, up to the actual starting time of the event. Once the event has commenced, Passholders & Ticketholders alike will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. Space may be limited for certain events.
• Only one person per pass, per screening and/or event.
• This pass is transferable but not refundable.

CINEMA PASS $605
General Information:
• Cinema Pass admits one (1) Passholder to: ALL regular film screenings, Opening Night screening & after party (must be at least 21 years of age – to attend after party), To the Maxxx screening, & Closing Night screening
• Upon arrival to any screening or event, Passholder must queue in the designated line to ensure early entrance.
• For Film Screenings, Passholder must arrive at least 30 minutes prior to show time for priority admission.
• Cinema Passholder will be admitted after Platinum and Private Access Passholders on a first come, first served, space available basis.
• Only one person per pass, per screening and/or event.
• Pass does not grant admission to any other Santa Barbara Film Festival sponsored party, panel discussion, or celebrity tribute.
• This pass is not transferable and not refundable.

STATE STREET PASS $325
General Information:
• State Street Pass admits one (1) Passholder to: “off peak” (8 AM-1:45 PM.; 10 PM-Midnight) regular film screenings, Opening Night screening & Closing Night screening
• Upon arrival to any screening or event, Passholder must queue in the designated line to ensure early entrance.
• For Film Screenings, Passholder must arrive at least 30 minutes prior to show time for priority admission.
• Cinema Passholder will be admitted after Platinum and Private Access Passholders on a first come, first served, space available basis.
• Only one person per pass, per screening and/or event.
• Pass does not grant admission to any other Santa Barbara Film Festival sponsored party, panel discussion, or celebrity tribute.
• This pass is not transferable and not refundable.

MINI-PAK $57 for 4 Pak & $125 for 10 Pak:
General Information:
• Mini-Pak admits 1 person to 4 (or 10) screenings or 4 (or 10) people to 1 film screening or any combination therein on a first come, first served basis, AFTER Platinum and Cinema Passholders have been accommodated.
• Ok for admission to Closing Night film screening only with Double Punch & OK for admission to conversations & To the Maxxx with Single Punch
• Not valid for tributes, parties or Opening Night Film & Gala
• Mini-Pak does NOT grant priority admittance and is not refundable.