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Topic: Checking out other people's equipment

Chris Erwin
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 195
From: Olive Hill,KY
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 02-13-2000 07:50 PM

I see I made a grave error on my last post.

I wasn't replying to the post above mine!!!!
Chakeres is not a loser chain!!

I was making my post in reference to Aaron's post of the Wilmington 5.

Just to clear up anything before anybody thinks bad of me. I do like the chain I work for.

--Chris

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John Wilson
Film God

Posts: 5438
From: Sydney, Australia.
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 02-13-2000 09:49 PM

So...Chris,

what's the loser chain?

John

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Richard Hamilton
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1341
From: Evansville, Indiana
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 02-13-2000 10:28 PM

As a tech, I visit many theatres. The chain that I work for currently has about 500 screens. I like to show up the night before my scheduled visit just to see the presentation. In theatres that I've never visited, or if I know the personel won't recognize me, I walk right past the ticket taker and tell him I've got work to do in the booth(without buying a ticket). I will walk in "plainclothes" and no tool case. I like to see how far I get before a manager tackles me!!!! Believe it or not, I usually get into the booth and back out before I ever see a manager. I haven't tried this at a competitions theatre......yet!

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Scott D. Neff
Theatre Dork

Posts: 919
From: San Francisco, CA
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 02-14-2000 03:29 AM

I try to see the booth at most theatres that I go to. Aaron Sisemore and I used to drive around Calfornia just to look at theatres. It was my job to then ask the Manager if we could take a peek in their booth. Below are the various results this has produced.

#1- The most common reaction at most theatres, chain or otherwise, is absolute confusion, proceeded by the person asking me "Why on Earth would you want to see my projection booth?" After I explain to them that it's a sickness and I can't help it... they usually take me on a tour.

#2- At CHAIN THEATRES they are usually hesitant to take me upstairs, usually in fear that I'm some secret spy sent by the competition, or even worse the Coporate Office. I usually tell these people that I'm just curious, and how can me knowing what they use to project their movies, hurt anything? This usually works... and away I go.

#3- At CHAIN THEATRES - the Manager gives me some lame story about how it's against union rules or about how it's against company policy. I usually then ask them what kind of equipment they use. They then respond with "Ummm... they're gray. Century I think." I usually walk away with great pain in my heart, knowing that the equipment there is mistreated by people who think that they have a Century Platter.

#4- INDEPENDENTS ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO SHOW YOU THEIR BOOTH... no ifs ands or buts about it.

I have imparted my knowledge... now use it to get your way into every booth you can. And TAKE PICTURES!!! I can't regret more the fact that I've been in really cool booths and was too polite to take a picture.

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Gordon Leslie
Film Handler

Posts: 39
From: Perth ,Western Australia
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 02-14-2000 06:25 AM

OK Chris come on ,your keeping everyone in suspense here!

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 02-14-2000 09:40 AM

As evidenced by the many participants in the Film-Tech Forum, good projectionists and film handlers are proud of what they do, and really like to "talk shop". Open communication and exchange of ideas benefit all, and can't help but improve presentation quality. I know when I worked in the booth, I welcomed anyone who had a sincere interest in projection, and I still find the same welcome in most of the booths (boxes) I visit. Whenever I'm "on the road" for Kodak, I try to visit a few theatres in my spare time, and I keep up contacts Rochester area theatres. Getting past the floor staff is usually a matter of persistence, and it doesn't hurt to have a Kodak business card listing you as a "Senior Technical Specialist"

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Professional Motion Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 02-14-2000 02:43 PM

John-

Since you mentioned it, I will be needing a business card that says "Kodak Senior Technical Specialist", but with my name, just so I can easilly get into booths.

I'll check my mail in a few days, and those cards should be in there!

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 02-14-2000 02:55 PM

Do we need to send small color photos for you to make us all Kodak cards?

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 02-14-2000 03:53 PM

Joe and Brad:

No need for Kodak cards. Just use your "Master Film Handler" cards from Film-Tech Forum.

Most people do like the Kodak business cards that have photos. Most photofinishers or professional photography studios can supply this type of card. Many people use their computers to generate photo business cards. Kodak makes an ink-jet photo-grade business card stock for this purpose.

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Dan Riddle
unregistered
Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 02-15-2000 05:49 AM

Well, I only let people up in booth if I've cleaned up the place.. I hate it when people come up and there is a pizza box on the floor.

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John Walsh
Film God

Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 02-15-2000 07:31 AM

Hardly anyone asks to visit our projection room. The only exceptions are friends I got in to a free movie, or my girlfriend, who is hopefully bringing food!

It seems that whenever someone drops by, it's just when I have shows to thread up. So, if I want to talk with them, they have to follow me around. Scott N. came by, and I felt like a poor host; I had to thread up 8 machines and couldn't have a real conversation.

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Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 02-15-2000 08:33 AM

Hey, John - you were a great host! You're the only one who's been able to get me into an IMAX booth! (which is down the street from John's theatre)

I often ask to take a peek at other theatres' booths; usually, this works if the theatre isn't too busy and if the ushers aren't too clueless. Most of the time, the projectionists that I've met are excited that someone has taken an interest in their work.

I only had a couple of people who asked to see the booth where I used to work; I enjoyed showing them around the theatre (booth, basement, backstage, etc.); a couple of them were old-time projectionists who enjoyed the tour and complimented me on the show and complained about the usual stuff over which I had no control (lousy scope lenses, lousy brightness, etc.)

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Colin Wiseley
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 123
From: Blacksburg, VA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 02-15-2000 03:12 PM

The theater I work at is a non-profit organization so every now and then we have an open house where the public and donors are invited in to see the theater. Everyone's favorite place to go is the projection booth and there's usually a line out the door to get in. Most of the time I fire up the projector and people (especially kids) are amazed to see the giant platters spinning around. I would say 99% of the people that come in have no idea how movies are shown. Most of them are surprised we still use film, I hear "I thought you guys used video tapes" alot. I'm usually hoarse by the end of the evening, but it's lots of fun.

BTW, we always show people around the booth if they say please.

Colin Wiseley
Lyric Theatre
Blacksburg VA

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 02-15-2000 07:39 PM

I also hate it when somebody comes up to visit the booth and I haven't cleaned up the food, crumbs, insect eggs, fuzzy green stuff, and moved the dead body out of the way.

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Charles Lubner
Film Handler

Posts: 78
From: Milwaukee, WI USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 02-15-2000 11:50 PM

I was on vacation in Hawaii on the island of Kauai about 2 years ago. "Something About Mary" had just come out and I wanted to see it. So, I go to the theatre with my friend who was along on the trip. During the show I noticed the picture was a bit dim. Well of course I couldn't help myself and the next thing I know i'm chatting with the owner and getting a tour of the booth, and assisting in changing a bulb! I thought it was fun, but my friend couldn't believe I was in a projection booth on my vacation. My entire family thinks i'm crazy and refuses to go to the movies with me.

To all of you out there who like to tour projection booths, I am one of you. :-)

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