Film-Tech Cinema Systems
  Home     Products     Store     Forum     Warehouse     Contact Us    
Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE


  
my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home
  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » Managers in the Booth!?! (Page 3)

 
This topic comprises 7 pages: 1  2  3  4  5  6  7   
Author Topic: Managers in the Booth!?!
Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

- posted 10-27-2001 06:47 PM      Profile for Gordon McLeod   Email Gordon McLeod   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
If you read her original post"At Marcus Theatres, I was in the both doing my job (Head Projectionist/Booth manager) ect, and our city manager shows up with some new guy the guy, who later becomes our GM, asks me why do you use yellow splicing tape? And other various dumb questions, so I made a book on how to be a projectioist at our theatre. He used it a lot. When I quit because he is a jerk, I took it with me. He had lots of problems." She does say she wrote a book on how to be a projectionist and considered it a dumb question as to why use yellow tape. I would probably in that GM position would consider it a intelligent question since and quality oriented GM would wonder why anyone would use opaque tape

 |  IP: Logged
Wes Hughes
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 175
From: Raleigh, NC, USA
Registered: Aug 2001

- posted 10-27-2001 10:26 PM      Profile for Wes Hughes   Email Wes Hughes   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
GEEZ! Give opaque tape a break! It has its place, and it REALLY doesn't take away any "quality." ...unless you are a zealot projectionist

 |  IP: Logged
Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

- posted 10-27-2001 10:43 PM      Profile for Gordon McLeod   Email Gordon McLeod   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Opaque tape has only one place and that is on magfilm as it impossiblity to remove holds diagonal splices better.
Bottom line No professional projectionist uses opaque tape

 |  IP: Logged
Rachel Gilardi
Madam Moderator

Posts: 2214
From: Peabody, MA, USA
Registered: Dec 2007

- posted 10-28-2001 02:17 PM      Profile for Rachel Gilardi   Email Rachel Gilardi   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Wes

I'm not a zealot projectionist by any means (I'm just a manager/projectionist at a discount theater). But I can't understand why anyone would use the opaque tape when they have the choice between that and clear or even zebra.

Do you use opaque tape? Look at the screen when a reel change is going through its obvious that the picture is cut and the sound is noticeably messed up. Maybe if I was just a normal customer that didn't know the difference between just a plain old movie and good film presentation I wouldn't give a care in the world. But I can't understand why anyone in this business would knowingly use the opaque tape if they had a choice. I believe in giving my customers the most enjoyable experience that I can possibly give them and alot of times its the little things that count the most.

 |  IP: Logged
John Lasher
Master Film Handler

Posts: 493
From: Newark, DE
Registered: Aug 2001

- posted 10-28-2001 05:21 PM      Profile for John Lasher   Author's Homepage   Email John Lasher   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
One of our local theaters chrges $3.50 for matinees.

I went to see "Chocolat" on their smallest screen. Excellent presentation quality except for the fact that they used opaque tape. At the reel changes there was a noticable dropout in the soundtrack and picture.

(This theater runs all shows in mono, they have 3 screens but frequently have 4 or 5 movies running during the day)

 |  IP: Logged

Wes Hughes
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 175
From: Raleigh, NC, USA
Registered: Aug 2001

- posted 10-28-2001 06:04 PM      Profile for Wes Hughes   Email Wes Hughes   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I don't use opaque tape...I use yellow splicemark or clear...but our largest theatre (mine) has only 5 screens. If I had 10 screens or more at one location I would most likely use opaque.

I was union trained, so I know why this offends some of you...I just think it is one of those things that can annoy a professional...one of those things that 99% of the general public doesn't notice and could care less about.


 |  IP: Logged

Will Kutler
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1506
From: Tucson, AZ, USA
Registered: Feb 2001

- posted 10-28-2001 06:30 PM      Profile for Will Kutler   Email Will Kutler   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Take it from someone who was legally blind w/o glasses prior to Lasik--there is no excuse for using oblique tape and white shoe polish to mark splices!

I always have a flashlight at hand to help out. I also take a little piece of the masking tape off the tail and gently lay it next to the splice as a temp marker. No, the tape does not get stuck in the print--I lay it on very gently so that it comes off with a flick of the finger. Oblique tape is terrible! Generally speaking, oblique tape and white shoe polish was mostly common on used low serial number studio prints that I got on a regular basis!

Film Guard and Film Guard Media Pad material or lense tissue is very effective at removing white shoe polish. This is a very, very gentle and time consuing procedure!

 |  IP: Logged

Rachel Gilardi
Madam Moderator

Posts: 2214
From: Peabody, MA, USA
Registered: Dec 2007

- posted 10-28-2001 08:25 PM      Profile for Rachel Gilardi   Email Rachel Gilardi   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
John,
You lookin' at me???

Wes,
Take in mind that most theaters with 10 screens or more would have 2 projectionists working on any given thursday night. For a 10 screen theater thats like working on a 5 screen each. I work in a 7 screener and when needed we have a 2nd projectionist come in to help (he only works on thursdays), when we only have a small change he doesn't come in. That or the like seems to be common practice with theaters with 7+ screens. Why would they need to use opaque tape? Clear tape is very easy to find, use your eyes, your fingers, and a flashlight and there you go.

 |  IP: Logged

Christopher Santapaola
Film Handler

Posts: 38
From: Gloucester, MA, USA
Registered: Oct 2001

- posted 10-28-2001 09:15 PM      Profile for Christopher Santapaola   Email Christopher Santapaola   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I would have to agree with my friend Rachel. What few movies I have put together (typicly at her husbands theatre) I had to use yellow tape. It was nice for taking apart the movie but you could definatly notice the splice when it was on the screen. The best shows I have seen (in regards to the quality of the actual print) all had clear tape or at least zebra tape. I personaly never noticed the zebra tape but a few of my friends say they can. As for china markers I just found them to be unprofessional and on one case anoying when on one section of the print it cuts across the screen, I imagine the hand slipped but that could happen to anyone using that technique.

Thats my opinion any way.


 |  IP: Logged

Joe Beres
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 606
From: Minneapolis, MN, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

- posted 10-28-2001 09:35 PM      Profile for Joe Beres   Email Joe Beres   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Oh yes, why not yellow tape? No one would ever notice. who cares about the audience anyway, or quality? Perhaps to speed things further, we should just leave the heads and tails on and splice the whole mess together, breaking down a print would be simple quick and easy.

Seriously though, I know a lot of people that aren't zealot projectionists, zealots, or projectionists that do notice, and they do feel that the black flashes take away from the presentation of the film. When a print is going to be shown several times over a week (at a minimum, usually) there is no reason to use the opaque tape. How much extra time will it take to break down a print with clear tape? It can't be that much.

I think that even if someone doesn't specifically notice the things that make up poor presentation, they all get digested in some way. If we want to keep people in the theaters, the best possible presentation is integral. The poorer the presentation, the better the argument for staying home and watching a DVD.

 |  IP: Logged

Don Sneed
Master Film Handler

Posts: 451
From: Texas City, TX, USA
Registered: Aug 2001

- posted 10-28-2001 10:01 PM      Profile for Don Sneed   Author's Homepage   Email Don Sneed   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
My Comment: Just Splice The Damn Thing !!! :P

 |  IP: Logged
Bob Healey
Film Handler

Posts: 93
From: Milford, CT
Registered: Sep 2001

- posted 10-28-2001 10:28 PM      Profile for Bob Healey   Email Bob Healey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Since we have a policy of not letting a print go out with more than one piece of tape, and our projectors do not take kindly to multiple layers of tape, i often have to spend half an our or more peeling of tape. if its zebra or clear it comes of easily, but if its opaque, it takes forever and a day and i can never get it all off. do the next guy a favor

 |  IP: Logged
Sean McKinnon
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1712
From: Peabody Massachusetts
Registered: Sep 2000

- posted 10-29-2001 12:38 AM      Profile for Sean McKinnon   Author's Homepage   Email Sean McKinnon   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
CHRIS!!!!! AWESOME TO SEE YOU ON THE FORUM!!!

I agree with Rachel, Chris, Gord, Brad, Joe and everyone else. I prefer clear tape (but will begrungingly use Zebra) I have never had trouble breaking a print with clear tape and I tend to run the MUT a little too fast too, which in my own opinion is not good practice for me to do, but I have never missed a splice I can feel them with my finger quite easily. IMO There is no need for yellow white red or even poka-doted splicing tape.

------------------
--Sean McKinnon
Manager
Loews Cineplex Entertainment
Liberty Tree Mall 20
Danvers, Mass
www.enjoytheshow.com

 |  IP: Logged

Craig Hanham
Film Handler

Posts: 79
From: Wellington, New Zealand
Registered: Oct 2001

- posted 10-29-2001 01:32 AM      Profile for Craig Hanham   Email Craig Hanham   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
As a c/o operator who gets prints way down the line and often for film classes for University courses I dont really care what colour tape is used, unless its a mid reel splice.
I too care about presentation even if I dont have a paying audience, i still have the Theatre Hirer and the presentation is even more important when they take their money elsewhere. Excuses that some idiot messed up the print dont go that far.
But I really object to 5 layers of tape on 7 frames cut at a head or tail covered in dirty fingers , dust , hair and pizza leftovers (dont snigger i've seen it). And all that polish, white out and is just a pain when it gets all aver the print

Anyway back to the Thread.
I have yet to get my Line Manager into the booth when I'm showing a film. It would be really good to show them what a messed up print looks like and why it can take up to a couple of hours to set up, and why i cant burn a carbon down to the last inch (and why 18min of carbon wont do 19 min of reel).
If the person who has the responsibility for the building and the profitability of the business wants to know whats going on by all means thay should be encouraged. However it doesnt mean they should be allowed to touch. Good manners and a little common sense application of demarcation can go a long way. If all else fails make it look harder than it is.

"If you cant dazzle em with brilliance. Bafffle em with Bull."

 |  IP: Logged

Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

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

- posted 10-29-2001 02:12 AM      Profile for Joe Redifer   Author's Homepage   Email Joe Redifer   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
People still use carbons? Aren't those about as healthy as smoking? I hear that the light is very good, but with Christie xenons the light is awesome plus it burns for 8,000 hours (depending on the bulb, of course) and it doesn't give you lung cancer.

 |  IP: Logged


All times are Central (GMT -6:00)
This topic comprises 7 pages: 1  2  3  4  5  6  7   
   Close Topic    Move Topic    Delete Topic    next oldest topic   next newest topic
- Printer-friendly view of this topic
Hop To:



Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classicTM 6.3.1.2

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.

© 1999-2020 Film-Tech Cinema Systems, LLC. All rights reserved.