I've worked with several women in the booth and have mixed results. One of them in particular back in 1990 was definitely first rate and I wish she was still around to be able to work with. She was always interested in finding better ways of doing things and that makes a better operator of anyone, regardless of gender. We tried some of the most craziest ideas and the booth was a constant "testing ground", but the quality never suffered and everyone there walked out of the booth significantly better than when they walked in. Her attention to detail was what I admired the most. Since then there were other women operators who were also very good.

On the other hand, I've worked with a couple of women who couldn't be told anything. Try and demonstrate a possible alternative method for doing the job and the response was bitch, bitch, bitch...don't tell me how to do my job, I know what I am doing and I'm not damaging the film. This sort of attitude comes from women who have only been in the booth with a couple of years experience, too. (In all fairness, the same thing has happened with men as well, but from a more cocky standpoint.) So in that respect, I think it is absolutely crazy for such comments like women will keep a booth cleaner or are better operators. Those comments are sexist, plain and simple. Would a topic like "white people make better projectionists" or "gay people make better projectionists" even be accepted? That would be absolutely ludicrous and this is really the same thing. I don't think EITHER sex is better than the other. The bottom line is the individual person and how seriously he/she takes their job and how much he/she wants to improve their film handling practices and presentation. The final result on screen is what matters and anyone not willing to learn new methods for working with film (that goes for not sharing methods as well) and cannot seem to leave their personal problems at home, always coming into work in a bad mood and pouting around all during the shift is not a good operator in my book and is simply unprofessional.

Again, it all depends on the PERSON and NOT the gender. Women in general are no better than men and men in general are no better than women. I'm amazed such a prejudiced topic is even being discussed.

 |  IP: Logged

He was more concerned with the projectionist showing all of the opening fade in.

------------------
Better Projection Pays!

Remember the first "Superman" movie? He thought the credits were too long, and cut them out. Got caught, too, I'm pleased to say.

After training five film students I have gathered enough empirical data to make a vaild statistical profile of their interaction with projection.

Damn! Those opening credits were great AND had the theme by John Williams which was some of his best work.

I hope you slapped him good and hard as well.

------------------
The Olympics are coming...RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!

It was the end credits he cut off. There's a sort of gap in the end credit roll about 2-3 min. in. He cut it there, and removed everything after until the MPAA rating tag at the end. A minor guy from Paramont had worked on the film and brought his mother to see his name in the credits.

 |  IP: Logged

 |  IP: Logged

An out-of-condition man might have the same difficulty. I've seen far too many projectionists risk their backs and health trying to carry an unbalanced load of heavy film cases or equipment, or unwieldy large rolls of film without assistance. Men are often too proud to ask for help, women wisely seek it.

Trying to lift and carry a full feature roll between platters alone is very likely to dish and cinch the film, and may spill the entire roll onto the floor. I like to eat spaghetti, not untangle it.

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment 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

 |  IP: Logged

 |  IP: Logged