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Author Topic: Number of Operators Michael Schaffer "Where is the Boardwalk Hotel?" Posts: 4143 From: Boston, MA Registered: Apr 2002 posted 11-26-2002 11:39 PM                        Timers can be very practical. I think the best way is to set the timer but still be there in person when the show starts. But in those rare cases when something goes wrong, it is good to know that you have a little time to address the problem because the other screens will start automatically. You can go and check them a few minutes later after you have solved the problem. Here most multiplexes are operated by one person. Multiplexes with more than 10, 12 screens are quite rare here. On wednesday nights (the new program starts on thursdays), there are often 4-5 operators because we have about 30 minutes of rolling commercials and the commerciaL reels have to be edited every week  |  IP: Logged Jason Black Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1723 From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 11-27-2002 04:50 PM                        Quote: "Jason, I haven't had a break, wrap, toss or problem in years (not counting my recent times with a Strong booth). The beauty of start timers is that you are threaded well ahead of actual start times." What about those of us who work for companies that don't use start timers? I've been in the business for 15 years and never seen a start timer... I've seen remote start switches in older (60/70's era) theatres, but never timers... I've even been told of the elusive e "endless loop" setup, but I've never had any hands on with them. As for Thursdays, any theatre over 10 screens needs to have two operators, IMO. One to take care of running the shows and the other to handle building. They both can handle breaking down as the night progresses... but, as I said, this is merely my own personal belief..  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 11-27-2002 04:51 PM                     If your company does not have start timers, then they will forever have to settle with increased payroll costs. Simple math.  |  IP: Logged Jason Black Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1723 From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 11-27-2002 08:40 PM                        Brad, I call it being penny wise and dollar foolish.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 11-27-2002 10:14 PM                        Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha ha ha ha ha That was a good one.Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha ha ha ha ha That was a good one.Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha ha ha ha ha That was a good one.Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha ha ha ha ha That was a good one.Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha ha ha ha ha That was a good one.Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha ha ha ha ha That was a good one. I really like that answer. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha ha ha ha ha That was a good one. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha ha ha ha ha That was a good one.  |  IP: Logged Jason Black Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1723 From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 11-27-2002 10:38 PM                        Bob, Are we having a very martini night tonight?  |  IP: Logged William Leland III Master Film Handler Posts: 336 From: Charleston, SC, Registered: Aug 2002 posted 11-27-2002 10:49 PM                        When I worked for a 16 Plex, we had 1-8 on one side, 9-16 on the other. The hallway between them was 200', with our office's/ poster room and boiler room in between. There was no need for 2 projectionist other than Thursday. On Thursday's we had an opener and the "builder/breakdowner" would come in early like 4 p.m ,if there where alot of prints to be built. If not 6 p.m. While the builder built up, the other projectionist ran the sets. Both would close the night together. Uselly the builder/breakdowner and the projectionist ended the same time. My question is when previewing movies on Thursday nights should you be clocked in. IMO I think we should. If something goes wrong we are there to fix it and need to be paid for it. The theatre chain I worked for didn't agree with this. What about you????  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 11-27-2002 11:40 PM                     Bob, you feeling ok? I'm not quite sure what to make of your post. Yes, IMHO projectionists should be paid to sit and test screen the prints. The whole purpose of doing this is to ensure that there are no defects in the movie, and with as much crap that comes out projectionists NEED to get paid to sit through it.  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 11-28-2002 12:22 AM                    Did your employer require you to stay to preview the prints or was this a voluntary thing? Would you be fired or sanctioned in some manner if you did not? If it was something they expected of you then you have to be paid. Period. It's not a matter of opinion. Making people work off the clock is illegal.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-28-2002 03:17 PM                     In many locations if you are on the premises you need to be paid if there is an acident and workmans comp is required  |  IP: Logged William Leland III Master Film Handler Posts: 336 From: Charleston, SC, Registered: Aug 2002 posted 11-28-2002 03:24 PM                        Most of the time it was voluntary. But in some instances like Harry Potter, Star Wars and other big Hollywood movies, we projectionist where expected to watch them. For those "Hollywood Blockbusters" we where on the clock. But when watching something a manager wanted or we wanted we where clocked out. It made no sense to me since if film is film. There is no guarantee that one movie will mess up verse another. I think it was just a way of them telling us we own you. If we want to pay you we will. I no longer work for this company, but every time I go there I am asked to come back. yeah right  |  IP: Logged Ian Price Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1714 From: Denver, CO Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-28-2002 05:32 PM                     We pay whoever built up the print to verify the print. If that person is unwilling to watch it, then we pay another projectionist to verify the print. Any staff member or spouse of a staff member may stay and watch the film as well during the verification. Friends are not allowed.  |  IP: Logged John Walsh Film God Posts: 2490 From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way Registered: Oct 1999 posted 11-28-2002 05:45 PM                     My own $0.02... We do not allow timers or any kind of remote starting. We really don't care if films that are supposed to start at 7:00 actually start at 6:58, 7:00, 7:02, etc. Generally, if anything is going to happen, it will happen at start. We are mostly concerned with improper threading which damages film. It would be bad to have a show run out of focus, but even worse to damage it, and have a poor showing every show after. Checking focus drift after starting is a real, but seperate issue.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-28-2002 07:31 PM                        I've _never_ heard of anyone being paid to pre-screen a print, except for the rare "big" special show (which I think has happened maybe twice). Generally, prints only get pre-screened if one or more theatre employees want to see the movie.  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 11-28-2002 09:11 PM                        I've had the same experience as Scott has. The only time you get paid to screen a movie is if management understands why you are screening the movie (the reason not being that you actually want to watch the piece of crap).  |  IP: Logged

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