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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 11-28-2002 10:47 PM                        Prints are never pre-screened here. In one of the last theaters where I worked, it was actually seen as a big priviledge that we were allowed to watch the prints on the night before the start. So we were of course never paid but it got to be quite stressful, as the employees would usually start begging two or three days before "please, can we watch this or that movie".  |  IP: Logged Jason Black Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1723 From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 11-28-2002 11:50 PM                        William, Are you referring to the Palmetto Grande? Just curious. I allow my operators to remain on the clock until they leave the building on Thur. night/Fri. morning. If they want to see a film that's opening, they can do so if circumstances allow, ie. everyone coming in to work/enough prints to screen, etc.. If they want to watch something after I've screened it (which I always screen at least one print per week on Thursday night sometimes two), they are off the clock. I only allow the operators to do so with NO other employees in the building. Bottom line, all films need to be sreened regardles of WHEN you get them in. Down a show if they come in Friday and you didn't get it built until time for it to start. No film should go onscreen to the general public without being screened by a member of management or operator. WHomever does so is obligated to be paid for performing said task(s). PERIOD.  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 11-29-2002 01:49 AM                        At Mann Theaters when they were in Colorado, we were not allowed to "verify" the print, even off the clock. But then one busy Friday night customers started swarming out of a sold out showing of Saving Private Ryan. Reel 1 had a MAJOR misprint in that the last 5 minutes or so repeated or something like that. The managers realized that this could have been replaced quickly had we pre-screened the movie. From then on we screened every single movie, on the clock, and it eventually became a company wide policy I believe. At UA we screened every single movie, on the clock. It didn't matter if it was a movie we were opening that week, a sneak preview, a trade screening, etc... it got watched. The theater I am at now calls these screenings "Dry Runs". What the hell is a dry run? Sounds abrasive and bad for the print. I prefer to "screen" my movies.  |  IP: Logged Mike Spaeth Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1129 From: Marietta, GA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 11-29-2002 02:41 AM                        I will pay ONE person per print to screen a film on Thursday night. I also require that all prints be screened. I, myself, take one of the prints, since I'm "free" (salaried ... so doesn't add to payroll).  |  IP: Logged Jason Black Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1723 From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 11-29-2002 01:57 PM                        Mike, One person per print paid... makes all the sense in the world to me. That's exactly I do here. The print(s) are divvied (is that really a word) up between mgmt and operators or one of a few employees I trust to screen for me... all other employees are allowed to screen as well but none are paid. If they are asked on what the print is about on opening day, they know (if they screened teh previous night). this has to be carefully monitored so that friends/family aren't "invited". I've asked more than a few people to kindly get up and leave in the years I've had screenings. The employees didn't last long after that either...  |  IP: Logged Bob Brown Expert Film Handler Posts: 146 From: Grand Rapids, MI Registered: Apr 2002 posted 11-29-2002 06:39 PM                        Since all of our prints arrive at the theatre on Wednesday, I have some time to get them all built and screened. I never, allow a print to hit the screen that has not been looked at first. We also only allow certain projectionist that have a "eye" to screen prints. Our guests pay good money to come here, I have to compete with 70+ other screens in a city of about 250,000, so I got to have it right the first time. It seems to be working. We have been open for a year, and we are consitanly first or second in the area for attendance each week. A little extra on our part sure pays off in the end, and yes, the screeners are paid. Plus, we have a great staff and training program both in the booth and downstairs on the floor. We had our 1,000,000th guest walk thru the doors about 3 weeks ago.  |  IP: Logged Jason Black Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1723 From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 11-29-2002 11:33 PM                        Bob, So everyone in your town has been to your theatre four times in a year.. big deal.. Actually, 1 mil in a year is a super attendance... I can only imagine the cash numbers you push annually. I *think* I had attendance just over 750k last year... so I *know* you were busy.,...  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 11-30-2002 12:05 AM                        quote: from Bob Brown: I have some time to get them all built and screened. I never, allow a print to hit the screen that has not been looked at first.... I got to have it right the first time. It seems to be working.... A little extra on our part sure pays off in the end... We had our 1,000,000th guest walk thru the doors about 3 weeks ago. Good for you, Bob! We pre-screen everything before we show it, no exceptions. Granted, we have somewhat of an advantage, since there's no chance we'll ever have to start more than 4 shows on any given week. I don't know how you guys with 6 prints of Harry Potter do it! As for screening... 2 reasons for doing it: The first should be obvious. The second is because the Film-Guard instruction sheet says we should! No appologies... maybe I'm getting old... but even with my fancy frameline finder, I still miss one on the occasional trailer... and I HATE to see out of frame splices. I also don't care much for the streakie-look, as is expected on the first-run with the cleaner. With all due respect to those of you who work for chains that don't see the need for pre-screening, I'm glad they don't do it here. It just makes us indies look that much better.  |  IP: Logged Mike Babb Master Film Handler Posts: 250 From: Norwich UK Registered: Jul 2002 posted 11-30-2002 01:46 AM                        10 screens, one operator. Easy enough. On Thursday we have an extra person or two help after close if prints need to be torn down that night. One person could do it of course but they may get out near dawn since we screen everything. As far as screening, we are all salary but we try to include hours screening in hours scheduled, I feel people should get credit for time served and we all have to watch duds.  |  IP: Logged

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