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Author Topic: Question of Professionalism Jim Alexander Film Handler Posts: 71 From: Greenwood, Nova Scotia, Canada Registered: Nov 1999 posted 12-20-2002 08:34 AM                        Quote: ...their conduct to a level that is unimpeccable. Sorry, that should be impeccable. Fingers faster than the brain  |  IP: Logged Carl King Expert Film Handler Posts: 199 From: Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada Registered: Mar 2000 posted 12-20-2002 11:04 AM                     Professionalism is a state of mind. It does not matter one bit about any "system" or corporate mentality or bosses with tight budgets. It is the projectionist who is handling the film and he/she is responsible.....period. Blaming a system or company is a cop out. It is up to you.  |  IP: Logged Shaun Flichel Film Handler Posts: 42 From: Regina, Sask., Canada Registered: Sep 2002 posted 12-22-2002 03:40 AM                     I am also a professional projectionist, but managers and kids run the shows 2 days a week, i must add they had maybe if they are lucky, a weeks training. This past Tuesday, I started a show, looked over at the platter and found about 10 feet of crinkled/torn film on the way to the projector, fortunately I was able to hit stop before I hit the screen. It doesnt matter how professional I am anymore, im forced to run scratched prints because of this. Shaun  |  IP: Logged Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 12-22-2002 05:37 AM                     I remember in the carbon-arc days where a 13-reel movie I inspected was in such bad of shape, I spent 6 hours splicing, repairing, and cussing before I could even think of running it. It is very easy determine who is and who is not a professional projectionist when the film arrives or is circuited to the theatre. More often that not, you'll be correct on your guessing. It is very frustrating when we have to shovel manure against the tide on second-run or circuited prints!  |  IP: Logged Mark DeLettera Film Handler Posts: 54 From: Venice, Florida Registered: Aug 1999 posted 12-23-2002 09:02 AM                     OUCH... Wait until the digital cinema folks start lurking at this thread! They're going to have a 'ball' with this and start their "....just another reason to...Blah, Blah, Blah" rap again!  |  IP: Logged Mark J. Marshall Film God Posts: 3188 From: New Castle, DE, USA Registered: Aug 2002 posted 12-23-2002 09:10 AM                    I'm going to print this thread out and show it to our booth staff.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 12-24-2002 06:32 AM                        IMHO, a true "professional" takes pride in their work. Whether you are a professional engineer, a professional projectionist, or a professional ditch-digger, you recognize that YOU are responsible for the quality of your work. Both film and digital projection require skilled and caring professionals to assure presentation quality, especially with regard to maintaining and servicing the equipment, and maintaining a sense of "showmanship" and quality in presenting the movies: Kodak ScreenCheck Projection Training Kodak Digital Cinema  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 12-24-2002 06:58 AM                        Well said, John. And I will add that I strongly disagree with the argument I hear too often and from people who should know better, that someone is "not being paid enough" to take their work seriously or give 100%. Excuse me, but when a you take a job, the salary is not a secret that is only discovered after you're on the job; it is known and part of your agreement with your employer, no matter what the job. And you agree to do the job for that amount of pay. You didn't tell the employer when he stated what the job pays, "Well, I think I am worth 20% more than what you are offering so I'll take the job but I will only work at 80%." Ethics would dictate that when you agree to work at a given salary, you are also agreeing to do that job to the best of your ability. You don't get to decide after the fact that you are not getting paid enough so you will do a half-ass job. To do this would only mean that every morning when you look in the mirror you can point to yourself and say "Hello, you thieving low-life." Point is, if someone thinks they should be getting paid more, ask for a raise, and if that isn't forthcoming, then stop whining and get another job that will pay you what you think you are worth! Of course the problem with that is, if you're that kind of unethical slacker, you are probably worth LESS than what you are being paid.  |  IP: Logged Mark Maxwell Film Handler Posts: 55 From: Tyler, TX, USA Registered: Jul 2002 posted 12-25-2002 01:24 AM                     As far as being a proffesional, Know your' machines and present the best quality picture you can. Know how to build up right, and deffinatly know how to break down correctly because once you loose a movie, another theater has to play it. It sucks workin at a second run theater and getting a bad print. Make sure you put the DTS discks back in the can before you send it off. I came back to my old theater and there were about a years worth of discs. And if a movie finals, break it down that night, unless you want to watch it one last time, in which case you better be there the next morning to break it down. My tech is an old school projectionist who got out of the industry when the union fell apart. I listen to him, and his word is the projectinist bible.  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 12-25-2002 01:33 AM                        Wow, at least someone agrees with me. Frank, I made that same argument in another thread and got jumped all over on it by some members with thier own agendas. It seems though that you have a better way with words than I do! Thanks for helping the argument for common sense!  |  IP: Logged Dustin Mitchell Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1865 From: Mondovi, WI, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 12-25-2002 03:16 AM                     Well said Frank, well said.  |  IP: Logged Nate Lehrke Master Film Handler Posts: 396 From: Denver, CO Registered: Oct 2002 posted 12-25-2002 04:06 AM                     Frank, I don't think it could be said better that that, right on.  |  IP: Logged Ken Lackner Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1907 From: Atlanta, GA, USA Registered: Sep 2001 posted 12-25-2002 08:17 AM                     quote: Does nobody think that there is another theatre that is going to run a print after them? Or are they just in a hurry? Do they care?? Yes, but yes, and no! I can't tell you how many times other operators (are they even worthy of being called "projectionists"?) have told me, in no uncertaint terms, "I don't give a what happens to this print when it leaves our theater," or, "It's not my problem anymore," etc.... Unfortunately, that attatuded is way too common in our industry these days. I guess nobody knows the meaning of "do unto others" anymore. quote: Make sure you put the DTS discks back in the can before you send it off. I came back to my old theater and there were about a years worth of discs. That is one of my biggest pet peaves!! I'm back at my old theater while I'm visiting family for the semester break. I was running the booth one day last week and noticed that 8 Crazy Nights was not playing in DTS. This house had DTS and optical only; there was no SRD to back up the DTS. I opened the drive, and was absolutely shocked and what I found: the disc for Goldmember!!!! WTF??? Not only did that disc not get returned with the print, but that means that no movie was playing in DTS in that house since, what, August?!! That is shameful! Because none of the theaters back home seem to want to hire me, I currently work at Wendy's. I take my job seriously. I've done everything from the french fry fryer, to the grill, to washing dishes and cleaning bathrooms. Even though I know I'm only going to be there less than a year until I finish school and get go back to my old theater again, I still do the best damn job that I know how, and I constantly strive to do better. (My GM even said that I am her favorite dining room closer because I'm the only one who does everything properly.) Same as when I was working at a theater, fellow employees make fun of me when I am reading the operations manual on my break. Why is this so? I truly cannot understand it.  |  IP: Logged Thomas Procyk Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1842 From: Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 12-25-2002 11:36 AM                     I noticed three bulbs at the current theater I work at (feels good saying I work at a theater again!) that were dark on top and frosted the rest of the way through. (We have Film Systems vertical lamphouses) I was unfamiliar with our lamphouses and didn't want to find any "surprises" on my own, so I asked an assistant manager if he could show me how to change a bulb on these things. "I'm not paid to do that." was his answer. I asked again, if he could just SHOW me, and I would do it. He said again: "WE'RE not paid to change bulbs." Guess it's time to search the booth for a manual to these things. One good thing, though. The GM has REALLY noticed since we started using FilmGuard! (I wonder if we're "paid" to run the film cleaner??) =TMP=  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-25-2002 06:51 PM                        So who does change the bulbs at this theatre? Do they just cancel shows if a bulb fails to strike?  |  IP: Logged

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