my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » Projectionist License (Page 2)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Author Topic: Projectionist License Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 11-19-2003 11:25 PM                     I'll bet I probably couldn't Steve  |  IP: Logged Chris Trainor Expert Film Handler Posts: 161 From: Greenville, RI, USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-20-2003 12:40 AM                        I'm sure there are servicepeople out there that would have trouble. But building a booth really isn't all that relevant to operating these days. Sure it helps to know how everything works from the electrical panel to the screen but it's more important these days to know how to take care of the film and put on a good show. That seems to be quite laking in many large theaters. --Chris  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 11-21-2003 05:25 AM                        Larry, the NY practical was similar. You didn't have to actually build a booth, but there were lots of exercises about proper wire sizing and correct breaker wiring and knife switch assembly. On my test, the tester asked me to throw a mains switch and tell him what I observed. It had a bad mechanical spring and the correct answer was that it was a "a broken switch" (happily, I got that right). What I got wrong was when I had threaded up and was actually running film that the tester told me to imagine a fire had started in the projector, show him what I would do. After going threw the whole routine...stopping the machine, putting on the house lights, closing the fire shutter, calling the manager, I thought I had done everything needed. He asked, what else would you do? I thought a minute and saw the fire pail filled with sand, so I said, "well, I would try to put out the fire, but I am sure that even though this is a practical, you wouldn't want me to throw this bucket of sand on your projector, right?" He was not amused. He asked again, "what else would you do?" I was really stumped -- "Get my butt out of here and close the door behind it?" "What else?" he said again. I couldn't think of another thing so I finally gave up....and promptly failed. The answer, call the Department of Gas and Electric and report a fire in the booth. I passed the next time round. I also heard of one guy where he couldn't strike the ark. They have tools in the booth at your disposal and he did everything....used a meter to test if he had DC coming out of the rectifier panel, at the knife switch, etc. Turns out he didn't test the carbon rod itself, which, surprise surprise, was really a wooden dowel painted black to look like a carbon rod. It was a challenge. Back when I worked on the written test to upgrade it to ask questions about the operation of a modern booth rather than one designed in 1930, there was discussions about what to do about the practical to modernize it as well. They needed to either install a platter and xenon in their mock booth, or rent out a theatre when they needed to test applicants. I guess that was more trouble that it was worth to them and they must have dropped the practical altoghther. I am sure the continuing lobbying of the chain exhibitors to make the testing easy had something to do with the decision. I have a friend who has not renewed his license simply be cause he says he has no intention of paying for a license when the theatres are sending unlicensed people to run the booths. Frank  |  IP: Logged Larry Shaw Expert Film Handler Posts: 238 From: Boston, MA, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 11-21-2003 06:12 PM                        Frank, Sadly, now the Mass. test is really just another tax. And heavy lobbying by the exhibitors was the reason.  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 11-22-2003 11:13 AM                    I have still seen no justification for licensing this profession as opposed to others. If it's just to ensure the customer getting a quality presentation great but then why do we not test and license all crafts and professions? Shouldn't the person at the paint store have some training before he/she recommends an oil stain instead of a latex one? Shouldn't the clerk at the toy store have some knowledge about child psychology? The clothing store people about wool and cashmere? This is not necessarily a bad idea. But as we don't do it for most other jobs I see no point to licensing projectionists.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 11-25-2003 02:47 PM                        Licensing has a purpose and is justified when the HEALTH and SAFETY of others depend upon the skill and knowledge of the person providing the service. If an incompetent projectionist or projection engineer jeopardizes the safety of theatre patrons, regulation through testing and licensing is justified. For example, handling nitrate film, working on power wiring, being responsible for emergency evacuation procedures, etc. There may also be justification for the protection of the worker -- assuring that a person is qualified to safely handle a xenon lamp, or understands "lock out - tag out" electrical safety procedures. I certainly want my doctor, nurse, airline pilot, aircraft mechanic, train engineer, bus driver, electrician, etc., to be certified/licensed. I even dare to hope that all other drivers on the road are licensed. Many civil engineering projects require the sign-off of a licensed Professional Engineer (PE), plus periodic state inspection and recertification.  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

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.