|
|
This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3
|
|
Author
|
Topic: Information for a new projectionist, anyone?
|
Anslem Rayburn
Master Film Handler
Posts: 476
From: Yuma, AZ, USA
Registered: May 2002
|
posted 11-10-2004 06:09 AM
I learned via a full time projectionist, and that got me started. I have learned much from these forums (thank you all). I now thread without the film touching the ground, and run Film Guard on every show I can (1 cleaner on 8 screens).
I have been training in a new kid (he's 18, but is very mature and actually listens to what I tell him). I even printed the manuals "Threading 101" and "Building 101" (I won't let him build yet, I think he needs more time threading first, but I think the tips there will help him understand the importance of proper film handling).
I guess I'm wondering how long you train people for threading and running film. He has been training for 3 weeks, and I'm very confident he understands how to run film properly. For the last two weeks, he has threaded every show (two days per week). I checked him while threading and prior to start, and he is doing a perfect job.
I plan to take old previews and reels that Technicolor doesn't want (they haven't picked it up in two years) and making test runs of brain wraps and other problems (during down time), teaching him how to deal with issues that might arise in the booth. Is it too early to do this, or do you think that it is okay to move on to this step?
I plan on working the same shifts as him for the next 2 weeks (just being in the building, taking care of other things that need my attention outside of the booth, but being there just in case), but do you consider that enough time?
I am no master film handler, I think I still have plenty to learn. But I do a good job, and am comfortable with this guy running loose in my booth. Am I crazy, or should I trust him (even if I watch closely to make sure the good practices I have tried to instill stick)?
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David Yauch
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 206
From: Mesa, AZ, USA
Registered: Oct 2004
|
posted 11-22-2004 10:37 PM
quote: Barry Martin
David, do you know why you are having trouble with framing? Are you setting the intermittent before threading?
Well originally I was having problems because I was framing after I was completely done with the rest of the threading(which was how the obnoxious projectionist who trained me at the time had me doing) and so I was constantly leaving an extra perf or two of film in the gate area just before the intermittent which would of course cause it to pop right out of frame. After I had another projectionist show me how to check the motor knob and a couple others showed me how they did their framing I was just fine. I've only had 2 problems since, one was due to a bad splice and the other was due to not clamping the pad roller to the intermittent(a.k.a. carelessness).
quote: Chase Hanson
You might be the only person up stairs that knows what a photocell is, but if you cant fix the problem with the photocell that knowledge doesnt do you a damn bit of good.
But the bonus for me is that technical problems are all handled through our engineering department, so aside from those going above and beyond, all you really need to know is enough of the vocabulary to describe the problem so they can either walk you through it or properly equip themselves to come out and fix it.
quote: Chase Hanson
Too many times have I seen new Projectionists that think if their start is "On time, in frame and in focus" their hands are clean. The giant machine with thousands of moving parts is on your side of the port glass, and entropy is a bitch.
Point taken, I double check all auditoriums throughout the show, and triple check when time permits. And of course we have a presentationist downstairs checking every show twice as well.
quote: Chase Hanson
If the thought of a sold out auditorum watching you through the port glass window and 8 different managers harassing you over the radio while you have to resplice reels 2 and 3 back together, is too much for you to handle; you should seriously reconsider becoming a projectionist.
That's half the fun!
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark J. Marshall
Film God
Posts: 3188
From: New Castle, DE, USA
Registered: Aug 2002
|
posted 11-24-2004 07:21 PM
quote:
quote:
quote: Chase HansonYou might be the only person up stairs that knows what a photocell is, but if you cant fix the problem with the photocell that knowledge doesnt do you a damn bit of good.
But the bonus for me is that technical problems are all handled through our engineering department, so aside from those going above and beyond, all you really need to know is enough of the vocabulary to describe the problem so they can either walk you through it or properly equip themselves to come out and fix it.
![[thumbsup]](graemlins/thumbsup.gif) Right answer! You don't have to know how to fix it, but being able to speak to the engineers on the phone without using words like "round thingy with the teeth on it that turns intermitantly" will be an amazing help to both you and the engineers. And by knowing the terminology, learning how to fix it will come later.
As to fixing rectifiers, if you're only making a few dollars an hour above minimum wage, and you don't know exactly what you're looking at, you don't make enough money to open it up and look around. It can kill you... or at least send you flying across the room, if you touch something in there that you shouldn't - even with the power off. My advice is LOOK for a stuck fan or something else that's obvious, SMELL for something burning, then call someone else who makes a lot more than you do to look at it.
Now, I can hear the Film-Tech vets lining up to tell me I'm wrong on this and that it's perfectly safe as long as you know what you're doing, but I think this needs to be said. Of every piece of machinery / electronics in the booth, that is the one thing I always tell my new booth puppies to stay away from. Now, like everything else, I encourage folks that want to learn about it to learn from the pros that come in and handle those things for a living. But until you do, don't touch! ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
| IP: Logged
|
|
David Yauch
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 206
From: Mesa, AZ, USA
Registered: Oct 2004
|
posted 11-27-2004 03:53 AM
Oh boy time for another update.
Lets see, the other day I was way behind on my threading, and as a result I started an OC spongebob instead of the normal one(oops!) and threaded a movie with the film track in(at least I caught this one before the customers saw it!). Anyways, the reason I was so behind on my threading was because one of our engineering men came down and wanted me to show him all of our big problems in the booth. If you're thinking there's no point to this, you'll see where I'm going. In a move that would make most Film-Techers cringe and hurl, I got to personally witness a xenon bulb changing where the operator wore no protective gear! Yay! Anyways the good news is that it didn't blow up so I'm still here without any glass in me. Oh, and the xenon bulb in question was no baby, it was a good ol' 5000 watt, serving our biggest screen...
Other than that I did learn how to tear down prints, and I'm sure you'll all be relieved to learn that we do peel off splices, label reels correctly, handle film carefully, yadda yadda yadda. In fact I get to tear down again on thursday, and I think I might be tearing down the first print I ever built up!
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
All times are Central (GMT -6:00)
|
This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3
|
Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classicTM
6.3.1.2
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.
|
Home
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[Embarrassed]](redface.gif)
You'll be happy to know I only started one show out of frame today, and none during my last shift. I was also the only person in the booth today that knew what a photocell was.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
I've fixed my share of film and minor mechanical problems (belts, etc.) but when it comes to opening up the rectifier or doing any sort of electrical-related work, I usually leave that up to the techs. 
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic