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Author Topic: Converting to Digital.. What happens to my job? Paul Gordon Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 580 From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Registered: Aug 2005 posted 09-03-2006 08:44 AM                        There still are a lot of changeover houses running, I work at one... when your switching films every other day and doing double bills its still pretty effecient. Digital will take over though...but prices are going to have come down for art houses and second runs to invest it Digital Cinema. Remeber most people think theatres are already showing their films on a DVD/HDTape or through a computer.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-03-2006 08:47 AM                     quote: Tim Reed The job of projectionist has been gone for a long time. You know it's over when the union removes the projectionist's designation from its name. Tim, I disagree totally. Even when the word Projectionist was there many of the unions still employed people with other jobs and many of those people were no better than the kids that are operating booths today. With the exception of a few members Local 110 was the worst at that practice and most of the operators had gotten their job because they knew someone or their dad or uncle was in it... not because they were professionals at running and maintaining equipment....many didn't have the slightest knowledge about the equipment they were running. Many never ever cleaned the projectors thay ran and there was no training for the operators at all. Other unions like Seattle did a very good job and had proper training facilities for their members so they could at least learn the ins and outs of the booth and basics of maintaining the equipment. Mark  |  IP: Logged Marin Zorica Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 671 From: Biograd na Moru, Croatia Registered: May 2003 posted 09-03-2006 09:15 AM                     This pulling out another question! When digital era comes in huge amount, there gonna still be a small country thetres or so with 35mm projectors, so do the prints still gona ariving there? And what will be with film labolatories......lot's of people gonn alose job!  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 09-03-2006 11:05 AM                     The projectionist's job has not disappeared completely...it is just mostly gone. In multiplexes, it is virtually gone...in screening rooms, it is very much alive and can play quite well. As a percentage of jobs available though...there are not enough reel jobs to go around. Steve  |  IP: Logged Paul Konen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 981 From: Frisco, TX. (North of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-03-2006 03:01 PM                     I could set up my two machines on automatic starts, except for three things. 1. It can't talk to the projector to strike or turn off the bulb between shows. 2. The First Look preshow doesn't always end on time, due to final promo ad or whatever. 3. Without an NTP server to talk to, the clock slips on the server and you would have to make constant adjustments to your playlist to compensate for it. So, I think there will be someone in the booth for a while to handle things for a while. Also, it seems like it is sort of clunky for the multiple digital installations to move prints around. If they decide to move a title, they have to ingest into the new server overnight.  |  IP: Logged Gunnar Asgeirsson Film Handler Posts: 64 From: Iceland Registered: Jul 2006 posted 09-03-2006 03:44 PM                        So far we have only one digitalcinema here in Iceland. They have the best technical stuff and computer and all can be automatic but they are to afraid to leave the booth without projectionist so they have allways projectionist. That will be BIG DEAL if somethink go wrong and nobody is there to fix it. So maeby you will not lose you job.  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 09-03-2006 05:36 PM                       Mark... I understand where you're coming from, and I don't necessarily disagree. Steve effectively pinpoints it. And I was thinking of myself, I suppose, and more the area I grew up in, but this was years ago. Everyone was a professional and it was a practiced craft. The IA withdrew their support and essentially fed projectionists to the dogs long before they changed the name. To me, that was truly the final nail in the coffin. The job, the profession, the craft wasn't coming back. One thing's for certain. There's gonna be a lot of film collectors with some very nice booths in the future.  |  IP: Logged Dustin Mitchell Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1865 From: Mondovi, WI, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 09-03-2006 11:51 PM                     Paul, your theatre has one of the older first-gen systems right? None of the points you mentioned apply to the install at my theatre (Christie projectors, DCA-21 automation, Doremi server), and from what I gather they don't apply to NEC installs either.  |  IP: Logged Mark Hajducki Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 500 From: Edinburgh, UK Registered: May 2003 posted 09-04-2006 07:47 AM                     In the short term (with some screens all digital, others 35mm and digital and some 35mm only) there will still be a need for projectionists although with less workload since there are less 35mm screens to run. Cinemas will not go all 35mm until the funding is established (in the UK the UKFC scheme is only funding some screens) and all the content is avaliable in the appropriate digital formats. If less screens need to be run on 35mm then it is more likley that manager operation will be chosen.  |  IP: Logged Paul Konen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 981 From: Frisco, TX. (North of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-04-2006 07:11 PM                     Dustin. Nope, I have DOREMI servers and both screens are Christie CP-2000's. I have the DOREMI handling all automation including the NCM PRESHOW latch, without having to "fake" the preshow stuff by running the 35mm. Dustin, are you saying that your DOREMI does all that stuff?  |  IP: Logged Dustin Mitchell Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1865 From: Mondovi, WI, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 09-04-2006 08:49 PM                     Well, I think its more the automation than the Doremi. The Christie DCA-21 is what tells the Doremi to start playback and it tells the projector to strike the lamp, open the douser, etc. All you need to do is make sure the right show is cued up on the Doremi, set the timer on the DCA-21, and walk away. Now obviously the show should still be checked, but seeing as how there aren't any possible mechanical failures (brain wraps, etc) there's no reason the show needs to be checkced from the booth, floor staff are perfectly capable of doing that.  |  IP: Logged Eric Robinson Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 538 From: Santa Rosa, CA Registered: Jan 2005 posted 09-05-2006 12:41 AM                     This scenerio has not yet occured in the multiplex theatres which I work for. I'm guessing though, that if it were to occur, there would be some type of company which would provide their own technical support for the new equipment. This type of situation would reduce the need for the handy booth guy who is good at replacing busted pad rollers and making last minute lens barrel and turret adjustments for a fine presentation. For any sensible business owner; however, it would seem that having an employee who understands the new technology to the extent of possibly troubleshooting problems with networking, computer hardware, and sound systems would be a much more cost effective alternative to having the new digital system techs come out to provide servicing at some incredible price / hour. What I'm saying is, get to know the new technology to the most fundamental level you can grasp and most likely you will become a valuable resource as an alternative to the overpriced techs which are provided with the digital system at a premium.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 09-05-2006 03:13 AM                     Yea Eric, better head to school then and start learning about the SONY 4k units then - cinemas are keeping a watchful eye on this new resolution format since the 2k's JUST might be dinosaurs down the road.  |  IP: Logged Anslem Rayburn Master Film Handler Posts: 476 From: Yuma, AZ, USA Registered: May 2002 posted 09-05-2006 05:29 AM                     On a personal note, I was told last week that our digital unit (from 4 years ago) was considered "legacy equipment". We were allowed to keep it, in case we can find a use for it. I was told at the same time that projectionists would be pretty much useless once the change was made. I am considered 'important' enough to keep around, as I maintain the website, do the ads, and all promitional materials not coming from the distributor. I also have some electronic skills, and have computer knolwedge. I am in the process of looking for seminars and training that involves the DCI compliant equipment (presumably Christie, thought I don't know for sure yet). My company (an independent) is willing to send myself and an associate to these seminars. I am looking for California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Hawaii(not really, but you can dream). Except for Hawaii, the rest are realistic. Anyone with information, please contact me. If you are a projectionist that handles film only, get involved in the changeover, find a way to make yourself necessary to the company, or look for another line of work. It's coming, and it's coming faster than many of us believe...  |  IP: Logged Paul Konen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 981 From: Frisco, TX. (North of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-05-2006 05:16 PM                     Dustin, are you part of a circuit that runs the NCM preshow? If not, yeah, you can set up a show schedule to automatically do all the stuff necessary to start the show. If so, you know how the end of the preshow drifts by a few seconds.  |  IP: Logged

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