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Topic: I got an interview to be a projectionist at The Majestic!

Joel N. Weber II
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 115
From: Somerville, MA, USA
Registered: Dec 2005

posted 03-02-2007 12:41 AM

quote: Scott Norwood
Are you saying that you'd hire a popcorn kid before you would hire Brad (or anyone else with years of experience and the knowledge, ability, and desire to do the job properly)? That's crazy. Does that mean that the theatre's accountants should start by shoveling popcorn, too? All of those jobs require different skills and knowledge. Concession employees need to be clean and have good customer-service and cash-handling skills. Accountants need to be detail-oriented and understand balance sheets and income statements. Projectionists need to have good mechanical and electronics skills and have a sense of showmanship. I suspect that few people have all of those skills and could do all of those jobs well.

And someone who could do several of those jobs well might well be able to find more lucrative work somewhere outside of the theater business.

I also think that a few years of experience at any job changes a person's perspective on life, work, etc vs what it is when someone has only been a student and not an employee.

Not having that experience may make finding a job a little more difficult; then again, I think people at any level of experience tend to have multiple interviews before they find the right job.

I do agree that a flagship theater may not be the most likely place to find a projectionist's first projection job.

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Caleb Johnstone-Cowan
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 593
From: London, UK
Registered: Mar 2006

posted 03-02-2007 01:27 AM

quote: Mark Strube
To answer Brad, this place is going to have 16 screens, which includes two 72 ft wide "UltraScreens." So I think they'll have a pretty healthy-sized technical/projection staff... at least to start out with.

That is a massive assumption. You'll probably have two operators and a tech on if lucky, which should be the minimum for that size of cinema. Could be unlucky and have to do the entire site alone after training. You have to work constantly in a large multiplex regardless, especially if you have poor floor staff and are solely responsbile for monitoring the picture/sound quality.

If you want my advice, you're not going to get anything out of wanting to go straight into projection. I don't know anyone who did that in the UK. You should take a part-time job downstairs first. If you are good at that and display an interest in projection you will get moved upstairs eventually. You need to be aware of film beyond just watching a movie, and understand the routine of the cinema and the different positions, something which you are mostly isolated from in projection. Your CV needs building as well, no-one is going to trust someone with a high school reference only on machines that can cost near $100k for DLP.

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Frank Dubrois
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 896
From: Cleveland, OH
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 03-02-2007 01:33 AM

quote:
I'd also like to genuinely thank everyone for all the advice given here. A few misunderstandings and surprising yet helpful responses later, I think I've got a better shot at this. Thank you!

Perhaps you should look into Best Buy or a store that sells Home A/V equipments. You might actually be happier there. If you have a love for high end equipment and LOVE to talk about it, I think you'd make a better salesperson than projectionist. What you WANT to do and what you have a PASSION for, seem to be slightly different. I'm kind of getting the feeling that others may see that also. If I ran a retail store that sold high end computers and AV equipment, I'd consider hiring you, but nothing I've seen would make me want to hire you in a movie theater. We have ushers and projectionists that love movies too...they end up in the auditorium WATCHING the movies instead of working. I seriously think you should look into selling AV home theater equipment.

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Mark Strube
Master Film Handler

Posts: 322
From: Milwaukee, WI, United States
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 03-02-2007 08:59 AM

I understand where that's coming from (believe it or not I've heard it from others [Smile]

), but that doesn't interest me. Yes I enjoy rambling on about home theater equipment and working on my system at home to get it as nice as possible, but the idea of being a salesperson (or home installer), especially at a "big box" store, really turns me off. These days I hold the same amount of interest in movie theater technology, and I can ramble about that (to the degree I know it) to people just as much.

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Scott Jentsch
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1061
From: New Berlin, WI, USA
Registered: Apr 2003

posted 03-02-2007 03:09 PM

I'm actually surprised that they're hiring for the booth at the Majestic, instead of using existing employees, especially in the beginning. Marcus has been very mum about their digital cinema rollout plans, but I would certainly hope that at least a couple of the screens there will be DCinema-equipped.

Many of the comments here are sage advice, and even though they aren't what you want to hear, take them in the spirit in which they are meant. You are being given gifts of advice from people who have been on the job, and that's gold for someone truly interested in learning.

The comments about the long hours and the dedication to the job are key, IMO. If you truly love the industry, and your primary goal is to serve the customer, then you should be willing to take any job at a theater that is offered to you. Being a popcorn jockey is one step closer to the booth than a paying customer. Take a "shut up and learn" stance, do your job with vigor and dedication, and know your place. When you gain the credibility of time served, excellent performance, and the ability to get along with people that you work with and that you serve, you'll be in a much better position to move up to the booth.

You may be fortunate enough to get that booth job, but don't be surprised if you're expected to pull shifts on the floor as well. Your age and lack of experience is working against you, so compensate for that by being an asset that the manager can count on.

Take all of my comments with the grain of salt that I've never worked in a theater, so I may not know what I'm talking about as it exactly pertains to a theater, but I've hired and fired people and managed a team. It's a lot about personality; whether you'll fit in with the others on the team, and if you'll have the dedication to do a decent job and you're willing to learn.

Here's a story you might appreciate. When the Capitol Cinemas opened in Pewaukee, I had the opportunity to get to know the manager and the projectionist there. I watched one guy manage 12 screens of movies all by himself. He seemed to have a sixth-sense about what was happening on each screen and when each projector needed attention. When going to movies there, I would often look back at the booth at the beginning of the movie, and he'd be there adjusting things to make sure that the presentation was as good as possible.

I gained a huge appreciation for what projectionists do, and even though I still rail against bad presentations, I try to temper that with the realization that these guys don't always have the resources or the support they need to do everything perfectly.

You would be making a huge mistake even mentioning booth-related faults in an interview. There's a good chance you'll come off as an arrogant prick and you'll blow the interview right there. (I'm not saying you are one, just that you may be perceived as one during the interview by someone who won't give you the chance to explain yourself or get to know you better)

If you don't get the booth right away, don't sweat it. Working the floor is your chance to be in the right place at the right time. Modesty is key, and dedication to your job will take you places.

Good luck!

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Mark Strube
Master Film Handler

Posts: 322
From: Milwaukee, WI, United States
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 03-02-2007 04:08 PM

Thank you Scott!

I just got back from the interview (with another Scott, the manager, I believe), and it went really well! Believe it or not he was made aware of my asking questions on this site, so I think that might have shown that I have a true interest in this.

He explained that this theater is going to be more like an upscale hotel, with the floor staff being very friendly and willing to bend over backwards for the customer. He said he'll probably want to start me off as an usher, and then I can work up to being a projectionist, which I'm totally fine with... but he's definitely aware of my desire to start training in that as soon as I can.

He was quite friendly, and we seemed to get along great. (He also dropped the hint that I will in fact be hearing back from him about this, which I think is always good to hear in an interview.)

Thanks again to everyone here!

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Frank Dubrois
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 896
From: Cleveland, OH
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 03-03-2007 01:12 AM

Of course you'll hear back from him regarding ushering. Anyone who hints at wanting to be a long-term employee is a plus. Whether he'll get you to the booth or not is another question. Don't be surprised if Marcus goes union with the booth.

quote: Mark Strube
with the floor staff being very friendly and willing to bend over backwards for the customer.

Yeah right...time for a reality check. He can HOPE for that, and he can TRY for that, but I doubt (even if he achieves that) it will last.

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Rick Raskin
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1100
From: Manassas Virginia
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 03-03-2007 08:10 AM

"Don't be surprised if Marcus goes union with the booth."

Is there really hope these days? I thought the projection side of the IA was all but dead.

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Frank Dubrois
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 896
From: Cleveland, OH
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 03-03-2007 02:58 PM

Usually theaters with more than 10 screens in a major metro area get hit up by the union.

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Mark Strube
Master Film Handler

Posts: 322
From: Milwaukee, WI, United States
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 03-03-2007 03:44 PM

I have no idea how they work, but as I mentioned earlier, I'm totally willing to go through the required training to be a member of the union.

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Frank Dubrois
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 896
From: Cleveland, OH
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 03-04-2007 01:15 AM

Union projectionists usually pay pretty well, but I don't think you apply at the theater for that. Usually you have to check with the union and THEY hire you and put you where they want. Better ask around. Call Marcus Corporate office.

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Monte L Fullmer
Film God

Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 03-04-2007 02:16 AM

Yea, find a Union Rep in your area and get the skinnies on how to join....and plan on paying quarterly dues if you do get in.

(not to mean to drift this towards the IA thing ... since I was a local pres at one time....)

What I thought too - that the IA was all but dead the projection field, but I guess a lot of stage hands are still IA members in big cities...

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Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays

Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 03-04-2007 10:05 AM

Milwaukee Operator's Local 164 is showing as an active local...

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Mark Strube
Master Film Handler

Posts: 322
From: Milwaukee, WI, United States
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 03-04-2007 11:01 AM

I just asked my friend who worked at the Marcus Ridge for over 3 years (Marcus's largest Wisconsin theater with 20 screens), and he was also a projectionist there for a few months (he quit for another job, wasn't fired or anything)... he said never had to join a union, and that nobody there was a member.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-04-2007 12:26 PM

Marcus is only union in Illinois as far as I know although they may also be union in Madison. Everywhere else.... nope.

Mark

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