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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Topic: What can I expect from the Christie DLP projectors?
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Paul Van Dusen
Film Handler
Posts: 82
From: Roanoke, VA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 12-26-2007 04:24 PM
quote: Tristan Lane
Paul, More than likely you will have little to do with starting shows. The Scheduler will be used to automatically start digital shows, with you only changing programs on the Automation, or threading the occasional 35mm presentation. Cleaning will still need to be done from time to time to ensure proper operation, but your Booth duties will be limited from what you are used to.
Well, I just spent a week there while I was looking for somewhere to live. Wow. That's all I can really say. The makeup tables for the 35's don't work, the christie tech has no idea how to fix it. Hell, he didn't even know how a film was built up. They really need to train these guys in 35 if they're going to be servicing them. The projector in booth 1 doesn't work on any of the timer systems, booth for keeps blowing the driver in the center channel speaker, booth 3 won't open the douser or switch to 6 channel digital on it's own, the surrounds in booth 8 work roughly half the time (a problem that never happened until the digital was installed). The sad part about all of this, the tech either tries to claim it's not his job to work on the speakers, or he tells me to cycle the power on everything to fix the problems. After i've reset the projector and the doremi 4 times, a fifth time isn't going to fix it. Sorry for the rant, but i hate digital and that booth is completely stressing me out. I miss my old tech from Shaver Sound with a passion. ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
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Tristan Lane
Master Film Handler
Posts: 444
From: Nampa, Idaho
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-27-2007 04:39 AM
quote: Paul Van Dusen
Sorry for the rant, but i hate digital and that booth is completely stressing me out.
Don't blame digital, since it is not the reason this theater is in such poor shape. Can you imagine what the on-screen presentation looked like when they were running 35 exclusively?
Admittedly, There is a lack of 35mm service ability among many of the technicians from that organization. Many of the technicians come from an IT background an don't even know what an intermittent movement is.
Keep in mind: Your attention to details like the ones you listed in your previous post, and your desire to fix them will do nothing but improve the presentation at that theater. Do what you can to fix the issues there, take ownership, and you will feel much better about making a difference. If the center driver keeps blowing, offer to help fix it. If the MUT is broken, break open the manual and try to isolate the problem.
Should you prove your worth around there, and learn as much as you can about the digital system, your skills will be desirable among many service organizations and can move beyond.
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Kyle Anderson
Film Handler
Posts: 86
From: Tyler, TX, USA
Registered: Dec 2005
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posted 12-29-2007 03:53 AM
As a fellow Carmike employee both blessed and cursed by Christie's techs - we were among the first Carmikes to install CP2k's, and their guinea pigs for a year or so - I wish to you the best of luck in shaping up your theatre. You're absolutely right about Christie as well - they contracted with Carmike to service systems they don't train their techs to handle - especially note the "call the tech department for a real specialist to walk you through the procedure" directive. /sigh
As it is, Christie techs ARE responsible for fixing everything relating to presentation with the exception of electrical and masking system/screen repairs (call people who actually know what they're doing for that). This includes everything about your 35mm systems - if the tech they send knows less about it than you do, call Christie NOC and ask for the supervisor, then complain. It works - I've done it, and guess what... the bullshit ended and our stuff got fixed! Christie has some serious employee training and retention problems (working people 70+ hrs a week salaried will do that), but they are contractually obligated to see to it that the work is done and will step up if you make yourself a squeaky wheel.
As far as Carmike goes, you didn't mention if you're a projection manager or a complex manager (though a 4-screen would imply you're a CM), but either way make sure to make your District Manager aware of these presentation issues - he/she has MUCH more ammunition to deal with the problems at the corporate level than you do- especially since much of the time the guys "upstairs" don't even know the problems exist without you telling them (if only Christie did... ha!). For example, we've had a few masking motor death issues that were ping-ponged with christie for about 3 months until our DM heard about it; they were fixed/replaced in 5 days.
As far as automation goes; my opinion is that you start every show yourself standing at the projector- roughly 5% of the time the bulb won't strike on the first two tries, and requires an operator to fix. Also, the next time a tech is in, get them to tell you the service password to the 4x4 projector consoles so you can do things like *turn on the screen saver*.
On the presentation side, once you get the technical issues straightened out (all of which should be blamed solely on the Christie installers - annoy the hell out of them until they fix it), the digitals deliver very, very, very consistent performance - they just require a lot more initial tweaking than 35mm does. Once this is done, you should find that you can spend more time worrying about clean bathrooms than whether the moneymakers are doing their job. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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