A potential problem would be that the leader is exposed to whatever dirt settles on the film overnight. Would be a real concern if clean-up crews were stirring up dust at night. (e.g., using blowers to clean auditoriums, which IMHO should be BANNED )

I am not arguing that the floor should not be kept clean, but the math does not add up.

It was the end of innocence, and the dawn of a nation's greatest glory.
December 7, 1941 - A day that shall live in infamy

Brad,
I'm struggling here, as there are people here that know too much and I therefore will not pretend I can ever win a debate, though much can learnt in process.

However my reason for night shift to loop the film past the projector is that they can do this one at a time as each show finishes, after all they are not going anywhere until the last show is over. I know no morning shift person who objects to this, anywhere.
The film need never touch the floor, and as you suggest use a cloths peg to make sure of that.

With the film looped through you can then use the time saved to check or replace house lighting, isle lighting, foyer lighting, check morning email, read the diary.
Why do something in the morning that could have been prepared the night before.
I dont believe that the dust that settles on a leader that has been looped through is signifficant.

Currently the manager and projectionists arrive at 9am for a 10am first session, floor/candy/box staff arrive at 9.30am (though they always seem to show up early, this is good) and doors open at 9.45am. (This can change on weekends or holidays)

It's not that one is pressed for time, it just creates more time to be able to lace up SLOWLY
and ensure loops are the correct size and rollers have not been missed.
It is not a race, I prefer people to start a show a few minutes late (no matter what time of day - and if sessions have been programmed too close together) than miss a roller and destroy a whole print (even though all projectors should be checked every 30 minutes)
(Even if running late means loosing points if there is a mystery shopper in there)

Like I said, I'm willing to loose any debate, as long as there was something learnt from it.

As lame as the stuff I say might be.....
Get this, I told a big boss to tell the Biggest boss to have a look at at film-tech forums, she just laughed and said the 'CEO of an international company has better things to do' I said 'Yeah a company with a bad name - internationally' (I think you know which company)
That said, it's just not that company, they all seem to be cheap asses - they work to budgets
even though seats need repairing, Xenons replaced, sound upgraded, foyer areas need fixing, they say NO your over budget. Then wonder why people are going to the theatre in the next suburb.

John said something like, 'if cinema's were run by people who have worked thier way up through the ranks, things would be different'.

Bill.

Encourage others to participate in Film-Tech. If you see something of interest to a manager or co-worker, pass it along, and tell them where you got it. If you deal with a service or equipment engineer, ask why they don't participate in Film-Tech. If you attend a trade show or business meeting, spread the word!

For the almost 800 registered participants, there are probably thousands of "lurkers" who read Film-Tech regularly. One of them may be in a position to solve a long standing problem or change a bad practice.

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Sadly, most of the 'higher ups' that *I* have come across, both in this industry and others, have operate under the idea "If it's not OUR idea, it's not the right idea". As long as upper mgmt in ANY filed has this mentality things will only progress to get worse. This is not good for anyone. But, when you're in mid-level mgmt, what are you to do? Question authority in risk of retaliation? I am *sure* that there are SEVERAL people on this list who 'lurk'. I know of one lister who submitted a post only to be instructed by oen of his superiors to remove it... Thankfully, it wasn't put that way to me... I'd have politely told them to KISS MY ASS, or something to that effect.

I'm straying from the topic, so I'll stop now. I simply believe that, as you said, if someone finds information that helps them on this forum.. USE IT. We have enough damage to our industry as it is... Keeping patrons in seats shoudl be our biggest common goal. You can't do this with crappy presentation, and I don't give a how good your popcorn/soda/candy/nachos/hot dogs/coffee/etc.. is!

Enough said...

Let's see...my response to your reasoning to thread up the night before is that if your projectionists must be worrying about lights, there is one problem right there. But taking that into account, why can your projectionists not check the lights the night before as the movies are coming down to save the opening guy the hassle? Also, I wouldn't want to be responsible for threading a movie that someone else has already partially threaded up. Finding a threading mistake someone else has done is actually more difficult and time consuming than just threading the platter myself. At least that's the way I see it.

As far as starting shows late to ensure "film done right", I wholeheartedly agree with you. Some people just seem too worried about "right now" and the customers that are presently sitting in the chairs to take a look at the long term and ask themself "is my shortcut that I am doing going to adversely affect the presentations for the remaining run of this print?" Trying to get a show on screen too fast and scratching it may have saved that particular show, but how many more after that will be destroyed? If only more people would think like that.

quote:

---

Also, I wouldn't want to be responsible for threading a movie that someone else has already partially threaded up. Finding a threading mistake someone else has done is actually more difficult and time consuming than just threading the platter myself.

---

I agree, Brad. I hate starting a show I didn't thread. Regardless of who did the threading. It's not that I don't trust anyone, but I just don't trust anyone.

And I hate when I get interrupted in the middle of threading a projector. If you walk up and start asking me questions (or phone me or walkie-talkie me) while I'm threading, I'm going to ignore you until I'm done. If you're important, you _might_ get a "hold on a sec, I'm almost done".

</rant>