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Topic: What would you do if you were NOT in the business?

Mike Spaeth
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1129
From: Marietta, GA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 01-05-2004 03:33 PM

Joe:

Please leave all political bitching to the political thread. We don't need that crap infecting all the forums.

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Lionel Fouillen
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 230
From: Belgium
Registered: Nov 2002

posted 01-05-2004 04:42 PM

quote:
Unless this escalating trend of "Exporting America" can be turned around, the best predictions for the future of our nation lie in "Soylent Green."

Same for Europe! [Frown]

I'm not working in the film business. I'm a freelance IT consultant. My Dad, now retired, was an intermediate school teacher who used his spare time as an art movie house manager. The best part of his job is that he was mostly the person who decided which films to show and how (not just a manager whose job is to ensure the house rules are respected by staff and customers).

When he noticed my passion for projection, he strongly advocated that I followed another road, for film projection doesn't make a dime! I did follow another road (college degree in corporate communications and media, plus self-taught IT), and I now don't regret it although my heart belongs to projection booths.

I love to see that people appreciate my job. Film projection would have been a way for me to give the best of myself to people out there. So I just keep an eye on what's happening in the projection business, and if one day I see somebody launching a project, with the need to find a projectionist for a few hours per week on evenings or week-ends, I will volunteer immediately (even for free!).

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Aaron Sisemore
Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day!

Posts: 3061
From: Rockwall TX USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 01-05-2004 08:22 PM

quote:
Never forget, the Republicans want cheap labor above all else

Then explain why the Democrats bend over backwards to keep the flow of illegal immigrant laborers coming into the country? Oh, wait, that's how they commit voter fraud and keep themselves in power in some places. [Big Grin]

Move this to political forum, please.

-Aaron

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Jason Burroughs
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 654
From: Allen, TX
Registered: Jun 99

posted 01-06-2004 09:19 AM

I would be in the IT industry, as I already am. I enjoy working in theaters, and doing projectionist work, I just wish it paid a livable salary.

All politics aside, I've seen first hand how businesses now days are not only exporting manufacturing jobs, but now also white-colar jobs as well. CEOs and stock holders want something for nothing in the way of labor, and by "off-shoring" jobs to 3rd world counties is as close as they can get. Even the company I currently work for has let U.S. and European employees go in favor of hiring in the middle east and India.

Companies both here in the U.S. and over in India, have caught on that this does not portray a good P.R. Image so you'll be seeing fewer announcements about jobs being exported, but they'll acutally be exported at a greater rate now.

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Gary Crawford
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 200
From: Neptune NJ USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-06-2004 01:06 PM

To Joe Schmidt, referring to projection as a "hobby" industry, I would have to agree to some extent. Although I'm full-time at an old single-screen x-over house (a whole actual 26-32 hours a week) and it does pay a fair wage and benefits (could be a lot better of course) and it is a relaxing job for the most part.

I also run satellite uplinks for horse racing simulcasting (a few days a week), helping with your "professional investments in the outcome of horse races." I put them up in the air so people can lose, er, wager on horse races from anywhere!

I also have a part time business where I do publicity and PR for mainly nonprofits. Some of that business can be handled from the theatre and the uplink as I otherwise work hard holding down the chair. I would do that full-time if the other jobs disappeared.

I had worked as a director of live TV for horse tracks. Loved the job, hated who I worked for. Also did some movie production work, pay was great, just the work is sporadic.

Many moons ago I drove my own 18-wheeler cross country. Things have gotten much worse in that industry and don't think I'd return, although I'll keep my CDL just in case.

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Scott D. Neff
Theatre Dork

Posts: 919
From: San Francisco, CA
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 01-07-2004 12:44 PM

Geeze... I've never really thought about it. I lucked into the theatre job at an age where I was curious about everything and I just jumped in and learned everything I could.

Had Cinema West not re-opened my theatre I'm sure I'd be working for UA as an Ass. Man. and be going to Junior College, STILL at the age of 26, eventually getting into Human Resources or something. And I'm sure I would've taken bartending classes already, and maybe found a nice dive bar to hang out in.

I'm still gonna go to bartending school... just a matter of finding the time and money. Drinkin' is fun, especially when you know how to do it right.

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Rachel Craven
Madam Moderator

Posts: 2190
From: Pensacola, FL
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 01-07-2004 10:20 PM

Hey Scott, don't pick on bartending school - been there, done that. Too bad I never went out of my way to get a job in a bar though, I've already forgot all the stuff I learned. [Confused]

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Carl Martin
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1424
From: Oakland, CA, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 01-08-2004 04:46 AM

quote:
Had Cinema West not re-opened my theatre I'm sure I'd be working for UA as an Ass. Man.

i think i read this the wrong way. but i like my way better than the way you meant it.

we're supposedly going to get a bar put in the upstairs lobby, and some of the staff sent to bartending school on the company dime. my feelings on this are... mixed.

carl

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Scott D. Neff
Theatre Dork

Posts: 919
From: San Francisco, CA
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 01-08-2004 03:05 PM

No I meant it as Ass Man... I used to have a nametag that sad "Scott Neff" and then underneath it "Ass. Man."

And I totally wanna be a bartender, I think it can be a totally fun and rewarding job unless you get stuck with a job somewhere that sucks.

As far as the UA Berkeley getting a bar upstairs Carl, I'll eat my hat if Regal ever actually put a bar there. (I assume you're talking about UA Berkeley since it's really the only theatre there that has an abundance of wasted lobby space... although the California has the mezzanine... hmmm)

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Richard Greco
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1180
From: Plant City, FL
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-08-2004 03:59 PM

If I weren't projecting film for a nice $5.15 an hour, I think I would be working for Royal Caribbean Cruises. I think I'd love to work on a ship for 6 months out of the year and get paid to see The Bahamas,Cozumel, and other places.

They even had a movie theatre onboard showing XXX, Signs, Analyze That and others....not sure if they were 35mm though.

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Carl Martin
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1424
From: Oakland, CA, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 01-08-2004 05:01 PM

scott, a hex on you for suggesting i work at the ua berkeley. i don't set foot in that dump! i'm at the california, and yes, it would be in the mezzanine, where the satellite concession stand is that never gets used. next time you stop by, say hi and i'll take the hex off.

i once saw a movie on a ship: clockwise with john cleese. i was a young'un then but i'd guess it was 16mm. last summer i was on a ship that was showing movies in a little theater... on shmideo. i didn't bother.

carl

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Travis Hubrig
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 175
From: Minot ND, USA
Registered: May 2003

posted 01-12-2004 09:58 AM

Bartending School???

Why would you do that? Are there actually bars that ask to see your credentials, or diploma from bartending school?

Where I come from you work as a server or a bartender in a smaller bar and learn by experience, it doesn't take long. If you want a job as a bartender at a busier bar, you just need experience at some other places. Can you get student loans at bartending school? Would it cover my existing tab? Is the bartender school across the street from waitress school?

If I had to quit the industry I would probably get back into porn. Not making it, just watching it a lot more. [Wink]

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Rachel Craven
Madam Moderator

Posts: 2190
From: Pensacola, FL
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 01-12-2004 10:31 AM

quote:
Why would you do that? Are there actually bars that ask to see your credentials, or diploma from bartending school?

If you want to work on a cruise line or resort a lot of them say you must have attended bartending school.

quote:
If I weren't projecting film for a nice $5.15 an hour, I think I would be working for Royal Caribbean Cruises. I think I'd love to work on a ship for 6 months out of the year and get paid to see The Bahamas,Cozumel, and other places.

The last ship I went on (Royal Caribbean) we talked to our waiter and asked him about that, he said he works a little over 9 months out of the year, 7 days a week! [Eek!]

The woman in the hair salon worked 10 months, 6 days a week.

6 months sounds like a good deal to me! [Smile]

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Dave Williams
Wet nipple scene

Posts: 1836
From: Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 01-12-2004 12:43 PM

I am out of the business now, but glad I was in it. It will always be with me. Now I am preparing to re-enter the political field that I should have never left. Due to health concerns, my run for Utah Governor may have to wait for four years, but I will probably jump on board someone elses campain and hope for a good upper admin position.

Politics is probably more in my blood than movies, but movies probably had more to do with influencing that than anything.

Dave

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William T. Parr
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 823
From: Cedar Park, TX
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 01-12-2004 12:54 PM

quote:
If I weren't projecting film for a nice $5.15 an hour, I think I would be working for Royal Caribbean Cruises. I think I'd love to work on a ship for 6 months out of the year and get paid to see The Bahamas,Cozumel, and other places.

Jez My projectionist get paid $8.00/hr and as the Projection manager I make $9.50/hr. I have never worked for a company in the booth even at Cinemark for less than $6.00/hr and that was back in 1989.

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