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Author Topic: Another Employee Problem......and it wasn't my fault :) Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 03-20-2005 01:59 PM                     Sure, the first time I was to run a booth, I would attempt to come in a bit early, if possible to learn the breakers and quirks of the booth. Sometimes that wouldn't be much extra time (whenever the manager showed up). As for the booth equipment itself...it is all pretty much the same and that is the key. Even in Joe's story, the Cinemeccanica and the Century are more alike than different. With computerized stuff, that may take a bit more time...software and firmware guys have "ideas" that only make sense to them...they are always just 1-revision away from getting it right, in their minds. So, one needs to figure them out. Brad, it is not a matter of being full of oneself...it is a matter of those that "get projectors" and those that just parriot what they have been told. This isn't unique to the movie biz either...there are those that "get math" or just about any other subject and those that don't.  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 03-20-2005 02:39 PM                       quote: Brad Miller You guys are all WAY too full of yourselves over this. Hee-hee-hee!! ROFL!  |  IP: Logged Will Kutler Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1506 From: Tucson, AZ, USA Registered: Feb 2001 posted 03-20-2005 02:41 PM                     To add to what Steve and others have said, being a projectionist is also just not about being able to put a show on the screen, but being able to take care of technical difficulties so the show could go on! This is what seperates the big boys from the amateurs! I have written about some of my exploits elsewhere, but here is a recap of some of my exploits: Going out on a service call where a two screen theatre was dependant on a single Christie AW-5 platter that had crapped out and was operating intermidately. No sooner had I arrived on site than it crapped out shortly after the start of a show. What to do??? Thats right, I hand cranked the platter to prevent a dark screen! Besides having to fix electronic problems on this unit during this service call, I also had to deal with some mechanical problems! Some of the Nutsert tm fittings by which rollers and the take-up carriage are attached to the tree were broken. During a previous "repair", someone had badly gouged out one of those Nutsert tm holes with a file and jury rigged a wobbly repair. What to do? No time for welding and a proper repair! A trip to the local ACE Hardware produced an expandable rubber grommet with a threaded brass insert that produced a quality repair. And then calling on a friend and fellow aircraft mechanic at the local airport produced the correct Nutsert tm fitting and the needed tool! I have many more stories about how quick thinking through mechanical experience saved the day, and the audience never knew! Taking care of issues like this is what makes one a professional! Unlike how a popcorn-jockey would have his face up his backside with a dark screen!  |  IP: Logged Rick Raskin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1100 From: Manassas Virginia Registered: Jan 2003 posted 03-20-2005 03:31 PM                     This is way off topic. How about another thread on "How I saved the day"?  |  IP: Logged Jim Ziegler Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 753 From: West Hollywood, CA Registered: Jul 99 posted 03-20-2005 03:42 PM                     quote: *whatever* [Roll Eyes] You guys are all WAY too full of yourselves over this. So big deal someone well trained switched booths between a Simplex, Century and Christie projector (that all have VERY close threading paths). I have to agree with Brad.. Some machines are very different than others. For example, after coming out of a Simplex booth the first time I saw a Christie, I could thread it right up without a problem. However, I had to look long and hard at the threading diagram to figure out how to thread the Simplex Apogee sitting at Showest - despite having worked extensively with Simplex 35's and Milleniums, and, having looked at the Kinotrons, I still can't tell you how the damn things are threaded...  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 03-20-2005 04:43 PM                     quote: Super Will What to do??? Thats right, I hand cranked the platter to prevent a dark screen! WOWZERS!!!!!! Will, is it just the way I am interpreting your posts or do you really seem to think you are an incredible rarity as one who has ever had to spin a platter by hand or do a quick repair to save a show? Trust me, EVERYONE has those stories, even minimum wage concessionist kiddies with less than a week's worth of working the booth. My very first day running a multiplex I had a takeup platter fail and hand spun it for a few minutes when I came up with the idea of grabbing that nearby MUT and using it as a way to control the speed. It gave me just enough time to run away for intervals of about 2 minutes at a time so I could thread and start the other screens without any of them being late or having downtime. I then was able to diagnose and fix the thing after the show, but you know what, big deal. It's part of the job to keep the show running, however you have to do it. Excellent suggestion Rick. Please, everyone with your superhero stories to tell, please post them here so everyone who wants to drool over them can have them all neatly packaged together into one mega spectacular, highly erotic and stupendous thread. We now return you to Managing 101 with your host, Richard Greco.  |  IP: Logged Jim Ziegler Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 753 From: West Hollywood, CA Registered: Jul 99 posted 03-20-2005 07:31 PM                     Highky erotic? Anyone that finds booth stories highly erotic really needs to get out some...  |  IP: Logged

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