This is topic Multi-skilling in projection rooms in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Stephen Jones (Member # 16) on 05-30-1999, 02:50 AM:
Just a short note to say hello from a projectionist in Australia and to say i enjoy
reading the comments from projectionist in the U.S on different subjects.
Would like to know what you think on the subject of multi- skilling in the bio or as
it is Known the states as the booth. It is a big thing with the big chains in Australia
at the moment and has put a lot of good projectionists out of work both young
and old.As a projectionist of 29 years,
my job as a technical manager was to train 17 yr olds how to do projection
duties. Over a period of time the amount of damaged prints and neglected
projectors etc is a sad sight to see also the number of break downs that occur
which involve the issueing of passes to come back another time all because
companies insist in putting people who also sell tickets and popcorn in the
projection room.The only way to do it in my opinion is if the same group are
rostered to projection shifts on regular basis each week that way they will not
forget what the are taught and will get more experience.Thats just a quick run
down thats all for now
Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 05-30-1999, 02:51 AM:
I see it happening too much. These kids simply just don't belong in the booth.
They either don't know or don't care. And if by chance one does come by with
some signs of intelligence, they're immediately fired because they can use their
head! The best way to combat this is for patrons to demand CASH refunds
instead of a pass. Once the home office sees the cash paid out (and hopefully it's
alot!), then maybe they will wake up and get people who know (and care) what
they're doing and that will make the show worth seeing again!
Posted by Paul Konen (Member # 41) on 05-30-1999, 02:51 AM:
I see it at our multiplex. They generally work up to the booth unless, they have
experience in a related field. The ones that do work up from the "floor" generally
are thread and start type of people. Presentation is not there or minimal, like
framing.
Posted by Brett Rankin (Member # 31) on 05-30-1999, 02:51 AM:
Perhaps in most situations those "kids" are incompetant idiots, but as a 16 year
old film collector I'd like to apply for a projectionist position at a local cineplex (or
would I have to be promoted from popcorn popper to do that?) sometime next
fall. I do have experience in film and just got set up with a 35mm home theater,
and I believe I could perform just as well as the adults doing the same thing. Just
my 2 cents. Brett Rankin
PS: Does anyone know where I can get an ignitor switch for a 500w
Cinnemacannica xenon lamphouse, and how much will that cost?
Posted by Brad Miller on 05-30-1999, 02:52 AM:
It all depends on the theater as to whether you can be hired directly into the booth
or must go through popping corn before you become "worthy."
Posted by Christopher Seo (Member # 7) on 05-30-1999, 02:52 AM:
Well, I just got the job of projectionist at a local multiplex opening in time for
"Phantom Menace", and I'm only 17. It's my first job. I only had experience with
16mm, and a whole lot of interest. This particular company (Signature Theaters)
does also train the popcorn poppers and the ushers, but not everyone, just the
ones who have an interest and can demonstrate they can actually do the job. So
I'd say go for it; I think the main thing the employers would look for is interest.
Mentioning a 35mm home theater would probably guarantee your employment.
Posted by Christopher Seo (Member # 7) on 05-30-1999, 02:53 AM:
A clarification.... as opposed to expecting the employees to run the booth in
addition to popping popcorn, etc., (which is what multi-skilling would be?) after
they are trained here they become full time projectionists.
Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 05-30-1999, 02:53 AM:
Heh...they hired me (with only 16mm experience) because I showed their
projectionist how to replace an exciter bulb after the sound died in the middle of a
film...
Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 09-13-2000, 02:52 PM:
I think it is unfair that people look down on young operators and say they are all unproffesional and bad. I am 17 (18 in 2 mo) and I have already been a head projectionist at a 3 screen sub run house. I take this type of work very seriously. the new theatre that I work for told me I cant do projection but they are letting make-up/breakdown on thursday so I came in thursday (My first day) and blew the doors off of their full time projectionist so now the gm said he would train me to run the projectors.
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 09-13-2000, 02:59 PM:
Young operators can be great -- they haven't had time to develop bad film-handling habits. We all have to start somewhere -- I was 18 when I made my first changeover 33 years ago. What counts is a desire to learn the knowledge and skills required, a love of film, and a good work ethic. A bit of "Showmanship" doesn't hurt either 
.------------------
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 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 09-13-2000, 03:24 PM:
That's why when I train, I prefer to have someone who doesn't even know that we don't run "tape" upstairs. You show them the proper way of doing things and they do it perfectly because they don't know there is any other way to do it.
Posted by Carl King (Member # 398) on 09-14-2000, 10:29 AM:
If we old hands are training the young popcorn poppers/projectionists it is up to us to train them properly and insist that they perform properly. If we are managing a booth and training people then we must take some of the blame for their failures (assuming that the theater manager allows us to properly train these kids).And let's remember most of us were kid projectionists at one time. I know I was.
Posted by Wayne Kingston (Member # 611) on 09-14-2000, 02:38 PM:
I started out working as an usher, we were not allowed into the Projection suite without an invite from the "Chief" ( rightly so) My old Chief like myself invite people to try see what the magic is all about when we could see that that person was truly interested in Projection. What I do resent now, which is happening more and more throughout the company I work for is the two day training of management which usually consists of people who are forced to attend the course don't really listen, go away and never touch a projector again. But still they think that they know all that there isto know about projection because they went on a course once. This is then transfered into the work place when a Chief tells management how long it can take to train an operator to such a standard that he/she is capable to be left on their own. They seem to think because their course only took two days thats how long it should take to train an operator. I must say though not all managers are the same, many do appreciate the time it takes. But unfortunaly a few ruin it for the others
Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 09-14-2000, 05:02 PM:
Yes, but the problem is that the existing projectionists are not _really_ allowed to train new projectionists. When a manager comes in with a new trainee, they will say: "Train him and have him ready for tomorrow night!" That's not training! No matter how good you are, you can't train a person properly if you're not given enough time.Now, Wayne you are complaining that unwilling people are trained (for too short a time) to operate projectors; but then, they never go in the booth. That would be a good problem here!
In America, we take unwilling people, don't train them, and then force them into the booth. It's all messed up over here.
Perhaps you could have a word with the Queen on our behalf. Tell her that we're really sorry; we made a big mistake 200 years ago. Could we be part of the Empire again? 
Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 09-15-2000, 12:12 AM:
Hey John thanks for the words i called your office and you sent me some stuff a while ago that my previous theatre stole from me (some copies of REEL People and a Kodak Guide to Projection or something like that) just to let everyone know the Fulltime projectionist gave his notice tonight and they are going to give me the job!!!
Posted by Zach McQuaid (Member # 613) on 09-15-2000, 12:54 AM:
I think that all states should mandate a lincensing exam and issuance prior to/in accordance with Motion Picture Equipment. That I know of only my home state of Pennsylvania, and the two or three other Commonwealth States require a license. First, you have to be at least 18. Although, the exam (all written) is not too tough, it does ask basic projection qurestions that if you don't know the answer to, then there is no snoballs chance in bloody hell you should even set foot in a Projection Booth. Does anybody else agree with me on this?
Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 09-15-2000, 02:00 AM:
In reply to Wayne Kingston's post - managers doing two-day projection courses are not necessarily a bad thing. If the idea works then it helps the manager understand what you're dealing with and direct effective support. If it doesn't and you do get some moron thinking that he or she knows the lot after a crash course, then they usually end up coming to grief.When 'Titanic' opened, the opposition cinema near where I worked at the time made banner headlines in the local paper, because 'the projector broke down' during the first night, resulting in a cancelled show, 700 refunds and comps.
I later found out that the chain were trying to save money by having the projectionist sign out after the last round of shows started. They'd end on automation, then the duty manager would go round shutting everything down.
As a result of this decision, all the projectionists at that venue (most of whom had lost hours) took the decision to make themselves uncontactable during this last hour or two of each shift - they switched their mobiles off and their home answering machines on. 'Titanic' platter wrapped and the manager was helpless.
For weeks afterwards we got reports of customers coming to us rather than that venue, because they didn't want their evening spoiled by the projector breaking down...
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 09-15-2000, 04:58 AM:
Congratulations Sean! 
Lots of theaters do that little money saving policy where the projectionist leaves once the movies are on screen. How pathetic is that? For pennies on the customer, the companies that do that are taking an awful big risk. Just one of those incidents would take a LONG time to pay back in refunds and passes, not to mention potential damaged film costs and customers who never return.
Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 09-15-2000, 05:35 AM:
Re: projectionist licensing - Massachusetts has that requirement, too. Minimum age is 18. The test is pretty easy--what does a rectifier do, fire extinguishers, etc. It's a 50-question true/false thing and the minimum passing score is (I think...) 70%.
I kind of doubt that the license exam really does anything in the way of keeping idiots out of the booth. I've seen just as many screwed-up presentations in Massachusetts as I have in any other state.
Posted by Larry Shaw (Member # 388) on 09-15-2000, 03:22 PM:
I agree Scott. When I got my license in 1971 things were different. In the booth of what once had been the state censors' screening room the "practical" test was given by making the applicant wire the booth! The 2 machines (regular Simplex with Strong 1kW carbon lamps & rectifiers) switches, changeovers and fuse panel had all wire connection points terminated in copper studs with wing nuts. There was an enormous pile of various gauge asbestos wires with ring lugs on the ends. The test: wire the booth (while being quizzed on fire-safety topics), inspect the print, run a show. Let's bring back the good old days! Wonder how many of today's operators could pass?
Posted by David Kilderry (Member # 142) on 09-15-2000, 09:01 PM:
Stephen, I can't comment for the other major chains in Australia, even though i worked for two of them, but where I work things are different now.Most major multiplexes and in fact smaller sites to have almost no multi-skilled projection staff. Yes, many are recruited from front of house areas, but once in projection remain there to improve in skill and experience.
Two of the busiest cinemas in the country that are operated by us have no multiskilled projection staff. I recruit projectionists from within our own company for training and outside experienced projectionists. The mix for us works well, and in addition to the Technical manager (Chief) at each location I like to have at least one projectionist with 10 -20 years experience.
Age has nothing to do with dedication, I was once a 15 year-old in the projection room who did not run my first shift as projectionist until the age of 19 - almost 4 years as a full timer!
In our projection staff today i see a mix of 18 - 65 year old all interested in presenting the best picture and sound they can. I have little time for staff with no interest in the craft of projection, no matter what age they are. I will never hire a projectionist who thinks he knows it all and guards his knowledge, we were once young and keen to learn too!
David