Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Who in CA can teach how to become a projectionist?

This is topic Who in CA can teach how to become a projectionist? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Kevin Phillips on 06-04-1999, 06:05 PM:

were in california do they teach how to become a projectionist.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 06-04-1999, 06:06 PM:

I don't know, but I can offer a couple of ideas--if union operators are common in
your area, call the local IATSE office and ask about training; otherwise, try
making friends with the projectionst at a threatre that you patronize regularly and
get him to show you some things...when they need to hire someone, they'll be
more inclined to consider you than if you'd had zero experience. Also, get a
16mm projector and some films and teach yourself about film handling, splicing,
storage, etc.; repairing a beat-up print and getting it back to runnable condition is
a skill that you will need to have! (Not that I'm really qualified to answer this
question...I taught myself how to care for 16mm films and projectors and do
seamless changeovers, and the only thing that anyone ever showed me about
35mm was how to thread the projector; everything else I know came from places
like this and casual conversations with old-time projectionsts.)

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 06-04-1999, 06:06 PM:

Two years ago a guy by the name of Sean Lohane, Director of Theatre Services
Division at National Film Service was advertising a seminar entitled, "Theatre
Operational Training and Logistics Program" in Boxoffice Magazine. This
program is generically called "Booth School" and was developed by him a few
years back to train novice projectionists in proper film handling techniques. I
believe Mr. Lohane works out of Los Angeles. The catch is this: you must be
employed by a theatre to get him to come and teach you. Also, you probably
would have to talk your manager or district manager into paying for his services in
the first place. I don't know what he could teach you that you couldn't learn from
some of Scott Norwood's suggestions, but if things work out, and you think that
he could be of some help I'm sure you could track him down through Boxoffice or
the Los Angeles phone book.