Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Where do I get training?

This is topic Where do I get training? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by James Dunn (Member # 188) on 10-22-1999, 02:00 PM:

I'm a newbie in the projectionist world. I've got the very simple basics down, but I want to know where I can find extensive training. I have no doubt that I'm going to learn a lot more from my co-workers, but I also know that there are a lot of things that they don't know. Are there schools, correspondence classes, or anything of that nature that I can go to or take that'll educate me in all the aspects of the job?

Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 10-22-1999, 02:28 PM:

1. Read everything in Film-Tech.
2. Ask lots of questions on the Film-Handler's Forum.
3. Try a subscription to the newsletter published by the Moving Image Society. www.bksts.com/cinetec.htm
4. Make mistakes. I know it sounds stupid, but we all learn that way.
5. Don’t rush. Double-check everything.
6. Don’t be afraid to take it apart. Keep notes, so you can put it back together again.
7. Have fun. "They don’t pay you enough to have a bad time!"

Posted by James Dunn (Member # 188) on 10-23-1999, 01:20 PM:

Thanks for the great advice Ian. Anybody else have suggestions?

Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 10-24-1999, 01:39 AM:

Try and find a person who knows about projection. When I first started learning, I learned from a guy who would just throw the film on the floor, etc. About a year later, I met a fellow who was the 'real deal'- he used to hand rewind film for his dad. Also, try to get involved when equipment is repaired, changed, etc. Most techs will show you lots of stuff if they have the time.

Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 10-24-1999, 03:04 AM:

Yes we techs will show you just about everything you want (or didn't want) to know, to include old war stories...

)

Aaron

Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 10-24-1999, 03:05 AM:

Yes we techs will show you just about everything you want (or didn't want) to know, to include old war stories...

Aaron

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 10-24-1999, 12:41 PM:

I agree with John Walsh. It has been my experience that techs WANT the projectionists there when they drove 150 miles from their base to fix YOUR machinery. Those folks that don't show up are talked about and usually blamed for many mistakes because they have no idea whats going on in the first place. Ask your tech every question you can think of and he/she will answer it because God knows, they sure as hell ain't going to drive through a snow and ice storm to fix something you can do yourself. (Real life story: a sister cinema in our company called the tech to come and replace a worn breaker late one evening last winter. If any of you folks from the Northeast remember that wonderful ice storm last February, you'll know why this tech always bitches about the people over there everytime I talk to him!)