This is topic Thanks or No Thanks in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 11-20-1999, 04:24 AM:
Most of us have had the feeling that no-one could care less about who's up in the projection room at some stage or another. One colleague called it the 'ass-end of the business', and a lot of times, I couldn't agree more.We sit there toiling away in noisy dark rooms eating on the run, making the impossible possible a lot of the time.
But every now and then, something happens that changes that feeling of 'ah, who cares?'to 'yeah, I made it possible for all those people to have a good time'.
Years ago, Chuck Jones, the classic Warner Bros cartoon director and creator of Daffy Duck et. al, was at my theater. He brought with him his personal prints of such greats as 'Bully For Bugs', 'What's Opera Doc?'and 'Rabbit Seasoning'. All mint condition, gorgeous color and stunning image. Anyway, I was a big fan and was very much looking forward to meeting him. I missed out at the start of the show as I was very busy making up the show and running another screen at the same time.
The show went off perfectly. Curtains opening at exactly the right time, managed to get first audio on every cartoon, full house (750) Chuck off to one side in a spotlight commenting about how the cartoons were made, giving charming insights into those golden days during the breaks, then off we'd go again and 750 adults became kids again, cheering like the old days every time Bugs Bunny's face zoomed up in the middle of the Warner Bros logo.
Anyway, he left without me getting to meet him as I was again locked away in the booth.
I was really very upset. I kept thinking of the 'ass end of the business' statement and thinking just how true that was.
So there I am, breaking down all these great cartoons and thinking how much I hate this job, when in walked the General Manager of the company. He walked up, shook my hand and said "That was the best presentation I have ever seen in my entire life. I don't think I've ever enjoyed myself more at the movies. Thank you".
And so it's moments like those, folks. It's moments like those that keep me thinking I hope I can always do this. It may be a thankless job a lot of the time, but every now and then...
Yeah, I make it possible for all those people to have a good time.
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 11-20-1999, 05:27 AM:
WELL PUT! There's nothing like watching a huge crowd having a good time from all the extra time and effort put into a job when that extra work isn't required to be there.Sometimes it can get dull and boring and quite frequently becomes the "thankless job" of the theatre, but that occasional "job well done" from a higher up and ESPECIALLY when that rare patron stops to give praise makes it all worth while.
It's ashamed you didn't get to meet Mr.Jones, though!
Posted by Tom Ferreira (Member # 70) on 11-20-1999, 08:13 AM:
Sure it's a thankless job, but I would much rather stay anoynmous in the booth. As we all know, the only time attention is called to the projectionist is when something goes wrong. Last night, after the show of Pokemon, a little boy came up to me, all excited about the movie he had just seen, and how great it was, etc. That's what I consider a reward.
I hate to rub it in, but I would be extremely upset if Chuck Jones came to my theatre to give a presentation, and I didn't get to at least shake the legend's hand.
It's times like that when the pressure is really on. Years ago, Stephen King came to our theatre for the opening night showing of Needful Things. In that situation, you want to make sure everything is just right.
Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 11-20-1999, 09:12 AM:
I agree with everything posted here. In particular, the shows which I ran which were introduced by the writer or director were always the most fun and also the most un-nerving. About a year ago, I ran "LA Confidential" with an introduction by James Ellroy and last spring I ran "Gods and Monsters" with an introduction by Chris Bram...both of these shows were to sell-out crowds (500-seat theatre) and both were absolutely flawless presentations. I didn't get any personal compliments, but I did get a lot of satisfaction from knowing the the audiences obviously really enjoyed both films and the introductions.
Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 11-20-1999, 10:45 AM:
Yeah, really, it's a thankless job. If you do your job perfectly, no one notices. If something goes wrong, regardless, it's your fault. You are even blamed for power failures. You just have to like the job.Also, while it's nice to have someone thank you, I feel that quality people who prove themselves (like at special screenings) should get 'more.' Usually that means more pay, but anything that makes your life easier qualifies.
That and that alone shows whether you are appreciated or not.
For example, I've gotten to the point where they just won't give me any more money. However, I'm the only projectionist that is allowed to fill out and approve my own purchase orders. To me, that's a good trade-off.
Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 11-20-1999, 03:03 PM:
In some ways, it has been nice at the Uptown (in DC)...For the Lawrence of Arabia restoration screenings...the booth was graced by Sir David Lean and Omar Sharif who both gave their appreciation for the performance (as did F.A. Young at the reception that followed),
Ronny Howard (and family) came to the booth for BACKDRAFT and gave us some dialogue on FAR AND AWAY being in 70MM)
For SPARTACUS...a bonanza, Gene Simmons took photos with the booth people and Robert Lawrence (the negative cutter for Stanley Kubrick) stayed in the booth for the whole show pointing out little tid-bits about how the film was made (of couse, he was always talking about the studio reels rather than release print reels so one had to mentally divide by 2 to reference what reel he was talking about).
And it is always a pleasure to have Bob Harris in the booth for any of his restorations too.
Steve
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 11-20-1999, 03:37 PM:
Nothing beats having John Tesh walk through your booth to look at your video equipment...I mean NOTHING!!!!!!! -- Just kidding, of course!Actually at the theatre I am at now, our general manager appreciates and loves the booth staff. She will occasionally fire up a memo saying how much she appreciates us. My ass is kissed on an almost daily basis, and of course I love it! She has worked with enough bad and average booth staffs to realize what she has. So in turn we do a great job for her. What goes around comes around, that's why we put on the best presentation in the state.
Posted by Chris Erwin (Member # 176) on 11-20-1999, 07:28 PM:
I ran a special show at our theater in which I brought in my own 16mm equipment, and ran several reels of shorts, breaking for comment in between from the presenter. The show went off without a hitch and the sponsors personally thanked me. In my book that was enough,just a simple thank you,but they took it a step further. They came to the theater and handed me a package,thanking me again. Inside was a video tape with the event highlights, copies of e-mail messages to the sponsors commenting about the show (all good,of course 
) and a personal thank you card,which thanked me for my help and expertise. I was floored. I was really proud to be called a projectionist. (and to have people notice my work was a plus) The truth is, I always try to put on a flawless show. Like someone else earlier said,no one hardly notices when things go right. To me,it's self-satisfaction that keeps me going,knowing I can put on a good show, and do. --Chris
Posted by Scott Ribbens (Member # 180) on 11-20-1999, 10:59 PM:
There is something to be said for not being noticed. When you have a problem with the equipment and get it fixed, and the patrons, the managment and the floor staff have no hint that there was ever a problem. And you walk out of the theatre at the end of a rather hectic day, and the floor operation never was effected. It's kind of like having a little secret that only you know about, and nobody else. there is a certian satisfaction in that.
Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 11-21-1999, 12:44 AM:
Or having Francis Coppola tour your booth before a special screening of 'Virgin Suicides'(directed by his daughter Sofia) and then shaking your hand and raving about the presentation quality afterwards... Thats definitely stiffy-inducing heheheheh 
Aaron
Posted by George Roher (Member # 91) on 11-21-1999, 01:38 AM:
I have enjoyed running shows with directors and actors in attendance to chat with the audience (mostly small independent features). That could sometimes be unnerving. I also enjoyed running screenings for the local chapter of the Directer's Guild, but that always bordered on "thankless". One of the few times I've ever actually been thanked was when I ran a private prerelease screening of "Solo" for Mario Van Peebles and his family. He's a real nice guy and is very down to earth. It's starting to seem like the only people who aren't completely oblivious to our existence or the importance of what we do are other operators.
Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 11-21-1999, 02:04 AM:
Francis Coppola? Wow! That's a biggie. (No pun intended).I'm not sure old Chuck could have made it up the stairs, anyway. 
(sigh)
Posted by Erick Ojeda (Member # 216) on 11-21-1999, 03:54 PM:
Before I was hired as an assistant manager, the theater I work for had farily good presentations. We hardly ever had any complaints, but then again, we hardly ever had any praises either, but there were times when things went wrong, and there were a lot of complaints. When the time came that I moved up and took booth responsibilities, nobody really said anything about the presentations. (Note: Our clientel went down dramaticly due to the opening of Regal Cinemas across town) But one day, an older man was sitting in the front row watching the ending credits to Analyze This when I walked down the auditourium to check the cleanliness of the theater. He turned to me and asked me if we just got in new lenses? I looked at him and said no we didn't. Why do you ask? He said the picture on the screen is so clear. He said it has been a while since he has visited our theater because he has been going to Regal, but told me that even though this theater wasn't doing so good, that this place gave him one of the best presentations he has ever experienced. He said he enjoyed himself very much. We talked for a little while longer, I shook his hand, and thanked him very much. I felt so good to know that somebody noticed the work that goes into presenting a film. Every time I go up those stairs to start a film, I look out the port glass, view the people who have come to watch the movie, push the start button on the automation, make sure everything is running smoothly before walking away, and smile every time I do it because I want every one in that theater to experience that magical movie experience. Just looking at everyone walking out the theater when the film is over, let it be them crying, laughing, excited, etc, brings to me all the satisfaction and thank yous I will ever need.Erick Ojeda
Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 11-25-1999, 04:56 AM:
It's always nice at the end of a show to have someone look up at you as they walk out and give you a wave or salute. At the Drive In, folks used to leave a tip on the junction box so we'd get it on the ramp tramp.ahhhhh... the drive in....
------------------
John
Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 11-25-1999, 01:29 PM:
Regarding the "tip jars" that some theatres have at their concession stands--I always thought that they should have one labelled "projectionist"--that way, customers could show that they appreciated a quality film presentation with proper focus and seamless reel changes...alas, it will never happen...
Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 11-25-1999, 04:03 PM:
We have a "tip jar" at the snack bar at the Skyline Drive In. But, alas, it's not for the projectionist, just the bar grunts.
Posted by Tyler Skinner (Member # 229) on 11-25-1999, 05:51 PM:
in my opinion, the concessionist deserve more tips that the projectionist. especially since we just raised ticket prices to 7.75 and small popcorn is 3.50 bucks, small soda 3.00, concessionists get all the *sshole costomers complaining about customers.
Consessionists are the ass end of the industry....
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 11-26-1999, 12:33 AM:
Why the hell would ANYONE tip for counter service? Having a tip jar sitting on the counter is extremely tacky anyway.Actually, if you want to get really tacky, just go down to the auditorium before each show and announce to your audience that the show will not run unless you collect at least $25 in tips. And it won't run well unless you collect at least $50.
Posted by George Roher (Member # 91) on 11-26-1999, 12:56 AM:
Joe is right. Tip jars at the popcorn stand are very tacky. At a theatre I used to run, we had one concessionist who liked to put out a tip jar and she was lucky to get one or two nickels all day. She also fell into the habbit of greeting customers with a curt "What do you want?". She'd hide the jar whenever the owner came in.
Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 11-27-1999, 10:01 PM:
Don't mind me...just increasing my number of "posts"
Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 11-27-1999, 10:08 PM:
Actually, on the subject of tipping...I used to work the Silver theatre in Silver Spring Maryland back in the early 80s (something like 81-82) and in addition to our regular features, once a month we would run Greek films on Tuesday, Russian films on Sunday afternoon, and Thai films on Friday as a midnight show.
By 1982 the Silver lost it's second projector for the company screening room *@&@*(@$&*(@ so I was left with using the platter for this one-off-up-to-16 reel things.
Now the people that ran these films tended were used to platter build up and tear down times. They would always ask me how long it would take to tear down (especially the Thai midnight shows)...Using Scotty logic, I always added in extra time and finished early...that normally got me a $20 tip from the program operator for getting him out earlier!
Steve
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"Old Projectionists never die, they just changeover!"
Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 11-28-1999, 03:26 PM:
Steve not only do old projectionists never die
I heard they only do it intermitently
Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 11-29-1999, 04:38 PM:
At M.H. College, things go pretty well. I get to go downstairs and chat with people after the movies occasionally. They have no problem with comming up to me and telling me it they have a complaint. The main complaint I get is about the volume of the trailers. I've only had one or two complaints about other things.I'm known to most people as "That guy upstairs" around there.
At Tinseltown things are different. The worst thing is MEDDLERS! Last Friday, they had a private screening of Toy Story and didn't bother to schedule a projectionist. Well, they brainwrapped it. Now I've got to deal with people complaining about a trashed-up print becasue THEY screwed up! (Sigh!)
Posted by Stephen Jones (Member # 16) on 12-20-1999, 07:48 PM:
Even though we hardly get any thanks,I still enjoy showing movies.It makes feel great when the audience are enjoying the fruits of my labour------------------
Posted by Wallace Logan (Member # 225) on 12-20-1999, 10:30 PM:
The staff all thought that all we do is sit on are asses now that there up there doing
the job I`m now getting compliments on how
my showes are run even though it is all
computerized I have 21 seconds from motor
start to changeover to get the first frame on the screen, they have 10 seconds of black looks like shit.
Once a year we have a priemer of ODEON films
when they put money in it they have all the
actors and the director thats when the compliments count when the people who know
what there films look like and they say it was better than when it was run in Japan.
There mostly art films.