Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Checking out other people's equipment

This is topic Checking out other people's equipment in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Johanna Innes (Member # 228) on 02-12-2000, 02:08 PM:

I can't help but wonder...

I'm curious as hell about what kind of equipment everyone else is running wherever I go.

The local IMAX theatre has a glass wall to their projection booth, and I'm the one everyone else has to drag away because I'm so caught up in what the guy is doing in there.

There's one place in town that's still running changeovers, something I've never seen before. I'd love to get in their booth and see how it works.

The point to all of this is that I'm wondering what your reaction would be if a total stranger came up to you and said "Hi, I'm a projectionist. Would you mind showing me around your booth?". I know I wouldn't mind, but that's mostly because it's rare that I find someone who's willing to talk projection with me (the blank stares I get from the candy bar staff just don't cut it).

So has anyone ever just walked up to someone and asked to check out their booth? Anyone seen anything really interesting? Anyone work in Ft. Lauderdale or Miami and willing to show me their booth some time between the 18th to the 27th?

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 02-12-2000, 03:05 PM:

If they have coffe I always invite them in if we arn't busy

Posted by Erika Hellgren (Member # 22) on 02-12-2000, 03:53 PM:

Although it's never happened to me (that I can remember), I would love it if someone in the field came up and wanted to check out my booth - as opposed to complaining to my manager about how I'm doing things "wrong" on his way out the door. I find that very rude. If a fellow projectionist has a problem with my presentation, they should feel free to come up and talk to me face to face about it, see what equipment I use, see how we run things, ect.

Posted by Ben Wales (Member # 92) on 02-12-2000, 04:57 PM:

I have generally found it straight forward to visit projection Boxes,and have many pictures to prove it!, and even in some countries where english is not the first language, but have always been welcomed.

The main problem is getting pass the first hurdle of the stupid floor staff who asks "whats the projectionist" or the diffucult manager who states that I had to apply in writeing giving 24 hours notice of a pending visit, but armed with a selection of photos of the projection box where I work and others,it usualy works.

My present job we don't get a lot of projectionist calling in, except last weekend when a Technical Manager from a small cinema circuit asked to look around, and in conversation he had worked on the famous Philips DP70's showing 70mm Todd-AO, films like "South Pacific", and he had also bought in a load of interesting photos of projection boxes, so you never know who will turn up.

Where ever I work, Projectionists & people interested in the projection room are always welcome to come in for a chat,and the kettle is always kept hot!

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 02-12-2000, 06:55 PM:

I've found that every town I've been in, the staff is always willing to let me in the booth or at least find a manager to let me in. That's even been true in the chain theatres I've visited. (Carmikes, mostly.)

Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 02-12-2000, 08:03 PM:

That's where I first saw carbon arc in action in 1972 when I asked the theater owner to look around the booth. "No problem- go right up" he says. Peerless Magnarcs, Brenkert BX-80s on top of Motiograph Sh-7500's and 20 minute reels!

Posted by Stephen Jones (Member # 16) on 02-12-2000, 09:18 PM:

I dont have any trouble as a rule checking out other projectionists booths,there have been the odd occasion where I was told in a rude fashion no and that was by a manager who was working for the same company I was working for!in a different state.I even had a letter of introductory.Any fellow projectionist is allways welcome to call and have look,chat and a cuppa in any booth I am working in.So if any of you come down to Oz look us up.

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Posted by Chad Souder (Member # 343) on 02-12-2000, 11:36 PM:

Carmike - Near the twin cities - I wasn't allowed to see their booth without "An appointment with the General Manager." Otherwise people have been very generous.

Posted by Andy Davis (Member # 262) on 02-13-2000, 12:16 AM:

Johanna, have you checking out the Projection Picture warehouse located on this site?

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 02-13-2000, 12:34 AM:

An old manager I used to work for had a habit of walking into theaters and asking to see EVERYTHING. I once accompanied him to Cincinnati when he was interested in buying a twin outside of town. On the way home we stopped at a Chakers in Wilmington, Ohio, (home of the famous Technicolor depot) and I checked out the booth while Lou talked with the manager. Not bad actually. They had DTS sound, Simplex projectors, and I think SPECO LP-270 platters. Well kept, and EXTREMELY CLEAN. That was one theater where I'd have no regrets going to see a presentation.

Posted by Carl Welles (Member # 59) on 02-13-2000, 12:42 AM:

There is one major chain that really bloews in regards to letting people see their booths. They treat their booths like it's national security or something and I even heard in the chat room that they fired one projectionist who sent in some pictures to this site without written corporate approval. (It's not like they sent in blueprints of the theatre with burglary routes drawn out! It was just projector pictures.) It's like they're afraid people will see what kind of crap they have in their booths.

What a loser chain.

Posted by Stephen Jones 1 (Member # 114) on 02-13-2000, 04:01 AM:

What chain was this?

Posted by Chris Erwin (Member # 176) on 02-13-2000, 09:39 AM:

Chakeres, (I work for em'

)

Good place to work. The people at the home office really care about how they look on the screen. I like going to other locations in our chain to watch movies. When I have went with my manager to pick-up things at other theateres,the other managers and assts. have been great to us.

Posted by Johanna Innes (Member # 228) on 02-13-2000, 12:00 PM:

Andy, of *course* I've been in the picture warehouse! That's what brought this to mind...

Maybe I'll contribute a few pics of the booth I work in -- I notice the Vics aren't well represented. Is Cinemeccanica even making projectors anymore?

Posted by Ben Wales (Member # 92) on 02-13-2000, 03:57 PM:

Yes Cinemeccanica's are still made, sometime soon on Brad's 'Projection Warehouse photos' will show the installation I took of a two screen 70mm cinema with new Victoria 8 and platters.

Posted by Chris Erwin (Member # 176) on 02-13-2000, 07:50 PM:

I see I made a grave error on my last post.

I wasn't replying to the post above mine!!!!
Chakeres is not a loser chain!!

I was making my post in reference to Aaron's post of the Wilmington 5.

Just to clear up anything before anybody thinks bad of me. I do like the chain I work for.

--Chris

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 02-13-2000, 09:49 PM:

So...Chris,

what's the loser chain?

John

Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 02-13-2000, 10:28 PM:

As a tech, I visit many theatres. The chain that I work for currently has about 500 screens. I like to show up the night before my scheduled visit just to see the presentation. In theatres that I've never visited, or if I know the personel won't recognize me, I walk right past the ticket taker and tell him I've got work to do in the booth(without buying a ticket). I will walk in "plainclothes" and no tool case. I like to see how far I get before a manager tackles me!!!! Believe it or not, I usually get into the booth and back out before I ever see a manager. I haven't tried this at a competitions theatre......yet!

Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 02-14-2000, 03:29 AM:

I try to see the booth at most theatres that I go to. Aaron Sisemore and I used to drive around Calfornia just to look at theatres. It was my job to then ask the Manager if we could take a peek in their booth. Below are the various results this has produced.

#1- The most common reaction at most theatres, chain or otherwise, is absolute confusion, proceeded by the person asking me "Why on Earth would you want to see my projection booth?" After I explain to them that it's a sickness and I can't help it... they usually take me on a tour.

#2- At CHAIN THEATRES they are usually hesitant to take me upstairs, usually in fear that I'm some secret spy sent by the competition, or even worse the Coporate Office. I usually tell these people that I'm just curious, and how can me knowing what they use to project their movies, hurt anything? This usually works... and away I go.

#3- At CHAIN THEATRES - the Manager gives me some lame story about how it's against union rules or about how it's against company policy. I usually then ask them what kind of equipment they use. They then respond with "Ummm... they're gray. Century I think." I usually walk away with great pain in my heart, knowing that the equipment there is mistreated by people who think that they have a Century Platter.

#4- INDEPENDENTS ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO SHOW YOU THEIR BOOTH... no ifs ands or buts about it.

I have imparted my knowledge... now use it to get your way into every booth you can. And TAKE PICTURES!!! I can't regret more the fact that I've been in really cool booths and was too polite to take a picture.

Posted by Gordon Leslie (Member # 139) on 02-14-2000, 06:25 AM:

OK Chris come on ,your keeping everyone in suspense here!

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 02-14-2000, 09:40 AM:

As evidenced by the many participants in the Film-Tech Forum, good projectionists and film handlers are proud of what they do, and really like to "talk shop". Open communication and exchange of ideas benefit all, and can't help but improve presentation quality. I know when I worked in the booth, I welcomed anyone who had a sincere interest in projection, and I still find the same welcome in most of the booths (boxes) I visit. Whenever I'm "on the road" for Kodak, I try to visit a few theatres in my spare time, and I keep up contacts Rochester area theatres. Getting past the floor staff is usually a matter of persistence, and it doesn't hurt to have a Kodak business card listing you as a "Senior Technical Specialist"

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Professional Motion 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 Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 02-14-2000, 02:43 PM:

John-

Since you mentioned it, I will be needing a business card that says "Kodak Senior Technical Specialist", but with my name, just so I can easilly get into booths.

I'll check my mail in a few days, and those cards should be in there!

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 02-14-2000, 02:55 PM:

Do we need to send small color photos for you to make us all Kodak cards?

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 02-14-2000, 03:53 PM:

Joe and Brad:

No need for Kodak cards. Just use your "Master Film Handler" cards from Film-Tech Forum.

Most people do like the Kodak business cards that have photos. Most photofinishers or professional photography studios can supply this type of card. Many people use their computers to generate photo business cards. Kodak makes an ink-jet photo-grade business card stock for this purpose.

Posted by Dan Riddle on 02-15-2000, 05:49 AM:

Well, I only let people up in booth if I've cleaned up the place.. I hate it when people come up and there is a pizza box on the floor.

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Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 02-15-2000, 07:31 AM:

Hardly anyone asks to visit our projection room. The only exceptions are friends I got in to a free movie, or my girlfriend, who is hopefully bringing food!

It seems that whenever someone drops by, it's just when I have shows to thread up. So, if I want to talk with them, they have to follow me around. Scott N. came by, and I felt like a poor host; I had to thread up 8 machines and couldn't have a real conversation.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 02-15-2000, 08:33 AM:

Hey, John - you were a great host! You're the only one who's been able to get me into an IMAX booth! (which is down the street from John's theatre)

I often ask to take a peek at other theatres' booths; usually, this works if the theatre isn't too busy and if the ushers aren't too clueless. Most of the time, the projectionists that I've met are excited that someone has taken an interest in their work.

I only had a couple of people who asked to see the booth where I used to work; I enjoyed showing them around the theatre (booth, basement, backstage, etc.); a couple of them were old-time projectionists who enjoyed the tour and complimented me on the show and complained about the usual stuff over which I had no control (lousy scope lenses, lousy brightness, etc.)

Posted by Colin Wiseley (Member # 247) on 02-15-2000, 03:12 PM:

The theater I work at is a non-profit organization so every now and then we have an open house where the public and donors are invited in to see the theater. Everyone's favorite place to go is the projection booth and there's usually a line out the door to get in. Most of the time I fire up the projector and people (especially kids) are amazed to see the giant platters spinning around. I would say 99% of the people that come in have no idea how movies are shown. Most of them are surprised we still use film, I hear "I thought you guys used video tapes" alot. I'm usually hoarse by the end of the evening, but it's lots of fun.

BTW, we always show people around the booth if they say please.

Colin Wiseley
Lyric Theatre
Blacksburg VA

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 02-15-2000, 07:39 PM:

I also hate it when somebody comes up to visit the booth and I haven't cleaned up the food, crumbs, insect eggs, fuzzy green stuff, and moved the dead body out of the way.

Posted by Charles Lubner (Member # 157) on 02-15-2000, 11:50 PM:

I was on vacation in Hawaii on the island of Kauai about 2 years ago. "Something About Mary" had just come out and I wanted to see it. So, I go to the theatre with my friend who was along on the trip. During the show I noticed the picture was a bit dim. Well of course I couldn't help myself and the next thing I know i'm chatting with the owner and getting a tour of the booth, and assisting in changing a bulb! I thought it was fun, but my friend couldn't believe I was in a projection booth on my vacation. My entire family thinks i'm crazy and refuses to go to the movies with me.

To all of you out there who like to tour projection booths, I am one of you. :-)

Posted by Bryan Redemske (Member # 354) on 02-17-2000, 01:40 PM:

i had a guy wander up one time and try to turn the volume down because he thought it was too loud. after he figured out that it was pretty cool up there he asked if i'd show him around. i locked the door after that.....

Posted by Christopher Seo (Member # 7) on 02-17-2000, 07:02 PM:

Mr. Lubner:

Out of curiosity, what theater was this? Is it an independent? Just wondering, because I live on Oahu.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 02-24-2000, 10:19 PM:

I find your creative mind can go stale if you're just stuck in your own booth. It's amazing how many little tricks or ideas you will learn going into another booth. Many of these trips have made my work place a little easier to run.