This is topic What is wrong with me? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=003573
Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 06-12-2002, 07:49 PM:
Why is it that when I'm sitting at the desk in the booth with an hour until the next show and I'm reading my equipment manuals rather than comic books or doing homewok, I'm told I need to get a hobby? Why is it that when I go to make an entry in the booth log about a problem that occurred on my shift, I'm told that I'm the only one that reads that thing? Why is it that when I reply that it's necessary to keep records, I'm told that I need to learn to relax? Why is it that when I complain about a particular projector starting slightly out of frame every time, I'm told that it can just be adjusted when the show starts? Why is it that when I reply that it's bad presentation, I'm told that it's not a big deal, and again, I need to learn to relax?What is wrong with me?
------------------
This one time, at Projection Camp, I stuck a xenon bulb....
Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 06-12-2002, 08:01 PM:
You mean...besides the molestation of Xenon bulbs?Nothing's wrong with you.
Posted by Josh Jones (Member # 447) on 06-12-2002, 08:37 PM:
You are normal, just like everyone else on this site (to a greater or lesser degree 
). The truth is the average Joe doesnt care, but it sure is fun to wow 'em once in a while.*I wasnt referring to you Mr. Redifer 
Josh
Posted by James R. Hammonds, Jr (Member # 673) on 06-12-2002, 08:37 PM:
Same thing thats wrong with the rest of us.
You care.
caring is not allowed.
if you keep this up you will become a nerd and no chick will ever want to make you her xenon bulb.
Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-12-2002, 08:38 PM:
I don't think you really need a hobby, as your job is your hobby. In my case, my hobby turned into my job!! Your's is just the other way around. Actually you are very lucky that you are so absorbed in your work, and your employer should take special notice of this.
Mark @ GTS
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 06-12-2002, 08:48 PM:
Ken,
The type of people telling you that stuff are the same ones that are killing film exhibition...and are responsible for the demise of the exhibition, and all business failures in general. Be true to yourself and you will succeed and be able to look at yourself in the mirror and know that you made a difference.>>> Phil
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 06-12-2002, 09:21 PM:
Ken, don't change. You care about what you are doing. I wish others would follow your example on reading technical material. I encourage it with my troops, but they still would rather screw off rather than learn something.
Posted by Evans A Criswell (Member # 381) on 06-12-2002, 09:59 PM:
Ken, it's good to see you showing interest in your job and wanting to learn and do things properly. You should come to Huntsville, AL and go to work at the two Regal theatres here in town. By the way, I get the same response when I tell my friends about the things I'm working on at work, and when they find out that I think math is fun, they say the same things to me that your coworkers say to you, Ken! Just keep being the way you are. The industry would be a lot better off if they had more people like the people who participate here on film-tech , that actually care.
------------------
Evans A Criswell
Huntsville-Decatur Movie Theatre Information Site
Posted by Christopher Duvall (Member # 284) on 06-12-2002, 11:13 PM:
There is nothing wrong with you...it's just called work ethic. If there was only more like you.
Posted by Adam Wilbert (Member # 1184) on 06-13-2002, 01:27 AM:
Ken, there IS something wrong with you. Its that you think that its you who has the problem.
Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 06-13-2002, 02:13 AM:
No Problem! Fuhr-ged-a-bow-dit!!,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Flute stuck in lamphouse
Haunting notes reflect
From the silver screen
.................................................
Can her fine lamphouse
Self-detect my glowing flute
One time in 'Jection Camp?
Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 06-13-2002, 02:16 AM:
Ken--
Think: Can I be the drop
That falls in the dark puddle
Radiating circles...?
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 06-13-2002, 07:47 AM:
Skilled and caring projectionists are the foundation of presentation quality, whether it's "Film Done Right" or "Digital Done Right". Continue to be a beacon in the fog of mediocrity --- the audience will notice. 
------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
e-mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion
Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 06-13-2002, 08:27 AM:
Speaking of hobbies and whether or not you need one...I think the Chinese would consider you blessed because, as their saying goes...
If your work is your passion, you'll never work a day in your life.
We also have two sayings here in The Bahamas:
Start how you want to finish.
Lead from in front.
~Manny
"He really seems to care...About WHAT I have no idea!"
-- Rodney Dangerfield, "Back To School"
Posted by Chad Souder (Member # 343) on 06-13-2002, 08:59 AM:
I thought they had another saying in the Bahamas. Something like, "Oh yeah? Well I live in the Bahamas, and you don't! Ha, ha!" Or maybe that was Hawaii...
Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 06-13-2002, 09:34 AM:
They are all a bunch of lazy slackers! The reason you get flack from them is because you make them have to WORK!Every time you write a problem in the log book or fix a projector... just doing your job, in general... you are "raising the bar" on them, so to speak. They don't want to do it. They want to stand around, tell jokes and read the newspaper, etc. Instead of doing the things they are supposed to be getting PAID to do they would rather complain about it.
I used to get a lot of that too. People would say a lot of the same things to me. My answer was, "I'm not a slacker like most people."
Just keep up the good work and don't let those lazy bastards get to you!
Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 06-13-2002, 01:51 PM:
If I were in charge of hiring people, regardless of position, I would make them write an essay on WHY they wanted to work at a theater. Unfortunately, I'd probably end up really short on staff
Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 06-13-2002, 02:14 PM:
Ken: I guess they're just jealous that you do your job better than they do. It's often hard to digest the comments you get when people find out you do projection: "Oh, so you get to watch all the movies all day huh?" -- "You've really got a hard job, all you have to do is press PLAY!" 
Or those dumb questions: "So, do you take the movies home to watch sometimes?" -- Yep, but they never seem to fit in my VCR. Just like with any job, there are some people that take it seriously and do well, while for others, it's just a way to get some spending money and that's all they care about. There should be more people like you.
When I told one of my previous managers that they weren't allowed to smoke in the booth bathroom, I was also told I "Need to relax." - The corporate office didn't think I needed to relax.
=TMP=
Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 06-13-2002, 07:04 PM:
Jesse: That is a question I ask in every interview.
Posted by David Favel (Member # 1125) on 06-13-2002, 09:18 PM:
I visited my previous employer the other day.When I left he replaced me ($14.00/hour) with 3 (count them)
$9.00 per hour workers.
You do the math, coz he couldn't.
Posted by Kevin Baglow (Member # 721) on 06-14-2002, 06:58 AM:
Yep, the projectionist who is the projectionist will make lots of money. BUT its no use being the richest projectionist in the cemetary either. We have to find the balance. There will be plenty who will exploit you...I would.
Posted by Kevin Baglow (Member # 721) on 06-14-2002, 07:04 AM:
oops...im ment
The projectionist who is the PERFECTIONIST
Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 06-14-2002, 08:36 PM:
Ken, as everyone has already said, there's nothing wrong with you. They are the ones who are loosing, and the difference between you and the idiots is simple; you will get the satisfaction that comes from having a passion and doing a job right. While they will join the ranks of the majority of poor slobs who spend there lives at jobs bored and staring at a clock that seems never to move, praying for it to be 5pm, you will never notice how fast time goes by; you may even forget to have lunch. They will be the ones who wind up being those sad, sorry, 9-to-5 clockwatchers. You, on the other hand, will love what you do and will be able to count yourself as one of the lucky few. Ken, I never went to work a day in my life....I only go to play. That's nothing to sneeze at! Your professionalism and expertise and most importantly, your PASSION, is really a collaboration between you and the filmmakers - the director and all the artist and crafts people who pooled their talents to make a film. This film, even if it is a bad one, deserves quality a presentation. You are the link across a metaphysical expanse between what happened on the very first day of shooting when the director pointed a camera lens at a scene on a back lot, and what will happen in a darkened theatre as you ply your craft and project that scene through your projector lens. All the creative talent and emotional energy of all those people listed in the credit crawl is distilled onto a strip of celluloid and it is handed to you to make it come alive for hundreds and hundreds of people in the audience. It is truly amazing when you think about it. You either do it in a way that makes a seamless connection between them or you can ruin it. It's a real responsibility on your shoulders to both the filmmakers and the audience. And doing it perfectly is a rewarding satisfaction that borders on the spiritual. THAT's what you will have and what your imbecile coworkers never will.
I run lots of retrospective films -- great films, which many times are older than I am. Lots of times the people in those films have been dead for many years. Yet, their performances are captured on a seemingly insignificant strip of film. But because of my dedication to my craft, I stand next to machine that I almost become one with, and with a light making flickering shadows on my face, I bring those actors back to life, to perform again, beautiful, young and in their prime, exactly as they did 50, 60 years ago. I am a time-traveler with my reel of film, able to make a beautiful 22 year old Audrey Hepburn once again lip-sync to Marnie Nixon's vocal track, reproducing that moment on the set decades ago when, maybe after the 15th take, when it finally all came together. Ken, this is incredible magic, and you, my boy, are the magician!
Somebody stop me.
Frank
Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 06-14-2002, 08:41 PM:
And the church said "Amen!"