Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Projection repair technicians in NC?

This is topic Projection repair technicians in NC? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Jon Morgan (Member # 3059) on 03-24-2005, 12:17 PM:

Hi. I am running an independent six screen in Cary, North Carolina, and I am having an impossible time finding somebody to do maintainance and repairs on my projectors. At the moment, we're only running on three of our six screens due to our landlord's dragging his feet on fixing the interior of the remaining three. Before they open, though, I need some considerable repairs on the remaining projectors. This involves both mechanical and electrical work, by the way.

Can anybody recommend a company (or, you know, a dude) to call for this type of service? I would really appreciate it if anybody had some thoughts.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 03-24-2005, 01:46 PM:

Don't expect a lot of responses if one doesn't post an email address

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-24-2005, 03:17 PM:

For clarification, what Gordon means is that you have chose to "hide" your email address from public viewing when someone clicks on your profile.

Posted by Tracy Bellar (Member # 3049) on 03-24-2005, 04:23 PM:

Try looking up Frank Worthington. Located in Greensboro. I don't know whsat his company is called now. Cinema Technician extrordonair! But $$$ last I recall.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 03-24-2005, 04:54 PM:

Frank's company is Cinetech....kinda sez it all.

You send me an email address, I'll send you a phone number (the last I had, at least).

Steve

Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 03-24-2005, 05:44 PM:

American Theatre Supply in Charlotte (phone 704-375-3298)

Worrell Sound & Projection in Willmington (1-800-552-7502)

Of course film-tech member Bruce McGee who lives in Ashville could help, but he's aways from you.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 03-24-2005, 05:46 PM:

Frank Worthington's still around? Great guy. DBL-MUTs were his baby.

Posted by Jon Morgan (Member # 3059) on 03-25-2005, 05:45 PM:

Thanks a lot for the responses, and for what it's worth I made my email address public as well.

Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 03-25-2005, 10:22 PM:

Call Dennis Shaver with Shavers Sound Service. He is based out of the Kannapolis/Mooresville area and is, without question, one of the best tech's I've ever met. His dad was a tech and he picked up the trade early on. I know he services many indie's. You simply can not go wrong with him...

Shaver Sound Service Inc
140 Briarfield Drive
Mooresville, North Carolina 28115
704-932-7069
Fax 704-932-7073
shaversound@prodigy.net

Posted by Jon Morgan (Member # 3059) on 03-26-2005, 05:38 PM:

Unfortunately, Shaver refuses to work with us. The theater that was in this location before us, though it has no affiliation with our theater, owed a substantial debt to Shaver. He has decided to hold this against us, I guess, and will not come out here. I've given up on him and am really disappointed in the unfair way he has chosen to run his business.

Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 03-27-2005, 08:28 AM:

Sounds to me like a business decision. It can be construed as the theatre owing the company money, and, quite honestly, a mechanics lien can be imposed on the equipment for default of payment.

Were that the case, you'd likely have no equipment and would not have been able to purchase in and start up as easily as you may have. Instead of doing so, sounds to me like the choice was to simply walk away and chalk it up as an uncollectable-bad debt.

Business is never personal. Sorry to hear that you're missing out on such a great tech service...

Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 03-27-2005, 08:33 AM:

Wish I could help. Asheville is a long way from you. Plus, I never get a 2 day weekend where I work. Best of luck to getting your other theatres up and running!

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-27-2005, 08:41 AM:

quote: Jon Morgan
Unfortunately, Shaver refuses to work with us. The theater that was in this location before us, though it has no affiliation with our theater, owed a substantial debt to Shaver. He has decided to hold this against us, I guess, and will not come out here. I've given up on him and am really disappointed in the unfair way he has chosen to run his business.

And its a very foolish way to run a service buisness!! No customer/dealer relationship ever need to end up this way. After 60 days past our customers get put on COD, plus part of the balance each trip. They know this before we ever go there and the customer knowing this will make extra effort to pay on time so he doesn't get caught with his pants down so to say. A new customer in a troublesome or questionable location is always COD for the first 6 months of doing buisness, then placed on open account in a careful manner over the next 6 months. We do have a couple of customers that pay bills unreliably and so are COD but they still get service if they need it!!

quote: Jason Black
Sounds to me like a business decision. It can be construed as the theatre owing the company money, and, quite honestly, a mechanics lien can be imposed on the equipment for default of payment.

Were that the case, you'd likely have no equipment and would not have been able to purchase in and start up as easily as you may have. Instead of doing so, sounds to me like the choice was to simply walk away and chalk it up as an uncollectable-bad debt.

Business is never personal. Sorry to hear that you're missing out on such a great tech service...

Actually mechanics leins are all but impossible to collect on at times. With new equipment an UCC form can be filed with the appropriate state that guarantees you can literally walk in and take your equipment with no legal proceedings needed. The UCC form has already cleared that for you. We came with in 48 hours of doing this to a customer with an 8 plex when I was at GTS. We had filed a UCC form with the correct state and the owner knew it was comming to the deadline. He came up with the funds to keep the equipment just in the nick of time and is still in buisness today as a result!

Mark @ CLACO

Posted by Jon Morgan (Member # 3059) on 03-27-2005, 12:04 PM:

quote:
And its a very foolish way to run a service buisness!! No customer/dealer relationship ever need to end up this way. After 60 days past our customers get put on COD, plus part of the balance each trip. They know this before we ever go there and the customer knowing this will make extra effort to pay on time so he doesn't get caught with his pants down so to say. A new customer in a troublesome or questionable location is always COD for the first 6 months of doing buisness, then placed on open account in a careful manner over the next 6 months. We do have a couple of customers that pay bills unreliably and so are COD but they still get service if they need it!!

As a matter of fact, I sent them a letter volunteering to pay at the time of service if they were concerned about that. Alas...

I've got a good list of contacts to work with at this point, though. I really appreciate it, guys!

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 03-28-2005, 08:05 AM:

Does Standard Theatre Supply in Charlotte still exist? I hope not; I've seen a very botched sound "upgrade" that they did in the early 1980s....

Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 03-28-2005, 08:32 AM:

I've tried to contact Standard several times in the past 15 or so years, the last the last was about 4 years ago. Never got anything but an answering machine and never got a response to any message left.

I'm not acquainted with Frank Worthington but I have seen his work. He did the install on the Plaza Drive-In in Richmond in '92 or '93. There were 2 Century SAs with sound heads, 2 Kneisley lanps with Irem rectifiers and an auto changeover. All was very neatly and well done, all wiring was in flex conduit. The Centurys' were rebuilt by him and were excellent. The owner had no complaints either.

Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 03-28-2005, 06:33 PM:

If I'm not mistaken, Standard Theatre Supply has been out of business for a number of years now. We used to get supplies from them, YEARS ago.

Posted by Jon Morgan (Member # 3059) on 03-29-2005, 12:49 PM:

I've got Frank coming out tomorrow. He seems like a nice guy.

Thanks!

Posted by Tracy Bellar (Member # 3049) on 03-30-2005, 05:02 AM:

Frank is a good guy. Does a great job with Century's. I'm running three that he installed in the 70's and three from the mid 80's. He will get you together I'm sure.

Posted by Jason Whitlock (Member # 3077) on 03-30-2005, 08:43 PM:

Shaver Sound is definitely a great tech company.. Dennis's assistant Donnie is our primary tech at the two theaters I work at.. but I think Dennis does do some emergency visits if Donnie is busy elsewhere. It is too bad that they were unable to help you out Jon.