Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Looking for work

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Posted by Jonathan Wendt (Member # 5868) on 09-13-2010, 11:33 AM:

Hello all,

This forum is great, everyone seems very helpful and like a great community. Wish I had found this 4 years ago when I initially became a projectionist. With that said, I'm looking for a little bit of advice. Here's my backstory:

I worked in Northern NY at three theaters, as an assistant manager and projectionist, owned by the same person. I have moved to brooklyn now, and was thinking I'd have an easy time finding work. I didn't realize there was a motion picture projectionist license until I got here. I did a quick study the night before thanks to this forum, and passed it the next day. I have dropped my resume off at many theaters but have not had much luck. I've either just missed a period of hirings, it was sent offsite to another person, or they do union only. One theater did get back to me after I had made numerous follow-ups, about a floor position with no projectionist responsibilities. The pay is also only $7.85 (which is still an upgrade from being unemployed however). My question is if I managed to find a job as a projectionist would it be reasonable to expect a more comfortable pay wage? Is it worth it to join the union? It seems like the fees are quite expensive for someone in my situation right now, but are they able to easily find you work?

Any insights you could lend would be very much appreciated. Thank you guys, and again, this is a great community.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 09-13-2010, 12:50 PM:

Go talk to the I.A. Local's representitave about your question's concering joining the IATSE and what it all takes for joining the IA.

What kind of skills do you have when it comes to projection - mechanical (take a machine apart and back together blindfolded), electric/electronic, et.al., (which can earn a little respect and better pay), or, have you been relegated to just a "lace up the machine and push the button" job, for those jobs are a dime-a-dozen types and pay isn't that all healthy since a 10yr old can do that job and that's is mainly what the industry sees as a booth operator job(why they have floor managers and ushers do booth as well since the term "Projectionist" really doesn't exist anymore in any company's employment description)and there are those who want that job mainly to get off the floor (and get lazy) instead of really want to learn how the operation ticks.

If you do find a decent booth job, prepare for some tests of any sort to be allowed to operate in a correct manner that the venue requires.

Good luck in your search - Monte

Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 09-13-2010, 02:13 PM:

The line is long in finding a projectionist job in NYC. The union might find a job here and there for you, but there is many local union operators waiting too. The chains are cutting job costs here too.

Posted by Elizabeth Betty Gross (Member # 2532) on 09-15-2010, 11:22 AM:

Hi Jonathan and welcome to NYC. That's the good news. The bad news (from a union projectionist being forced into retirement) is that there is very little decent work and the pay is lousy. The chains are converting to digital, so if you know that, you are ahead of the game, but the pay scale is not much better. Best advice, get a real job!

Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 09-15-2010, 02:00 PM:

quote:
Best advice, get a real job!

OUCH!

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 09-16-2010, 06:55 PM:

Betty; you sure do how to get down to the real issue! Louis

Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 09-16-2010, 08:59 PM:

Sadly, she may have a point. Things are getting bad all over and jobs in this industry for more than minimum wage are very hard to come by.

I may in fact be forced to shut down my business before the end of the year if things don't improve soon.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 09-17-2010, 10:17 PM:

A well known projectionist friend in Brooklyn told me very recently that there is very little left of the NYC Projectionists Union. What little is left means running multiple screens and or locations.

Mark

Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 09-22-2010, 07:07 AM:

The School Of Visual Arts Theatre on West 23rd in Chelsea may be looking for a projectionist or assistant technical director (my former position until I moved back to Boston to open my own taxi company there) You might try calling them and asking for the technical director. If you have any live sound, lighting, or video experience they may be interested in meeting you.

Posted by Elizabeth Betty Gross (Member # 2532) on 09-23-2010, 12:47 PM:

"The School Of Visual Arts Theatre on West 23rd in Chelsea may be looking for a projectionist or assistant technical director (my former position until I moved back to Boston to open my own taxi company there) You might try calling them and asking for the technical director. If you have any live sound, lighting, or video experience they may be interested in meeting you."

Also, experience with high profile film screenings, film festivals, multimedia exhibition, set-up and breakdown, equipment maintenance etc, and just a smattering of diplomacy. And they pay WHAT???

Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 09-23-2010, 01:06 PM:

quote: Elizabeth Betty Gross
Also, experience with high profile film screenings, film festivals, multimedia exhibition, set-up and breakdown, equipment maintenance etc, and just a smattering of diplomacy. And they pay WHAT???

They don't have platters so no build-up break down but changeover experience is good, actually I got paid very well. twice as much as I made as a service tech.

Posted by Jonathan Wendt (Member # 5868) on 09-24-2010, 01:11 PM:

Hi Sean, thanks for the tip! I do have experience with those things, so I left a voicemail at the number of a Mr. Michael Morrissey, who was listed as the technical director on the SVA webpage. Here's hoping I get a reply!

Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 09-24-2010, 02:06 PM:

Mike Morrissey is a great guy to work for, and he really knows his stuff. I miss working with Mike. Good luck on the job!

Posted by Elizabeth Betty Gross (Member # 2532) on 09-25-2010, 06:40 PM:

Good luck and let us know how it goes - a decent booth job in NY is truly good news for all.

Posted by Jonathan Wendt (Member # 5868) on 09-25-2010, 07:37 PM:

Well Mr. Morrissey mentioned above actually did get back to me a couple hours later! We've set up an interview for monday, so that's where I'm at right. Now. [Smile]

Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 09-25-2010, 09:27 PM:

Please tell him I said hello, that I miss working with him, and that I told you about the job. Good Luck! [Smile]

Posted by Jonathan Wendt (Member # 5868) on 09-26-2010, 07:09 PM:

Thank you! I'll absolutely relay the messages to him. [Big Grin]

Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 09-29-2010, 08:24 AM:

How did your interview at SVA go?

Posted by Jonathan Wendt (Member # 5868) on 09-29-2010, 11:22 AM:

It went pretty well I think. It was a little intimidating because it was definitely a very high profile place. There were a couple formats of things that I don't have very much experience in. He was kind of hard to read, but I think I may be in the running. He even introduced me to the director at the end (I think her name was Jessica?). He said he had another interview to do, and then he would call me either at the end of this week or the beginning of next week, because he's very busy this week. So once again, here's hoping, hehe.

Posted by Elizabeth Betty Gross (Member # 2532) on 10-24-2010, 09:14 PM:

It's been over a month - did you get the job?

Posted by Jonathan Wendt (Member # 5868) on 10-24-2010, 09:44 PM:

Well, I waited until the next week like he said it would be. And when I got ahold of him he said that he had been put on a hold for two weeks before he could hire anyone. He mentioned that one of his projectionists already was also interested in the job, but I was still in the running, or he may end up hiring me as a projectionist. It's been the two weeks and I left him a voicemail on thursday, but haven't heard back from him. I'll probably be trying him again tomorrow.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 10-24-2010, 10:00 PM:

If there are other people trying for the same job, the ones who show interest are usually the ones who get the second look.

Call back or stop by, thank them for the interview or for taking your application then ask them if there is anything else you can do.

It often pays to pester people if you do it politely.

Posted by Jonathan Wendt (Member # 5868) on 10-24-2010, 10:20 PM:

That's definitely what I plan on doing. Basically keep trying until I get a 'no'. Especially if he said I'm still in the running. [Smile]

Posted by Elizabeth Betty Gross (Member # 2532) on 10-30-2010, 08:39 PM:

BTW, Sean, when I said set-up and breakdown, I was referring to setting up and breaking down specialized equipment brought in for special needs, not film handling, which is standard work for most manager/operators.

Posted by Jonathan Wendt (Member # 5868) on 10-31-2010, 11:06 PM:

Well I started 'interning' tonight. Mike said that I was still too green to do projection for him, as I do not have experience with changeovers yet, but offered to have me come in and get the experience I'd need. Once they feel I'm ready I'll be able to start doing projection for him. As far as the Assistant Technical Director position, they won't be hiring anyone for that role until January.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 10-31-2010, 11:12 PM:

Your foot's in the door, Jonathan. Well done. [thumbsup]

Posted by Jonathan Wendt (Member # 5868) on 10-31-2010, 11:17 PM:

Thank you! I guess it all comes down to nagging and nagging until you are outright told no, or they give in! Either way I'm glad I kept at it, and hopefully it won't be too long until they'll be wanting to get me in there and making some money myself. [Smile]

Thanks again to everyone who weighed in on this for/with me, and also for the leads! This truly is a great community, in addition to being an invaluable resource.

Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 11-01-2010, 02:16 AM:

quote: Jonathan Wendt
they won't be hiring anyone for that role until January.

Wow, that really too bad. Mike works awfully hard it is too bad they wont get some one in there to help him.

Posted by Jonathan Wendt (Member # 5868) on 11-01-2010, 11:47 AM:

Agreed, he seems to be incredibly busy and always swamped with work. I know at least two of the weeks in the interim we've had he said he's worked 60 and 70 hours weeks, which is pretty harsh.

Posted by Elizabeth Betty Gross (Member # 2532) on 11-17-2010, 08:08 PM:

How goes the training, Jonathan? Are you enjoying change-overs? (I love running reel-to-reel - I still remember making my first "perfect" c/o decades ago!) Have they given you any work? It's a lovely theater, so keep plugging!

Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 11-20-2010, 06:57 AM:

quote: Jonathan Wendt
he said he's worked 60 and 70 hours weeks, which is pretty harsh.

unfortunately that is typical for Mike. When the place first opened he had no help at all and was running back and forth between houses running sound and lights for 2 shows at once!

Posted by Jonathan Wendt (Member # 5868) on 11-20-2010, 12:15 PM:

Unfortunately wednesday was the first I had heard back from them to get in there and start working in two weeks, and it was for thursday and I couldn't get anyone to cover my shift at my other job. I'm definitely enjoying the change overs so I really hope they do get back to me again soon.

And Sean, that is nuts!

Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 11-22-2010, 12:22 PM:

quote:
And Sean, that is nuts!

Yeah, welcome to SVA...

quote: Jonathan Wendt
Unfortunately wednesday was the first I had heard back from them to get in there and start working in two weeks, and it was for thursday and I couldn't get anyone to cover my shift at my other job.

unfortunately they can sometimes go quite a while without running any actual film.

Posted by Elizabeth Betty Gross (Member # 2532) on 11-27-2010, 08:43 PM:

That's what I meant when I said you should get a "real job". I didn't want to hurt your feelings, but you can't sit by the phone waiting for a shift here or there, especially if their regular guy will work such long hours himself. At least you got training in reel-to-reel change-overs. That may come in handy. NY is a tough market, with literally dozens of unemployed, long experienced projectionists available for any work they can get. I hope your regular job has better prospects.

Posted by Elizabeth Betty Gross (Member # 2532) on 01-04-2011, 12:11 PM:

Happy New Year!! I hear you got yourself a real job - Congratulations!! How's it going?