Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Introductory Reading for New Projectionists

This is topic Introductory Reading for New Projectionists in forum Digital Cinema 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=16;t=001268

Posted by Bernardo McLaughlin (Member # 7267) on 11-11-2012, 05:52 PM:

Hey folks --

I recently was hired as a projectionist at a small, one theater cinema that runs mostly digital films (we just got a new one and I'm not sure of the make/model) and some 35mm on our Simplex PR1006 Projectors, with a Super Lume-X lamps, and RCA photophone sound attachments (MI 9050 E on on side MI 9030 A on the other).

I'm interested in staying with this line of work (I really enjoy it, and after all it's rough out there!) and before pestering my boss about what she recommends I thought I'd see what you all think I should read to familiarize myself with this area of audiovisual technology. I prefer books and periodicals to reading on the computer screen, and videos of course are useful as well.

Thanks in advance!

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 11-11-2012, 06:10 PM:

Your best source of info is probably this site right here. Everything that can happen in a projection booth has been sliced and diced by the folks here, and you can ask just about any question and usually get an answer within minutes. (And that's ANY question, not just about theatrical projection!)

I'm sure there are some books to recommend but I've never read any...just day to day experience will teach you a lot.

Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 11-11-2012, 06:22 PM:

^^^^ What Mike said. [thumbsup]

Another resource are some books from the 40's and 50's, which have a lot of valid info on optical theory, etc. Those are the books by James R Cameron (not the "Titanic" guy...) and Robert A. Mitchells' "Manual Of Practical Projection". I have both books and they are great.

They were given to me by a now deceased colleague so they are not for sale or loan. [Smile]

Posted by Bernardo McLaughlin (Member # 7267) on 11-11-2012, 06:54 PM:

Cool, what's the book called by James R Cameron?

Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 11-11-2012, 06:56 PM:

"Motion Picture Projection". IIRC there were several editions of both books published.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 11-11-2012, 07:24 PM:

I have a 1922 and a 1943 release of the Cameron books. Interesting to read in the 1922 book on all of the operations of the Silent Era.

The 1943 Edition has three chapters on "Fantaphone" (a pick-on name on RCA's "Photophone", since Disney used RCA for its sound processes whereas the other studios used Western Electic) - the multichannel sound process used in the 1940 release of "Fantasia".

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 11-11-2012, 07:36 PM:

The "old" SMPTE projection book--"Motion Picture Projection and Theatre Presentation Manual"--is good, though dated (late 1960s).

There is a newer SMPTE projection book. I would actually like to order one, but don't know where (does anyone?). Last time I looked into it, the price was in the $100+ range, though.

Posted by Paul H. Rayton (Member # 1817) on 11-11-2012, 10:08 PM:

The most authoritative book (and up to date!) was published in 2006 and goes by the name "The Advanced Projection Manual". This is an absolutely complete discussion of every aspect of projection of films (though, IIRC, not much about digital) and is of prime value for venues that expect to be presenting archival prints. However, considering the state of things, it could be that ALL prints now are archival -- or very soon will be -- so this is the best background information you could get.

The book was published in cooperation with FIAF [International Federation of Film Archives) and the Norwegian Film Institute (it's all in English). It displays as currently available on Amazon.com @ $63, and was also (a couple of years ago) available through the bookstore of The George Eastman House, in Rochester, NY.

If you are working in a commercial location and just running average commercial shows, it may appear to be a bit TOO detailed for your purposes. But if you're planning to stay in this area of employment, it will vastly increase your expertise (and awareness of what you are doing, and why) and make you more valuable to employers as film prints become less and less available in the future.

Posted by Bernardo McLaughlin (Member # 7267) on 12-01-2012, 01:24 PM:

Hey, a little belated but thanks guys for the references, I think I'm gonna order copies of the Advanced Projection Manual and Motion Picture Projection: An Elementary Text-book (Cameron), but not necessarily in that order.

Posted by Mark Ogden (Member # 43) on 12-01-2012, 01:43 PM:

One of the best books was the SMPTE/BKSTS "Projection Manual", a phone-book sized thing put out jointly in 1997 by the British Moving Image Society, SMPTE and the Cinema Exhibitors Association, which also incorporates information from the old Kodak Reel Notes magazine. ISBN # is 0-940690-45-4. Pretty thorough, but I have no idea where to find it today unless someone here has one to sell. Might be the one Scott is thinking of.

Posted by Ben Wales (Member # 92) on 12-01-2012, 02:22 PM:

Also a up todate "Projectionist Handbook" from the BKSTS in the UK, also covers Digital Cinema.

BKSTS Projectionist Handbook

Posted by Bajsic Bojan (Member # 4928) on 12-02-2012, 01:48 AM:

Agree, the BKSTS Projection manual is still by far the best book a would-be projectionist should read. Very illustrative, fun and still thorough. Even for the well seasoned projectionists, it can be like refuge in time of need.

Haven't seen one with the digital supplement, but if you know smpte is doing it, it is probably good.

The Advanced projection manual is cute, more theory, great for people dealing with archive and older prints. Not so much hands on type of things. The digital chapters are basic tho (The book did come out before DCI). Waiting for version II.

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 12-02-2012, 08:48 AM:

quote: Paul Rayton
The most authoritative book (and up to date!) was published in 2006 and goes by the name "The Advanced Projection Manual". This is an absolutely complete discussion of every aspect of projection of films (though, IIRC, not much about digital)

Torkell Sætervadet has just done a digital projection manual for archival projection: there's an advert for it in the back of the latest issue of the 'Journal of Film Preservation'. Can't find anything online, though.

Definitely worth having for reference if it's as good as the 2007 one; though as others have pointed out, it's not cheap ($63 on Amazon) and you'll get the most out of his first book if you know the basics and have a few years of experience under your belt - it's not really aimed at beginners.

The first (1978 IIRC, and with an orange cover) edition of the BKSTS manual, written by Bernard Happé, is worth having, too if you can find a secondhand copy. Although most of the actual projectors it describes are not in widespread use any more, its coverage of the basic theory, especially on electronics and basic film handling techniques, is truly excellent and will never go out of date.

Posted by Mattias Mattsson (Member # 4308) on 12-02-2012, 12:59 PM:

Thanks for the pointer Leo! Really looking forward reading this book. The APM is really good and one of the few books available on the practicalities of archival film projection.

FIAF has a page about "Digital Projection for Archival Cinemas": http://www.fiafnet.org/~fiafnet/uk/publications/fbs_generalTopics.html

Release date seems to be December 15.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 12-15-2012, 09:07 AM:

I finally got the book that Paul mentions. It is very good and is something that every venue and operator that handles archival material should own. I cannot agree with some of the author's assertions (e.g. that every archival venue should be able to screen 70mm, magnetic sound, 16mm, and various other obscure formats...if we required this of all such venues, most would be out of business tomorrow), but the information is good and would be hard to find in any other single place. It is on the expensive side, but is definitely worth owning.

I don't really consider the lack of information on D-cinema to be a point of concern. Any book that included much about the topic would be obsolete by the time it was printed. Maybe in a few years the situation will stabilize a bit.

Posted by Nerijus Marmokas (Member # 6712) on 12-17-2012, 03:34 AM:

www.cineserver.org/technical/practical-guide/the-basic-installation/#projector

I'd say this is something to read about Digital cinema, its equipment, formats, etc...

Posted by Jim Cassedy (Member # 4115) on 12-19-2012, 07:32 PM:

I came across a copy of "The Advanced Projection Manual" in
the photography section of a big (now closed) bookstore earlier
this year and bought it. I think I spent $75, including tax.
It's well put together nicely bound hard-cover book.

Several people have commented that its' appx $63 cover price
is 'expensive'. I guess its a matter of perspective. Here in SF,
that's "lunch money".

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 01-26-2013, 06:43 AM:

Torkell Sætervadet's digital projection guide is now available on the Amazon UK site at the very reasonable price of £16 ($25.28, though probably around $35 for US customers if ordered from the UK site, including shipping). I've ordered it just now - watch this space for thoughts when it arrives.