This is topic building keys in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.


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Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 11-30-2004, 12:33 PM:
 
Out of curiousity, how common is it for projectionists to have keys to the theatre building? Does everyone have keys, are they only given to a full-time head operator, or are they only provided to managers? What about other non-manager/non-projectionist employees? Do you change the keys on a regular basis, or only after employees quit/get fired?

I've seen this done several different ways in different places and am interested in knowing if there is any sort of consensus as to what works best.
 

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Posted by Jeremy Fuentes (Member # 2135) on 11-30-2004, 12:39 PM:
 
Only the managers have one at my theater. I do most of the projection work so I'm head projectionist too. None of us have quit or been fired, so we havent had to change locks yet.
 

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Posted by Dean Kollet (Member # 1789) on 11-30-2004, 01:06 PM:
 
only mgrs at my theater are given keys, of course after a background and credit check. my friend who works at a smaller art house got keys on the first day of the job, no questions or checks...
 

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Posted by Tony Hall (Member # 2490) on 11-30-2004, 01:18 PM:
 
At my Theatre all projectionist have front door and booth keys Managers are the only ones with keys to the office. If the time comes to change keys we only need to change the front door keys.
 

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Posted by Nicholas Roznovsky (Member # 861) on 11-30-2004, 01:27 PM:
 
Yes, head projectionists/booth managers should be able to access the building and the booth. If nothing else, it prevents a manager from having to be present for early-morning maintenance just to open the door.

I would not however advise giving keys to other projectionists/non-managers. It's always been my goal to keep as few keys in circulation as possible. Other than the aforementioned early-morning maintenance (and janitorial crews), there shouldn't be any one in the building without a supervisor present.

We have never changed out locks just for fun, only when employee changes necessitated it. Also, I would advise changing out locks and safe combinations everytime you have a management change. Even if you trust the person who is leaving implicitly, changing locks and combos can help eliminate them as suspects if something unfortunate happens later on.
 

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Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 11-30-2004, 01:29 PM:
 
When I was working the theatre chains as a regular projectionist, you got a front door key and a booth key. But if you were a relief projectionist, management had to open the booth for you and stay till you were finish at the end of the night.
 

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Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 11-30-2004, 01:36 PM:
 
Manager/operator - only the management has keys.
 

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Posted by Barry Martin (Member # 1376) on 11-30-2004, 03:27 PM:
 
As a supervisor/projectionist at Loews we only got keys that were for concession/back stock room use and those were turned in each shift. The projection booth had combination door locks which were changed every now and then with no clear reason necessitating it. In my current position as manager/projectionist at a small twin I of course have all the keys to the building. When I first came on our concessionists had a front door key as well but that was left over from the old owner and we asked for them back. We did that mostly for the reason Nicholas stated, if something goes missing (which has) then they cannot be blamed. Especially since the owners had to give one of the concessionists the safe combination at one point because nobody was there to open up. Fewer keys in circulation the fewer people to suspect if something comes up.
 

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Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 11-30-2004, 03:54 PM:
 
We're the same as Mike S., manager/operator (though not both at once). If we did have a dedicated projection staff I would give the 'head projectionist' a building key. If they janitors can be trusted then the head projectionist could be.
 

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Posted by Don Anderson (Member # 397) on 11-30-2004, 04:17 PM:
 
Owner, Assistant Mgr, Manager, and Concession Company have Door key. Only the Owner and Manager have keys to Roof. Assistant Mgr., Manager, and Owner have key to stockroom, and office area. We change out the locks every now and then, but it gets kinda expensive.
 

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Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 11-30-2004, 05:50 PM:
 
Besides those people having front door keys. The film transport company had front door keys too.
 

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Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 12-01-2004, 12:15 AM:
 
anyone ever think of installing a card swipe access system? One time installation, never have to change the locks.

Ciao baby

Dave
 

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Posted by David Yauch (Member # 2754) on 12-01-2004, 12:57 AM:
 
I guess we are a bit different here, being a 25 screen megaplex. Every manager and projectionist in the building has keys, because on any given day if the floor manager got stuck in traffic then no one gets in the building until someone can drive out, since you only have a manager and 2 projectionists on most mornings. Of course all of the keys are numbered individually and signed out, and all managers and projectionists must pass a full backround check before being hired/promoted. And when an employee quits without giving back the keys(which of course are engraved w/do not copy) they are prosecuted for the return of stolen items. This is just how we run things, and I can't see them working any other way. Not to mention the key to the door is also the key to the booth, so we'd be stuck out of the booth without them. I think the building has been rekeyed 4 times in 7 years though, but thats mainly been from managers carelessly losing their keys, which are usually found after the fact.
 

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Posted by Nate Lehrke (Member # 1460) on 12-01-2004, 04:29 AM:
 
The whole "do not copy" etched into the key is a joke. I have never had a problem getting those keys copied.

What's the point?
 

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Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 12-01-2004, 04:31 AM:
 
The local Wal-Mart won't copy DNC keys.
 

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Posted by Matt Kerekes (Member # 2777) on 12-01-2004, 04:47 AM:
 
At my building, the managers have keys to the front doors and offices, etc. The projectionists have a key only to the booth, and one projectionist who also does maintenance has a key to the door and an alarm code. Although our building also has different alarm access levels. Managers' codes disarm the safe and everything else. The projection/maintenance code only disarms the lobby and booth.
 

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Posted by Chase Hanson (Member # 2779) on 12-01-2004, 09:28 PM:
 
Managers: Keys and codes to everything in the building
Assistant Mangers: Keys to enter Box office, Guest Servies, every stock room and storage cage, booth, also keys for all register drawers and drop boxs. CAN NOT OPEN back office, clean room, vault.
Leads: Keys to booth, all stock rooms (but not storage cages containing Inventory items, except the main concessions cage)
Projectionists: Keys to access booth.

Managers keep a door key on their personal key ring to enter the building in the morning and enter the back office area, at which point they will exchange for thier work keys. All Managers and Assistant Managers have their work keys kept in the vault which can be only accessed by managers. All other keys (leads, Maintence, Projections) are kept in a key/radio room that is only accessible by managers and assitant managers.

You are supposed to surrender your personal keys everytime you pick up a set of work keys.

On that note:
I dont think our Lock and Key service is run by the smartest people around i've been around for two lock changes, both times I was able to alter old keys to work in the new lock and one of those times I was able to take a new key and alter it to work on a couple locks I shouldn't have been able to open.

Hopefully I wont get fired tomorrow.
 

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Posted by Ever Gonzalez (Member # 2794) on 12-02-2004, 01:19 AM:
 
Good to know Chase. Why would u do that anywayz?
 

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Posted by Chase Hanson (Member # 2779) on 12-02-2004, 02:45 AM:
 
Well

One of the times was like 8 months ago when the locks were changed and we only had one working booth key. I did a side by side comparison, and all they did was change one tumbler, and it was something that could be "fixed" with about 10 sec. of filing.

Probably pretty stupid of me, but at the time I was pretty much tired of having to flag people down to let me upstairs every time I had to go to the bathroom.
 

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Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 12-02-2004, 01:47 PM:
 
What was pretty stupid of you was admitting in an open forum that you were intentionally breaking & entering into areas you weren't supposed to be in in your theatre, especially when said theatre is part of a national chain ... I'm sure someone you don't want seeing that post there may catch something. Your employer locked certain areas for a reason ... why not respect that??
 

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Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 12-02-2004, 04:14 PM:
 
Mike,
Agreed. If I ever found one of my employees tampering with keys, they would be immediately terminated. Only my staff leaders (we no longer employ assistant managers) and shift leaders carry keys. They all have full access to everything. The booth crew has their own single key that stays on a ring kept in the booth.

When it comes to keys it's pretty simple:
Anyone with a key is suspect when/if things go wrong! The fewer, the better.
 

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Posted by David Yauch (Member # 2754) on 12-02-2004, 04:41 PM:
 
Agreed on the usefulness of restricting access to certain parts of the theatre, but if you are relying on a door lock to stop theft then you've got another thing coming. If you aren't utilizing some sort of surveillance then you're never going to know what happened if something goes wrong.
 

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Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 12-02-2004, 05:29 PM:
 
As Mike S. said

Remember this is a open forum. You do not know who is lurking these forums, that work in this industry.
 

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Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 12-03-2004, 01:38 AM:
 
The easiest way around the "booth key" problem is one of those 5-pushbutton simplex locks. Cheap, and easy to change the combination to ...
 

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Posted by Carl Martin (Member # 1146) on 12-03-2004, 03:10 AM:
 
maybe it wasn't a good idea to post about it, but it sounded to me like chase was just trying to get into where he was supposed to be: the booth. due to some futz-up, he didn't have the key he needed. he was being resourceful.

carl
 

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Posted by Chase Hanson (Member # 2779) on 12-03-2004, 04:12 AM:
 
Dear Mike, Jason and Bill,

Ever Gonzalez = My booth Manager.

AND...

In the case of the other unmentioned occurences (which remain unmentioned for a reason), the specific areas and alteration requirements were noted for the Facilities Manager, so I wasnt keeping any secrets. They chose not to terminate me at the time, I dont see why they would now.
 

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Posted by Phil Blake (Member # 2012) on 12-04-2004, 09:33 AM:
 
Building access is always a worry when there are many keys out there, the day something goes missing , who is held responsible? , why did it happen ? who was in the building ? and many other questions like these are asked.
Before I was put into the managers roles everyone had keys , all staff, the Coca Cola man, candy man , film delivery man although they only had access to the lobby it was still a concern all the same.

We now have a signature lock on front door with keys given to the Cleaner and the projectionists as they are in charge when I am off duty.
 

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Posted by David Yauch (Member # 2754) on 12-05-2004, 08:19 PM:
 
Phil: I'll say again what I said above. If you are just relying on a door lock to stop theft, then you are just asking for it. If you aren't using some sort of video surveillance then you'll just have to accept the fact that while you can narrow it down, you're never gonna know for sure. Since we have cameras everywhere here, we don't spend too much time worrying about door keys, although they are still certainly inventoried and anyone getting one has to pass a background check. Not even the pepsi guy has one, and they're here all the time.
 

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Posted by Kris Brunton (Member # 432) on 12-15-2004, 10:29 AM:
 

quote: Nate Lehrke

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The whole "do not copy" etched into the key is a joke. I have never had a problem getting those keys copied.

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A good way around this is to have high security keys provided by a local locksmith. Medeco or Primus(schlage) keyways are available from most reputable locksmiths and key control is made easy as only that particular locksmith will have the ability to cut the keys for you. If a theater is giving thought to having locks replaced a master key system can be quite effective. For example one key can be issued to managment that will open all doors, one key for the projectionist may open the front door and the booth doors but not offices, stock rooms, etc... The possiblities go on and can be a simple and effective way of having key control within the building. I feel in any large complex employees signing out keys is a must as in the event of termination/resignation the employee is responsible for handing in keys when he/she is terminated.

Another more costly method but very effective can be card access systems. These systems are quite a bit more expensive (around $2000 Canadian dollars per door) but offer managment the ability to have an audit trail of door openings and closings. With the addition of a couple extra readers can be used for a time clock as well as most systems have a reporting feature that can be printed daily/weekly etc. Cardholders are assigned access within a specific group and those groups are set up to have priveledges based on your operating procdure.

For example the manager can have 24/7 access to all doors, yet the assisstant manager can only have access between certian hours(1200 - 0100). The projectionist can have access to outside door and booth door between hours of (1200 - 0100). The concession worker has to front door only between (Mon - Fri between 1800 - 2200 and Sat and Sun between 1200 - 2200). All examples but a very flexible system and easy to operate once you get to know them.

And from the technical side card access systems are extremly fun to install.
 

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Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 12-15-2004, 10:47 AM:
 
Some of the card access systems also electronically LOG everyone that has opened the lock, including date and time of entry. So if something happens, the list of suspects is short. I believe they also can log attempted use of cards that are not authorized for access.

Most labs and offices in my building at Kodak have that kind of secure access.
 

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Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 12-15-2004, 08:23 PM:
 
The other nice thing about the card access systems is that cards can be deactivated individually and a locksmith does not need to visit the site and re-key everything each time someone quits or gets fired.

To (partially) answer my own question based on my own experiences--GCC gave building and booth keys to projectionists and AMC continued this policy (until they decided that they didn't really need to employ projectionists--I don't know what they do now). Landmark doesn't give out building keys to projectionists--only managers. Independents seem to vary widely in policy (as would be expected).
 

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Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 12-16-2004, 02:10 AM:
 
Where I work I have access by card swipe and can only access areas that are assigned to me, and only during certain hours.

Anyone attempting access to unauthorized areas by swiping your card through the wrong swipe will be considered a security breach and your employment terminated.

We are required to have our swipe card/badges on our person and visible for security at all times. Failure to do so will get you escorted to the main entrance to recieve a warning and temporary badge until you go back to your desk and get a new one.

We have kind of a very strict security policy kind of thing. We cant even have cell phones on our persons when we are at workstations or in secure areas.

And camera phones will get you fired.

Now thats strict.

Ciao baby
 

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Posted by Kris Brunton (Member # 432) on 12-17-2004, 11:12 AM:
 
I think card access systems are great. To add on to what John was saying about the systems creating a log. Most systems will allow you to create custom reports utilizing a report generator within the software or an external reporting software such as Crystal Reports. Athough not really usefull for a theater application some of the more powerful systems allow you to import maps and show your doors/devices on the map. A fun way to see if a door is open or permit access grants for a particular door. Fun stuff.
 

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Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 12-25-2004, 05:05 PM:
 
At the University I contract with, I was issued keys the second day on the site!! (I was working 14+ hour days to get the facility up and running for the gala grand opening.)

According to the Dept. Heads, I am the only person EVER to get a full set of keys that fast!

They will be going to a card-swipe system in that building next year.
 

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Posted by Don Sneed (Member # 955) on 01-09-2005, 05:12 AM:
 
When I was a Union projectionist, I always had a key for the front door & booth at every theatre I worked at...as a tech, I know door codes, have keys to theatres, keys to elevators, booths, if I don't have the key or door code, the mgrs. will give it to me....what always amazes me is the staff will see me unlocking the front door, I wear company shirts w/logo, pulling tools behind me, heading for the booth, & they always say "can I ask what are you doing here & where you are going" this is a a question that is ask every theatre...I say "as you can see I am not here to see a movie, and yes you can ask"...then walk away & unlock the booth door (depending on his tone of voice & the mood I'm in that day, sometimes I tell them)...maybe this should be a new topic "Funny Things People Ask A Tech" !!!
 

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Posted by David Yauch (Member # 2754) on 01-09-2005, 06:29 AM:
 
All of our techs have keys to get in and get around the booth. The only thing they don't have are access codes to cash handling areas. If we ever get a projector in there then I'm sure we'll get them one
 

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Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 01-10-2005, 12:54 PM:
 

quote: Don Sneed

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...what always amazes me is the staff will see me unlocking the front door, I wear company shirts w/logo, pulling tools behind me, heading for the booth, & they always say "can I ask what are you doing here & where you are going" this is a a question that is ask every theatre...

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quote: Don Sneed

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what always amazes me is the staff will see me unlocking the front door, I wear company shirts w/logo, pulling tools behind me, heading for the booth, & they always say "can I ask what are you doing here & where you are going" this is a a question that is ask every theatre...

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