Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Working in Europe

This is topic Working in Europe in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Howard Johnson (Member # 62) on 08-29-2004, 02:34 PM:

Do you need a special technical card to work as projectionist in France? I saw a multiplex company in France asking for some kind of card on their vacancy page. Do you need anything similar in Spain Germany or the Netherlands ? As EU citizens any British projectionists would have the right to travel and take up work in other countries in Europe but has anybody done this?

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 08-29-2004, 03:13 PM:

You're right: as UK nationals we have the right to live and work in any other European Union member state in the same way that we do here. But other European Union states can demand formal qualifications to do specific jobs for which we don't, and vice-versa. From what I know France does have a formal qualification, a bit like the driving test, which anyone in charge of a projection booth has to have. I only know this from chatting to a French projectionist at a cinema in the town I went on holiday to a couple of years ago (Arcachon, on the Atlantic coast near Bordeaux), and really couldn't tell you any more than that about it. Can any French members of the forum give us more detail?

Even so, as nationals of an EU member state, we should have the right to sit the exam, get the qualification and apply for jobs on the same level playing field as French and any other EU nationals. I can't see how it would need any experienced projectionist to know anything he or she doesn't know already, and it might be a useful way of getting to grips with the film-specific French vocabulary before having to use it in anger, so to speak.

Posted by William Hooper (Member # 71) on 08-30-2004, 02:39 AM:

Howard Johnsons in France?
They'll be getting Krispy Kremes next!

Posted by Gilbert Travin (Member # 2138) on 08-30-2004, 03:04 AM:

Hi

Oh yes, in France we must have a diploma to work in a cinema (single screen or multiplex). It is a "certificate of professional capacity". The formation lasts one year. We must be 18 years old.

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 08-30-2004, 04:24 AM:

In Germany you don't need a formal qualification anymore. The better cinemas like people with experience, but that is experience and knowledge, not a formal thing like a certificate or something.
I have to warn you though that in continental Europe, people speak a variety of languages rather more complicated than English. They also drive on the right side of the road, so when you want to cross a street, you have to look left. In most places, strong beer is also served, so it is a bit dangerous for island boys.
You would also have to get used to the fact that people anywhere on the continent play football better than anywhere in England.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 08-30-2004, 05:31 AM:

quote: Michael Schaffer
You would also have to get used to the fact that people anywhere on the continent play football better than anywhere in England.

In the USA, the women play better football than anywhere else. (Abby Wambach is from Rochester, New York.) [thumbsup]

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 08-30-2004, 07:02 AM:

Yeah, but they're crap at cricket. Most Euros don't even try (haven't got the concentration span, poor darlings), though to give them credit where credit's due, the Dutch and the French both have national teams, not to mention the USA. Yorkshire has thrashed all three. [thumbsup]

quote: Michael Schaffer
I have to warn you though that in continental Europe, people speak a variety of languages rather more complicated than English.

Yup, those Euros do like making life difficult for themselves. They might have been able to standardise their currency, but bugger me, they can't even speak the same language! [Roll Eyes]

quote: Michael Schaffer
They also drive on the right side of the road, so when you want to cross a street, you have to look left.

Actually, they drive wherever they like (including along the pavement/sidewalk in the case of one taxi I took between Gare du Nord and Gare Austerlitz, after I made the mistake of mentioning to the driver that time was getting a bit tight for my connection to Bordeaux) and tend not to worry about trivial annoyances such as laws. Maybe there's something in our driving on the left: the UK has the lowest number of road accident deaths per capita of any EU country, and by a clear margin, despite having some of the most congested roads. Sarcasm aside, this sort of accident seems to happen very regularly in continental Europe (the link is to a BBC online report of a road accident in south-west France which killed 8): I can't help thinking that they need to reduce their speed limits and toughen up their driving tests a bit.

quote: Michael Schaffer
In most places, strong beer is also served, so it is a bit dangerous for island boys.

But you can't get a decent G & T anywhere on that backward continent... [Mad]

Posted by Howard Johnson (Member # 62) on 08-30-2004, 01:57 PM:

My thoughts on this were that projection work is very similar everywhere and that you would not need to be perfect in another language to do the job. I can speak french and spanish, enough to get by with but not fluently . By the way I have no connection with any Johnsons who own a chain of restaurants and hotels in the USA (unfortunately)

Posted by Gilbert Travin (Member # 2138) on 08-31-2004, 02:19 AM:

HI !

"35/70 mm projection" is THE universal language for all people on the Earth !!!
Yes in France (and in many countries of Europa) we drive on the right of the road. Take care : speed is radar-controled and limited at 90 km/h and 130 km/h on motorways.