Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: I'm back -- how do I bust back into this industry

This is topic I'm back -- how do I bust back into this industry in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Charles Greenlee (Member # 3856) on 04-23-2008, 09:22 PM:

After a long hiatus, I'm back. Had to effectively take my life down for some much needed maintenance. Leaving Regal upset some life plans, which in turn upset me. I now have a fresh, more solid outlook on things, though I'm still without a job in the cinema tech field. Hopefully I can find some way to put that part of my life back on track. Hopefully before my current job shuts down for renovations for the summer. I'd like to be able to make that change over in one fell swoop. So, I'm wondering if maybe I should apply to one of the major cinema tech companies?

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 04-23-2008, 09:27 PM:

The very first thing you should do is put a better title on this thread.

Posted by Ron Funderburg (Member # 4561) on 04-23-2008, 09:46 PM:

Ya might try the help wanted position wanted forum! Like Mike I also agree the title of this thread title isn't very good for you to use. It says nothing about what you are trying to say. It doesn't even say I'm back! Which I am but I wasn't gone either!

Posted by Charles Greenlee (Member # 3856) on 04-23-2008, 09:48 PM:

Rectified that, I hope. Good idea checking out the help wanted section. I almost forgot there was one. I'll scour that, maybe post my own if need be. I've been out of the loop for way too long.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-23-2008, 10:39 PM:

If you're a highly experienced tech then I wouldn't waste your time with one of the major service houses... working for a smaller Cinema Equipment Dealer is the better route to go... and may get you just as good of benefits in the long haul. Techs are in great shortage and depending on the situation in your area you may be better off being on your own... although it may take a little patience and fortitude to get there. Good quality work doesn't require any advertising... it travels by word of mouth.

A second opportunity may be to leave film all together since film will be leaving us and go strictly into digital cinema. I don't know how old you are but working for one of the actual Digital Equipment Manufacturers as a tech would certainly guarantee you a long future in this industry. Were I a bit younger I would be doing just this, there is little to no future on the film end of things as a tech in the long haul.

What ever you choose be sure to be happy in your work, if you're not then you'll just be miserable.

Mark

Posted by Charles Greenlee (Member # 3856) on 04-23-2008, 10:52 PM:

Good thoughts Mark. I'm only 29, so I guess I'm young enough to make that change, but I really enjoy working with the film based cinema. I would say I'm decently experienced, but I still would need to start somewhere I can finish my training. My general electronic and mechanical experience, and near vertical learning curve, helps bridge the gap some in my expereince in this field. So does reading the posts on this, and other sites. If I don't know something, I have the internet, so I'll look it up. I'll have to look around and see who services this area, and see if they're hiring. I'd want to start out as an entry level tech anyhow, so I can be sure that I have a solid ground before getting put in a position where they're expecting me to do the cinema equivalent of brain surgery, and find that I didn't know as much as I thought.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 04-24-2008, 03:30 AM:

quote: Mark Gulbrandsen
...leave film all together since film will be leaving us and go strictly into digital cinema..

Thus, with the some of us still stuck in the 35mm world with antiquidated equipment staring up in the face, where, if we still want to keep in the tekkie world, do we begin to learn all of this digital stuff?

(Mark ..great shots of you at that one theatre in WYO on that Barco install by the way ...)

..thx-monte

Posted by Jim Bedford (Member # 4) on 04-24-2008, 10:25 AM:

Don't know if there is a connection or if it's a sign, but the New Sheridan Hotel in Telluride has a black metal lock-box from the first quarter of the 20th Century on display on one of its bookshelves with "Charles Greenlee" on it! [Wink]

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-24-2008, 11:52 AM:

Charles... You're just the right age to begin a new journey. I'd go for it for sure. Start by contacting Christie Digital... they always need good techs, especially techs that can do both film and digital. I Sean James is who you want to contact there.

Mark

Posted by Charles Greenlee (Member # 3856) on 04-24-2008, 03:31 PM:

Ah, good ideas. ::thinks to himself "And this is why I come here":: [thumbsup]

And yes, I jokingly try to claim anything that Has "Greenlee" on it. Tried the claim the multimeter from my old theatre, but they wouldn't let me. [Frown]

Evedently they make antyhing from multimieters to storage boxes. I've even seen clipboards.

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 04-24-2008, 06:28 PM:

I always think of chassis and electrical punches. Louis

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-24-2008, 08:07 PM:

You can think of punches... now I'll always think about that steel box in Telluride and when I need my punches they'll be someplace else!

Posted by Charles Greenlee (Member # 3856) on 04-28-2008, 09:59 PM:

Ok, I went to the Christie site and saw under Careers a Technician job. I can apply to it straight there. However I'm told to contact Sean James. Is contacting him a better route? If so, what's his email address? Christie has a decent contact form, but though it has a slot for the recipient name, can it actually email by recipient only, or will I additionally need the email address? The required qualifications look promising.

Oh and I beleive it is a sign. Maybe you should hire me. [thumbsup]

LoL

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-29-2008, 07:56 AM:

I was told b a person whom writes resumes that once you know what company and division you want to work for you write directly to that division manager... not the personel department... your resume or application may just lay on the personal managers desk or get filed and forgotten about. On the other hand if your resume impresses that division manager he WILL want to hire you and will either contact you directly or hand carry it to the personel manager and have him get ahold of you. Also... needless to say a resume is better than a job application although they may still make you also fill the company job application depending on the operating rules the company has established...

My reccomendation is to call Christie and see what they say. They may ONLY use the on-line application... but I can't answer that.

Mark