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Author Topic: Multi-skilling in projection rooms Stephen Jones unregistered posted 05-30-1999 02:50 AM              Just a short note to say hello from a projectionist in Australia and to say i enjoy reading the comments from projectionist in the U.S on different subjects. Would like to know what you think on the subject of multi- skilling in the bio or as it is Known the states as the booth. It is a big thing with the big chains in Australia at the moment and has put a lot of good projectionists out of work both young and old.As a projectionist of 29 years, my job as a technical manager was to train 17 yr olds how to do projection duties. Over a period of time the amount of damaged prints and neglected projectors etc is a sad sight to see also the number of break downs that occur which involve the issueing of passes to come back another time all because companies insist in putting people who also sell tickets and popcorn in the projection room.The only way to do it in my opinion is if the same group are rostered to projection shifts on regular basis each week that way they will not forget what the are taught and will get more experience.Thats just a quick run down thats all for now Ken Layton unregistered posted 05-30-1999 02:51 AM              I see it happening too much. These kids simply just don't belong in the booth. They either don't know or don't care. And if by chance one does come by with some signs of intelligence, they're immediately fired because they can use their head! The best way to combat this is for patrons to demand CASH refunds instead of a pass. Once the home office sees the cash paid out (and hopefully it's alot!), then maybe they will wake up and get people who know (and care) what they're doing and that will make the show worth seeing again! Paul Konen unregistered posted 05-30-1999 02:51 AM              I see it at our multiplex. They generally work up to the booth unless, they have experience in a related field. The ones that do work up from the "floor" generally are thread and start type of people. Presentation is not there or minimal, like framing. Brett Rankin unregistered posted 05-30-1999 02:51 AM              Perhaps in most situations those "kids" are incompetant idiots, but as a 16 year old film collector I'd like to apply for a projectionist position at a local cineplex (or would I have to be promoted from popcorn popper to do that?) sometime next fall. I do have experience in film and just got set up with a 35mm home theater, and I believe I could perform just as well as the adults doing the same thing. Just my 2 cents. Brett Rankin PS: Does anyone know where I can get an ignitor switch for a 500w Cinnemacannica xenon lamphouse, and how much will that cost? Brad Miller unregistered posted 05-30-1999 02:52 AM              It all depends on the theater as to whether you can be hired directly into the booth or must go through popping corn before you become "worthy." Christopher Seo unregistered posted 05-30-1999 02:52 AM              Well, I just got the job of projectionist at a local multiplex opening in time for "Phantom Menace", and I'm only 17. It's my first job. I only had experience with 16mm, and a whole lot of interest. This particular company (Signature Theaters) does also train the popcorn poppers and the ushers, but not everyone, just the ones who have an interest and can demonstrate they can actually do the job. So I'd say go for it; I think the main thing the employers would look for is interest. Mentioning a 35mm home theater would probably guarantee your employment. Christopher Seo unregistered posted 05-30-1999 02:53 AM              A clarification.... as opposed to expecting the employees to run the booth in addition to popping popcorn, etc., (which is what multi-skilling would be?) after they are trained here they become full time projectionists. Scott Norwood unregistered posted 05-30-1999 02:53 AM              Heh...they hired me (with only 16mm experience) because I showed their projectionist how to replace an exciter bulb after the sound died in the middle of a film... Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 09-13-2000 02:52 PM                        I think it is unfair that people look down on young operators and say they are all unproffesional and bad. I am 17 (18 in 2 mo) and I have already been a head projectionist at a 3 screen sub run house. I take this type of work very seriously. the new theatre that I work for told me I cant do projection but they are letting make-up/breakdown on thursday so I came in thursday (My first day) and blew the doors off of their full time projectionist so now the gm said he would train me to run the projectors.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 09-13-2000 02:59 PM                        Young operators can be great -- they haven't had time to develop bad film-handling habits. We all have to start somewhere -- I was 18 when I made my first changeover 33 years ago. What counts is a desire to learn the knowledge and skills required, a love of film, and a good work ethic. A bit of "Showmanship" doesn't hurt either . ------------------ John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging Eastman Kodak Company Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419 Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA Tel: 716-477-5325 Fax: 716-722-7243 E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 09-13-2000 03:24 PM                     That's why when I train, I prefer to have someone who doesn't even know that we don't run "tape" upstairs. You show them the proper way of doing things and they do it perfectly because they don't know there is any other way to do it.  |  IP: Logged Carl King Expert Film Handler Posts: 199 From: Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada Registered: Mar 2000 posted 09-14-2000 10:29 AM                     If we old hands are training the young popcorn poppers/projectionists it is up to us to train them properly and insist that they perform properly. If we are managing a booth and training people then we must take some of the blame for their failures (assuming that the theater manager allows us to properly train these kids). And let's remember most of us were kid projectionists at one time. I know I was.  |  IP: Logged Wayne Kingston Film Handler Posts: 3 From: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK Registered: Sep 2000 posted 09-14-2000 02:38 PM                     I started out working as an usher, we were not allowed into the Projection suite without an invite from the "Chief" ( rightly so) My old Chief like myself invite people to try see what the magic is all about when we could see that that person was truly interested in Projection. What I do resent now, which is happening more and more throughout the company I work for is the two day training of management which usually consists of people who are forced to attend the course don't really listen, go away and never touch a projector again. But still they think that they know all that there isto know about projection because they went on a course once. This is then transfered into the work place when a Chief tells management how long it can take to train an operator to such a standard that he/she is capable to be left on their own. They seem to think because their course only took two days thats how long it should take to train an operator. I must say though not all managers are the same, many do appreciate the time it takes. But unfortunaly a few ruin it for the others  |  IP: Logged John Walsh Film God Posts: 2490 From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way Registered: Oct 1999 posted 09-14-2000 05:02 PM                     Yes, but the problem is that the existing projectionists are not _really_ allowed to train new projectionists. When a manager comes in with a new trainee, they will say: "Train him and have him ready for tomorrow night!" That's not training! No matter how good you are, you can't train a person properly if you're not given enough time. Now, Wayne you are complaining that unwilling people are trained (for too short a time) to operate projectors; but then, they never go in the booth. That would be a good problem here! In America, we take unwilling people, don't train them, and then force them into the booth. It's all messed up over here. Perhaps you could have a word with the Queen on our behalf. Tell her that we're really sorry; we made a big mistake 200 years ago. Could we be part of the Empire again?  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 09-15-2000 12:12 AM                        Hey John thanks for the words i called your office and you sent me some stuff a while ago that my previous theatre stole from me (some copies of REEL People and a Kodak Guide to Projection or something like that) just to let everyone know the Fulltime projectionist gave his notice tonight and they are going to give me the job!!!  |  IP: Logged

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