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Author Topic: How Long in the Biz? Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 03-02-2005 01:59 AM                  Having read some of the posts of the old farts bragging about how long they've been in the biz...like 30, 35+ years, I thought it would be interesting to post how long one has been in the biz. Not that anyone cares since time-in-grade is no measure of being competent, and in many cases it points to old-fashioned and out-dated procedures and operations. (Ya gotta change and update with the times ya old farts!) BTW: PLEEZE do NOT turn this into another union/non-union boring thread! I DON'T CARE! I'll start if off: I've been in the biz 35 minutes... err years.  |  IP: Logged Aaron Sisemore Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day! Posts: 3061 From: Rockwall TX USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 03-02-2005 02:11 AM                     Been in since 1981. Even during the 7 1/2 years spent in the Air Force, I still came home and ran movies when home on leave... 24 years... -Aaron  |  IP: Logged Darryl Spicer Film God Posts: 3250 From: Lexington, KY, USA Registered: Dec 2000 posted 03-02-2005 02:20 AM                    Since 1984, about 20 1/2 years.....  |  IP: Logged Christopher Duvall Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 500 From: Denver, CO Registered: Dec 1999 posted 03-02-2005 04:36 AM                     Since August 8th 1986...so about 18 and 1/2 years.  |  IP: Logged Jeremy Fuentes Mmmm, Dr. Pepper! Posts: 1168 From: Corpus Christi, TX United States Registered: Jan 2004 posted 03-02-2005 05:57 AM                     Started 8 years ago, had a 2 year gap where I was out of the business. 6 years, and I'm already this good!  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 03-02-2005 07:11 AM                        I am not in the biz. I don't know why you are asking ME of all people. Geesh! I need to pee. BRB. Okay I am back. Anyway, since I am no longer in the biz, I feel that this question is inappropriate and puts a strain on our relationship.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-02-2005 07:37 AM                        I've been involved in professional motion-picture exhibition for seven years now on a part-time basis. I'm still one of the "kids" here. In high school and early on in college, I had some interest in film production. I made a few 16mm shorts and eventually found out that a) I wasn't terribly good at making films and b) the process gets super-expensive very quickly. In college, I became interested in film exhibition, mostly as the result of having had the opportunity to see some memorable films in well-run theatres. I became frustrated with how poorly most commercial theatres were run and wanted to help to improve this. When the management changed at the theatre near my college, I stopped in to make some booking suggestions to the new owners. While I was there, an exciter bulb burned out and I showed their "projectionist" (nice guy, but completely clueless) how to replace it. They asked if I wanted a job as their projectionist. I accepted, even though I was completely clueless (but knew more about film than they did). I got bitten by the "bug" then and have since done film projection work at many different types of venues. I've had the good fortune to meet and work with many caring and highly knowledgeable operators, as well as some great managers (and some bad ones). I modern sound systems and projection equipment as much as anyone, but I prefer to work in booths with older "funky" equipment (as long as it's sufficient to put on a quality presentation). At the moment, my only "regular" theatre job is holiday matinees (once a month or so) at a single-screen house that is an hour's drive away from my home. I do this because I enjoy running their carbon arc lamps and the owner truly cares about putting on a good show. I also do work for the Rhode Island Film Festival in August (for the last three years) and run occasional shows at (mostly) oddball venues in the Boston area. I also own a pair of Century 35mm projectors and assorted 16mm equipment and will be working on an apartment screening room at some point in the forseeable future. I still haven't worked at a drive-in, run a 3D show, or run DP70 projectors. Maybe someday I'll get to do these things.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 03-02-2005 08:21 AM                        As of this May, 38 years. Started at the Grandview Drive-In in Angola NY in May 1967 (Century C, Ashcraft Super Cinex 11mm carbon arc lamps, RCA Sound) Designed and built one of the first drive-in radio sound systems in the northeast USA, with some films shown in stereo. Also worked at the New Angola Theatre (Standard Simplex, Peerless Magnarc). Both theatres are still in operation. Also filled in at some other theatres in the Buffalo NY area. Friends with IATSE 233 Business Agent Ken Kavanaugh and many Buffalo-area operators, even though the theatres in Angola were non-union. Graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo in May 1970, with a degree in Electronic Engineering. Ken Kavanaugh suggested applying to Kodak. Started at Kodak on June 8, 1970. Have spent my entire career working on motion-picture projects.  |  IP: Logged Robert Throop Master Film Handler Posts: 412 From: Vernon, NY USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-02-2005 08:22 AM                     I started in the summer of 1965.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-02-2005 08:29 AM                     Since 1982. Am good for another 20 plus years if our company gets rid of the rattle trap vans it owns . Mark  |  IP: Logged Allison Parsons Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 630 From: East Peoria, IL Registered: Oct 2004 posted 03-02-2005 09:14 AM                        I started in 1996 so this year is my 9th year. As always, I started out in CCA, then moved to box in about a year. From there I became a projectionist and in 1999 became a manager. Did the manager thing for 2 years and found out I hated managing so demoted myself and am now just a projectionist and do most of the poster/promotional ordering on the side. The theater was my first job ever and for some reason I can't leave it. Any help on how to would be appreciated  |  IP: Logged Jonathan Worthing Master Film Handler Posts: 384 From: Hereford, UK Registered: Apr 2001 posted 03-02-2005 09:20 AM                     19 YEARS THIS JULY.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-02-2005 09:25 AM                     since 1976  |  IP: Logged Floyd Justin Newton Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 559 From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA Registered: Jun 2002 posted 03-02-2005 09:25 AM                     Since 1956.  |  IP: Logged Mike Spaeth Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1129 From: Marietta, GA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 03-02-2005 10:09 AM                        Since March 1999 ... so 6 years.  |  IP: Logged

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