O.K. here we go.

how do you thread(considering that we are using platters here)
1. bottom up
2. top bottom
3. stupid old-skool method of threading to proj. motoring leader onto floor then to take-up platter.

i personally was traineed top-bottom but then realized all of the flaws that are included in this technique. I am proud to say that i go bottom-up. this way no film has touched the floor to drag dirt from the floor to the platter to the print.

The old "motor the leader onto the floor is nothing short of PATHETIC!" (I would say no offense here to those that thread like this, but I would be lying.)

I was trained with the clothespins at GCC, but quickly got out of that habit when a fellow projectionist showed me the bottom sprocket pad roller trick, and I can't imagine using a clothespin for anything other than sealing an opened bag of chips. But the projectionists at AMC showed me the pile the leader on the floor trick! That's just sad.

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The man with the magic hands.

Like anyone, I (myself) have little tricks to thread platters (top-down), yet keep the film clean without trash cans. I worked at one theater where threading "bottom-up" was the best way, but only that one place. So, it's not a personal preference thing; it really depends on the booth, equipment, etc.

I think we're split in half now - half the company does that, the other half pulls the film to the top feed roller and throws the leader on the floor, threads the projector and then the take-up platter.

I find it to be a waste of time personally. I can thread all 4 platters - assembly line style, clean the projectors, assembly line style and then right before showtime, just pop the film into the projector and away we go.

When I first started managing the 4-plex - I had cut all my leader to be almost PERFECT - so there was VERRRY little leader that would touch the floor if you threaded my way.

In my year's absence... other managers have swapped films with other theatres and given away my perfectly cut, brand new(ish) leader. I'll admit... I don't have the energy to care about that again...

I disagree on teaching newbies. If you take someone and bring them into the booth and teach them top to bottom threading, that is all they know. Later, when you try and show them a better method (threading up), it is far more difficult for them to change. Just read Dustin Mitchell's post. He's having a hard time converting now.

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That part of the leader that "never touches the projector" collects dirt, and that dirt when wound onto the takeup ring will transfer it's dirt to the next layer of film. It doesn't take long for one layer of leader to transfer the dirt to the next layer of film. That's why at most theaters, the first thing to hit the screen (Coke ad, Moviephone, preview, whatever) always looks like crap.

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Brad is absolutely correct that dirt picked up by leader eventually transfers to the rest of the print.

Always do your best to keep the film and leader from touching dirty surfaces. Keep the rewind bench, makeup table (MUT) and floor clean and free of debris. A quick wipe occasionally with a damp sponge or mop will pick up the dust and film chips that buildup during the workday.

Kodak's new VISION color print film has a conductive back-side layer, to minimize attraction of dirt by static charging, and eliminate annoying static shocks during rewinding. A quick way to show the benefit of this is to quickly rub a short length of film between your fingers or on a pant leg to try to generate static, and hold it near a dusty surface (e.g., a dirty ashtray). The static charge on older films will attract the dirt to the film, the new Kodak VISION (2383, 2393) films will not.

Unfortunately, some ads, trailers, policy and date snipes, and thread-up leaders are not made using the new conductive film, so static-attraction of dirt can still be an issue with them.