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If I had a projection setup at home, I'd want c/o's (with 1 hr reels) and a platter.

Remember that as a Projectionist you are a showman and running changeovers manually along with the associated tasks is a true art form which is beyond the ability of typical 18 year old Jane or John "don't give a " concession stand!

I have read several articles about how platters are supposed to be easier on film than change-overs! Ya right! The big complaint that I have heard about change overs is subjecting the film to dirt and damage during rewinding--ya, like film is not exposed to dirt with platter operation? Yes, I have seen many cases of dirty heads and tails with change-overs as well as platters--but this can be eliminated by excellent film handling techniques, housekeeping and maintenance.

One advantage of change-overs vs platters is the ability to inspect reels between shows, and I would never, never consider splicing an archival print for platter ops!

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One advantage of change-overs vs platters is the ability to inspect reels between shows...

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Will, platters ARE easier on film than changeoevers. Running reels is a brute force method of film handling and rewinding is more of a problem than film being exposed to the air for 20 seconds or so because of the higher speeds during the rewinding cycle that attract dust and dirt. It is also very important that the tension settings on the rewind bench and reel arms are set properly or the film will be all cinch scratched to hell at the reel ends, which I see *most* of the time with changeover houses. (Guttag's theater is most probably not an offender.)

I believe the general projectionist population does agree that for short runs of only a few presentations that changeovers are better for the sake of the film, but for a show that is going to run more than a few times that platters are better on the film.

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Some will argue that running changeovers makes you part of the "magic". That's fine and dandy if you believe in hocus-pocus. The magic is in the making of the movie, not in a precisely timed changeover. Using the "I'm part of the magical experience" logic, then you are also helping make a bad movie bad, since you are part of it.

You can have a great presentation with changeovers and with platters. But I am sick and tired of people whining that they are superior just because they run changeovers. Most of these people are a bit older, stuck in their ways and blinded by their past. These are the same people that probably go around saying things like "In my day I had to walk to school in 8 feet of snow, we didn't have these fancy cars to drive or the sun to melt the snow back then. You kids have it so easy today". Running changeovers does not make you more of a showman. Your presentation either is incredible or it is not.

Bottom line: It takes more skill to be a car mechanic than to do changeovers. There are far more mechanics than projectionists. Lots of these guys were the same concession kids that have been described. It's not for everybody, but it doesn't exactly take mindbending skill to run changeovers properly.

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Personally I like platters. At the Telluride Film Festival, everything is changeovers. There was one film (Straight Story) which was run first for the staff. Then it was run at another theater (there were 5 different theaters at the festival that year, I believe) then finally at my theater. At each reel change (including the moments leading up to and after) I could see signs of wear... scuff marks and even some dirt. This movie had only been run 3 times and it looked OK when I saw it on it's first run with the staff. All changeovers don't have to be like this... perhaps I am a bit jaded due to the prehistoric equipment used at the TFF. The reel rewinders are the type where you close the case and it has two speeds: super fast and off. Not exactly friendly on the film. Hard starts like that can ruin a film very quickly. If I made a film I would never want it run there unless they updated their equipment to something with variable speeds. I guess if you want your film to get damaged quick, then that's the stuff to use.

If a person finds running changeovers "fun" then more power to them. They certainly don't have any advantages over platters as far as presentation goes, however (assuming the best projectionists are working in either scenario). But platters do have an advantage that there is much less wear on the film since there is constant handling with changeovers.

I do regret that exhibitors see platters as a way to skimp on payroll and training and just shove people into the booth. Brainwraps are rarely caused by the existence of the platter, just poor film handling and maintenence. Don't blame the equipment when you see platter damage on film. Blame the operator and/or the tech who services it.

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