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Author Topic: Projectionist's List of things to remember. Steve Beverly Film Handler Posts: 83 From: El Paso, Tx., Registered: Nov 2007 posted 12-30-2007 12:47 AM                     Can anyone give me a basic short list of things a projectionist should keep in mind? Also are there any good books out there on film projection? Thanks!  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-30-2007 01:34 AM                        Keep film off floor Thread in frame Be sure proper lens is in place before starting Check focus upon startup (and frequently during show) Keep film path clean Keep booth clean Check sprockets for wear Check oil level in projector Check port glass and clean if necessary Clean lenses if necessary - but not excessively Make sure all rollers on platter are turning freely Listen to the sound in the audtorium, not just on monitor Use FilmGuard Use clear splice tape Always return DTS disks with prints When breaking down film, remove your cues, and remove all tape from splices Splice leaders and tails on the proper reels (with a real splice) Tape down film ends on outgoing reels with a NEW, LONG piece of tape No food in booth Check supplies and restock as necessary (splice tape, oil, FilmGuard, window cleaner, Qtips, paper towels) Review Film-Tech.com daily for tips  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 12-30-2007 02:19 AM                  + make sure pull-down is at dwell when threading "in frame".  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 12-30-2007 02:42 AM                        +When threading, be sure the soundtrack is oriented correctly (toward you). Re: Mike's next to last item -- checking items and restocking when necessary. Over the years we constructed a "Re-stocking/Contact List" of every consumable item in the booth. The list references what vendor carries each item and at what price it was last purchased. Then as supplies are needed, all the projectionist has to do is check off the item on the list and send the list to the front office. They then have all the information they need to place orders and do it with minimum look-up time. We found it encourages the booth operators to order supplies in ample time rather than last miniute crisis and it reduces front office labor considerably.  |  IP: Logged Rick Raskin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1100 From: Manassas Virginia Registered: Jan 2003 posted 12-30-2007 10:35 AM                     + Keep the booth lights low. No light spill into the theatres. + If you have a TV or radio (discouraged) keep the sound very low. + Keep conversations to a minimum.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-30-2007 11:16 AM                        In addition to the above... Inspect every reel of every print by hand prior to its first exhibition; check for (and fix if necessary) the following: - correct image and sound format(s) - leaders complete, and attached properly and in frame - leaders on correct reels; reels in correct order; correct number of reels - bad splices, torn perforations, missing footage, edge damage - lab splices--remove or bloop soundtrack - cue marks and/or automation cue tape - any special features of the print that might affect presentation (fade-outs/-ins near start or end of reel, walk-in/walk-out music, etc.) Do all regular maintenance (oil changes, sound alignments, etc.) to avoid expensive downtime and presentation issues. Check lamp alignment and adjust as needed. Replace xenon bulbs when they start to flicker or dim. Raise current gradually as xenons age to maintain light levels. Keep reflectors clean in carbon-arc lamps. Check platter timing and adjust as needed. If reel-to-reel, check takeup and feed tension and adjust as needed. Keep port glass clean. Keep house reels in good condition--do not drop or bend them. Add extra tail leader to the last reel in platter houses. Add extra head and tail leader to each reel in changeover houses. Return every print in better condition than it was in when it arrived. Return with all reels in the same orientation (heads-up or tails-up).  |  IP: Logged Jim Bedford Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 597 From: Telluride, CO, USA (733 mi. WNW of Rockwall, TX but it seems much, much longer) Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-30-2007 11:35 AM                        +hand advance the film to make sure it is in frame and that it is threaded properly over sprockets. "Motion-Picture Projection and Theatre Presentation Manual" published by SMPTE, even tho its 1969 publication is older than many readers here, is still a valuable tool for details and understanding 35mm projection. I think the most recent printing is 1992, but even by then Dolby is not even mentioned, so it's much stronger on the mechanics of projection.  |  IP: Logged Bill Bright Film Handler Posts: 25 From: St. Petersburg, Florida Registered: Oct 2003 posted 12-30-2007 12:31 PM                     + Watch movies at the end of build up and correct any mistakes before public showing.  |  IP: Logged Jon Miller Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 973 From: San Diego, CA, USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 12-30-2007 01:19 PM                     quote: Jim Bedford +hand advance the film to make sure it is in frame and that it is threaded properly over sprockets. + Don't “blip” Motor switch to advance the film. This will wear out the switch faster. If you work with prints shipped on cores (in the USA, typically festival prints from abroad): + At end of run, be sure to tightly wind print onto the cores it came on (do not cinch the film) and secure the roll with about 4-6" of tape. + Never press cores out once film is wound. + If print arrives without cores and you have cores to spare (preferably 3" or larger, not trailer cores), ship print out on donor cores. Act as if the next person to handle that print is an F-T regular.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-30-2007 02:08 PM                        quote: Jon Miller + Don't “blip” Motor switch to advance the film. This will wear out the switch faster. It's a $2 light switch, available at your local hardware store. Is it really an issue if it has to be replaced once every decade or so? I thought that the real reason not to "bump" the motor was that doing so creates unnecessary wear on the gear train and/or motor. (Comments?) (This is why the "POS" button on Kinoton projectors is so useful.)  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 퍼항시, 경상푹도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 12-30-2007 02:23 PM                     quote: Mike Blakesley Keep film off floor Including leaders/headers (since lots of people don't seem to care about them).  |  IP: Logged Jon Miller Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 973 From: San Diego, CA, USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 12-30-2007 03:33 PM                     You're right about the gear train and motor, Scott. I was, however, thinking about rocker switches used in automations, something not likely to be found in the shelves of a hardware store, Home Depot, or Lowe's. If the switch was something resembling an ordinary light switch, chances are it would have been a more expensive motor-rated switch.  |  IP: Logged Thomas Pitt Master Film Handler Posts: 266 From: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK Registered: May 2007 posted 12-30-2007 04:59 PM                     + If you run different aspect ratios (flat/scope/academy) in a single showing, check focus and framing after each lens and masking changeover. + If you have more than one sound reader installed in your projector (such as DTS, SDDS and Dolby), make sure you thread ALL the readers, not just the one for the sound format you're using. + Never attempt to make big adjustments (e.g. entire projector tilt or swivel) while a public show is running. I actually had a showing of Spider-Man 3 messed up this way; the technicians were trying to adjust the projector's angle during the show as it wasn't perfectly on the screen!  |  IP: Logged Bob Koch Expert Film Handler Posts: 183 From: williams ca Registered: Nov 2001 posted 12-30-2007 06:51 PM                     The 2 dollar switch isnt the item. If you inch the film in the manner described you`re using the starting winding to inch the film which isnt good practice, even when I was a boy.  |  IP: Logged Mike Olpin Chop Chop! Posts: 1852 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Jan 2002 posted 12-30-2007 09:59 PM                     +Make Lists  |  IP: Logged

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