my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » Accepted a Booth Lead Position & Transfer to Gaslamp 15 (Page 1)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Author Topic: Accepted a Booth Lead Position & Transfer to Gaslamp 15 Chad M Calpito Master Film Handler Posts: 435 From: San Diego, CA Registered: Apr 2006 posted 02-20-2008 01:47 PM                        Well, I just put in a request to transfer to the Gaslamp Stadium 15 in Downtown San Diego and was approved. I should be transferring there beginning on February 22nd or the following Friday. Also, I accepted the Booth Lead (aka - Booth Manager) Position at the theatre. During my shifts that I did down there, I've noticed a whole lot needs improving & concerns that I brought up with the theatre's management team. They all agree with me and have had trouble implementing these following areas of concern: 1) General Booth Maintenance 2) Continual Projector Cleaning after each show 3) Recent Film Scratches (minor, but, apparent) 4) Keeping the Booth Clean at all times 5) Rollers being out of Alignment (which is one of the culprits for print scratches due to Film Done Wrong) Of course, the list could go on. So, I've got a lot of work ahead of me to make corrections and re-train the remaining booth staff. I find that the above is unacceptable. So, a Projectionist meeting will be called for to discuss those things in question. Then, properly train them in Film Done Right and let them know of new Booth Rules and Policies. Now, I know there are a few good projectionists there as well. Another side note, due to problems in the past, only 1 projectionist is scheduled to run all 15 projectors during a shift. So, when I officially transfer down to the theatre, I'm going to have to be tough in order to make positive changes. Anyway, if any of you have any other ideas or suggestions, I look forward to reading those posts. Oh yeah, before I forget, I tend to be a perfectionist. So, I tend to find things that are not right and I fix it right away.  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 02-20-2008 03:14 PM                        I would try to get down there and see some shows on different days/shifts before you start, and take notes. Then when you have your first meeting with your staff you can say "On this day at this show the house lights didnt go down, or the digital sound was switching back and forth to analog during reel 3"  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 02-20-2008 03:50 PM                     I did a 21plex all by myself for a weekend where there is normally 2 operators on duty...and that was tons of fun to get the shows on time..and that made the day/night go real fast.. Then, I went to a 14plex which was a snap to handle. Trick is - To not pay attention to showtimes as much as you would do exit times so you can bunnyhop to that house that has just dropped and get it laced up and be done with that part of the operation. I was also Booth Mgr as well (offical title "Mgr of Presentation/Engineer") and had 6 people (both genders) to be resonsible for. Yes, there were days of tests and trials, but we did run a good show there.  |  IP: Logged Chad M Calpito Master Film Handler Posts: 435 From: San Diego, CA Registered: Apr 2006 posted 02-20-2008 11:13 PM                        Thanks for your kind tips, Sean and Monte. Most appreciated. The good thing is that every time I go and do a shift there, I always go in a with a game plan and stick with it in order to have a smooth shift. The booth is divided between two different levels. Six projectors have their own booths. So, planning out my stratigies is crucial with regards to the exit times of each movie. All in all, I am excited about this transfer and promotion at the same time.  |  IP: Logged Benjamin John Doman Film Handler Posts: 35 From: Slough, Berkshire, England Registered: Jun 2007 posted 02-21-2008 01:10 PM                     Hi Chad, I was Chief at a 10 screen, with six boxes on six levels. When I started we had three on a shift, that went down to two and ended up being 50% single manned. I always insisted that preparation was everything. If you are confident that all joins were good and automation cues were in the right place, it takes a lot of you’re mind. When I took over, there was a couldn’t care less attitude. I made ever thing as simple and easy as possible, with easy checks so I could pick up if things weren’t being done. When I left after six years, I was happy that any of my team (some original, some new) could cope with most eventualities and that the presentation would be top notch. I was proud to have each of them on the team, and made sure that head office knew this. They all knew that I would back them 100% if they were in the right, as well as expecting a ‘kick up the back-side’ if they were in the wrong! Best of luck in you’re new role, I hope it is rewarding and enjoyable for you. Regards, Ben  |  IP: Logged Chad M Calpito Master Film Handler Posts: 435 From: San Diego, CA Registered: Apr 2006 posted 02-21-2008 09:34 PM                        Thanks for your kind words of Encouragement Benjamin. Since doing about ten shifts down there, at least I know the layout and am comfortable with that. Of course, there will be work ahead of me in order to get things right and to re-train some people. I have confidence in some of the projectionists there. Anyway, thanks again.  |  IP: Logged Paul Linfesty Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1383 From: Bakersfield, CA, USA Registered: Nov 1999 posted 02-22-2008 01:01 AM                     Just an observation when I visited the theatre last spring. See that the projection windows are kept clean. The auditorium I was in had a lot of milky film build-up, causing a diffused image on screen. Also, the film was not threaded through the digital reader. This location seemed to have the same problems that Pacific in Bakersfield has. (I was amazed that on a Saturday night during what should be the "peak" period), I was the only one in my auditorium. Also, there was only one ticket seller, and one person who did double duty as ticket taker and snack bar seller. It was like a ghosttown throughout the complex. (I notice the Pacific website now directs you to Reading Cinemas for both San Diego and Northern/Central California).  |  IP: Logged Benjamin John Doman Film Handler Posts: 35 From: Slough, Berkshire, England Registered: Jun 2007 posted 02-22-2008 01:36 PM                     Hi Chad, You are wellcome - Have fun!!!  |  IP: Logged Chad M Calpito Master Film Handler Posts: 435 From: San Diego, CA Registered: Apr 2006 posted 02-22-2008 03:56 PM                        Hi Paul. Yeah, business is slow at that theatre, unfortunately. Some of the Digital Equipment in certain auditoriums don't work for some reason and some (mainly the SDDS units) aren't being used for some other reasons, all of which I will be getting answers as soon as I can. From what I hear, rumors mostly, is that Reading Cinemas may put in a Cafe/Bar at the location. I hope they will invest in either repairing the Digital units or upgrading them. Yesterday, a few of the Reading Corporate people were interviewing for a Marketing position. So, I hope they will really Market the Gaslamp 15 to bring in more Patrons.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 02-23-2008 12:39 AM                     quote: Chad M Calpito and some (mainly the SDDS units) aren't being used for some other reasons ..mainly why the SDDS units aren't probably being used is that they, being as good as they are with new prints, bypass the other processor, thus when the tracks begins to fail on each side of the film, the unit goes right into mono playback from the digital tracks since it had no optical connectiveness to speak of. Personally, I also did like SDDS, but only for the 1st week or so, then had to revert back to the other processor's digital capabilities and turn off the SDDS all together til a new movie opened in that house so I could go back to SDDS.  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 02-23-2008 10:35 AM                        quote: Monte L Fullmer ..mainly why the SDDS units aren't probably being used is that they, being as good as they are with new prints, bypass the other processor, thus when the tracks begins to fail on each side of the film, the unit goes right into mono playback from the digital tracks since it had no optical connectiveness to speak of. Huh? The SDDS readers probably need to have the LED Arrays replaced and the reader re-aligned. Your tech should be able to check them out and get them working properly again.  |  IP: Logged Chad M Calpito Master Film Handler Posts: 435 From: San Diego, CA Registered: Apr 2006 posted 02-23-2008 10:41 AM                        I'll be having the Technician check out all of the digital units not being used, including the DTS Units. I'm only guessing at this point, but, I guess that the SDDS Units are most likely out of synch and will need adjustment and other likely repairs. I know that one Dolby Digital Unit isn't working at this point as well. So, the technician will be rather busy once I make a list of actual repairs that need to be done. On Monday night, I'll be looking things over to see what needs to be done, etc.  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 02-23-2008 11:35 AM                        Chad, Again, with the DTS and SR-D (dolby digital) readers I would guess that they are simple L.E.D. intensity and alignment issues. Very simple to calibrate or replace with the right tools. See, each of the digital readers uses L.E.D.'s to illuminate a track on the film that is captured by a "Charged Coupled Device" or C.C.D. which is like a simple video camera. The C.C.D. takes a "picture" of the digital track which is transmitted to the processor for decoding. If this "picture" of the digital information is too dim or not bieng captured properly the processor will not have the information to decode. Commonly out of spec. L.E.D. assemblies will cause the picture to be too dim, for basement readers improper lateral alignment or focus will also cause problems. Each system has its own procedure for calibration from simply using a multimeter to adjust the L.E.D. current to using a scope, and computer software to analyze the video waveform and make adjustments. Your technician should be very familiar with all of these procedures and should be able to re-calibrate, and re-align all of your readers so that your digital units are functioning properly. If you are making a list of "Repairs needed" I would write "Digital sound non-op please check digital A-Chain" This will point your tech in the right direction as opposed to the common complaint "Sound doesnt work" or "Somethings Wrong"  |  IP: Logged Chad M Calpito Master Film Handler Posts: 435 From: San Diego, CA Registered: Apr 2006 posted 02-23-2008 12:06 PM                        Thanks for the input, Sean. I'm glad to be receiving the necessary advice as this will help me improve myself so I can properly get things done correctly.  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 02-24-2008 09:58 AM                        Youre very very welcome, Chad. We all have to start somewhere and if it wasnt for this site and the people who took the time and effort to help me I would'nt have any of the skills or knowledge that I have. I just wanted to clarify that unlike SR-D, and SDDS, DTS does not carry the digital soundtrack information on the film. The soundtrack information is on the DTS CD. The DTS reader captures a time code and transmits that to the DTS unit so that it will play the corresponding soundtrack from the disc. If you have problems with DTS it could be that the LED in the reader needs to be recalibrated with a multimeter or replaced, also excessive film "bounce" can cause DTS problems.  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.