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This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3
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Topic: What would you do if you were NOT in the business?
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Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays
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Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999
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posted 01-04-2004 09:25 AM
Movies, or more specifically, the job of projectionist, used to be a bonafide craft. A practitioner could make a decent, liveable wage and enjoy a retirement. Good benefits. When that started to die, I became a sound man until that specialization began to go the same route. Now I am a lowly over-the-road truck driver, a dinosaur from the movie business, trying to keep food on the table and health insurance for my family.
It's conceivable that I would've made a career out of broadcasting, which I did on the side for several years. But, if I hadn't discovered projection booths at age 12, most likely, I would've continued to pursue my original dream to become an animator/cartoonist.
Ironically, I'm using my spare time now to bring my drawing skills up to speed, and take some art classes that I missed 25 years ago. Hopefully, it's not too late.
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Scott Norwood
Film God
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Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 01-04-2004 04:10 PM
I would do what I do now for my real job: sysadmin and network admin stuff. I really enjoy this sort thing, especially the logic and troubleshooting elements. I like working with a wide variety of hardware platforms (5 at current job) and operating systems (6 at current job) and making everything work together. It's kind of like being both the architect and the janitor of a huge and unweildy (but ultimately rewarding) structure. This also provides stable (well, mostly) employment and "growth opportunities."
Film exhibition is a hobby for me; I think I would go completely crazy if I had a full-time job in that industry, but I enjoy being the relief man in a number of different booths, all in theatres built in different time periods and with different types of equipment. As great as the newer equipment can be, I especially enjoy working with older stuff, as it offers a chance to work with mechanical equipment and more primitive electronics (relays, cam timers, etc.) which I don't deal with in the software industry. I wouldn't want every theatre to be running carbon arc and mono sound systems, but I'm glad to have the opportunty to work in such places from time to time. In any case, I love watching movies and it's nice to have the chance to do so for free and also help to share great films with others. Employment in theatres also helps to feed my (alternately rewarding and maddening) hobby of collecting prints of some of my favorite films by providing me with places to watch them, as I don't (yet) have a screening room in my apartment.
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Joe Schmidt
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 172
From: Billings, Montana, USA
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 01-05-2004 03:25 PM
I retired 100% from the business in 1986, observing that the spectre of automation and industry-wide elimination of the projectionist craft was well along. All the kids working in the "industry" today need to be aware that it's just a hobby occupation any more, and they must find a real occupation which pays real $$$, such as Scott Norwood has; since minimum wage won't pay the bills.
Another problem the young face today is: in choosing a college major, you'd better select something in which your job cannot be exported to low-wage foreign countries, after you've trained your replacement. If the job of popcorn shoveling could somehow be exported to a country where the wage is 50 cents an hour, it would happen instantly.
I have seen predictions that by 2010 tens of millions of high-paying jobs in this country will be GONE, exported, never to return. Never forget, the Republicans want cheap labor above all else, and all you young folks on this site had better think very carefully about who you vote for in November. Unless you are in the topmost level of the Richest 1%, the R's are not your friend.
Unless this escalating trend of "Exporting America" can be turned around, the best predictions for the future of our nation lie in "Soylent Green."
As to myself, apart from nostalgic visits to this site, I am a professional investor in the outcome of horse races. But don't try this at home, folks!
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