Q. Oh, you must get to see all the films then?
A. Actually, i'm too busy to watch the films

(and the answer i'd like to give, and occasionally do)..

A. Eh, well actually i'm so busy working my ass off that if i want to see a whole film properly i have to come in on my day off, and i really don't want to do that, i prefer to have a life, plus if i do i'll either spend the entire picture running up to the booth to get the picture just perfect for me, or i'll end up getting called to some disaster in another screen.

That's an example, but i'm sure you all have more
What questions do you get asked, and what do you answer (but, more importantly!, what would you LIKE to answer!)

Not relevant to this post, but something i just remembered-
My old Chief was onced asked if he watched films at home, his reply was-

"Well, sometimes, but after about 20mins i get up to see how the rest of the house is getting on!"

Q: I bet you get to see all the films, huh?

A: You bet your ass I do. I watch em all twice.. 'cept for Freddy Got Fingered... or any movie with that goatee guy in it. Every once in awhile I'll get up off my ass and do some work, but usually I am too lazy. And yes, I can get you and all of your friends and family into the movies for free without prior notice, with free popcorn and drinks.

(People thinking its a big ol' VCR)

"Why would someone pay you to push a start button?"
&
"You must have a real easy job, sit upstairs and watch movies all day long."

If you REALLY want to mess with somebody's head you make something up about a movie... "Did you see that scene in <some movie> where you can see that girl's bare butt in the background?"
The more obscure, if not totally made up, details you can toss in the more fun you can have.... "Right after the opening credits, this car drives by in the background and there's a girls butt sticking out of the car window! The story is that the movie was shot on location but these people slipped by security. The director didn't cut it out because nobody noticed it until after the film was sent to the duplication lab."

Really play it up and mess with them!

When I was a GM:
"Yeah, I do, but I see so damn many of them I don't really care what they are anymore. The only way I enjoy movies anymore is if they make a lot of money so they keep my theatre busy so my staff doesn't have time to complain about it being too slow."

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When people ask what I do and tell them I'm a projectionist, I've had people ask me what that means. Often, they don't seem to have any concept of what it means, let alone what's involved. When I tell them what a projectionist is, they say, 'Oh...', and immediately lose all interest in the conversation.

Either that, or they become excited and ask you that ubiquitous question about getting to see all the movies and of course, asking if they can come in for free. (If she's attractive, I usually tell her that I can take someone else in for free anytime!)

It would have to be one of the most misunderstood vocations out there! Generally, I have found that people do not seem to look at projection as a serious job (even though they may have never heard of it before). Perhaps that's because they don't understand what it is, or don't think it's important enough, or because it has been 'deprofessionalised' (I love that term!). You get the feeling that they would be more impressed and take you seriously if you said that you...did almost anything else. It can't be a money thing, because they wouldn't know how much I get paid. But there's that unmistakable sinking feeling that accompanies the reply of 'Oh...'.

Q: Could you show me how to run a movie?
A: This ain't like poppin' in a tape of "Little Mermaid" for your baby sister. This is actually a technical skill -- you know, like where you have to know something before you do it. Not like what you do for a living . . . .

Q: Why do you charge so much for snacks?
A: Greed. Unrestained Greed. It's really just that simple.

Q: Do people sneak in a lot?
A: Yes, but they never leave. If you ck the revised stautes for our fair state, theater owners are granted immunity to prosocution in the event they kill non-paying trespassers. Bounties are offered for that species too cheap to even pay for a matinee.

Q: Do you ever get tired of seeing all those movies?
A: No. I'm legally blind.

Q: What's your favorite movie?
A: Milk Maids from Mars or Amazon Women from the Avacado Jungle.

When you ask someone out on a first date don't say what your job is. Just give some vague description. Say you are a "technician" or a "machine operator".

Of course the usual first date outing is to go to the movies. Take your date to the theatre and when you get to the head of the line say, "Hi!", to the box office person, get your tickets and sign-in on the pass log. Hand your ticket to your date and make for the lobby.
Don't say anything about it unless your date brings it up first.

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Call ahead and let them know you're comming but THIS time tell them to completely IGNORE you. Then you take your date on a short drive which just "happens" to be right by the theatre. You get a sly look on your face and say, "Hey! Wanna' sneak into the movies?"
You say, "Just act natural..." You casually walk in the front door and stroll right into the theatre.

If you REALLY want to F*** with them, when the movie is over you stand up, walk out of the auditorium and say, "Lets sneak into the projection booth!"

I PRODUCE your tickets...
and I DIRECT you to your auditorium...

But people just look at me now and ask if they know me from somewhere... Then realize I am from the local movie theatre.

Or when I work at multiple theatres in a short period of time... "Didn't I see you at the other place?"

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