A Projectionists Job at Odeon's Cinema in Guildford

[@Lighting_Desk]

That was pretty darn awesome! The old style projectionist is a dying art that should never no forgotten. Thank got there are still places left to run 35mm film!!

[@fp30e]

Excellent Video.

[@RebelVoDKa]

I was briefly a projectionist in the dying days of 35mm and took great pride in the job despite being treated like dirt by Cineworld. I used to go to the cinema every week but never go now. I can watch digital films at home on Blu-ray. And don't get me started on digital cinematography! A cinema without a projectionist just isn't a cinema; it's just a big screen TV. They're more interested in selling junk food than in the presentation.

[@69_MK]

Isherwood poor QC

[@ed9492]

"They're more interested in selling junk food than in the presentation. " They always were. At least the big chains were.

[@bongsound]

I too used to be a projectionist, until our cinema was possessed by the demon we call "Digital". It was the best job ever, no other job can ever match how much I enjoyed it. RIP projectionist job.

[@bluefilmsltd]

***** I'm sorry to hear that. I wanted to train as a projectionist, but by the time I wanted to do it, the 'digital revolution' had taken over. Such a shame.

[@conor1580]

the cinema in my town is looking for a projectionist, thinking of applying, good to see that people liked it as a job!

[@jkmacpyt173]

You mean bendy 😁

[@robfriedrich2822]

IT experts does the job and instead broken film, we have the Hollywood piracy paranoia "it would kill us, if someone could watch our content at the wrong time or in the wrong hall". It's not possible to put a movie into another hall or so.

[@MarkBeach]

I am still projecting 35mm in melbourne.... well for thenext month or so. Then my 23 years in cinema will be no more. Such a shame cause I love this freaking job!

[@telboy1965]

We had a family friend who was a projectionist at our odeon watched many many great films from the projection room great days and echoing what you said he always said he had the best job ever that was back in the 70s&80s ..he was lucky he retired and not pushed like many today 🙁

[@JeremyGreysmark]

I just saw this as well... It made me a bit sad, because I am not working in the cinema anymore. I loved my job as well... We had also 70mm film for special films! I loved the machines! But that is all gone now :( We should open an analogue cinema :)

[@Mec0nd0rf]

Este es mi trabajo de todos los días, me encanta trabajar ahí!!

[@ceddas21]

Yahoo I learned how to break down a film on Sunday Aug.16 which was fun. I love the summer time for working in projection which means more hours for me if some projectionist goes on Vacation.

[@solarplexis5]

Dang this brought back memories. Used to be a projectionist at my first job at a movie theater for a few weeks and liked doing this part of my job. But had to give it up though because we were short handed all the time so the projectionist also doubled as the person that cleans the theater after every movie let out. It got stressful balancing loading the projectors and starting the movies on time, in addition to having to clean all the screens (picking up all the left behind concession items, sweeping, etc) so people could go in and sit down. Most times it was only me doing both jobs on my shifts.

[@jessicacokeley9445]

Yeah me too! Lost my job in Feb! Watching this has brought back memories!

[@iaincameron4116]

the memories, best job I've ever had

[@oldproji]

An old proji like me - Mornings: lighting check, check secondary lighting batteries and top up, clean carbon arcs and mechs, oil if necessary. Rewind previous nights last reel, lace up the first two reels for matinee' - no cake stands in my day. Lunch, start record on non-sync, start projector on time, fade houselights and non-sync, bring up the sound track and we're off non stop until 11 pm.

[@THEMAN201111]

@TheJamesmario I have been a projectionist for about 3 years now and in the two theater chains that I've worked at, we usually have about 5-7 trailers before the start of a movie. Some of the trailers have been recommended by the studios to be there; others are chosen by us, based on their content, etc. Of course, the rating usually has to be the same -for example: we wouldn't play a trailer for an R-rated film in a PG or G-rated feature, etc.

[@AlmightyAddman]

Good grief! I couldn't agree with you more. I was also a 35mm projectionist for cineworld and experienced the whole digital move in. The company and its priorities are an absolute joke. I loved my job and was one of the few people who enjoyed their job in this day and age. Now its all changed. So sad, our team was a great close knit group of mates and I had dreams of working my way up to become a technician. Now they believe the floor staff can do everything, its a shambles. Bluray ftw. Cheers

[@Takeitnomore]

I was a projectionist, I served my apprenticeship, when I started in the early 70's we where still using carbon in the projectors to give us the light to project, and we still had to change over from one machine to the other during the movie, cant believe how it is now, a digital box gets delivered to the cinema, I hear that the next phase of the technology is that the cinema pick up the signal through the internet connection, they will have lights that never go out, basically there will be two young people on the Minimum wage one taking tickets the other standing there making sure people don't steal the sweets and drinks, during the movie the two of them can clean the toilets, and no need to lock the cinema on the way out , it locks itself.

[@69_MK]

p gaffney damn u sound 80

[@TomPaine56]

You buy the tickets online, no cashier required

[@Linseyap]

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones who still has a job although it has changed so much in such a short time. I get about one 35mm a week, if that. It's inevitable changes would happen but it's just not the same!

[@mikeflangerus]

Damn, I would've loved manipulating one of these 35mm monsters. All I ever do (as a projectionist) is to receive hard drives from distributors (once a week), load them into the central computer, then load them to each projector's individual computer, create a playlist for each movie, add some cues (dimmers, audio channels switching, resolution changes, masking, etc.), download KDM's (for each movie also), editing schedules and voilá... Then I spend the rest of my time monitoring the projection in case something goes wrong (which is very rare or can also happen when I'm in a bad mood and mess up the playlists :P). The most "hardcore" task I ever do is changing the xenon lamps, like every 5 months per projector. Chose an awesome job in the wrong era :/

[@ojsimpson8426]

hey man, one day technology will advance even fur her and people will long to be able to do what you’re describing. an era needs time to breathe before becoming golden.

[@TomPaine56]

Since i retired i heard they automated more, automatic shutdown & restart

[@quantumleap359]

35mm film projection - almost a dying art. Thank goodness there are a few theatres still projecting film! May film live forever!

[@tzakalin]

As moviecam1000 said, it's a very well done video. Good choice of music - it goes well with the tempo of the video (my personal opinion). Good job, man! I keep on watching it over and over. As for the Sony's 4K, they're still LCD's and you could see it in their contrast - especially during brighter scenes.

[@alex_ob1]

Is there any film in existence inside the old Odeon in Guildford?

[@shawnfitness9464]

bring back memory of me being a projectionist

[@AndyDaviesByTheSea]

Thanks for the posting;Boy it's changed a bit, I used to be a projectionist at the ABC Cinema Selly Oak Birmingham in the mid 1960's. It was a 1500 seater and yet when I look for that cinema on the net all I can find is one 1920's image (the one with the policeman standing in the road) I'd love to see that beautiful art-deco interior again Straight from school, it was the best job I ever had!...Andy see next

[@robfriedrich2822]

2:22 well, I wouldn't call it lunch, to drink a coffee while doing some computer stuff.

[@TomPaine56]

but thats the way it is

[@ceddas21]

@dom117jd Both SR and SRD are lining up Properly. I had to use the scissors technique to fix the sound problem or else it will just keep on continuing to have sound issue thought out the reel after each splice. For making up process my theater usually cut out 1-2 frames at the head and the tail.

[@AgentSmith911]

Old technology always has to be retired and replaced by newer ones, it happens like every six to ten years in the cinemas. Next is 8K and 16K projectors and HDR. These old systems were fun to work with, but it also costs less to just have an automated and digital system instead of having workers doing the job.

[@mraaronattard]

So yet another projectionist here, great video i will add. been a projectionist for 4 years and i love it. well that was until our 10 cinemas started to get a full digital change over. we have 8 installed and the last 2 next week. as for our old Christie P35GPS's well they are being decommishioned. a very sad thing really. as many of you have said, a dying trade. film was the birth of movies and well now digital is the death of film. and for those wondering the digitals stuff up. ALL THE TIME!!

[@LaughingPsycho]

Brings me back to when I was a projectionist. Best job I ever had.

[@chrisswindells2610]

Those were the days mate 🎞

[@LaughingPsycho]

Brings me back to when I was a projectionist. Best job I ever had. Remember a film falling off the cake stand (platter) one time.

[@ceddas21]

I love the video and song. I am a Projectionist at my theater I work at. I basicilly got trained up in Projection like 3 weeks ago, and I am loving Projection so much fun. I got my threading down to 5 mins which I say is good after only having 3 shift's. Since summer is coming up I will get few more shifts per week.

[@robfriedrich2822]

As long you haven't to sell tickets, drinks and popcorn...

[@dom117jd]

Thank you! Please feel free to post the video and any other video you like. Please also support us on Facebook (link in the video description above)

[@greyelf29]

I've been a projectionist since 2001 in 4 cinemas in various states. I always thought I could have a job anywhere I went because what I knew was unique and I was well trained. This year ends it. I'm working at The Empire Theater on Block Island and this is the last year they (or anyone else I believe) will be showing 35 mm. Breaks my heart all over the place. I love the pizzaz Chris puts into his work - you can really tell he knew his shit and loved it. What do the projectionists do now?

[@shawnbottomley6381]

look like chris is amazing at the projection position and look like he is really amazing at threading up and same for his speed. I bet he was really high up on the projection team and very skilled what he did in the position. So what are you doing for a job since projection went all digital?

[@TomPaine56]

Learning by doing

[@pantsonhisheadkid]

Sadly this is history now.. Odeon cinemas 2012 - the manager comes in at 11am, powers up and that's it till the evening manager powers down at the end of night.

[@dom117jd]

@manatarms79 it's a cinemeccanica make up table mainly for the platter but we also use it to rewind ads/trailers hope that helps

[@panam55]

How much this projecter cost let me know

[@dom117jd]

@simplesimon3uk hiya, we make sure the intermittent sprocket is in between a turn, then lace the film up making sure it's in rack within the gate, then make sure it's tight against the intermittent sprocket before lifting up the roller under neither to stop the film from slipping and going out of rack (it has a spring to hold the roller up tight against the sprocket). Hope that helps

[@dennisesplin3285]

Anyone remember being a Projectionist with 70mm film.

[@TomPaine56]

My colleagues

[@thenoble1]

Doesn't touching the film barehanded leave fingerprints and oils that degrade it?

[@dom117jd]

We used to wear gloves if handling the film. Touching the edges briefly was fine though, not going to do any harm.

[@TomPaine56]

No harm done unless you got greasy skin

[@TheJamesmario]

i enjoy home theatre, but long for simulating the real thing...can you tell me the "average" line-up of trailer and bumpers before the movie? i know of the coming soon with 1-3 trailers. but how about before--what kind of ad is before?

[@BritishArcher]

Nice video but how can you be guarantee your show starts in rack if you don’t start lacing the projector head from the intermittent sprocket first?

[@andyw19781]

i feel sorry for my old workmate chris who is in this video, am i right dominic he is the only qualified tech there now?

[@dom117jd]

Wow! Thanks for the comment, glad you enjoyed it. The 4K Sony hmm.... it's a very good projector when we get a 4K film but isn't the most reliable and has issues. They still need quite a bit of fine-tuning and tweaking before i could say there amazing. Personally i think the Christie is much more reliable, easier to work and even through it's 2K still looks as good it can also run 3D films where as the Sony cant. Saying all that I am going to miss the Sonys when they leave next week :-(

[@Kylefassbinderful]

RIP Cinemark Pleasant Hill, CA aka "The Dome"

[@shawnfitness9464]

I have a question do you still work in the theater? And if so what do you do?

[@dom117jd]

I no longer work in the theatre no, it would be very hard to find any projectionists these days unless it's an independent cinema.

[@dom117jd]

@TheJamesmario in the UK on average there are 10-15mins of commercial adverts, then the trailers. After trailers are special adverts, for example, Orange sponsorship or cinema loyalty cards. Not all movies will have adverts at the beginning, only the main showings in each screen. (if the cinema has 4 screens then only 4 movies will have adverts, the rest will only have trailers). Hope that helps!

[@ceddas21]

what type of Projector do your theater use? The theater I work at use FP 50 D Projector for the location I work at.

[@pax84111]

I've always wanted to be a projectionists to learn how it's all done.

[@4kuj3ph]

nice vid...that cinemacanica projector,..isn't?

[@ceddas21]

what can cause a movie to have sound trouble after every splice? because for the Hangover one of our print is having sound trouble with one of the projector I have at work.

[@Pieman29666]

So how hard would you say it is to learn this trade if the cinema only does Digital? How long would it take to become good enough at it to be reliable at it on my own if i went to work at a cinema?

[@TomPaine56]

Its easy if you are Computer literate

[@youjustpreviewed]

Except with limited releases, re-releases or 1-day showings, they tend to have fewer ads and sometimes no trailers at all

[@karlsonkab51]

what were the screen sizes in the late 1920's to around 1940's?

[@dom117jd]

Cheers. 5 min is impressive after only 3 shifts!! I've been working for about year and a half now, when i need to i can lace up in approx 1min 30sec, but i dont generally make more mistakes otherwise! can never be too careful Which theater you at?

[@dom117jd]

Thanks for the feedback dude, much appreciated!

[@edwardmorris18]

Do they still have Projectionists at the Odeon in Guildford? I read recently that Odeon had fired over 200 Projectionists. Its sad to think that 35mm and 70mm film will no longer be shown in Cinemas. Video has replaced film. Many thanks to all the great Cinema Projectionists of the past. You will be missed! The digital age has destroyed the cinema experience. I used to love watching 70mm films at the Odeon Leicester Square when Nigel Wolland, MBE was chief.

[@manchester120105]

i feel sad when i watch this video. i been a projectionist too when i was in the Philippines.

[@7thAttempt]

Ahh thanks for uploading this man - I worked at Vue for several years it's nice to see the Vic 5's again and we had the same Christie projector with the dodgy swing arm 3D adapter haha ... Looked like when you started lace up the platter system wasn't on as you can see the platter doesn't spin up - did someone have a little head wrap ? haha not a nice way to start the day! I think I have some old footage of working at Vue ......I think you persuaded me to finally upload :D

[@manatarms79]

at 2:36 what is that machine you were using to edit in trailers?

[@Live.Laugh.Lobotomy]

Did you chose the adverts

[@dom117jd]

raaaaaaa No, they always came pre-made on a separate reel that we then added to the trailer set then the feature itself.

[@jakegibbard]

So you didn't get to choose the trailers either?

[@TomPaine56]

Ads supplied by a ads company, trailers by management

[@dom117jd]

@AndyDaviesByTheSea sounds good mate, I have to say wish I had the slide projector for messages to the audience, that would be cool.

[@ceddas21]

as well as walking down steps backwards but luckily I didn't trip. We use a plastic board to put print onto when moving prints and it takes 2 person to move prints at my theater. so when walking down the steps the board was like little bit at a angle when going down steps and going up. So luckily at the end every prints managed to survive which is good news.

[@westrex5000]

Yep, I had done relief Projection at this Odeon back over 6 years ago and it was only last week I met up with the former Chief Projectionist from this site qho now works for the samer Company as me.

[@dom117jd]

@kegs202 I miss working with the Vic.5's. It's so rare for us to get a print now but when we do.. :D I miss the sounds of them as well lol

[@Mxsmanic]

Cool video, with the sound turned off.

[@mohdfirdaus8983]

zaman aku keja dulu now dah tak pakai 35mm :(

[@dom117jd]

@ceddas21 How many frames are being cut out in between each splice? and are the sound tracks (both SR and SRD) lining up properly?

[@gdcardona91]

looks like you got a stretched print there at 3:04

[@4kuj3ph]

What happen if film suddenly breakdown.. can projectionist read paper

[@ceddas21]

I Work at Galaxy Cinema. Yesterday for the first part of my shift I had a Assistant Manager up stairs with me checking the projector I threaded just in case If I mess up some where on my threading. After 3 threaded projector the Assistant Manager said excellent job and decide I was ready to be up in Projection by myself so she went off to do manager stuff. For the Last Part of my shift yesterday I was by myself up stairs in projection. Good news nothing went wrong when I was working Projection.

[@dom117jd]

his name isn't Geoff by any chance??

[@ceddas21]

So what's the worst thing that ever happen to you in projection?

[@ceddas21]

Today I accidentally gived the person who was working up in projection a scare by helping to move prints. First print I was helping to move was starting to unfold or unwrap which sucks so luckily it was easily fixed and the part of the print was starting to unfold or unwrap was part of the credits. next part was going up some steps which also gived the person in projection a scare as well. when walking backwards I found it little difficult when walk up steps backwards.

[@MyOddThoughts]

No matter where in the world, protectionists always look like they haven't seen the light of day, ever. Man, I miss threading film.

[@dom117jd]

@TheJimLeboski The little touch screen was extremely annoying! I was actually thankful when the TMS was brought in.

[@TonyAirlines]

Christie projector! Hell yes, those things are beast!

[@AndyDaviesByTheSea]

See below first. We had a pair of Westrex 35mm machines with Peerless carbon arcs fed by mercury rectifiers and a Westrex sound system (optical.) there was an arc slide projector for big glass slides for the "Will the owner of car registration number XXX please move it" slides and a non-sync (record deck.) There were 5 on the projection staff. The chief projectionist was John Radford, then Jeff, alias Farris Garfield, Paul Edmunds and I forget the other guy's name. Andy Davies ..gw0jxm

[@ceddas21]

Not good losing 2000 admission. Yesterday there was a power outage, and I was working up in Projection. It was my first time up in projection when the power went out so basically I just run to every projector and turned off the projector power then after turned off the necessary breakers that need to be turned off, then wind the lose film onto a platter. so good thing I knew what to do in projection. When every I have time I just read projection binder.

[@THEMAN201111]

@moviecam1000 I'm a projectionist here in USA, and most of our Digital Projectors are Sony. I like their picture quality, but their interface and ease of use is not as good as Barco projectors (we have one of those). In other words, the hardware is good, but to ingest movies and using the controls is just not as intuitive.

[@dom117jd]

we use cinemeccanica Victoria 5 as 35mm for all 9 screens and for digital shows we use 2x Sony 4K, 1x Nec (rubbish) and 1x Christie CP-2000.

[@Cringymuchcantstand]

i work at baystreet 16 amc, our christies 4k and imax digitals all fuck up on a regular basis. but as to the video your projectors are way cooler than our 35mm

[@dom117jd]

I believe he is yeah, it has changed a lot since I made this video :(

[@dom117jd]

Cheers mate, and yeah i feel the same, you pretty much end up living there or at least it feels like it.

[@spjohnso]

I just finished my first day of training as a projectionist. It's frickin' hard! I caused a brain tangle and they had to cancel the show. Luckily only six people bought tickets.

[@juanmarin9484]

Hey guys im 17 and there is a new movie theater near my home and i would love to work as a projectionist. This are the requirements: Program and format weekly film content and build digital cinema packages. Input feature schedules in digital cinema servers and maintain clean and a safe projection area. Adhere to all company guidelines and standards for delivering company-wide programs. Troubleshooting, maintenance, and reporting of all projection/sound equipment, related issues, and operations. Day-to-day operations of the projection booth, including all required paperwork. Performing (or scheduling) daily theater checks, including show-by-show presentation checks by employees. Technical support of building equipment, including I.T and projection equipment. Providing technical support for special events, rentals, and programs (e.g., coordinating microphone systems, DVD or Blu-ray playback, PowerPoint presentation displays, etc.). Can someone help me, what can i do, or where can i learn what i need to learn in order to land that job! THANKS

[@69_MK]

Juan Marin why build DCP? Did u land it?

[@TomPaine56]

Just apply, its learning by doing

[@dom117jd]

to be honest i've never had anything major happen, not yet anyway... this week though i've had 2 evacuations, 1 was a faulty break glass point then today a power cut (affecting the whole town) lasted 2 hours! lost approx. 2000 admissions!! very busy week with Harry Potter

[@HEKTIC25]

@manatarms79 I'm a projectionists and we just call it, the make up table... not sure if there is a proper name for it.

[@nuduakj]

Man that blows. Didn´t even got an option to have the technical responsibility or work i the kiosk?

[@TomPaine56]

Lunch & drinking inbetween of course 😀

[@ceddas21]

well look like my theater is getting a new digital projector installed which means my theater will have 2 Christie digital projectors and 8 kinoton FP 50 D projector. Well look like I need to learn how to use the new digital projector before my Friday shift, since it's little bit new look and little bit new computer screen set up.

[@dom117jd]

@TheDEATHSTARIII yes been doing it for 2 and a half years :) unfortunately because of the move to digital cinema you'll find it very hard to become a projectionist

[@Zickcermacity]

So that's how that job sounds every day. I want that job! 8)

[@wallofboingo]

Creed can render even the most awesome of professions incredibly impotent.

[@armymedic999]

Johnny hard at work look at his lighting speed of work lol

[@darrenburnfan]

I started as a projectionist in 1961 and worked my way up to chief operator, working on the two projector system, using Kalee 12's with Peerless Magnarc arcs and Varamorph anamorphic lenses. The whole way that films were shown in the single big screen picture palaces of the time was totally different to how it's shown in this video. I'd be lost with this system and its cakestand feeders. The magic has completely gone now and the films are mostly terrible compared to the ones I was used to.

[@westrex5000]

Indeed it was........

[@dom117jd]

@RJSzynal I know a few cinemas in my company that are doing that! It's crazy!! When we first went digital we had so many problems it wasn't funny and yet they insisted that people were to be made redundant. Luckily we managed to cut our hours enough so that nobody had to go. One cinema I know will be run by the Managers, the managers don't want too but they have no choice! These people need to work in a projection box before sitting behind their desk and making these decisions lol.

[@dom117jd]

@tzakalin Thanks dude, really appreciate it!!