A glimpse at the Willow Creek projection booth. By H8C / Justin Christopher Ayd | plymouth-mn.pat... Music: Alexandre Desplat, "The Girl with the Pearl Earring" and "The Tree of Life"
Digital ripped my heart out. My grandfather was a union projectionist in Chicago. When I was 12 he officially started training me as his apprentice, but due to labor laws I couldn't get my union card until I was 15. As an adult I was Malco Theaters top projectionist in Memphis and was the head operator in every flagship theater they built. All of them had 70mm in multiple houses. I LOVED running film! Being a projectionist was everything I was, and still am. When digital replaced film they actually had us throw the film projectors from the 2nd story outside door into a construction dumpster. I cried the whole time. I feel dead inside now. Lost. I don't know who I am and I hate every job I have had since. I hope the projectionist in this video, Dave and every other projectionist can find the peace and happiness I can't find anymore. May the force be with you. OH! And don't ever go to a movie theater again for they are dead husks run by computers and greedy companies. Zombie Theaters inc. And WAKE UP PEOPLE, they traded image quality for money
I joined my Dad as a Trainee Projectionist at the Palace Cinema Lowestoft Suffolk UK, when I left school in 1963. At the time it had the two BTH projectors, sadly the cinema suffered a major fire in the late 60's and had to be demolished. At that time I had moved to the ABC Cinema also in Lowestoft, my Dad had moved to the Broadway Cinema in Letchworth Hertfordshire UK. The great thing that I picked up watching this video was how Presentation still plays a major part and that is just awesome. Thank you for the Behind the Scenes look. Kind Regards Stewart (Huddersfield West Yorkshire UK) 👌
Thanks for doing this video. I was a projectionist back in the 60's & 70's at a little theater in Brea, California. Simplex projectors, Peerless arc houses and Altec sound. Wish I had taken pictures back then. Thanks again.
We were non-union so if you could operate a projectors that was the only qualifications you needed. Some of the guys started at our little theater then joined the union and work at other larger theaters. One of our guys got a job running a projector at Disneyland. That was also a union job.
most people dont even know what goes on behind the scenes at their local theater . thy just come to see the movie and that is profit. would love to have tour on the back house ops. thanks
it is interesting looking at this "modern" equipment where the whole film is on one gigantic, several hundred pounds of film, spinning table. When I was a kid, theaters still used multiple projectors and reels of film. I remember "star wars" being delivered to our local theater, the guy was carrying two gangs of 4 reels. A handle in each hand, connected to four, maybe 18" in diameter metal boxes maybe 6' thick each. Not sure if those 8 were the entire movie, or just what he could carry. Projectionist's probably had a schedule, but then had to watch for circles in the upper right corner of the film projection indicating so many seconds, and then a final mark when they had to turn on a projector and turn off the other to switch from one reel to the next. This method is still used in special presentation of classic movies for live performances. Back to the Future for example has a digital DVD for orchestras where red/green blocks appear to give conductors queues for performing the live soundtrack while the movie plays for the audience.
That's very similar to the booth I worked in for years. Your projectors were a bit more advanced than the ones we used at General Cinema back in the 90's, but they were similar. This video took me right back to those lonely, challenging booth days.
Great video! Really brang back memories. I did projection for nine years. Unfortunately I have eye damage from the xenon bulbs to this day because the century projectors were missing some panels and I was exposed to excess light. :(
Great video guys, one of the nicest I have seen about projection. I was a projectionist, but had to leave the job 10 years ago, and now I'm sad to say that I have very little chance of getting back into it here in the UK.
i always thought they just had a movie projector up there, i didnt know they had all those big reels and big equipment, i saw into a projection booth way back in the late 60s, it was just a movie projector facing out a window and a big audio tube amp, things sure have changed since way back in the day, thanks for this excellent video, i enjoyed this very much,
Depending on the theatre and the projectionists too. The Willow Creek hasn't had a brain-wrap or fail safe problem in years because they take care of their equipment with a burning passion. Digital will be better for showing alternative material ; operas, concerts, sporting events, etc. So that's certainly a plus.
Surprised to see 70mm reels and film visible at 1:13 and 1:41. How many screens have (had?) 70mm capability there, and what feature was this, most likely? Multiplexes running film were lucky to have someone as dedicated and knowledgeable as Dave on staff. It made a big difference in quality of presentation.
I find it interesting that you're still using prints. I've heard claims that most theaters are utilizing satellite feeds nowadays. When I first started 30+ years ago, we were doing 20-minute reel change overs.
Excellent, there is lot of history in this clip I started my career as projectionist with carbon lamp house and change over system then system progressed to Xenon lamps and long paly with tower and platter system....now its all Digital system poor projectionists are history
@mrsupadupa. You just told everyone what kind of a projectionist you were. A brain wrap 2 REELS THICK means that you didn't regularly walk around your booth to double check on everything. It means you're hanging out downstairs, or sleeping upstairs. A film that spun off your platter, I would be so embarrassed if that ever happened to me or any of my operators. All the projectionists reading your comments are looking at you as the reason why people think projectionists are lazy.
Very Like & Love it 35mm movie projectors! This did it digitat was freeze or damage if will digital projector it computer. if future do you? The very poor digital projectors.
Thank you so much for sharing this, this is a job I had thought many times would be cool to have. I also noticed (as somebody pointed out) the lense change at 8:44. Is this automatically recognised or must be be triggered?
The lens change occurred because of a piece of metal tape in a certain location on the film that triggered the cue to happen as it passed through the metal detector
its not. it's a easy job..I did it for 5 years..I loved it. once you know the machines its 90% threading 5% build up and 4% teardown..1% troubleshooting
@@andersonjeremiah6 apparently you weren't doing it right. You're forgetting cleaning your machines and film path after every show, doing your oil work, opening up the back side of 1or 2 projectors nightly at a multiplex so that you can keep up on the maintenance. Like greasing the nylon gears and checking the tension on the belts and make sure your ball bearings are free. Checking shutter alignment for drift by running an RP40 loop. Rotating your lamphouse bulbs 90° clockwise after 500 hours and then 270°back counterclockwise the next 500 hours so the zenon gas doesn't settle and scorch the quartz, ensuring that these very expensive bulbs can last longer than expected. This means in a multiplex having to do this in one projector every week. And then there's the sound maintenance. Running a Dolby tone loop every week on every machine to make sure your baseline trim level is set, using the projection booths oscilloscope and microphone to accomplish this with. Which I'm betting you never had. Sweeping the floors daily and dusting all surfaces, and a whole list of things it takes to run a proper projection room that's state of the art, in perfect condition and completely dust free. Every good projectionist I had working for me was always in the building 2 hours after hours or 2 hours before hours to do their regular maintenance every day. I had to fire many projectionists like you sir. Guys who thought they just thread up and sit on their ass and play video games or sleep all day. It was a real job, where real men and women who cared about quality worked hard. That's the reason union operators from a good shop make $30 an hour. There's nothing "supadupa" about running a filthy booth with prints that get coated in dust and oil and look like black snow on your screen with projectors that are not well maintained and out of alignment.
Oh and mrsupadupa, how can it be 5% build up and 4% takedown? Unless you're losing footage cuz you're a bad projectionist or just keeping footage because you're a selfish slob, 100% of what you build up should be torn down as well. Duh!
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Digital ripped my heart out. My grandfather was a union projectionist in Chicago. When I was 12 he officially started training me as his apprentice, but due to labor laws I couldn't get my union card until I was 15. As an adult I was Malco Theaters top projectionist in Memphis and was the head operator in every flagship theater they built. All of them had 70mm in multiple houses. I LOVED running film! Being a projectionist was everything I was, and still am. When digital replaced film they actually had us throw the film projectors from the 2nd story outside door into a construction dumpster. I cried the whole time. I feel dead inside now. Lost. I don't know who I am and I hate every job I have had since. I hope the projectionist in this video, Dave and every other projectionist can find the peace and happiness I can't find anymore. May the force be with you. OH! And don't ever go to a movie theater again for they are dead husks run by computers and greedy companies. Zombie Theaters inc. And WAKE UP PEOPLE, they traded image quality for money
Digital sucks,...it just doesn't have the majic that film has.
Dave L, I feel your pain even here in the UK!!
I joined my Dad as a Trainee Projectionist at the Palace Cinema Lowestoft Suffolk UK, when I left school in 1963. At the time it had the two BTH projectors, sadly the cinema suffered a major fire in the late 60's and had to be demolished. At that time I had moved to the ABC Cinema also in Lowestoft, my Dad had moved to the Broadway Cinema in Letchworth Hertfordshire UK.
The great thing that I picked up watching this video was how Presentation still plays a major part and that is just awesome.
Thank you for the Behind the Scenes look. Kind Regards Stewart (Huddersfield West Yorkshire UK) 👌
Thanks for doing this video. I was a projectionist back in the 60's & 70's at a little theater in Brea, California. Simplex projectors, Peerless arc houses and Altec sound. Wish I had taken pictures back then. Thanks again.
what's the qualifications of a projectionist
We were non-union so if you could operate a projectors that was the only qualifications you needed. Some of the guys started at our little theater then joined the union and work at other larger theaters. One of our guys got a job running a projector at Disneyland. That was also a union job.
ok cool
thnx
most people dont even know what goes on behind the scenes at their local theater . thy just come to see the movie and that is profit. would love to have tour on the back house ops. thanks
Fascinating! Projection seems like the kind of job I could take pride in, more so with film.
it is interesting looking at this "modern" equipment where the whole film is on one gigantic, several hundred pounds of film, spinning table. When I was a kid, theaters still used multiple projectors and reels of film. I remember "star wars" being delivered to our local theater, the guy was carrying two gangs of 4 reels. A handle in each hand, connected to four, maybe 18" in diameter metal boxes maybe 6' thick each. Not sure if those 8 were the entire movie, or just what he could carry. Projectionist's probably had a schedule, but then had to watch for circles in the upper right corner of the film projection indicating so many seconds, and then a final mark when they had to turn on a projector and turn off the other to switch from one reel to the next. This method is still used in special presentation of classic movies for live performances. Back to the Future for example has a digital DVD for orchestras where red/green blocks appear to give conductors queues for performing the live soundtrack while the movie plays for the audience.
The way you describe was the only possible one for safety reasons. In the age of nitrate footage, there were only reels with about 20 minutes allowed.
Watching this in 2022, when this celluloid reel film technology has been replaced with digital projectors. Nostalgic feeling.
That's very similar to the booth I worked in for years. Your projectors were a bit more advanced than the ones we used at General Cinema back in the 90's, but they were similar. This video took me right back to those lonely, challenging booth days.
Great video! Really brang back memories. I did projection for nine years. Unfortunately I have eye damage from the xenon bulbs to this day because the century projectors were missing some panels and I was exposed to excess light. :(
Thanks for making this, it is exactly what I was looking for when searching for "projection booth"!
Great video guys, one of the nicest I have seen about projection. I was a projectionist, but had to leave the job 10 years ago, and now I'm sad to say that I have very little chance of getting back into it here in the UK.
i always thought they just had a movie projector up there, i didnt know they had all those big reels and big equipment, i saw into a projection booth way back in the late 60s, it was just a movie projector facing out a window and a big audio tube amp, things sure have changed since way back in the day, thanks for this excellent video, i enjoyed this very much,
beautiful
Some theaters does the "no no", they shows the naked silver screen.
Some fixed it by projecting some light effects onto it.
Well done, it can be a lonely job but Projectionist have the best movie house memories ....just ask
6:30 Platters with no need to rewind. At least you could make a loop and run this automatically through the projector.
Depending on the theatre and the projectionists too. The Willow Creek hasn't had a brain-wrap or fail safe problem in years because they take care of their equipment with a burning passion. Digital will be better for showing alternative material ; operas, concerts, sporting events, etc. So that's certainly a plus.
This is great!
Surprised to see 70mm reels and film visible at 1:13 and 1:41. How many screens have (had?) 70mm capability there, and what feature was this, most likely? Multiplexes running film were lucky to have someone as dedicated and knowledgeable as Dave on staff. It made a big difference in quality of presentation.
I find it interesting that you're still using prints. I've heard claims that most theaters are utilizing satellite feeds nowadays. When I first started 30+ years ago, we were doing 20-minute reel change overs.
@Prophet6OO91 This was all photographed on a Friday morning, so we made our rolling stock ad changes the night before. Good eye, dude.
Did you do the transition to digital projection or are the movies available as physical film prints?
Excellent, there is lot of history in this clip I started my career as projectionist with carbon lamp house and change over system then system progressed to Xenon lamps and long paly with tower and platter system....now its all Digital system poor projectionists are history
Ever had a brain wrap so tight it snapped the film and was 2 reels thick? Ever had a print spin off the platter during show time?
@mrsupadupa. You just told everyone what kind of a projectionist you were. A brain wrap 2 REELS THICK means that you didn't regularly walk around your booth to double check on everything. It means you're hanging out downstairs, or sleeping upstairs. A film that spun off your platter, I would be so embarrassed if that ever happened to me or any of my operators. All the projectionists reading your comments are looking at you as the reason why people think projectionists are lazy.
Lol @ 9min evidence of a wrong lace up, that or add changes. Thanks for sharing!
Very Like & Love it 35mm movie projectors! This did it digitat was freeze or damage if will digital projector it computer. if future do you? The very poor digital projectors.
5:44 could make sense to get money per walked mile.
Thank you so much for sharing this, this is a job I had thought many times would be cool to have. I also noticed (as somebody pointed out) the lense change at 8:44. Is this automatically recognised or must be be triggered?
The lens change occurred because of a piece of metal tape in a certain location on the film that triggered the cue to happen as it passed through the metal detector
ill have more respect now when i go see a movie on film projectors. Looks like allot of work
its not. it's a easy job..I did it for 5 years..I loved it. once you know the machines its 90% threading 5% build up and 4% teardown..1% troubleshooting
@@andersonjeremiah6 apparently you weren't doing it right. You're forgetting cleaning your machines and film path after every show, doing your oil work, opening up the back side of 1or 2 projectors nightly at a multiplex so that you can keep up on the maintenance. Like greasing the nylon gears and checking the tension on the belts and make sure your ball bearings are free. Checking shutter alignment for drift by running an RP40 loop. Rotating your lamphouse bulbs 90° clockwise after 500 hours and then 270°back counterclockwise the next 500 hours so the zenon gas doesn't settle and scorch the quartz, ensuring that these very expensive bulbs can last longer than expected. This means in a multiplex having to do this in one projector every week. And then there's the sound maintenance. Running a Dolby tone loop every week on every machine to make sure your baseline trim level is set, using the projection booths oscilloscope and microphone to accomplish this with. Which I'm betting you never had. Sweeping the floors daily and dusting all surfaces, and a whole list of things it takes to run a proper projection room that's state of the art, in perfect condition and completely dust free. Every good projectionist I had working for me was always in the building 2 hours after hours or 2 hours before hours to do their regular maintenance every day. I had to fire many projectionists like you sir. Guys who thought they just thread up and sit on their ass and play video games or sleep all day. It was a real job, where real men and women who cared about quality worked hard. That's the reason union operators from a good shop make $30 an hour. There's nothing "supadupa" about running a filthy booth with prints that get coated in dust and oil and look like black snow on your screen with projectors that are not well maintained and out of alignment.
Pay no attention to mrsupadupa. Read my comment and know the truth about the job you would have enjoyed
Oh and mrsupadupa, how can it be 5% build up and 4% takedown? Unless you're losing footage cuz you're a bad projectionist or just keeping footage because you're a selfish slob, 100% of what you build up should be torn down as well. Duh!
Theatre name?
Nowadays cinemas don't even use screen masking it's ridiculous