Megaplex Projectionist - Lace-Up and Run!

[djazzaindahouse]

Fair enough :)

[djazzaindahouse]

Surely when you let the tail of the film run through the projector with the lamp on and dowser open, the audience will see it on screen. It's happened to me before and the noise it makes scared the shit out of me!!

[megaplexprjectionist]

@djazzaindahouse actually, these strong century projectors have automation machines built in, so we can tell it to close the dowser before the tail runs through. also switches the sound over and raises the lights for us.

[megaplexprjectionist]

I would like to add that at the time this video was made, I had only been in the business of projection for about 6 months, and over the past 2 years I have altered many of my practices and with various technological advancements in safe print moving facilities, i no longer have to move prints by hand.

I ask could people please reply stating their rough location and equipment they use? Would be interesting to see what other people have to work with.

All the best, and thanx for watching my vid

[megaplexprjectionist]

one of my projectionists dropped a 16reel bollywood once... that was a nightmare to fix. dont worry, when i moved this print it was perfectly stable and felt fine to move. Later that day I moved it back onto the platter the same way.

I admit that some prints, while feeling good when you pick them up can just 'go bad' in a split second, so nowadays I rarely do solo moves by hand. This instance however was perfectly safe for the distance i had to travel.

[megaplexprjectionist]

Fair enough I should have taken a time to get the board and move it, but I had be doing it for ages and it felt strong enough to move it 3 feet to the table. The platter pucks are good, but expensive if you have lots of screens. NEVER stick the end down licking it + then playing it. The strength of the stick can cause it to wrap at the end if the show - which then jams the brain and projector. When moving prints, you should always lick the tail and stick it down - otherwise it can just unravel

[vash0101]

i too agree with @BingIRL80 and lianasays. moving prints like that can only end bad. if you must move prints alone. always use a film board or a print pocket. in my whole booth career i haven't dropped a single print and hope it stays that way(knock on wood). as for the tail? i usually just use stick-a-poos but if by chance i can't find one. wet your finger with water or windex and dab it on the tail only.(film sticks when wet) it wont ruin the film cuz its the part that drags at the end

[miza1987]

which rmx of "rob d - clubbed to death" is that?

[sennahoj2083]

You actually documented a severe defect of your system: from 3:30 to 3:38you definitely show us a malfunction of your "Spider-Unit": the take-off-plate is way to slow, the film starts even wrapping round it and getting scrached, -Guess it collapsed 20 secs later! Anyway: interesting video, but NOT for educational use!

[megaplexprjectionist]

The platter was slightly slow but there was no scratching happening - the strong brain units have rollers all around the edge that allow the film to move smoothly around the unit and not get scratched. On kinoton brains (or spider units) the design of the brains can definitely damage the film - i agree.

[WestlineDI]

Nice video. You've got some severe drag on your payout though...need to address that.

Also, you were about 1/2 a second away from having that print you moved off the platter collapse. Try and get the print vertical as soon as you can if you move it on your own.

As far as the wrapping the tail, there's no 'tail wrap' issues with doing it this way. I've done it this way for years and not a single wrap. Put more tail under the print though if you can. More is better.

[megaplexprjectionist]

Naturally I would love to use kinoton, but with Strong projectors, we have only one option - to use strong brains. Also, cant see how putting velcro on the tails would be a good idea... surely when it gets to the end of the film it would get stuck in the gate?

[CoderjoeIsTaken]

I suspect the film with the velcro isn't actually attached to the tails, but just loops around the film to keep it in place.

[Ignitenz]

We make tail straps for our films where I work, its scrap film with velcro around the edges to hold it in place, also the feeder units I've seen on here are dodgy as! We use kinoton ones that are great.

[lianasays]

@Ignitenz we use rubber "magnets"... the stick to the platter... very simply.

[rupinsten]

HI,

I'm a projektionist, too. But I'm living in Germany. Its great to see how you made this small documentary about the projectionists. So many people are thinking that all the cinemas are digital. I'm working in small Cinema in our town, but only have 2 rooms there. But it's okay for the beginning, because im working on a Projektor on my self in our bottom and I'm only 16 years old. okay,

hope that my comment is interesting for you.

best regards

[plasticejaculation]

One or two small magnets work great for holding the tail in place. Have seen and dealt with some pretty bad tailwraps (being pulled through the feeder unit) Not that common, but it can happen - it can be nightmare to fix

[peterbruce2002]

Unfortunately i have a very low opinion of filmtech. Some of the higher members are very immature and theres mostly opinions on there - not facts. I use the site for documentation only. Glad you liked my vid though. If i had a jacro putt then id use it for the tail... but 7 years doing it like this.... no tail wraps. :)

[atn5022]

ya at my old theater we tucked the tail, we use a round piece of plastic at my current theater, both work fine

[mathewbailey08]

Then why leave the tail loose if it isn't secured or if you can't seure it other than tuck it under the film? It's been discussed in the fourums on Film-Tech. A n invitation for a tail wrap in which the tail gets wrapped on part of the platter or even the deck motor.

[larssonk22]

I worked in a cinema before and I would always hear projectionist complain when they were running late to show a film. Now I know why, thats a crazy amount of work to do, and for a multiplex I'd go crazy! Great vid mate!

[hellsconquerzero]

also having the tail of the film tucked under like that can cause a brain wrap near the end of the movie.

[megaplexprjectionist]

As everybody knows due to time constraints getting films on in time you have to move prints by yourself. Granted, i could have used the board but in this case the print was solid enough to move by hand. Any looser than the one in the video I wouldnt take the risk. Also, the film is not twisted the wrong way coming out of the payout. Depends how you have been trained but this way is how I have been taught.

[nation105]

Oh, and I'd kick anyone out of my booth who moved a print like that.

[plasticejaculation]

Yeah, that looked pretty risky. The film looked like it was starting to volcano. The collar looked like it could 'pop' out. Anybody who has ever 'dropped' a film knows that it can take hours to rectify (never mind all the scratches and 'crinkles')

[nation105]

It's too bad the film is twisted the wrong way coming off the payout.

[plasticejaculation]

I dont think that its wrong at all, it is coming out soundtrack up (which is how the film will be lying on the plate). Thats fine. As long as the projector path is soundtrack out and there arent too many twists putting unnecessary tension on the film path.

[makinistmurat]

perfect...  thank you

[hellsconquerzero]

awesome video. at my theater we run almost the exact same stuff as this video and the lacing up a film video but we thread the whole tree before we thread the projector. you guys thread half the tree then the projector then thread the rest of the tree whats up with that?

[ThePapaBrain]

Wow, this is a whole lot classier than my videos. Awesome video man.

[megaplexprjectionist]

cheers Papa! was a rush but alot of fun to do.

[ollyh82]

Nicely edited Pete!.I see you must have a lot of free time at your cinema to have time to make a video!..lol. The booth looks just like the cambridge site.

[megaplexprjectionist]

free time. no. but it was filmed on a monday. slightly more relaxed shedule. glad you liked the edit - i cant wait to come work in your booth soon.