posted September 20, 2013 07:02 AM
We have at least 3 professional cinema projectionists, maybe more. I was interested to know whether any of you during your training made mistakes noticeable to the audience, or was the system such that it couldn't happen.
One Sunday afternoon in the 80s, I was watching James Cagney in The Strawberry Blonde being broadcast on BBC; suddenly the picture went off and we saw the countdown leader before the start of the next reel.
Posts: 2232
From: Sarpsborg, Norway
Registered: Nov 2012
posted September 20, 2013 07:11 AM
Not so bad, is it? When I saw Mystic Pizza in the cinemas, they mixed up a couple of reels. That was a quite confusing film :-)
Posts: 346
From: Milano, Italy
Registered: Jan 2004
posted September 20, 2013 07:21 AM
I don't remember what movie I was screening, unsing a carbon arc 35mm projector, but I remember I forgot to change the carbons between the 1st and 2nd 1hr reel and I had to interrupt the screening during the 2nd reel to change them. Thank gods, patrons said nothing particular
With another film (it was White Fang - 1991) the film broke up during the screening and we had to interrupt it and cut more or less 3 meters of film.
posted September 20, 2013 01:21 PM
I wish I could say this was during training but, alas, it was at a point in my projecting career when I should've known better.The film was The Final Countdown (1980). Both reels up to speed, open the shutter - nothing on screen. I'm frantically trying to find whats wrong. Lamp is on, but....lens cap is still on the Scope lens!!!
My dad was in the audience, to make matters worse.
Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006
posted September 20, 2013 02:57 PM
I remember my first day the projectionist, was told, you do this and you do that and before I new it he was quickly heading downstairs and out the door.
I shouted after him..what if I have problems?....you will figure it out was the answer, and he was...GONE..never saw someone leave a building so quick
In the following 12 years I cant remember making any mistakes just to good I guess.