[rjprins]

I've been a projectionist for about 2 years. It's a nice job, but don't expect much time to do other things! Mounting a film only takes about 3 to 8 minutes (depends on if the film roll is already at the right projector or not)

But then you have to start it right on time, check if everything is sharp and framed well, then come back 5 minutes later to check again and preferable come back yet again after another 5 minutes. This is because sharpness, framing may vary or the automatic lens change between commercials and the movie may screw things up.

I worked in a small theater with only 4 screens, but it was hectic none the less. Sure you have some time between films, but usually management finds more jobs for to do. I also often helped behind the snacks counter or had to clean the seats and alleys after a screening.

[pxlpshr]

That seems a little outdated, aren't most theaters using digital HD projectors now? They should be IMO... I've got one in my bedroom and it's why I don't go to the movie theaters anymore. :)

[pmjordan]

They're slow to switch. Mostly because consumer HD pales in comparison to 35mm film, quality wise, when you blow it up to a diagonal of 6-8 metres or so. As far as I know, digital cinema projectors have a "4K" resolution (4000 x ~2000) and are fed the film from a stack of terabyte hard disks. The projectors are SERIOUS money.

[coryrc]

Not really; until recently there were still more new film installations than digital.

The cost of film is on the distributors and studios, but the cost of moving to digital is twice a film projector and falls on the theatre owner (who already has working film equipment). So the distributors (who aren't technically needed in the digital era) are trying to find a way to stay relevant and the studios have been subsidizing the cost of digital installations, so it has been very slow going.

[unalone]

I worked at a movie theater last year. They began firing projectionists. Even then, things go wrong. Films get off-focus, the sound messes up, the display corrupts. Even if they don't people will complain, and then you have to go up and fiddle with it so they stop coming. It's rarely relaxing.