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The Motion Picture Projectionist
September, 1928
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Complaint Dept.
AMONG the complaints received this month is one which differs from the usual contributions to this department in that it takes to task that class of projectionists who are inclined to be rather careless in their handling of film. While admitting that the exchanges are responsible in large degree for present bad film conditions, this correspondent indicts the projectionist on the score of improper handling of film and attributes to this type of man the blame for a large part of film damage. The letter follows :
Here is another complaint about film conditions.
We all know that the exchanges are more or less responsible for bad splices, etc., but by kick is against these socalled projectionists who mark the final scenes with paper, scratches, punch holes and very often a series of pin holes.
Even though the exchange issues cue sheets, these knights of the film still insist upon using their own private systems^ For example, we ran three M-GM's in there consecutive weeks — one of nine reels and the others both of seven reels — and all were accompanied with cue cards; but despite this, every reel except the last in each picture was cued with four or five big scratches.
The houses I work for are both firstrun theatres, but of course the film usually is from two weeks to a month old.
With Sound Film— What?
Apart from the actual damage done to the film, the significant fact about the matter is that eventually those projectionists who use these methods are going to work with sound film, and the chances are that they will find it difficult to overcome these bad habits.
Isn't there some way to put a check on these fellows? I have already suggested to one exchange that their inspectors examine closely the final sequences in each reel and note such marks; after which the theatre manager may be warned that the next similar offence will mean a bill for damages.
It is my idea that a few slaps at their pocketbooks will curb these harmful tendencies of our 1914-model projectionists and cause them to snap out of it and realize that this is the year 1928. I am enclosing a couple of samples which were eliminated from one feature.
R. E. B., Albany, N. Y.
Enclosed in this letter were strips oi film totalling 8 feet on the reverse side of which were pasted strips of heavy paper, obviously the work of a projectionist. Charging the exchanges with negligence in caring for film will be embarrassing for projectionists so long as the exchanges are able to produce samples of projectionists' work like this.
With sound pictures these slack methods must be discarded. And the opportunity to do an about-face probably will not be offered the careless projectionist of today, for the sponsors of sound picture devices, no less than the producers and the exhibitors, will not tolerate such abuses. In short, any trifling with sound pictures can have but one result, and that disastrous for the projectionist.