On Wed, 3 Dec 1997 11:05:53 -0800 Shawn Levy <[log in to unmask]> wrote: In the era of monolithic theater chains and mulitplexes, it's more > common that NO projectionist is on-hand at show time; rather, the > professional projectionist makes a daytime route of theaters and spools > films, then leaves the actual projection at show time (often a > one-push-button affair) to a theater manager who is familiar with the mere > rudiments of the system. Thank goodness, we haven't got to this stage in the UK yet. My nearest multiplex is an 8-screen venue, where there is always one projectionist on duty and two during peak times (and to enable making up/breaking down of programmes, equipment maintenence and so on). The start/finish times of each show are staggered so that the box can be handled by one projectionist if necessary. Automation is used for changes of ratio, sound format, house lights and screen tabs. Although I have never worked in a multiplex, I have generally been impressed by the condition of the prints which I have had crossed over from them. They are nearly always free of scratches and have obviously been carefully handled. I suspect this is because delicate print handling is called for in order for automation systems to work properly - if, for example, you let platter rollers get dirty, then the resulting muck will make the stick-on foil cues unreadable. Another advantage of multiplexes is that, with a film opening in more venues simultaneously, more prints are being made (or in some cases, imported). Thus, when a cinema such as the one I work at gets one of these copies two or three weeks later, they are likely to be in much better shape, than, say, a second or third run film would have been five years ago. Leo __________________________________ Leo Enticknap Postgraduate Common Room School of English and American Studies University of Exeter Queen's Building, The Queen's Drive Exeter Devon EX4 4QJ United Kingdom email: [log in to unmask] ---- Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the University of Alabama.