10 Things They Don't Tell You About Working In A Cinema

8. Digital Projectors Aren't Infallible

Scary Movie
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

"I'm afraid I can't do that..." - HAL 9000, 2001: A Space Odyssey

When cinemas switched to digital projection back in the early 2010s, it was hailed as a gigantic leap forward for the future of big screen entertainment. On paper, it democratised cinema programmes and allowed venues to screen a wider variety of titles than ever before. In reality it meant scheduling a screening of Batman VS Superman every 10 minutes in a 12 screen multiplex.

It also led to many chains getting rid of their trained, experienced projection staff and putting the quality control in the hands of management staff and keen sales assistants with a few hours training. Mostly, operating a digital projector is a case of dragging and dropping the correct titles and trailers on to a playlist and cloning it for the rest of the week. Just make sure you don't mistake Paranormal Activity for Paranorman!

When things go wrong, you really need someone with proper training though. Otherwise you end up trying to keep a baying mob of middle aged women happy when their screening of Magic Mike has failed to start on time. As your supervisor calls a help centre based in the US, you'll be met with increasing calls to TAKE IT OFF. Or in the final, triumphant moments of The Darkest Hour as Churchill states that Britain will never surrender, the projector surrenders and the screen goes dark. Talk about a perfect Brexit metaphor.

Contributor
Contributor

Citizen of the Universe, Film Programmer, Writer, Podcaster, Doctor Who fan and a gentleman to boot. As passionate about Chinese social-realist epics as I am about dumb popcorn movies.