Become a Projectionist

Being a projectionist isn't as simple as pressing the play button! Each film comes in a number of reels, and you need to know how to put them together, lace them through the projector, break them back into reels and correct any problems before you can show films! At Lancaster, we train our own projectionists in house, and we're constantly looking for more! If you're interested in becoming a projectionist, then please email chiefprojectionists@lucinema.co.uk or see the house manager at any showing!

Before a film is shown for the first time, it must be made up. The projectionist doing an early showing of a film usually does this. This takes anywhere between an hour and three, depending on the length of the film and the experience of the projectionist. Each separate reel of film has it's header removed, is marked with chinagraph and spliced onto the previous reel, to make a very large reel on the platter. Once done, the projectionist then has to run the film through all the correct sprockets and gates so as it will run through the projector properly. This process is called lacing up. After lacing up, the projectionist then has to start the film running, and cary out any lens change that might be nessacery. Following that, the projectionist stays to watch the film, just in case there are any problems. At the end of a film's run, the projectionist showing the late performance has to break down the film, back into it's component reels.

Projecting a film is a long process, but it's rewarding. All our projectionists at Lancaster are unpaid volunteers, and the only perk they receive is being able to see free films, and the occasional hug from an audience member!

Last edited by Stuart Clarkson (2006-05-09 10:46:32)