Projecting Motion Pictures

Duration:

Year Published: 1951

Creator: Motion Picture Division Department of Theater Arts

Complete Record: 16mm projectionist training film. Opening shot CU of a man threading a 16mm projector. The film then goes to a underexposed WS shot of an audience. There are 2 panning shots of 1950s movie theater marquees followed by a WS of a very bright theater movie marquee. We are then introduced to the 16mm projectionist a man in his mid to late 20s wearing a white button up shirt and carrying a projector and speaker. The film follows him in a panning WS as he walks into a darkened room to be set up for a film viewing. His assistant enters the room carrying the screen and other equipment. MS of the projectionist surveying the room. CU of screen being set up from the stand and camera pulls back to show the assistant setting up the screen. WS of projectionist closing a window and cut to a CU of his feet as he walks across the room to set up the seating arrangements followed up with a CU of a white “x” being marked on the ground. After the “x” has been marked the camera pans up to show several rows of empty seats. A MS of the assistant placing the projector on a stand and a CU of “Training Film - Projectionist Manual”. MS of projectionist switching out lens on 16mm projector and over the shoulder shot of projector and projectionist checking the height of the screen. The assistant is then shown in a WS setting up a speaker up on a ladder, followed by a WS of the projectionist directing the assistant to place the speaker in the center of the room. The film then shows in several CU of how the cabling should be placed on the ground and CU of plugs being put in to the wall and speaker. After everything is plugged in MS of projector being turned on and CU of lamp and projector motor being turned on. CU of projectionist and projector then a CU of lamps being switched out of 16mm projector. CU of projectionist adjusting the focal length and projected light on to the screen. CU of projectionist cleaning and adjust the lens focus on the screen. CU of projectionist adjusting the sound knobs on projector followed by MS of projectionist and assistant making final speaker adjustments. MS of projector and in background audience is walking to their seats. CU of light switch being turned off then a CU of projector lamp and motor being turned on. WS of projectionist and projector and more CU of adjustments being made to the knobs on the projector. WS of an audience smiling and enjoying the film. CU of lens being adjusted for focus, CU of loose reels on projector being fixed, CU of film falling to ground from the projector camera pans down with the falling film. CU of film jamming in projector and more CU of projectionist adjusting knobs on the projector. WS of audience turning around as the film has stopped playing. MS of projectionist rushing over to fix the projector, he rethreads the film and resumes the film. WS of audience as the film starts back up. CU of light switch being turned on and of projector lamp and motor being turned off. MS of projector and projectionist as he watches the film finishing running through the projector. MS of a man in a white tee shirt sitting down in a conventional theater followed by a CU of a screen moving down from the ceiling. MS of 16mm projector and projectionist from a side view,the shadow of the projector reel is seen on back wall. CU of man in white tee shirt smiling and another WS of an audience shown watching a film then slowly fades out to black with a reel spinning behind the words “The End”. A VO goes through the steps and procedures a projectionist must take to insure that the audience is viewing a film in comfort and without distraction. The film features a man in his mid to late 20s in a white shirt as the 16mm projectionist setting up the projector and other arrangements for an audience in a large room. The projectionist has to keep in mind the audience at all times before, during and after a film has been projected. Before the projectionist can play a film for an audience there are some procedures that must be done so the audience sees the film as it was intended. The projectionist must account for the lighting in the room, the placement of the screen and seating arrangements for the audience. There are several precautionary steps the projectionist must take before starting the film such as: projector placement, checking the lenses, lamps, speakers, cabling, focal length, focus and the mechanics of the projector. These shots have CU on how each of these steps are to carried out. Trouble may arise during the showing of the film so the projectionist must be near the projector at all times in case of accidents and any minor adjustments that need to be made during the showing. Once the film is done the projectionist must turn up the house lights, fade out the sound, and turn the projector motor off.