5 years of my life were spent helping run the show at a movie theatre. I learned the ins and outs of management, customer service, and best of all, what makes the movies. The actual movies, that is. The reels of film that come together to bring the story to the big screen and give you a 2 hour getaway from real life. I always got a little thrill when the movies arrived in big cans, and I got to splice together the film into a giant reel to run through the projector. You may have all the Hollywood stars and lights and sound guys and Kraft Services on a movie set, but without the projectionist, no one would ever see all that work. Hmm...come to think of it, they really should make more money...
Anyway, I visited my old stomping grounds on Sunday to a.) see a movie, and b.) see my BFF Chad, who happened to be working upstairs where the magic happens. It's been a few years since I spent my day in the dark hallways of the projection booth, but as I threaded the start of the movie through the brain, it was like riding a bike.
I remembered it all, right down to the framing! I was hit with a flood of memories of hours spent starting movies, fixing brain wraps, building movies and repairing burned film. There's a fluidity to threading the movie from platter to projector (nerd alert: I even did my college tech writing report on the process!), that it's almost soothing. And, I remembered how click and whir of the projector always seemed a little exciting... Anyway, I may have moved on, but there's nothing like a trip down memory lane to remind you of good times and one of the steps that lead me to where I am today. Thanks Chad, for letting me dabble in the past!
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