Page 27 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2003 #41

Looking back- there’s been a number What was your last show at the So it was a happy way to end your
of quite extraordinary technical Regent? days as a projectionist?
advances. How do you feel about the The Wizard of Oz, a lovely show to Yes, I’m quite satisfied with what
way cinemas work today? go out on. A brand new dye transfer I’ve done over the years. But the point
Oh, presentation is not as it was - a print, not the sort they have these days, is, where I’m living now is coming to
set of tabs or curtains to cover the but the old Technicolor process. life with a theatrette project.
screen to keep the mystery closed in Before opening I was told to insert Really?
until you wanted to start the show - an Interval to boost trade at the candy
only a few cinemas have that old-style bar. So I came home, watched my Yeah, they’re building a 400-seat
movie feeling now. But computerisation video copy and found the ideal spot, theatrette at the village we’re living in
is not necessarily detrimental to about 50 minutes in. The projection now.
presentation, in fact it’s spot-on as far room had a 35mm slide projector and I Any chance of you becoming the
as slides and film hitting the screen had a black slide made with just the resident projectionist?
goes. It’s when something goes wrong; word ‘Intermission’ printed in large Everybody’s talking about it, except
it might be five minutes before the letters. And I made another device to me, because there are a few problems I
projectionist gets to hear about it, put this slide on over the film at my can see. I’ve got to talk to someone
because he might be up the other end chosen spot. Then after Interval the first about it before it goes too far.
attending to something else. They’re all scenes were Dorothy, the Cowardly
young people in the job now. All very Lion, Scarecrow and Tin Man walking Well, let’s hope it all goes well for you
capable for what they do. up to the gates of the Emerald City, so Brian.
I’m sure it will. It’s not whether I’m
it worked out quite well. No one ever
capable - I’ve got it all in my head - but
bothered me in the projection room.
it’s whether my body and my hands
The Manager of the Regent, Jason
Marriner was a very nice person will work. ★
indeed.

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