Will “Equipment Operator” be Automated?

Core Skills & Abilities

• Prepare film inspection reports, attendance sheets, and log books.

• Observe projector operation to anticipate need to transfer operations from one projector to another.

• Inspect projection equipment prior to operation to ensure proper working order.

• Monitor operations to ensure that standards for sound and image projection quality are met.

• Install and connect auxiliary equipment, such as microphones, amplifiers, disc playback machines, and lights.

• Open and close facilities according to rules and schedules.

• Set up and inspect curtain and screen controls.

• Set up and adjust picture projectors and screens to achieve proper size, illumination, and focus of images, and proper volume and tone of sound.

• Start projectors and open shutters to project images onto screens.

• Perform regular maintenance tasks, such as rotating or replacing xenon bulbs, cleaning projectors and lenses, lubricating machinery, and keeping electrical contacts clean and tight.

• Inspect movie films to ensure that they are complete and in good condition.

• Splice separate film reels, advertisements, and movie trailers together to form a feature-length presentation on one continuous reel.

• Perform minor repairs, such as replacing worn sprockets, or notify maintenance personnel of the need for major repairs.

• Operate equipment to show films in a number of theaters simultaneously.

• Coordinate equipment operation with presentation of supplemental material, such as music, oral commentaries, or sound effects.

• Clean the projection booth.

• Remove full take-up reels and run film through rewinding machines to rewind projected films so they may be shown again.