Master of a Dying Art

A profile of the Museum's chief projectionist, Richard Aidala (1949-2013)
by Daphnee Denis and Jessica Bal   posted Aug 23, 2013

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COMMENTS (1)

Comments: (1) DigiBeta (not VHS) (2) DigitBeta deck (not VCR) (3) Sprockets (not spools) (4) Films are often shipped to the Museum as digital files on hard drives. Film is shipped on cores, 1k' reels or 2k' reels, then assembled on platters, or run reel-to-reel with changeovers. (5) When the standard of presentation for digital projection is high, as in a screening room, films are often "teched," to make sure that the Dolby levels are perfect, colors are correct, and the light is ample/balanced. (6) 267-seat theater (not 250) (7) When film platters were introduced in the late 1960s, many theaters no longer ran film reel-to-reel. Instead, entire prints were assembled on platter systems, which eliminated the need for reel changes. This change in the industry allowed one projectionist to operate multiple screenings. Theater owners recognized the opportunity to increase profits, which marked the beginning of the modern day multiplex. However, platters were never considered an acceptable way of running film outside of a movie theater. When quality control and presentation is a priority, film is still run reel-to-reel, often in studio screening rooms, museums, or anywhere archival film is shown. (8) Carbon-arc lamps (not carbon-arc lights) (9) After each reel change (not after each screening) (10) The first cue was to start the motor of the next machine, the second cue was to switch picture and sound. (11) Seconds (not minutes) (12) The booth houses a DVD player, digital projector, Blu-ray player, and sound rack.
Admin   posted 10.09.13

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Richard Aidala
Photo by Jessica Bal
Photo Gallery: Master of a Dying Art

FURTHER RESEARCH

Narratively

THE AUTHOR

Daphnée Denis is a French journalist based in Brooklyn, New York. She covers American politics for Slate France and is currently finishing Shot in the Dark, a documentary about the blind sport of goalball.

Jessica Bal hails from a two-stoplight town in Massachusetts and now resides in a city with too many lights to count, where she produces media for an arts education organization and looks for any excuse to write, photograph and film stories that she’s curious about.

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