Name: Jeffrey Somerville
Projectionist, Red River Theatres
How long have you been a projectionist? How did you get into the field?
Thirteen years. I answered an ad for the local three-screen theater in Cranston, R.I., where I grew up. Before long I was the only projectionist working seven days a week, afternoon and evenings, for quite a while. That was a crash course of epic proportions. The place was falling apart; in fact, the scope lens in theater three had to be propped up by a 2×4. I loved that place. They closed for renovations and didn’t re-open for 10 years. I’ve worked in multiplexes and indie houses and indie is definitely a better experience. It’s more personal.
Do you get to watch all the movies, or are you too busy working the projector system to focus on them?
I try to watch as much as I can. We play so many great films. We’ve opened the last five best picture Academy Award winners. It seems every Oscar telecast is a “best of” what played at Red River during the previous year.
Right now we have Searching for Sugarman and The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which are both really good and deserve to be seen. If you’re interested in more than the normal Hollywood fare, indie film is what you should be watching. The upcoming SNOB film festival is loaded with some great looking indie film. We have a trailer loop playing in the lobby and it looks very promising.
What movie have you seen the most? Because you projected it or because you watched it on your own time?
I’ve probably seen The Empire Strikes Back more than any other film. I watched it so much when I was a kid that I broke the VHS tape it was on. I have never projected this film.
The film I’ve projected the most is The Rocky Horror Picture Show. We played it every Saturday at midnight at two different theaters where I was employed. I don’t believe I have ever actually watched the entire film in one sitting either, but I’ve run it well over 200 times. We play Rocky at Red River every October as a part of our Movie Magic Series and it’s a really fun show.
Do you project your home TV viewing?
No, we have a regular old flat screen at home.
What is Red River Theatres’ projection system like?
I’ve worked with a lot of different equipment from different companies and what Red River has is definitely at the top of the list. We use 35mm film on a platter system where the film runs from one platter into the projector and then rewinds onto another platter simultaneously. It’s pretty incredible to watch, but we’re now entering the digital age, which is something we’re working on right now for 2013.
The industry is going through some significant changes after over one hundred years of celluloid projection. Red River has to go digital in order to continue providing the community with the programming we offer. We’re running a campaign right now called “GO DIGITAL or GO DARK” in order to raise the remaining funds needed to make the conversion.
What are your thoughts on 3D movies? Fad or here to stay? Will we see Red River add a 3D theater anytime soon?
Personally, I am not a big fan of 3D and I’ve always thought it was a fad, but some reputable filmmakers, such as Martin Scorsese and Werner Herzog, have begun to experiment with it beyond the Hollywood spectacle. When you consider the extra money Hollywood can make on a 3D ticket, it’s not going anywhere, anytime soon. As far as Red River adding 3D, it’s probably unlikely considering the indie market doesn’t have much 3D to offer.
If you were to insert one frame into a movie, a la Tyler Durden in Fight Club, what would the frame be?
I would never defile a film in a such a way.
You have a unique vantage point to see the audience from. What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen from the bird’s-eye view from the projection booth?
That would be a violation of the projectionist-audience privilege and Red River’s audience is a great group. Like I said, we play some fantastic films that our patrons are very supportive of. Without that support we wouldn’t be able to bring in a great guest like Ken Burns or an exciting event like the SNOB Film Festival.
Hidden talent?
Twenty years from now it will probably be the ability to run a 35mm projection system.
Guilty pleasure?
My favorite band is the Spin Doctors. I guess that could be considered a guilty pleasure since no one knows any of their music beyond Two Princes.
If you weren’t a projectionist, what would you be?
I’d like to teach and/or write films eventually and maybe make one film of my own someday.
