In many theater complexes, with the proper automation equipment, projectionists are eliminated altogether. The manager performs the projectionist functions as well as overseeing the concession and ticket areas. In this type of operation, the projectors are started remotely and a heavy reliance is placed upon the automation system to monitor the projectors, while the audience or theater staff is responsible for detecting focus, sound and framing problems and reporting the problems to the operator. The manager in this type of operation also has the job of making up the movie or taking it down the last night of the showing. Breaking the movie down or splicing all of the reels together and loading onto the platters normally takes about an hour for each procedure, for each movie.
Many people ask about the different sound processing systems and what the differences are.
The information below was obtained from the sound system producer's web-sites and from information provided by General Cinema. The information pertains mostly to indoor theaters, but is posted here as technical content for those of you that are interested. Three different speakers are located behind the screen and depending on the visual action on screen, the sound effects will be directed more towards one speaker than another. Surround speakers provide environmental sounds such as thunder and rain. Often, a fifth, or subwoofer channel, is also derived from the analog soundtrack.