Being the last link in the chain (Neil Thompson)

Neil Thompson interviewed by Richard Wallace

Projectionist Neil Thompson outlines his thoughts as being the last link in the creative process.

And it makes such a noise, I mean when you start the machine up and you can hear it rat-tat-tat-tat. I don’t know how the people outside in the auditorium didn’t hear it. It made you more aware of what you were doing, when you had hold of all this massive film, and you’re showing it on a massive screen and you had a full audience, that's what drives you on, that’s what the adrenalin is all about. You think, “I'm in charge of this. This film’s cost so many millions to make and it’s me that’s in charge of showing it. I’m the last link in the chain. Which is what I always think a projectionist is. ‘Cause you are the last link in the chain from a story to a screenplay, then a crew’s got ready and then they get the actors and it’s filmed, it’s processed, then it’s sent to cinemas for people to see. You’re the last link in the chain so it’s up to you to present it properly.

Title

Being the last link in the chain (Neil Thompson)

Subject

projectionist as last link in the chain

Description

Projectionist Neil Thompson outlines his thoughts as being the last link in the creative process.

Creator

The Projection Project

Source

Interview with Neil Thompson

Publisher

The University of Warwick

Date

29/12/2015

Contributor

Richard Wallace
Neil Thompson

Relation

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/26353
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/3307
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/25181

Format

.mp3

Language

English

Type

Sound recording
interview extract

Coverage

1974-2014

Interviewer

Richard Wallace

Interviewee

Neil Thompson

Date of Interview

11/11/2014

Location

Gateshead

Transcription

And it makes such a noise, I mean when you start the machine up and you can hear it rat-tat-tat-tat. I don’t know how the people outside in the auditorium didn’t hear it. It made you more aware of what you were doing, when you had hold of all this massive film, and you’re showing it on a massive screen and you had a full audience, that's what drives you on, that’s what the adrenalin is all about. You think, “I'm in charge of this. This film’s cost so many millions to make and it’s me that’s in charge of showing it. I’m the last link in the chain. Which is what I always think a projectionist is. ‘Cause you are the last link in the chain from a story to a screenplay, then a crew’s got ready and then they get the actors and it’s filmed, it’s processed, then it’s sent to cinemas for people to see. You’re the last link in the chain so it’s up to you to present it properly.

Original Format

One-to-one interview

Duration

00:00:51

Bit Rate/Frequency

320kbps

Cinema

Queens Theatre, Northumberland Place, Newcastle upon Tyne
Odeon Newcastle upon Tyne, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle upon Tyne
Empire Cinema, The Gate, Newgate Street, Newcastle upon Tyne

Citation

The Projection Project, “Being the last link in the chain (Neil Thompson),” Cinema Projectionist, accessed April 25, 2024, https://cinemaprojectionist.co.uk/items/show/434.

Output Formats