Post AUXiFiGelgiJwSn8bo by paul@notnull.click
(DIR) More posts by paul@notnull.click
(DIR) Post #ATKJ6TEC4YMdQeHfOK by DeliaChristina@sfba.social
2023-03-05T04:44:16Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
#GalaxyQuest forever.God dang it's so good.
(DIR) Post #ATKJ6U3wy7lS1AV040 by anne@toot.cat
2023-03-06T01:02:53Z
4 likes, 8 repeats
@DeliaChristina In 1999 to 2000 I was going through a very rough patch in my life. In the span of a few years, I'd gotten married, lost a parent, birthed a child, gotten divorced, changed careers, and relocated 3,000 miles away from everything and everyone I knew. What with the state of things, I didn't get to see #GalaxyQuest when it was first released. Finally, on a day I was feeling particularly low, and shortly before the movie left the theaters, I canceled work and took myself out to a midday matinée.I was the *only* person in a vast theater, of a size that no one builds anymore, sitting and waiting for the lights to go down. At one point, I turned and peered up at the projectionist's booth. I saw a shadowy figure moving back and forth behind the window, bending and straightening. This was in the days before automated, digital films. The Phantom Menace had been released digitally in 1999, but the equipment to show such films was extremely expensive and most theaters hadn't converted yet; "projectionist" was still real job.While I was looking, the figure paused, strode to the window and peered back at me, then disappeared quickly.I turned back around and continued to fidget and ponder the misfit pieces of my life.At the top of the aisle behind me, the theater door swung open and banged loudly on the wall. The projectionist strode down the aisle toward me, a tall barrel-shaped man with a thick beard and glasses. My first thought was that the matinee was canceled due to low turnout, and I'd be getting a refund. Just as I'd resigned myself to that, the marching projectionist shouted out in a booming voice, "WELCOME to your PRIVATE viewing oooooooof GALAXY QUEST!!!" He stopped in front of my row, and I saw that he had an *armload* of STUFF. One by one, he began presenting each thing to me, and as the pile in his arms dwindled, the one in my lap grew."As our SPECIAL VIP Galaxy Quest GUEST today, YOU are entitled to...""- A commemorative t-shirt!""- A poster suitable for framing!""- A limited edition refrigerator magnet!""- A button to pin to your lapel!"The list and the shwag went on. With every ridiculous item, I laughed harder and harder, until there were tears leaking out of the corners of my eyes.Then he bowed and shouted, "WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THE SHOW!" and turned on his heel to march back up the aisle and out the exit door.Alas, of all the shwag only the magnet has stood the test of time. But the humor and kindness of the unknown projectionist lives on.
(DIR) Post #AUVkatP8Mu4s9h41XE by mike@thecanadian.social
2023-03-06T02:04:47Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@anne @DeliaChristina In the very early 2000s I saw projectionists on strike outside one of our big box theatres. I was sad as I knew their struggle was futile. They were going the way of the lamplighter and that was their last desperate attempt to stave off a future they weren't a part of.
(DIR) Post #AUVkauC3R1D2bPx5mq by orionkidder@writing.exchange
2023-03-06T04:31:08Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@mike @anne @DeliaChristina I remember that strike! They could have negotiated a gentle transition to a new career within IATSE, but Local 1 in New York forbid them from negotiating on their own behalf and refused to do it for them. They hung that local out to dry.
(DIR) Post #AUXiFiGelgiJwSn8bo by paul@notnull.click
2023-04-11T12:47:03.407565Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@anne @DeliaChristina wow, that whole story has a real "Never Give Up. Never Surrender!" feel about it đŸ˜„
(DIR) Post #AmNmmnRhpHLI2aIWTA by clacke@libranet.de
2024-09-26T03:16:49Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@anne Reading this wonderful post again and tearing up again. Thank you for sharing your memory.
(DIR) Post #AmNmmwzMLWbrdZ71fs by janggolan@mastodon.cloud
2024-09-25T00:49:31Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@anne as a former projectionist, "We salute you!"
(DIR) Post #AmNmmyDDnTIBQqbbv6 by sebastianmalloy@wandering.shop
2024-09-25T15:02:39Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@anne This was the most magnificent thing I've seen today, and today coincidentally is just the sort of day that I really needed to read it. Bless you!
(DIR) Post #AmNmn1c99G0pz1I3ge by sanzky@masto.es
2024-09-25T15:33:29Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@anne By Grabthar's hammer, what a story!