Keeping it reel: the dying art of the film projectionist – in pictures

As film gives way to digital, Richard Nicholson gained access to an endangered habitat where most cinema-goers never venture – the projection box – to document the people who make the movies move

  • Sam Bishop, The Electric, Birmingham

    ‘The biggest challenge with projectionists is that they work in near total darkness,’ says Nicholson. ‘I [had to] set up lights to simulate the ambience of the projection room. The Electric is Britain’s oldest working cinema.’• The Projectionists is at Flatpack film festival, Birmingham, 20-24 April• All photographs: © Richard Nicholson
    Sam Bishop, The Electric, Birmingham

  • Peter Bell and Alexa Raisbeck, NFT1, BFI Southbank, London

    ‘I spent a whole day with Peter and Alexa – he was teaching her the changeover system (where a movie is screened with two projectors and the projectionist switches between them). These projectors are state of the art. The BFI has 20 in storage to future-proof their operation.’
    Peter Bell and Alexa Raisbeck, NFT1, BFI Southbank, London

  • Peter Bell and Alexa Raisbeck, NFT1, BFI Southbank, London

    ‘The metal lockers on the top shelf are for nitrate film, which is highly flammable. Peter and Alexa explained that film projection attracts unusual characters – people on the margins of various personality spectrums. I think photography attracts similar people’
    Peter Bell and Alexa Raisbeck, NFT1, BFI Southbank, London

  • Peter Howden, Rio Cinema, Dalston, London

    ‘While the Rio can still screen film, most of its shows are digital now. The rewind bench gets little use. Digital projection is low maintenance, so Peter spends a lot of the time in his office, checking his emails’
    Peter Howden, Rio Cinema, Dalston, London

  • Ewen MacLeod, Arnolfini, Bristol

    ‘The Arnolfini no longer has a public film programme – the projectors will likely be gone in six months’ time. Ewen is looking at his logbook of the films he screened in 1985 – he has worked here for more than 30 years’
    Ewen MacLeod, Arnolfini, Bristol

  • Amanda Ireland, Prince Charles Cinema, London

    ‘Paul Thomas Anderson chose the Prince Charles for the London premiere of Inherent Vice. It is one of the few London cinemas that can still screen film – and its down-at-heel atmosphere suited the movie. The glitter ball is for the regular Rocky Horror Picture Show nights. This photograph was exposed by the light from the projector bouncing off the screen behind me.’
    Amanda Ireland, Prince Charles Cinema, London

  • Phil Fawke, Odeon Queensway, Birmingham

    ‘Phil is 89 years old. He has worked in cinemas across the Midlands. To photograph him we managed to get access to the derelict Odeon Queensway in the centre of Birmingham. It has been empty for 25 years.’
    Phil Fawke, Odeon Queensway, Birmingham

  • Umit Mesut, Umit and Son, London

    Umit gave me a weary look when I dropped by his shop and asked if I could take his portrait. He gets approached on a regular basis. He trained as a projectionist 30 years ago at the Rio Dalston, but now runs a shop selling sweets, videos, films and film projectors. He’s a projectionist-for-hire, now in big demand for his pop-up screenings.’
    Umit Mesut, Umit and Son, London
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