That's Our Show: Student Projectionists

At UNCSA, preserving the art of film projection is part of the craft of filmmaking itself. The School of Filmmaking houses the Moving Pictures Archive — the fifth-largest film archive in the country by volume — and through a unique student work-study program, film students have the rare opportunity to learn the hands-on work of caring for physical film.

From inspecting reels to threading projectors, the process is meticulous and labor-intensive, but it’s also an essential skill that connects today’s filmmakers with the history and material reality of the medium. Each weekend, the archives host free screenings for the campus community, giving students the chance to experience cinema the way it was meant to be seen.

As digital projection has become the industry norm, opportunities to train on physical film have become increasingly rare — making UNCSA one of the few places in the country where students can still learn the craft. That training has real-world impact: several alumni have gone on to secure projectionist work after graduation, particularly when directors like Christopher Nolan release films on 70mm and theaters need skilled operators who understand the format.

Catch a glimpse of what it’s like to be a student film projectionist through the experience of third-year filmmaking student Owen Ray as he preps a weekend screening.