Sound advice from a reel film expert

HUGH GRanT is just the latest moviegoer to complain about over-the-top sound levels. The problem is real films are no longer shown in cinemas, only electronic digital files on a computer hard drive. Of the 20,000 people worldwide who have lost their jobs in this once great industry, top of the list are projectionists. Part of my training in the craft of film projection was to know your cinema and the audience. If it was not very full, the sound would be set at a low level. I would go into the auditorium from time to time to check. Modern films have soundtracks recorded to express realism through stereo, but this can become distorted. For cinema chains to say sound levels can’t be altered is incorrect as all amplifiers have volume controls. Just a little common sense would keep moviegoers happy.

M. TAYLOR, Liverpool

In the can: Mike Taylor