Yeah it's kind of impossible to say what's to blame here although the projectionist didn't help the situation at all. On the one hand it's his fault for having such a crappy computer and no other means of projection from DVD, compounded by not wanting to take the heat for his crappy gear.
On the other hand it's a not a great idea to ever project something super important off a DVD anyway. Pro screenings are done from a hard drive or tape. So as a professional I'd suggest never letting yourself get into that situation again. Don't rely on the projectionist of whatever venue being able to use your DVD. Offer to project directly from a laptop or schlep around a portable DVD player you can guarantee works. Even if that fails your client will remember you tried everything rather than just expect the projectionist to actually project something...
-Noah
Check out my book:
RED: The Ultimate Guide to Using the Revolutionary Camera!. Unlock the secrets of the 24p, HD and Final Cut Studio.
Now featuring the
Sony EX1 Guidebook, Panasonic HVX200, and
Panasonic DVX100.
http://www.callboxlive.com
DSLR Cinematography Blog
