It's a long movie and we have the "smaller" Potts-Alpha platter system. I'm not sure I'll be able to build it up without putting an intermission in. We played Ghandi and were BARELY able to get it all on one platter.

Two questions:

1) Do you think I can get it all on one platter?

2) If not, does anybody know what's the best place in the movie to put the "break".

What I plan to do is put a few feet of black leader and then an "Intermission" strip. At the head of the second "act" I have an "On with the Show" strip. (You know, those things from Filmack)

The last time we had a print ten reels long, Ghandi, it went all the way to the very edge of the platter. I had to stop the proj. just after the credits started because the last few turns would collapse and fall off the platter. Had there been time I would have made an intermission in that movie.

I've also suggested a "hoola hoop" like retaining ring be put around the print after it is made up / taken up onto the platter, to prevent the film from getting out of round, sliding off center, or even being thrown off the platter ("platter fling"). A solid ring would be much more effective than a "tail tuck" or suction cup / Stickapoo platter clips in keeping the print in place.

I wrote an article called "Platter Patter" last September:
http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/newsletters/reel/september99/pointers.shtml

We just simply change over to the other projector, which has an intermission trailer in it, and a clock running. After it is over, we have the projector loaded with the next reel. Sometimes we will just put a slide up with an "intermission" picture.

I would just rethread and after an appropriate amount of time just start the second half. I have a title strip that says, "On with the show...", that I might insert too.

At Tinseltown the automation has an intermission feature. You can put on an extra cue and the projector will stop and the lights will come up.

Since the platters at T.T. hold 4-1/2 hours this is rarely necessary unless you WANT an intermission. In that case you could insert your intermission strip(s) and place a cue. When the piss break is over just hit the start button. (Actually, it's a go-out-and-buy-more-popcorn break! )

Using the flexible plastic garden edging to make the retaining ring is a great idea! How did you tighten it around the platter, or did you fasten it to the platter in some way?

We would wrap the edging around the print,and secure it with a piece of packing or duct tape on the outside. Then to hold it in place,we used large nuts around the edging with tape holding them in place. It worked great. My manager came up with "the wall" after Titanic got thrown on the last reel with a sold-out house. (single screen,500+) It was the last show and it was just him there. After re-admitts for everyone,this idea was put unto play. We had never had any problems til then,but then again,this was the biggest print we had. (We are running AW-2's with the standard decks)