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Topic: Technicolor Screw-up of the Week!

Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-13-2000 12:38 AM

We got a print of Erin Brockovich today which contained the DTS disk holder, and the disk boxes ....which were empty.

Well at least the film came a day ahead of schedule, so I was able to call and request a replacement set of disks that will actually (hopefully!) be here before we open on Friday.

Add your own Technicolor Screw-Ups to this thread....it's fun!

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Mike Blakesley
www.goforsyth.com/roxy

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Dwayne Caldwell
Master Film Handler

Posts: 323
From: Rockwall, TX, USA
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 04-13-2000 12:58 AM

I can't remember if Galaxy Quest was a Techincolor print or not, but I got one in about two days before the release date. And it too had no DTS disks, but it was also a hand down from the AMC 24 Grand, and that,of course, made me nervous. I guess they screened a sneak preview or something, but anyway I called Techicolor to get replacement DTS disks. I built the print up on two 6,000s but hadn't loaded it onto the platter when Techicolor calls me at eleven at night telling me that not only have they sent DTS backup disks, but that the print I had of Galaxy Quest wasn't our print. Ours was to come in the next day and, get this, the print I had in my possession was to go back to the Grand! Madness. You're right, Mike. This is fun.

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The man with the magic hands.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-13-2000 08:19 AM

Thats the main reason I prefer to sell SRD over DTS! The double system thingy will always continue to be a headache. Sure DTS may be a pinch better sounding than SRD, but then unless you have really really good sound systems to A-B with I doubt that you would hear a difference. Also I've had to repair almost every DTS unit we've sold at least once, and some twice. The ROM drive upgrade is also a bit too expensive IMHO. SRD is simply the most practical to have around.
Mark

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-13-2000 03:26 PM

That's kind of a non issue. FWIW, we've had DTS here since 1994 and have only had to go without disks for a grand total of 4 shows. (That's four performances.) At the time, DTS was less than half the cost of Dolby, so for $6000 difference I think it's worth it.

I suppose people with many screens have more horror stories. "DTS-disk screwup of the week," anyone?

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Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-13-2000 08:07 PM

Humorous DTS screw-up story: When I worked at a single, we kept getting the DTS trailer disks every other week like clockwork. Usually via overnight mail or some similarly expensive means of transportation. The odd thing is that we didn't have DTS, couldn't afford DTS, and really only had a (just barely) working early-1980s Dolby system. Our manager got tired of having to sign for these shipments, so he started refusing the shipments and occasionally sent back notes to DTS to the effect of "stop sending these." It didn't work. The disks kept coming and eventually ended up in my basement...

Anyway, this place may well have been the only theatre in history that had problems with receiving _too_many_ DTS disks.

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Tom Ferreira
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 203
From: Conway, NH, USA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-14-2000 08:34 AM

I get the trailer discs almost weekly. I always pull it out of the envelope, look at it, and try to figure out what the difference is between the last one I got-there may be one new trailer on the disk. It is nice to get the Pepsi ads that we have to run on the discs, and I do appreciate the fact that it's free-not much is these days. I've never understood why one sheets are so expensive through NSS-you would think that studios would want you to have them to advertise their films.

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Randy Stankey
Film God

Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-14-2000 02:49 PM

I heard through our NCS guy that there are a few places that don't send the DTS discs back...

The story goes that he went down the "back stairs" to go outside and the hall was littered with broken and mangled discs! Appearently they were playing Frisbee with them! I told him that we send back almost all of ours. (Once in a blue moon they get lost, etc.) He was actually surprised to hear that.

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Trevor Bailey
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 113
From: Woonsocket, RI
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-14-2000 04:35 PM

I have been to several theaters that have piles of DTS disks in the booth. I mention to the managers "Hey, you might want to send those back."
Their response: "They want those back?"

But then these are the same theaters that still have the Toy Story 2 disks in the drives.

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Andrew D'Vrey
Film Handler

Posts: 92
From: St. Paul, MN USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 04-15-2000 01:14 AM

I do the same thing, Tom! I dont' know why...I just want to see how worthless it is for me to change the disk this week. Actually, we change trailer packs once a week, so the updates are nice. But I also check them so I can run as many trailers in Digital as possible.

I love getting these disks...I use the empty cases for my ReWriteable CDROMs. Mine come in plastic jewel cases...not envelopes.

As far as DTS disks not with a print, Technicolor should check those before resending them...but we know that's never going to happen. I've forgotten twice...and I remember them both well because I kicked myself in the head REALLY REALLY hard. We have moveable sound racks, so they get wheeled around a lot. So it's like musical chairs with the DTS units. Things tend to get confusing on Thursdays when we're shuffling prints, disks, and digitals around. That, and I've gotten a little loopy since they installed that Capuccino machine in concessions.

The thing that gets me is friggin Technicolor wouldn't pick them up!!! I called them and told them the situation. NO ONE could give me an answer as to what I should do with them. Finally I just threw them in another print and put a big sign on the can.

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"And the monkey flips the switch."
- Major Don West, "Lost In Space"

Andrew D'Vrey
IATSE Local 219

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Chris Erwin
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 195
From: Olive Hill,KY
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 04-16-2000 09:35 AM

Think of what will happen if Technicolor gets into digital distribution....corrupt files,virus ridden titles...so much to look forward to.

--Chris

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Tom Ferreira
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 203
From: Conway, NH, USA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-06-2000 08:20 AM

Well I can honestly say that I've never NOT returned the DTS Disks with a print. What the hell good are they to me, when the next guy may actually use them. My DTS Trailers disks also come in jewel boxes, and I use the empties for the same purpose-CDR cases.
My Technicolor bitch this week was when I built up Gladiator. Eight reels-and EVERY LAST ONE of them was broken. The bands had no strings, just the stupid sticker. Do these people really not give a shit what condition the prints are in when they reach the theaters? Are directors, producers, etc. aware of the way their films are being handled before exhibition? I'll bet most of them would blow a gasket.

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John Walsh
Film God

Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 05-06-2000 11:34 AM

I just made up a sneak ("Center Stage") that was delivered by Technicolor. Every reel was falling apart. On one reel, molded in the plastic, is written; "PATENT PENDING." Next to it, written with a marker, was; "You can't patent poor quality.."

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Josh Jones
Redhat

Posts: 1207
From: Plano, TX
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 05-07-2000 05:44 PM

We really havent had any problems with
Technicolor. for some reason they never forget prints. whoever distributes for sony,on the other hand , needs to have their heads examined. we've had two prints Sony never came to pick up, even after we called them. I wish TC would have forgotten about our print of "Princess Mononoke," though.
It's a really good movie and I want a copy of it

Josh

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 05-07-2000 06:29 PM

Technicolor distributes the Sony/Columbia/Tri-Star prints. Hence you ARE having problems.

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Josh Jones
Redhat

Posts: 1207
From: Plano, TX
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 05-07-2000 07:19 PM

no, I don't think so

The cans have labels on them that say
"reel easy", unless nobody bothered to scrape the old labels off

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