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Topic: Minimum Sound Spec to Run Star Wars

Michael Brown
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1522
From: Bradford, England
Registered: May 2001

posted 04-09-2002 02:33 PM

I thought i had heard of this somewhere?
I heard that SR was the minimum. But i heard frome someone (not connected to the cinema business) that they NEED THX.

I was assuming this was untrue since alot of cinemas dont have any THX screens. Personally if it is only THX houses who can show it, I would have to jump on a coach or a train to find a THX cinema.

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Brad Miller
Administrator

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

posted 04-09-2002 02:59 PM

No way EpII will only be released to THX theaters. They are a dying breed. The SR thing is a very good idea though, and something that I do hope they stand their ground on. Something like EpII if it must be played in analog should only be in SR.

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Steve Kraus
Film God

Posts: 4094
From: Chicago, IL, USA
Registered: May 2000

posted 04-09-2002 03:36 PM

And of course, if I may be so bold as to speak for Steve G., the Cat. 222 SR/A card does not count as real SR!

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Ron Lacheur
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 650
From: British Columbia, Canada
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 04-09-2002 03:40 PM

I think that THX only requirement is a joke. There's a multiplex by my place that played Episode I that ISN'T THX certified, yet the management there seems to think it is. They don't show any THX trailers, no ads in the paper, or any THX posters. The theater isn't listed on THX's website also. But most definally they will be playing Episode II for some reason.

The Requirement is a joke.

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Ian Price
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1714
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-09-2002 04:23 PM

When Episode I came out they said they were only going to open it at theatres that met their qualifications for good sound and image.

But when it came down to the economics of the thing, they opened it in 4100 screens across the US and it ended up in over 1/3 of the total theatres in the country. So they ended up opening it without regard to image or sound quality.

Episode II will be no different. They need to make as much money as possible in as short a time as possible. So look for that 4100-screen release number to be broken.

The only reason that number will not be broken is if the exhibitors that took a bath on the first release get wise and refuse the terms for the second release. But seeing as it is a sure bet to make lots of concession money for anyone who opens it, don't bet on a strong exhibitor backlash.

(Rumor)
I heard that the theatres that didn't get Episode I made less money that summer but were more profitable due to the unusually stiff terms for Star Wars.

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Miguel Angel Martorell
Film Handler

Posts: 81
From: Valencia, Spain
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 04-09-2002 08:17 PM

As I know the two circunstances to show Episode 1 here in Spain were:

-Digital sound (no matter what)
-Minimum of 3 weeks (I´m not sure about the time) without moving the film to another screen.

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Per Hauberg
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 883
From: Malling, Denmark
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 04-09-2002 08:27 PM

--and in litlle Denmark the distributor claimed, that his chosen 77 first-run theatres had been listed to Mr Lucas' office for OK.
Same distributor made us all stand up one hour before trade preview on LOTR for "security check". Noone was checked, eccept those two journalists sneeking in.

BIG joker

-But even i look forward to may, 16th - one minute past midnight.

May the freaks come to us once more.

/ p.

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Scott Norwood
Film God

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

posted 04-09-2002 10:03 PM

"All theatres running Episode II must be equipped with at least mono sound."

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Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."

Posts: 10973
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 04-09-2002 10:09 PM

As for Lawton, OK, I am hoping very strongly that THX equipped theaters will at least get a priority in booking status. I'll be pissed off beyond belief if the Carmike 8 loses a "Star Wars" print to the old crappy Hollywood/Wallace Cache 8 theater down the street. The new Central Mall theater is a joke as well, but is a far away enough distance to keep from negating the Carmike theater from getting a film print.

If I cannot see "Episode II" on that one THX screen in the Carmike theater (actually the place really has two, but only one that continues to be recertified) then I will be faced with having to drive hundreds of miles down to Dallas to find a theater worth a damn. IMHO, the Carmike 8 here is better than any other theater in Oklahoma. The projection is better and sound quality is a lot better. The only thing the other guys in OKC and Tulsa have over it is stadium seating.

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Dave Williams
Wet nipple scene

Posts: 1836
From: Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 04-09-2002 10:26 PM

They will let anyone and everyone have a print of the damn thing. I do not think that exhibitors will agree to the terms like the last one. Many multiplexes got screwed holding five prints of a useless movie, having to pass on greater stuff.

This time around, there is a lot of great stuff that could very well kick star wars around. If an exhibitor wants to forget the star wars thing, they can and can get away with it too. Most people arent going to mind.

The theaters that did not carry the film, did make a higher profit than those that carried it. Most of the ones that carried it ended up busted out within a year. The terms were too harsh.

Dave

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 04-09-2002 11:18 PM

If I had it my way, I wouldn't even book the movie in our theaters. I think it is going to be a flop. That's just my personal opinion.

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Pete Naples
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1565
From: Dunfermline, Scotland
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 04-10-2002 05:26 AM

When EP1 came out here, we heard that it will only go to DLP sites, then that changed to film, but must have Dolby SR.D EX, then SR.D, then SR......

It was playing on mono kit in the deepest darkest parts of the country when release day came.

Despite all the noise made by Lucasfilm, if you are going to pay the reantal and astronomical %age, they won't care what the sounds is. One thing counts really, $$.

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Thomas Hauerslev
Master Film Handler

Posts: 451
From: Copenhagen, Denmark
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 04-10-2002 05:44 AM

On the whole, isn't it nice that a film maker actually does care about presentation of his (video)film, rumor or not?

------------------
Cheers, Thomas
..in70mm - The 70mm Newsletter

www.in70mm.com www.dp70.com www.70mm.dk www.hauerslev.com http://hjem.get2net.dk/in70mm

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Mark Lensenmayer
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1605
From: Upper Arlington, OH
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 04-10-2002 07:44 AM

As long as the dollars go back to Lucasfilm, I don't think they would object to 16mm projected on a bedsheet.

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Thomas Hauerslev
Master Film Handler

Posts: 451
From: Copenhagen, Denmark
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 04-10-2002 09:30 AM

Sure, but I believe all presentation-aware film makers like Kubrick, Stone, Lucas and Zemeckis to name a few, are convinced they will make MORE money in the shortest possible time, if presentations are good. They have to believe that, and why shouldn't they, since they all put so much effort in making the films?

Magna did the same thing when they banned popcorn during "Oklahoma! 50 years ago at the Rivoli in NY.

------------------
Cheers, Thomas
..in70mm - The 70mm Newsletter
www.in70mm.com www.dp70.com www.70mm.dk www.hauerslev.com http://hjem.get2net.dk/in70mm

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