my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » Print Pocket (Page 1)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Author Topic: Print Pocket Dean Kollet Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 591 From: Florida State University Registered: Jul 2003 posted 10-03-2004 12:28 PM                     One of our new booth people suggested this to me and mgmt. Anyone have any experience with them? I saw the advertisment and it looks kinda weird, but I just want some opinions. Keep in mind we don't have problems moving prints with two people  |  IP: Logged Ian Price Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1714 From: Denver, CO Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-03-2004 12:55 PM                     We don't have problems moving films with one person. At the Greenwood 12 in Denver, Colorado we had Strong platters and moved films without clamping them. We just taped the end and picked it up. With Christie or Speco platters, just use two clamps and pick it up. With 13-titles in our 5-plex we move prints a lot! Brad's manager is so notorious about moving prints that Brad rearranged the booth and all 7-platters are in one place. He can thread whatever film to whichever projector in a moments notice without moving a single print.  |  IP: Logged Dean Kollet Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 591 From: Florida State University Registered: Jul 2003 posted 10-03-2004 01:27 PM                     we use Strong Platters and unless we are building prints up, we can't move them without two people (they are simply too loose).  |  IP: Logged Mike Olpin Chop Chop! Posts: 1852 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Jan 2002 posted 10-03-2004 01:42 PM                     We move prints around a lot on weekends to "maximise grosses". We use a little board with a "U" shape cut into it. Just tape the ends, slide the board under and a single person can move the print by themselves. (Christie AW3s) What exactly is a "Print Pocket?"  |  IP: Logged Dean Kollet Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 591 From: Florida State University Registered: Jul 2003 posted 10-03-2004 02:04 PM                     it's like an actual pocket for carrying prints...the prints slides in this little thing and you can carry it by yourself...I'll try and get the .pdf  |  IP: Logged Andy Aggieri Film Handler Posts: 34 From: Las Vegas, NV Registered: Apr 2004 posted 10-03-2004 02:31 PM                     Other theaters near me have tried the print pocket, but it started to fall apart on them very early. It seems that they are not built very sturdy. However I have not personally handled one.  |  IP: Logged Chris Hipp Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1462 From: Mesquite, Tx (east of Dallas) Registered: Jul 2003 posted 10-04-2004 11:17 PM                     It works pretty well, I think it depends on the size of your booth whether or not it would really be useful. Either way, if you are handy you can build your own for about $30 worth of materials. It is a pretty simple design.  |  IP: Logged Ramin Hashemi Expert Film Handler Posts: 129 From: Houston TX Registered: Sep 2004 posted 10-04-2004 11:58 PM                     We used to use 2 straight edges, and two people. Now we have clamps, but still takes two people. They do make caddies, with the use of which you can move it with one person, but you need a removable brain.  |  IP: Logged Brian Guckian Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 594 From: Dublin, Ireland Registered: Apr 2003 posted 10-05-2004 08:55 PM                     Sounds interesting! In our theatre we use 13000ft reel flanges as well as Goldberg Platter Spools to move prints. Who makes it, Dean?  |  IP: Logged Dean Kollet Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 591 From: Florida State University Registered: Jul 2003 posted 10-05-2004 09:14 PM                     Metro Tech or something like that....  |  IP: Logged Nicholas Simmons Film Handler Posts: 6 From: Walnut Creek, CA Registered: Jun 2004 posted 10-05-2004 11:47 PM                     I have used them. We have 2. They are rather flimsy however, especially considering their cost. If you get one, put a bunch of screws in it first, because the glued sides start to come off quite quickly. As for usefullness, they are good for long moves, obstacles (stairs), and when you are alone. Otherwise, two person moving is much easier. We don't clamp, just grab them and move (Christie platters). In short, probably not worth it unless two person moving is too difficult currently. With 18 screens, using the pocket for every move would just be a waste of time.  |  IP: Logged Dave Black Film Handler Posts: 2 From: Woodbridge, VA, USA Registered: Oct 2003 posted 10-07-2004 11:25 AM                    We began manufacturing PRINT POCKETS three and one half years ago, in response to an obvious need for a safer way to move prints between screens in a multiplex. Basically they are a pocket which you hold up to the platter and slide the print into. After you lower the PRINT POCKET to the floor, you can effortlessly roll the print to its destination. Unlike clamps, the print removal and installation process takes only a few seconds, and will not scratch platters. And unlike the two-projectionist carry method, prints can be moved long distances and there is little chance of damaging a print. PRINT POCKETS are especially useful when screens are separated by long corridors, stairs, and narrow doorways. Their primary purpose is to prevent dropping a print. But they also make it quite practical for one person to move all but the largest films single-handedly. And they serve as excellent temporary storage for assembled prints. PRINT POCKETS have even been used to transport assembled films between multiplexes. Currently PRINT POCKETS are in use all across the US, plus several countries around the world. Until recently, they have been sold primarily by word-of-mouth. Chains of customers telling other customers. Or when a manager moves to a new theater, he orders a set for that theater. Maybe a third of our orders come from theaters which have recently dropped a print. We sold a pair after one theater dropped HARRY POTTER on its opening weekend. We do not believe PRINT POCKETS are flimsy. Because the user must lift the PRINT POCKET plus as much as 3.5 hours' worth of film in it, the weight of the PRINT POCKET is an important issue. Thus a tradeoff must be made between strength and weight, and this determines the material used. We could build it to withstand being run over by a truck, but the added weight would make the product unusable. The PRINT POCKET is more than strong enough to do its job if it is handled with reasonable care. However, it may suffer damage if it is dropped down a flight of stairs while loaded with film. [In the case I know about where a loaded PRINT POCKET went down a flight of stairs, the print itself was not damaged, and the PRINT POCKET received only minor damage.] We are always glad to hear feedback from users. We have made numerous improvements to the product over the years, and will continue to do so. To date, feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. By the way, our first six PRINT POCKETS have been in daily use at a local multiplex for over three years. They are all still in use, and the theater recently bought two more. At one time, we experimented with shipping PRINT POCKETS in a 'knocked down' mode, saving on shipping costs but requiring the purchaser to do some of the critical final assembly. We have quit offering that option, as it took an important part of the quality control out of our hands. For a short while we assembled PRINT POCKETS with a different (and, as it turns out) inferior glue. Now we use glue that's stronger than the material itself. It's true PRINT POCKETS are not cheap. But have you priced 42" movie reels lately? There is much more labor in a PRINT POCKET than a film reel. Its price is quite low compared to the cost of a ruined print or cancelled shows. We make two sizes of PRINT POCKETS: Standard and Large. The Standard holds 160-170 minutes of film and is capable of moving 95% of all assembled prints. Large is for those Big films such as LOTR3 or PEARL HARBOR. Of course, the Large will also carry smaller films, but personally we prefer to use the Standard PRINT POCKET when possible, because it's lighter in weight and more easily maneuvered. Each theater should have one Large PRINT POCKET for the big films, however. Because PRINT POCKETS are so useful, we recommend theaters have one PRINT POCKET for every 4 or 5 screens. This ratio works out very well, permitting storing built-up prints awaiting delivery to their screen or awaiting teardown. It also allows several projectionists to move prints simultaneously. While it's true a theater can move prints without our film mover, projectionists who have used them say "Never move a print without a PRINT POCKET." Please contact me if you'd like a flyer. Dave Black  |  IP: Logged Jason M Miller Master Film Handler Posts: 284 From: Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA Registered: Jul 2004 posted 10-07-2004 12:13 PM                     We are required to move prints w/ 2 people or we are fired..This came about when one person was moving Harry Potter 3 and dropped it We also have clamps that need to be used. We use strong platters  |  IP: Logged Peter Mork Expert Film Handler Posts: 181 From: Newton, MA, USA Registered: Jun 2002 posted 10-07-2004 12:53 PM                     If the Strong platters don't wind film tightly enough to move without it threatening to collapse, this is bad. I'm not familiar with them, but maybe someone can suggest a way to increase the winding tension. (With Specos it can be done by adding a little weight to the takeup control roller carriage.)  |  IP: Logged Charles Phillips Film Handler Posts: 39 From: St. Charles, IL Registered: Jul 2004 posted 10-07-2004 01:49 PM                     I've only worked with Christie and Strong platters. The strongs wind so loose that its always a good idea to moving using two people. Christies wind so snug I could move a print by myself with no problem. There's a thread about loose winding Strong platters here. Are ther any platters that the Print Pocket won't work worth, besides nonremovable brains? Hey Jason, do you work for a Goodrich theater?  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.