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

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Digital Cinema Forum   » Now the 3D world goes berserk (Page 1)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Author Topic: Now the 3D world goes berserk Per Hauberg Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 883 From: Malling, Denmark Registered: Jul 2000 posted 05-29-2012 05:07 AM                        "Before running our new film, please exchance Your xenon bulp, and please go through this truckload of extra adjustments, making Your equipment fit our film instead of everyone else's." Thats the essence of a mail this morning. "Prometheus" is going to open in Denmark in a few days with projector alterations that for me would mean a tech visit almost without warning. Will this be our future ? Jackson and Cameron demanding half a new installation for each new film, Scott ordering major alterations with so short notice, it will be impossible for local techs to visit all cinemas before premiere. Is this a way of telling the small theatres once more, that we are not wanted ?  |  IP: Logged Stephen Furley Film God Posts: 3059 From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England Registered: May 2002 posted 05-29-2012 06:22 AM                     What exactly are these adjustments? What happens if you don't make them? I wouldn't be happy about it, but I suspect that they're fairly minor compared to the modifications which you would have had to make if you'd wanted to run The Robe on it's original release, likely to include: Probably alterations to proscenium. New screen frame. New 'Miracle Mirror' screen. New Curtains, tracks and boarders. New sprockets, mag penthouses, aperture plates, anamorphic lenses and mountings for them for both machines. Possibly moving both projectors back to allow the anamorphics to be fitted. Possibly enlarging the ports, and possibly fitting new larger fire shutters if these were still in use. Extra amplifiers and speaker systems plus 12 kHz. surround switching system. Possibly replacing steel spools with aluminium ones, Necessary cabling installation including machine changeover and format changeover for magnetic/optical for new sound system. New splicer. De-gaussing tool. Possibly new arcs, many older ones had to be replaced to get enough light on the screen, which in turn would probably have required new rectifiers or generators. I've probably forgotton something, but what would that list alone have cost? Of course, Cinemascope was a success, and many films were released in the format, but it could have died out as quickly as 8-perf Vistavision, or Fox Grandeur did, in which case it could have been a very expensive upgrade for just a handful of films. Of course, if you also wanted to show Todd-AO you would also have needed: New projectors. More new spools. Another new splicer. Two additional sound channels. New rewinds. Probably new film storage cabinets. New lenses for both machines. What would all that have cost compared to the upgrades to the digital system for this film?  |  IP: Logged Per Hauberg Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 883 From: Malling, Denmark Registered: Jul 2000 posted 05-29-2012 08:00 AM                        Njyeah, Stephen What You are listing here, are the alterations to be done for launching two all-new formats, as it is right now going from analog to digital. In the Prometheus-case it's the never-ending upgrade of the barely installed digital gear for one film - next being The Hobbit HFR and next Avatar even higher FR. What I claim is, that only the biggest cinema chains can afford this "new film, new technique" proces. I am simply asking for a standard in film projection for an amount of time, making it possible for us to pay the gear, before the next is coming. As a very young lad, I installed 70mm in my little flea circus, as I did DTS, SRD, EX and so on, and kept my core audience from time to time (still about 25.000 tickets a year). The funds for my retirement went digital - still not pulling a bigger crowd. Pic and sound have been fine all the way, and I've had fun doing it, -but profit: None - and the next investments to keep status quo in box office, should be on morgage. -No way. People will this time have to go elsewhere for "Prometheus". Greetings from Downtown Malling - which for a mayor city urban citizen must be the most far out, poor misery ever seen  |  IP: Logged Pietro Clarici Expert Film Handler Posts: 136 From: Foligno (PG) Italy Registered: Sep 2008 posted 05-29-2012 09:02 AM                        Every Disney 3D movie in the last three years came with a technical sheet that strongly suggested a new-ish lamp (at least 500 hours remaining) and a light level check. It basically only means that your 3D system should be operating in spec (4.5fL) at all times. Is there something new with Prometheus?  |  IP: Logged Jake Spell Master Film Handler Posts: 294 From: Johns Island SC Registered: May 2009 posted 05-29-2012 09:25 AM                     Im curious, What other changes do they suggest that you do?  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-29-2012 11:27 AM                        I think the film-makers are just wanting you to make sure your equipment is properly adjusted and aligned. I wouldn't get bent out of shape over this.  |  IP: Logged Jim Cassedy Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1661 From: San Francisco, CA Registered: Dec 2006 posted 05-29-2012 12:30 PM                     1) Make the changes- 2) Send the distributor the bill.  |  IP: Logged Martin McCaffery Film God Posts: 2481 From: Montgomery, AL Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-29-2012 01:22 PM                        Just curious, under a VPF is the theatre responsible for extra maintenance demanded by the studio?  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 05-29-2012 01:34 PM                        Where is "the DCI spec"? If I were "in spec," I would disregard any changes to the contrary. Louis  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-29-2012 06:05 PM                        I have never understood the point of these letters. Theatres that care about doing things correctly will do so regardless of whether such a letter arrives. Theatres that do not care will not. (And if my picture is sufficiently bright and not flickering, then why should anyone care about bulb hours? And what if I am using carbons and not bulbs, anyway?) So, why send the letter? If the distributors really cared, then they should send out people with light meters and sound test equipment to every theatre that books their movies. And they should refuse to book their movies in theatres that do not meet SMPTE standards. I dare them to do this.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 05-29-2012 11:51 PM                     ..about as bad when they call you up to check if the feature content has been ingested properly..  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 퍼항시, 경상푹도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 05-30-2012 12:43 AM                     Worse when they want to ensure that the stuff was deleted; if I want to clutter my disk with useless movies I don't have keys for anymore, that's my prerogative.  |  IP: Logged Stephen Furley Film God Posts: 3059 From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England Registered: May 2002 posted 05-30-2012 06:35 AM                     I'm still unclear about this; are these 'modifications' recommendations or contractural requirements or technical requirements?  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 05-31-2012 01:11 PM                        Reminds you of the letters we used to get, strongly urging us all to set our faders at "7". Gratefully, we all ran to our processors to do that, instantly improving our previously deficient presentations.  |  IP: Logged Joris Springer Film Handler Posts: 83 From: Almere, Flevoland, The Netherlands Registered: Feb 2007 posted 06-17-2012 08:12 AM                     I always find those letters funny, especially with the 500 hours remaining part. So nice on a 500 hour lamp, means that they want me to replace the lamp for each show?  |  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.