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

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Ground Level   » A return of 35mm installs for Nolan's next project "Interstellar" ? (Page 1)

This topic comprises 7 pages: 1  2  3  4  5  6  7

Author Topic: A return of 35mm installs for Nolan's next project "Interstellar" ? Terry Lynn-Stevens Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1081 From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Registered: Dec 2012 posted 09-02-2013 12:34 PM                     I was reading on another forum that the next Christopher Nolan project called "Interstellar" will be filmd in IMAX and 35mm scope. The studio press release used the words 35mm Anamorphic and IMAX film photography in that order. Also in the press release, it states that the film will be released in IMAX and 35mm theaters on Nov 7th 2014. With the demise of 35mm reported at the end of 2013. Are we going to see the major chains add 35mm capability for this film in the same fashion as "The Master" which added 70mm? http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2013/08/13/christopher-nolan-interstellar-begins-filming/  |  IP: Logged Edward Havens Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 614 From: Los Angeles, CA Registered: Mar 2008 posted 09-02-2013 01:04 PM                     A guarantee you this is just a poorly written press release. There is no way in hell the people putting $200m+ in to this project will forgo the many theatres built in the past 5-10 years that have never had a 35mm projection system, just because of some hard-on Mr. Nolan has for celluloid. I remember, a couple years ago, how Mr. Nolan actually thought it would be possible for IMAX digital houses to install 15/70 systems side-by-side in order to run TDKR as he wished.  |  IP: Logged Terry Lynn-Stevens Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1081 From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Registered: Dec 2012 posted 09-02-2013 01:24 PM                     Edward, the side by side digital/film IMAX theaters did exist and did happen. Cineplex has a few that can do both and world's biggest screen in Australia can do both currently. These were 15/70 that were able to do digital as well. I don't think the studio will ignore digital houses, but installing 35mm in some chain theaters is not out of the question. 70mm was done for the Master, why not a big budget movie?  |  IP: Logged Steve Moore Expert Film Handler Posts: 211 From: Leeds, West Yorks, UK Registered: Apr 2008 posted 09-02-2013 01:52 PM                     Well perhaps we should have all kept a 35mm machine, like I did. So excited to be giving it a run for a public (paying) show next week (and again two weeks later)  |  IP: Logged Terry Lynn-Stevens Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1081 From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Registered: Dec 2012 posted 09-02-2013 02:33 PM                     Steve, I am sure there will be some 35mm somewhere for a handful of 35mm installations if this were in fact true.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-02-2013 02:44 PM                        Assuming that the above is true, it sounds great in principle, even if it just means that the 35mm prints will be released in advance of the version. Somehow, though, I fear that this will result in lots of trashed prints. I am willing to bet that most of the places that have installed no longer employ anyone who is competent in 35mm projection, even if they kept some 35mm equipment around. But, still, for the venues that support 35mm, have good equipment, and have competent people to run it, this is good news. Regarding The Master: did anyone actually do a new 70mm installation for this? My understanding is that most or all of these engagements were done in venues that already had 70mm capability, but maybe needed DTS or new 1.85 70mm aperture plates and lenses or some other relatively minor upgrades.  |  IP: Logged John Roddy Expert Film Handler Posts: 114 From: Spring, TX, United States Registered: Dec 2012 posted 09-02-2013 02:44 PM                        My theater has one of the reinstalled 15/70mm IMAX projectors, and we had to run TDKR on it. That just sucked. It was nothing but a pain, and very very not worth it. I'm now a little horrified at the thought that he'd want everyone to run his next project in 35mm. This is Christopher Nolan we're talking about. If anyone had the will and ability to make that happen, it's him. Granted, that's not as insane or annoying as running IMAX film, but it's still another hassle that I'd really like to not go through again.  |  IP: Logged Terry Lynn-Stevens Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1081 From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Registered: Dec 2012 posted 09-02-2013 02:47 PM                     John, would you rather just have sucky 2K IMAX digital then? quote: Scott Norwood Regarding The Master: did anyone actually do a new 70mm installation for this? My understanding is that most or all of these engagements were done in venues that already had 70mm capability, but maybe needed DTS or new 1.85 70mm aperture plates and lenses or some other relatively minor upgrades. In Toronto Ontario, the Varsity added everything to a former 35mm theater that had been running digital. It was all used second hand equipment of course. There was no 35mm at the facility when 70mm was added.  |  IP: Logged John Roddy Expert Film Handler Posts: 114 From: Spring, TX, United States Registered: Dec 2012 posted 09-02-2013 02:56 PM                        I hold that our IMAX digital system is unusually good. I was actually quite surprised at how crisp it looked when we first had it installed, especially since we do have a decent sized IMAX screen (none of that IMAX lite crap). Besides, most of the movies coming out in IMAX these days were shot and distributed in 2K anyway. Only a handful of the releases I saw when we had IMAX film were actually sharp enough to take advantage of it, and it doesn't look like that's improved over the years. It's kinda sad, actually. :/  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 09-02-2013 03:07 PM                     True 15-perf 70mm film projection of 15/65mm originated material isn't worth it? As opposed to HDTV resolution video blown up to a size way past acceptable scale? Puh-leeze! If booth operator convenience is the top priority, I'll go one better: I won't visit the theater. That will be one less ticket to justify even pressing a "start" button. With Interstellar I strongly doubt Nolan would be able to get away with a film-only release. Theaters built in the last few years were built only. Quite a few theaters that have converted to have left 35mm intact side by side on at least one or two screens. The Carmike theater in my town has 35mm capability on 2 screens. But I don't know what's going to happen with that theater when a new 13 screen complex opens a few blocks away next year. I agree with the concerns quite a few 35mm prints could be trashed. Personally, I don't really care all that much about 35mm showings of Interstellar. But if Nolan is going to film significant parts of the movie in 15/65mm then real IMAX film based projection damned sure does make a giant difference.  |  IP: Logged Manny Knowles "What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???" Posts: 4247 From: Bloomington, IN, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 09-02-2013 03:10 PM                     I run both film and digital, and I'm aware of the benefits of each. However, regardless of shooting format, if those film prints come from a DI, then the digital "prints" will be closer to the original source material, and the final screening will look just as good as the first. In that case, I'd prefer to show (and see) the digital print. But that's just me.  |  IP: Logged Terry Lynn-Stevens Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1081 From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Registered: Dec 2012 posted 09-02-2013 03:13 PM                     quote: Bobby Henderson I strongly doubt Nolan would be able to get away with a film-only release I think we can assume that Nolan is not going for a 35mm only release. But a few hundred screens out of a 3000 release feature is possible. Nolan was able to convince the chains to keep 15/70 as IMAX Digital was being installed.  |  IP: Logged Manny Knowles "What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???" Posts: 4247 From: Bloomington, IN, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 09-02-2013 03:15 PM                     At this point, it all just seems like ego mania to me -- a few film makers testing out how much power they can wield. Enough already! The studios effectively forced cinemas to junk their film equipment and go to great expense to transition to digital...and now they're giving special treatment to cinemas that have film equipment? In terms of Hollywood releases, if film makes any sort of comeback -- especially in relation to the so-called "tent pole" releases -- I wouldn't be at all surprised if there were lawsuits.  |  IP: Logged Terry Lynn-Stevens Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1081 From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Registered: Dec 2012 posted 09-02-2013 03:27 PM                     quote: Manny Knowles I wouldn't be at all surprised if there were lawsuits I highly doubt the big chains are going to have any problem installing a dozen or so 35mm projectors in major cities for a huge movie. The mom and pops can get the digital copy.  |  IP: Logged Paul H. Rayton Expert Film Handler Posts: 210 From: Los Angeles, CA , USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 09-02-2013 03:35 PM                    Referring back to Scott's question about 70mm setups for "The Master": I can confirm that BOTH of the 70mm showcases for that movie in L.A. were done with "rented" equipment. It ran at the Arclight Hollywood, and at the Landmark, in West L.A. The same guy provided a full setup of Norelco DP70s and platters for each venue. The projectors remained for the duration of the initial commercial run screenings, and the installation at the Arclight actually had a brief re-engagement of "The Master" somewhere around Oscar time early this year. But the last I heard, from someone who's been in there recently, is that all that 70mm equipment is once again "gone with the wind".  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 7 pages: 1  2  3  4  5  6  7

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.