You are making this specific argument: "changeovers vs. platters". Am I correct? That is your argument, right? Well my friend, if you want to make a generalization on that premise then you most certainly can NOT bring in a Kinotone or other rewinding through the projector machine! Nowhere in the repeated debates did you say "self rewinding projectors on reels vs. platters"! Got it? Good, because not very many theaters out there have that equipment. YOU LOSE THERE!

YES, I have run many a show reel to reel with changeovers. Yes, the takeup reel can come from the upper arm, but not always. Many theaters (ones I've worked in actually) have various different sized reels and you can't just simply stick a 22" reel and expect it to take up a 26" reels worth of film! In many cases I had to specifically calculate out how things would work so I had enough "takeup room" on a spare reel. I realize that is probably not the case in your booth, nor would be in your fantasy booth with Kinotons, but that does happen out in the regular world and should not be dismissed as a time waster. Regardless, I can still outthread you in speed on "workload time" if we were side by side and I started rethreading the platter while you took the full takeup reel off, mounted the next reel and got it threaded. (This is assuming we can both thread projectors at roughly the same speed without errors.)

How about those damned bent reels? Every theater has at least one. Try taking up a show on a reel that has a slight bend to the flange and watch it dump and mangle the print! Oops, you lost again!

Oh, but I haven't even touched on the constant possibility of belt breaks! Yet again, a mangled mess of film all over the floor. Another punch straight in Steve's face and he goes down again!

By the way, I would think it would be YOU who would need the Bounty paper towels to keep the damned leader off of the floor. The leader NEVER touches the floor when I thread. Not a single frame. I'll bet yours does.

On out of order, YES you may use 2 reels, BUT that possibility of presenting a show in the "wrong order" CAN STILL HAPPEN! Stop saying it can't. That is a lie.

Torque reels? Large hubs? Steve, again this argument is "platters vs. reels". Why must you have all of these handicapps just to run reels without problems? The typical changeover booth will have 24" reels (floating or non) with a standard 4" core. Never have I seen a changeover booth with torque motors. Now I'm not saying they don't exist, but they are NOT commonplace. You must run your shows with brute force pull, a typical belt takeup and with 4" cores, otherwise you are admitting defeat right now. If our ref were not on his lunch break, I believe he would agree the most common projector is something along the lines of a Simplex or Century and anything larger than a 26" reel is VERY rare in the typical theater, as well as torque motors. Stop wasting my time stretching for such items and please stick to the basic argument at hand.

Film cleaners. Let's tackle this head to head one day. You can use your sticky rollers or brushes 10,000 times per performance and it will still be a solid victory for me.

Your question on the pivotal year for the platter is senseless. That has no bearing on these discussions. I presume you're trying to force me into a corner with some lame pre-planned comeback like "well reels have been in use since the beginning of film, de, de, de". You're stretching again, Steve.

Here's one you will never understand...changing trailers! I can beat you at this game on actual time taken and I'm willing to bet you money you will sit there and say "but how can that be? I just don't understand!"

Since you seem to want to get into handicaps, let's say we both fall down the stairs and break one of our arms and it is in a cast and sling. I can keep operating on platters, can you with large reels?

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Why are we having this argument? Last time I checked, both of you guys (Steve & Brad) were equipment "SUPPLIERS". <grin>

Ever heard of the Eprad Sword? I used to run one just because I thought it was neat to watch!

Um, I was only dealing with a single screen at the time.

I will address both sides here.

Steve, your argument reflects a degree of professionalism and pride that is often lacking in this industry today. You desire to have a hands on presense to insure that the film is projected to the audience in the best manner possible.

Brad, you are seeking the same end result while projecting to 30 seperate audiences.

Platters are a simple economic necessity in today's world.

Platters can scratch. I realise this.(yeah right)

Platters don't scratch film! People scratch film!

With proper training and professionalism, we can rule out the scratch argument.

I'm not taking sides here, but who would benefit the most by selling double the amount of projectors, lamphouses and rewinds to each theatre it serviced?

The increased ticket cost would most certainly NOT make the customer any happier.

As for spending the night in bins, would the film be any less happy sleeping under a nice, soft, static free cover?

Every part of the print (except for the leader) will be untouched by human hands for the duration of the run. What? Your techs wear gloves!? Ummmm Hmmmmm..... Sneak in some night when they don't expect you.

Film is incredibly fragile. It gets worse every time you touch it (gloves or not).

I vote we don't touch it!

Don't take this the wrong way. It takes a skilled operator to show a movie. Frame, focus, optical sound alignment and digital knowledge are a must!

But, the best operator in the world still has greasy, oily fingers!!

The less he has to "touch" the media, the better.

Steve, it's okay!! We still think you are the best!! We (the general public) just don't want to rewind film. (OKAY! I'm lazy!)

1. Reels always in order.

2. Film touched only at make-up.

3. Nasty, filthy film cans removed from the projection area.

4. Quicker operator response to breakdowns without disrupting the rest of the theatre's show schedules.

...What if something plays into the floor when there are 11 change-overs to be made in the next ten minutes?

Nope, there's just no beating a good Alpha Platter used with a Component Engineering SA-10 watching for film motion and presence.

The war's over!! Live a little!

Russ

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two i use to work for cinemark tinseltown twenty. I know the types of people they hire to run a booth. lets take a thur for instance.(changeover nights) one time a person i knew had two mispliced trailers and three backwards. easy fix. pull out trailers and replace. trailer changes are also more convenient seeing as that they occur more often in a thirty plex because you simply have more theaters to chang. what are you going to do? rewind each 6k till you hit trailers then rewind to trailer that is to be removed then change it? i can change a trailer in 2min.

next lets look at moving prints. this too will occur more often in a 30-plex including screenings. changeovers. theater percentages, etc. I just put on a couple of clamps pick up the print and go on my happy little way. it seems to me that it would be more of a hassle to move two seperate 6k reels to another proj.(more trips involved here) god forbid yo are moving them from one wing to completely the other side of the theater.

like i said earlier i know the types of people that are tolerated to be in the booth. like bradd said earlier, once it is on the platter it is there. and will run through the right order each time. most people are smart enough to start the wrong proj. especially on a day that you are just plain thinking bacwards. or i have also seen enough times of people deciding to thread soundline backwards how easy is it to change once it is going?

"Of course, anyone who installs a changeover booth in a 30 plex would be a complete moron."

Two Questions:

1) How many screens of changeovers have you ACTUALLY run by yourself at one time? I could imagine myself running two screens at a time if I hustle. Of course, there are pros out there who could probably do that in their sleep.

Where is Chapin Cutler of Boston Light and Sound when you need him?

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I figure it would be a small matter for one guy to run the special show while the other guy pilots the rest of the booth. It'd only be for 2-3 hours. We do things like that all the time when one guy has to go downstairs to fix a popper or something.