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Topic: Booth Standards

Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

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

posted 02-18-2002 12:54 PM

There is no standard time set in our company, but the length of the task can vary from booth to booth. Here are seven factors that should be considered:

1. Operator experience.
2. Work area lighting.
3. How many previews are being added.
4. How many reels.
5. Number of reels that have to be rewound.
6. Type of platter systems being used.
7. Condition of the equipment.

I am sure there are many more some others can list.

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Ken Lackner
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1907
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 02-18-2002 03:15 PM

It usually takes me around 2 hours from the first trailer to the last reel, depending on how many reels need to be rewound first. I build 3 reels (or trailers and 2 reels) at a time onto 6k reels, and then those go onto the platters. So naturally, buildup is much faster if the entire print is tails out (which rarely happens) so that the 6k's don't need to be rewound once built. At my last theater, I had a Strong MUT standing by to rewind the 6k so that I could continue to use my rewind bench to build my next 6k without having to wait for the first one to rewind. That was very nice. Don't have that luxury now. Oh well.

30 minutes for buildup? How!??!?? One of the managers at my current theater said it usually takes him an hour. I saw him build a print one time: Built straight onto the platter, at top speed, not checking for lab splices or any damage, etc.... That is not the way to build a print. Unless you take pride in Film Done Wrong.

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 02-18-2002 03:43 PM

IMHO, a full inspection would include gently feeling the edges of the print as it unwinds, and spot checking for scratches, heat damage, or perf damage. The fastest I would dare do this is about 2X projection speed. Even a brand new print entails a slight risk of having hidden damage if not fully inspected. Not fully inspecting a used print is simply foolish.

So a two hour show should take at least 60 minutes, PLUS the time of loading reels, removing and storing leaders, and splicing.

I do favor doing the inspection on a rewind bench, rather than while loading the platter. The lighting is usually better, and speed and inertia easier to control if you find a problem.

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 585-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 585-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

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

posted 02-18-2002 04:07 PM

I totally agree with John. This type of inspection was required in the military theaters, whether it was a carbon-arc booth or whatever.

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John T. Hendrickson, Jr
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 889
From: Freehold, NJ, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 02-18-2002 04:25 PM

I agree with Paul Thompson and John Pytlak. Never doubt the value of bench inspection, even with new releases. Just this past week I caught damage at the beginning of one of our Return to Neverland prints and had to cut out three frames.

Building a print properly requires care. It's not a race. You only win with a good presentation. I generally build most of the prints at our thirteen screen complex, but when one of my staff does it, I put them under no time constraints.

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Paul Harnden
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 107
From: Chandler, AZ, USA
Registered: Oct 2001

posted 02-18-2002 06:47 PM

Another agreement to add here.
I knew a projectionist who once told myself and my manager that he could build an entire print in 30 minutes, needless to say he didn't build after that

Time limits to me ensure missed factory splices and whatnot, so my vote is againts 'em.

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 02-18-2002 07:31 PM

It is impossible to properly inspect and document a average 6 reeler and do the trailors etc in under 60min and I usually allow about 90 per print when I am judgeing my time

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Ken Lackner
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1907
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 02-18-2002 10:10 PM

I agree fully with John. I forgot to mention that I do gently hold the edges of the film between my thum and first two fingers, allowing me to feel for splices and sprocket hole damage. I probablly go betwen 2 and 3X projection speed, but the time it takes to splice and change shipping reels and rewind the 6k's easily acount for the 2 hours it usually takes me. Plus the trailers take forever! To me that is the most anoying part of building a print.

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Jeffry L. Johnson
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 809
From: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 02-20-2002 12:28 PM

My personal rule of thumb is to allow 1/2 hour per screen for trailer work.

Feature inspection and platter mounting takes me roughly the running time of the feature, a 120 minute print will take 2 hours. A brand new print might take a little less time. A used and splicy print will take much longer. So I would budget 2-2.5 hours for a new 120 minute print with trailers.

Shipping out a print takes me about 1/2 the running time of the print.

Also note that this is for dedicated print work. If I'm running a booth in addition to inspecting prints then it takes longer.

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Craig Hanham
Film Handler

Posts: 79
From: Wellington, New Zealand
Registered: Oct 2001

posted 02-20-2002 04:55 PM

I usually allow 2 hours for a normal Bollywood movie (9-11 reels). Since I am making up for changeover i usually have to rewind twice (off cores then onto reels for head out print) preparation means checking and re-doing splicecs and checking cue marks.
Quite often I am doing the last couple of reels while showing the first few.
So if you can do a thorough make up in less than an hour I should come vist you to see how. Obviously I am doing something wrong.

But then i dont show as many prints as most of you.

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Eli Blasingame
Film Handler

Posts: 18
From: Loleta, CA, USA
Registered: Nov 2001

posted 02-22-2002 02:14 AM

I would say 120 min or more would give you a good showing and about 50 mins to put it back in the can.

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Ken Lackner
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1907
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 02-22-2002 10:37 AM

Well at least I don't feel so bad now about the fact that my GM thinks I take too long to build prints.

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Joe Beres
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 606
From: Minneapolis, MN, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 02-22-2002 10:51 AM

Ken, i would remind your GM that it takes you some time to build the prints because you are taking the time to do it properly. Also remind him that sloppy building and no inspection can lead to breaks and other problems, which would result in more time to repair said problem and (most importantly to your GM) lost $$$. As the clichéd old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

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