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Topic: "Spirit Of America" Trailer

John Pytlak
Film God

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

posted 03-18-2002 02:52 PM

In the USA, the majority of national-market television commercials are still shot on 35mm film. However, the effects, titling and editing are often done in the digital realm, with just enough resolution to satisfy normal NTSC or PAL television. It's when the advertising agency decides to play the same commercials in theatres that sometimes a low-resolution video master is transferred back to film. If the effects, titling and editing were done using film, or 2K or better resolution digital, these film-originated commercials could rival the image quality of feature films.

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

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Frank Angel
Film God

Posts: 5305
From: Brooklyn NY USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 03-19-2002 12:05 AM

Our Eastman 25B has been customized with extended feed and takeup arms with the takeup arm motor replaced with one that has more torque and a slightly faster speed than the original. It is outfitted with a torque/speed control. When the projector is started, the speed control knob is set at a much slower turn speed and less torque "pull". This prevents the otherwise inevitable snap when the reel catches up to the speed of the film playing out. I find I still have to put a finger on the reel edge to make sure there is no snap even at the lower torque setting. As the reel gets full, the projectionist needs to increase the torque just enough so as to keep the film taut as it fills the reel.

What every projector that uses anything larger than 2000ft reels needs is a simple spring loaded guide roller same as used on platters, that will momentarily take up the slack as the reel acelerates from stop to full takeup speed. An even more sophistocated design could be borrowed from those Eprad drive-in monster reel transports, where the spring loaded roller would be attached by an articulated arm to an autotransformer which would act as a feedback servo that would automatically adjust the takeup motor speed as the film pulled on it. This would never allow the film to get any tighter than necessary for a firm rewind.

BTW, I recently saw one of those Eprad Mega-Reel transports and couldn't believe how gentle it was on the film. When the projector started up, my knee-jerk reaction was to "hold back" the takeup reel with my hand because it looked for sure like it would have to rip the film apart as it accelerated to speed. Much to my surprise, the regulator arm simply adjusted the speed and the reel slowly and gently rotated to speed while the film wound with nary a tug. It was really a pleasure to watch. No reason why 6000ft takeups (including 16mm) couldn't be outfitted with the same design principle, given how simple it is -- nothing more than a roller and spring.

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Leo Enticknap
Film God

Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 03-19-2002 02:22 AM

Absolutely. And such a system would do a lot to remove my prejudice about towers, too.

Scott: Yes, it was taking it as read that John was not trying to use solid hubs for 6,000 foot 16mm takeup.

John: 400 or 800ft plastic (e.g. Tuscan) spools would be so light that a take-up motor designed to pull a fully-loaded 6,000 would be pretty violent. Even so, I'd have thought that polyester spacing on the front should get you through the start-up.

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John Hawkinson
Film God

Posts: 2273
From: Cambridge, MA, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 03-19-2002 08:51 AM

Leo,
Indeed, normally it does on this projector. I think the missing roller had a lot to do with it. And also, the springloaded tension jig appears to be out of adjustment.

--jhawk

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Manny Knowles
"What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???"

Posts: 4247
From: Bloomington, IN, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 03-22-2002 06:18 PM

While I was working in a remote theatre location, I came across two copies of the "Spirit of America" trailer. I guess I'll screen it when I get back to home base.

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And, hey! Let's be careful out there.

~Manny.

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Steven Gorsky
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 146
From: Frederick, MD, USA
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 04-05-2002 02:32 AM

If anyone is looking for an alternative for the National Anthem, Filmack is now offering an America the Beautiful trailer at $62.80 each in both flat and scope. You can find out more at the Filmack website.

Steven Gorsky

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System Notices
Forum Watchdog / Soup Nazi

Posts: 215

Registered: Apr 2004

posted 07-04-2012 06:53 PM

It has been 3743 days since the last post.

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Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 07-04-2012 06:53 PM

Bump. (ooh...look...a decade-old thread!)

Did anyone else dig this one up for July 4? I showed it before a regular feature in a commercial cinema. I have also used the national anthem, but this one avoids the awkward stand up/sit down problem that the anthem creates.

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John T. Hendrickson, Jr
Jedi Master Film Handler

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

posted 07-08-2012 11:29 AM

Ijntweresting you bumped this up, Scott.

I ran it last July 4th on a couple of screens where I worked.

Unfortunately, not this year. In May, our owner was evicted due to falling behind on the rent. A new company took over, and I was out the door along with anyone else who believed in film done right.

Understand the new tennants converted to digital.

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Frank Angel
Film God

Posts: 5305
From: Brooklyn NY USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 07-17-2012 09:20 AM

John, you needed to go out the door WITH that short! [thumbsup]

You can be sure it's been trashed once they converted.

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