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When I was down to Lucas for the R2 training seminar we had to go to a local theater for training. On the second day they had us EQ auditoriums on our own. I ended up in one of the complexes large theaters with EX and the then prototype of the new crossover/monitor. When I got to the surrounds I found 1 speaker not terminated at the speaker and the other arrays not terminated properly in respect to back wall/side wall. This cause quite a bit of embaressment on the parts of the THX techs when I had to fix it. I even found myself on the top of a ladder terminating the speaker.

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I added my two cents on the film yak thread but I'll reiterate here briefly............first I'll say hello KRIS BRUNTON!!!!!! how have you been? Say hello to Al Dal and Terry for me up there in Napanee....you might remember me as the technician whom came up to your quebec sites and we had dinner with you and your girlfriend and took pictures (which I should send copies to you)all throughout Quebec and found that rock which was worn down by years of French sentry guards on that bridge/post. yes you probably remember me now I'm glad I wasn't there for that seminar you attended. Jees what a mess you think they would have scoped the place prior to the seminar. That was typical and not surprising at all. Attention to detail is non-existant what so ever!!

Anyways, I left THX almost two years ago (up to bigger and better things now) having certified over 300 theaters and studios all over the place; I never enjoyed the internal politics (3 ring circus) but in terms of THX selling 60% of their share well I say "What share?" They probably have more to gain now with this pseudo-merger than before for all the afore mentioned reasons. Simply put....business/marketing skills are not their strong point. They sold an image which in concept was Fantastic!!!.....up to date, "fully operational" picture and sound. Their way of implementation of their concept is where they falied. They completely disillusioned the customer. Instead of tightening their grip on Certs and recerts they dropped the ball. I failed many theaters which barely didn't make the cut Ex. NC31 or 2ms off on RT-60@125hz. Instead of helping techs enforce the "rules" they would let things slide if you will. I don't know how many times I had to conduct damage control with the client. Down talk on THX was just depressing and I took the brunt of it as I often had to repair the image. Recerts? HA!! Although I performed recertifications of many sites, there were just too many locations to properly and timely do. Just not enough of me to go around. I did my best though.....from checking speaker aiming....wiring....phase..localization...gain structure...to proper EQ techniques (LESS is best).....etc etc...my concience is clear....hell, how many techs actually took high Freq drivers off to verify and or adjust aiming(i must have found enough plasticine in those new horns that were left in during install to sell back to EV and JBL) ? hmmmm Well myself for one and I ran RP-40 and checked screen illumination too. During recerts I embarrasingly found discrepancies which adversly would have altered picture or sound quality during initial certification. I know that none of what I am pointing out is new nor shocking to all of you film-techers but only to bring out the great irony from and "inside perspective" I always found it curious that no one else but the technicians really new what a certification was all about and what it took to get done. Everyone just talked a big game. "Circus Carnies" have no business in true science.

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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

To me, and yes my last day with THX was May 17th, being part of Lucasfilm was special. Although I experienced the frustrations of a corporation making the final decisions most of the time, it was a great experience for me. And now, I'm at Dolby...

I'm not going to bash THX. They are a company full of potential. They lost me, but they still have a stockpile of talented individuals. Tim Schafbuch, Jose Alvarado, Dave Schnuelle, Martin Dew... The future of THX truly rests in their hands, and with the right leadership, the sky is the limit.

You know I wish the best for them, all of them. After all, they won't be going to the Lucasfilm 4th of July Picnic either...

Yours, Ted