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Author Topic: Stopping and restarting a movie after 15 minutes... Ken Lackner Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1907 From: Atlanta, GA, USA Registered: Sep 2001 posted 01-02-2003 09:17 AM                     I know how to do a center drop and have done them before, but how exactly are you supposed to do it without touching the image of the film and without any leader or film touching the floor? That is why I do not like doing center drops.  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 01-02-2003 11:06 AM                    Was this a general sneak open to the public (advertised and admission charged) or was a private "word-of-mouth" sneak paid for by the studio? If so was there a publicist representing Fox present at the screening? If not then you should get in touch with them and let them know that their screening was mucked up and a significant chunk of the film was not shown to their invited guests. They shouldn't have to pay for it if the job they hired the theatre to do was not done.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 01-02-2003 11:11 AM                        What a lack of showmanship.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 01-02-2003 12:47 PM                     quote: but how exactly are you supposed to do it without touching the image of the film and without any leader or film touching the floor? It's actually very easy, but difficult to put into words. Yet another future addition to the tips section.  |  IP: Logged Mark J. Marshall Film God Posts: 3188 From: New Castle, DE, USA Registered: Aug 2002 posted 01-02-2003 02:47 PM                    I hesitated to post this... for about a minute. You could Speedwind to a reel splice, and break the splice and peel the tape off both sides Thread and start the first part of the film from the platter As the end of the first part is nearing, pull all the film through to give you enough time to make a splice (20 seconds or so) Thread the 2nd half of the film through the payout side of the platter Splice the tail of part one to the head of part two (you can get away with a one sided splice if necessary, then come back and fix it later) Stand back Recommend you have the film going through the film cleaner on its way to the projector to clean off any dirt picked up along the way. Not as difficult or as hard on the film as it sounds IF done correctly. But it does take practice, and - some would say - nerves of steel. Mark  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 01-02-2003 02:52 PM                        "Nerves of steel" or not, that method has a high risk of damaging the print.  |  IP: Logged Charles Everett Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1470 From: New Jersey Registered: May 2001 posted 01-02-2003 03:00 PM                     Steve: That botched show of Just Married was a public sneak preview. Fox ran ads for the sneak in all the New Year's Day newspapers.  |  IP: Logged Mark J. Marshall Film God Posts: 3188 From: New Castle, DE, USA Registered: Aug 2002 posted 01-02-2003 03:32 PM                    quote: that method has a high risk of damaging the print. Sure does. It takes a lot of practice (on trailers and junk film), and I don't recommend it, but it is an option used by some, myself included, to save the show.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 01-02-2003 03:44 PM                        A "center drop" could be done just as fast, with much less risk of print damage than trying to splice "on the fly". You'd still "save the show", while not damaging the print for subsequent showings.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 01-02-2003 03:49 PM                     While I agree with John a center drop is not only safer, but just as fast, there still remains no reason to make a cut in the film to restart a show.  |  IP: Logged Mark J. Marshall Film God Posts: 3188 From: New Castle, DE, USA Registered: Aug 2002 posted 01-02-2003 04:04 PM                    The other day we had a new guy threading the platters, and he walked away a little too soon only to come back later and find a brain wrap of the first two and a half reels as the payout was spinning out of control. Can't do a center drop there because the film was wound backwards around the brain. We used the technique described above separating the trailers from the movie and then reattaching. There was no damage, to the print or the trailers afterward. Not too long ago, the managers rushed the projectionist to put together a print, and he ended up with a reel on backwards. The movie wasn't screened prior to the opening, and consequently, there were 350 screaming kids and parents that morning. Within about 10 minutes, the reel was speed wound on the platter, pulled off, rewound, put back on an empty platter, reattached facing the right way, and back on screen. No part of the movie was missed. When the end of that reel went through, the remainder was reattached on the fly, and there was no further interruption. There was no damage, to the print, nor dirt nor scratches afterward. I'll grant that these problems are both operator error, but so is starting the movie way early. I'll also grant that this method isn't *necessary* to fix the problem described in this thread. But it is an option. Although admittedly not the best option. It's also a handy technique to have at your disposal in rare circumstances. Not for the faint of heart, and not recommended, but possible.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-02-2003 04:52 PM                        I've never had to do a center drop (lucky I guess) but I would have to cut the film because it's impossible to slip the film out of the tension sensor any other way. I hate that thing.  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 01-02-2003 05:10 PM                        Mike, what kind of platter do you have that has this awful tension sensor?  |  IP: Logged Michael Gonzalez Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 790 From: Grand Island , NE USA Registered: Sep 2000 posted 01-02-2003 05:11 PM                     I agree that a center drop is the best way to go. However, simply cutting the film, starting the first part (letting it run all the way through) and then thread and start the second part. Yes the audience see a break in the movie and it adds an extra splice to the print. But it is still better than the audience missing ten minutes of the movie and it is the easiest way for a new or inexperanced booth operater to fix the problem.  |  IP: Logged

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