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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Author
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Topic: Notes in film cans
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John Hawkinson
Film God
Posts: 2273
From: Cambridge, MA, USA
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 04-07-2003 12:30 AM
I think that Steve's idea is an idea with merit; I suspect that trying to hash it out here on the forums may not be the most productive way to approach it. I think perhaps a group of us who think it's a reasonable idea can get together offline and spend a while hashing out wording and then show FT periodic drafts.
WRT Darryl's comment, I do think that if the document is written with reasonable principles of document design, it's possible to have short text at the top read by those in a hurry, but still have plenty of meaty details for those who want to know. Using different size fonts, clear seperation, and graphic elements can go along way. You can never perfectly satisfy either camp, but you can find a happy medium where both do benefit.
I agree there are definitely issues with tone. It's necessary to strike a balance between speaking with authority and speaking with condescension. It's reasonable to accept that some people may not like whatever you write, so the may have to be written off, but the goal is to simultaneously educate as many as possible by being firm and clear, without alienating.
Manny, I'm not sure what the point of your comments is. You can always read anything sarcastically, and some people probably will. Nonetheless, some people will read anything sarcastically, and their existance is no reason to not speak clearly and properly to those who will not read in that fashion.
I'd appreciate it also if you could clarify your comment about reel bands. You are definitely not clear on what you mean, and I think clarity is important in this discussion.
Comic book? I think you'd have a lot of difficulty conveying all the information that ought to be conveyed. I suppose if it was a 2-sided 8.5x11 paper folded in half with a comic cover on the front, though, that would be a nice intriguing presentation that could work. Perhaps the comic running on each of the 4 pages n the bottom or top 3"...
--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
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posted 04-07-2003 03:34 AM
John --
The point of my comment is that I think the most of the people who would read that document without the alleged sarcasm would be people who already know and agree with its message. My bet is that in most cases it would be a case of "preaching to the choir."
Not only do I think it would amount to a waste of time and effort but -- as I thought I had clearly illustrated -- it could easily inspire an average projectionist who makes a number of mistakes and has occasional accidents to become a passive-aggressive projectionist who deliberately does poor work in retaliation against a system that seems to expect so much of him without compensating adequately him for the level of work expected.
In fairness, I think that these multiplexes who hire teenagers are not expecting fabulous projection. I think they feel that they are getting what they pay for and I don't believe that multiplex operators really care about showmanship or professionalism when it comes to the booth.
These notes coming in film cans are the problem -- someone somewhere is still expecting fabulous showmanship. I'm not poo-pooing excellence, mind you. I'm just saying that everyone needs to be realistic about what's going on in this industry. Kids are running the movies and kids are kids. Nine times out of ten they are most likely to resist or reject authority figures. A piece of paper has no power and, in this kind of situation, could end up causing more harm than good.
I'm not a mind-reader, and I haven't talked about any of this with Steve Kraus (who fashioned the proposed letter) but that note comes across as having been written from a position of frustration. It reads like a laundry list of all the things he's sick and tired of encountering. In essence, it is a rant against his pet peeves and, hence, I don't think I read sarcasm into it. On the contrary, that note has a decidedly confrontational and elitist tone (sorry, Steve ![[Frown]](frown.gif) ) and I feel that my predicted response is, in all likelihood, quite close to the musical truth.
As for the reel bands -- Every single booth I've ever been inside I have seen those bands in the trash. Nobody I've ever met actually saves those things and returns them. And I fail to see what purpose they serve in the first place. ETS and its clients don't think reel bands are important so why is TES so "up" on using them? Furthermore, if they don't arrive intact then why the heck should they go back intact?
So many of us have gripes with TES that I would find it intriguing if this paper band thing is the one thing we're latching onto.
"Oh, those idiots at Technicolor want us to rush to break down our prints too quickly. Those idiots at Technicolor keep sending broken reels and used prints. And then there were all those times I had to send back my Sneak Preview print so they could send me another copy for the real opening just a few days later. Oh, but that paper band thing! That's proof that someone up there still cares about showmanship. When the paper band thing goes, then we'll know for sure that Technicolor is finished..."
I mean...REALLY NOW!!!
Once upon a time they used to actually provide useful info on those bands. This was before the big block letters started getting printed on the actual leaders. Back then perhaps it all made sense, but now they don't even bother labeling them anymore. Personally, I think that those film bands are nothing more than an empty tradition that no longer means anything. One more thing to worry about that won't affect anybody's bottom line.
Sure I used to keep them when I was still handling film but I was a well-paid professional projectionist who was passionate about the CRAFT. I don't hold it against minimum-wage workers if they lack that drive, especially when it comes to areas that don't seem critical.
I don't know if I can make my position any clearer, John.
I envy people who work in textbook environments. At the same time, I have a fair amount of empathy for those who don't.
[ 04-07-2003, 09:39 AM: Message edited by: Manny Knowles ]
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