my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » ROTK Screening Screw-Up (Page 2)

This topic comprises 6 pages: 1  2  3  4  5  6

Author Topic: ROTK Screening Screw-Up Michael Schaffer "Where is the Boardwalk Hotel?" Posts: 4143 From: Boston, MA Registered: Apr 2002 posted 12-04-2003 03:24 AM                        A few years ago at the Berlin Film Festival, one reel of "The Thin Red Line" ran upside down. The print had been delivered just minutes before the screening, no time for inspection. Anyway, many important people were very "upset" just like those critics. The only one who remained calm was director Terence Malick. He said he didn`t mind and asked that the poor projectionist was not punished. From what I heard later, he was fired anyway because some cowardly managers wanted to cover their back. Probably the same ones who had failed to ensure that the print arrived in time for thorough inspection.  |  IP: Logged Mathew Molloy Master Film Handler Posts: 357 From: The Santa Cruz Mountains Registered: Nov 2000 posted 12-04-2003 04:09 AM                     I just attended the trade screening of ROTK at Pacific's Galleria in Sherman Oaks. Apparently there wasn't much concern for print quality at a trade screening. The print had at least 5 lab splices and one during a very important end scene during which the digital dropped out for a few seconds. Speaking of digital dropping out - besides happening a couple times at splices, it was obviously running at a high error rate. I must say that the Pacific had a real nice presentation. The only time I saw splice tape was between reels 9 & 10. My only gripes would be that it was framed too low and off to the left(I could see the bottom of the picture in the top masking and there was spill on the left masking). I could be wrong but it felt and (almost) sounded like there were quite a few frames missing between reels. On a side note - I loved the film but even though this film has some of the most amazing special fx I've ever seen (and didn't know I was seeing) it has quite a few fx that are the worst of the trilogy - all involving the hobbits & blue screen.  |  IP: Logged Matthew Peters Expert Film Handler Posts: 179 From: Glen Waverley, Melbourne, Australia Registered: Nov 2002 posted 12-04-2003 07:48 AM                     I have seen a Dolby Digital tag run through upside down just before the feature as I was checking one of our cinemas, I came hurling up to the booth to sort it out. It was just the Dolby tag that was upside down (thank god) so I didn’t have to interrupt the show (well anymore than already ). It was the City/Broadway/Helicopter one. I had no idea the Dolby Digital Track could play in reverse .I imagine the analogue track could but for some reason I thought the digital would not, it proved me wrong!  |  IP: Logged Paul Konen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 981 From: Frisco, TX. (North of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-04-2003 09:02 AM                     Tom said ... quote: My last weeks print night was nine in, five out, and 16 moves. Total time--nine hours to completion, by myself, error free. What about screening time? Nine in would have taken about 15-18 man hours to build 5 out about 2-3 man hours 16 moves about 1-2 man hours Don't see how you could do all that on your own. Sorry BTW, mine arrived about 2.5 hours prior. 5 Security guards, 1 supervisor. Metal wands and night vision to check for cheats. IMHO, You won't be disappointed.  |  IP: Logged Jeff Stricker Master Film Handler Posts: 481 From: Calumet, Mi USA Registered: Nov 1999 posted 12-04-2003 10:09 AM                     I agree with Frank, the only way to run an importrant screening such as this is in a reel-to-reel house with ample time to inspect the film before the show.  |  IP: Logged Jason Burroughs Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 654 From: Allen, TX Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-04-2003 10:18 AM                     I've only had one instance of something like this happen, and unfortunatly the public got to see it too. After recieving a print of Shawshank Redemption for its Academy run, I built it up and did my best to make sure that everything was in order, however EVERY reel change was in black it seemed, and the booth was damn near pitch black itself 2 reels ended up getting put on backwards. I had asked the manager to make sure that the print got screened, as it was previously run and its condition unknown. I came in the next morning, theaded up the show, noticing that the print wasn't screened. At about reel 3 or 4 a customer came out to notify us that the picture was up side down. Ok not a HUGE problem the reel was back on screen and in the right direction in about 15-20 minutes. About 20 minutes later they came out again, the picture was upside down again. By this time they were understandably frustrated. This would have been resolved by several things, 1 not giving me 3 pints to build up and then scheduling me to open the next morning, 2 provide adequite lighting in the booth, especially in the buildup area, 3 Screen the prints, especially if the condiditon of the print is unknown.  |  IP: Logged Steve Scott Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1300 From: Minneapolis, MN Registered: Sep 2000 posted 12-04-2003 10:18 AM                     My manager told me that the trade screening of ROTK broke down towards the end of the trade screening in Minneapolis. Said the sound was bad too... I don't know why they still have all the trade shows at St. Louis Park up here.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-04-2003 10:26 AM                        I'm going to go out on a limb here and point out that a late-arriving print is no excuse for lack of print inspection. Better to start the show five minutes (or even thirty minutes) late, with an explanation to the audience that the print arrived late, and get the show properly inspected and ready to run than to rush and screw up the presentation. And, yes, it's too bad that most of these shows run in multiplexes with platters and a projectionist who can't devote his full attention to the screening, since he needs to keep several other shows on screen.  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 12-04-2003 10:42 AM                        Steve Scott- Check out Nate's post on page 1. I believe he works at the theater you describe and he talked about the incident.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 12-04-2003 10:52 AM                        Nate wrote: quote: About 45 minutes left of the film, the 'guard' assigned to the booth came down screaming about something. I ran upstairs and saw the beginnings of a tail wrap! The magnet had been tossed and there was about three minutes of film already wrapped, but I was only off-screen for about 4 minutes to get it fixed Do you think the tail-wrap was due to "static cling"? Humidity must be pretty low in Minnesota winters! New Line usually prints on Fuji, but I'll help if I can.  |  IP: Logged Hillary Charles Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 748 From: York, PA, USA Registered: Feb 2001 posted 12-04-2003 11:03 AM                     That happened when I first saw "Star Wars" in 1977. It was at an older, small-town (presumably changeover) house. All of the sudden, the trash-compactor scene, upside-down and backwards. Apparently, they forgot to rewind that reel before rethreading, but it didn't take too long to fix it. And it was definitely NOT a big important early screening.  |  IP: Logged Stephen Furley Film God Posts: 3059 From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England Registered: May 2002 posted 12-04-2003 11:30 AM                     quote: Apparently, they forgot to rewind that reel before rethreading How could they 'forget' to rewind it, unless they had an Academy, or SMPTE, leader on both ends of the reel? I've been guilty of putting a reel back in the rack without rewinding, but you realise what's happened when you next lace it up and there are no numbers, and there is still time at that point to put things right. If they did have a leader on both ends of the reel, then that's just asking for trouble.  |  IP: Logged Christopher Seo Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 530 From: Los Angeles, CA Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-04-2003 11:51 AM                     One quick check that I have found useful after making a splice: checking the optical soundtrack on the emulsion side. If the soundtracks meet together (obviously), and if both are emulsion on the same side, I at least know I've joined a head to a tail.  |  IP: Logged Tom Ruhling Film Handler Posts: 4 From: Germantown, MD, USA Registered: Nov 2001 posted 12-04-2003 12:00 PM                     Hey Paul. I wish I had 18 hours for a print night. Lowes would fire me so fast if I took that long. Funny thing is that I have been accused of milking the payroll. Could you give my Managers a call so I could get a break? Come check us out some time. Lowes Cineplex Rio 18 in Gaithersburg MD. (Prints are 35min a piece with four tables going at once. Breaks, 10-15 a piece.) Screening time does not exist as we have corporate policy against pre-screening. Apparently some manager in NY got himself into some deep water after inviting about 400 people to pre screen a film. So every DC metro lowes/cpx booth has this lovely memo, that we are required to display, which states that pre-screening will result in termination.  |  IP: Logged Jason Burroughs Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 654 From: Allen, TX Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-04-2003 12:10 PM                     quote: Prints are 35min a piece with four tables going at once. Breaks, 10-15 a piece.) That's fine and dandy, so long as they accept the high possibility of print damage. You can't build up and tear down at Warp 6 without some type of risk. VERY poor managment to expect this IMHO. There's a diffference between being expediant, and careless.  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 6 pages: 1  2  3  4  5  6

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.