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Author Topic: One Projector, Two Screens Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-04-2004 10:03 PM                     Multiple prnts mean multiple showtimes as a possibility which typical has ment higher revenue (something that was always possible in a reel to reel multiplex) ( heck we bicycled StarTreck voyage home between 2 twins running it on each screen in 70mm and they were 10min drive apart)  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 01-06-2004 08:49 AM                        IMHO, interlocking 35mm projectors would be a much better (and likely much less expensive) option than video. NTSC video (even 24P) will not support viewing distances closer than about 4 to 5 screen heights --- in other words, if your screen is 8 feet high, the audience will likely not be satisfied with a video image if they sit closer than about 32 feet from the screen, not to mention the issues with properly projecting motion picture aspect ratios of 2.40:1 or 1.85:1. If the theatres are any distance apart, the beamsplitter/mirror option becomes quite impractical as the physical size of the mirror becomes very large more than a few feet from the projector.  |  IP: Logged Paul Turner Expert Film Handler Posts: 115 From: Corvallis, OR, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 01-06-2004 12:17 PM                     This might give a better idea of what I'm talking about. I scaned part of an early version of the plans. Nothing is to scale. I think this design will keep the splitter and mirror to a resonable size. Both auds are for about 45 seats. Placement of the projector can get both screens the same distance from lens. I like the video idea, but I think set up would look better -- and it would be film.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-06-2004 12:29 PM                     You will need to invert the image going to the second screen  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 01-06-2004 12:56 PM                        The image through the beamsplitter mirror is normal orientation. The reflected image goes through two reflections, so it will also have the correct orientation. Looks workable, except that the beamsplitter, mirror, and ports will likely have to be quite large and unwieldy. As mentioned, vibration may be your worst enemy, as well as keeping such large optical surfaces clean. Be sure your mirrors are front-surface, along with an anti-reflection coating on the backside of the beamsplitter to minimize flare or a double image. Have the operating side of the projector face the door, so you have access without having to duck under the beam.  |  IP: Logged Dominic Case Expert Film Handler Posts: 131 From: Sydney NSW Australia Registered: Aug 2003 posted 01-06-2004 09:29 PM                       You probably would have enough light for the small screens, but remember that, as with focus, you have to have the two screens both correctly illuminated with the same lamp setting. If your half-silvered mirror (beam splitter) is exactly 50/50 and there is NO light loss from your second (front-silvered) mirror, then all would be OK - but you still need exactly twice the light output that you would for a single screen.  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 01-06-2004 10:01 PM                    This is lots of fun to talk about but the reality is that it makes so much more sense to set up two projectors even if it means scrounging to get some acceptable old gear. Picture quality will be better and you will gain enormous flexibility using the theatres separately or together as needed. Platter can be a 5 deck if space is too tight for separate units. It would be a shame to go to all this trouble to equip two separate theatres and then not be able to use them as such. Your plan compromises image quality and probably sound quality as well unless you have separate EQ for each house.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-06-2004 10:11 PM                     I've been watching this thread and have been pretty amused at things that were suggested but in your case the second projector and sound system is definately in order. Even an older machine would be a better choice than anything else that I've seen suggested here. Old equipment can also look very good on screen and if pampered can last a loooong time...ok, its made it this far in time hasn't it? Anyway, at least making an effort towards film done right is far better than an image and sound done half assed. Your customers will also appreciate it and come back for a repeat. Consider also installing an LCD video projector in ONE auditorium for more flexibility. Mark @ CLACO  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 01-06-2004 11:03 PM                     Well if you simply MUST go with one projector, at least "double stack" your digital readers so you can send one reader's feed to one sound rack and the other reader's feed to the second sound rack. It would also be unbelieveably handy when it comes time to troubleshoot. I'm in agreement here though, you're looking at the cost of a projector, console and automation for that second screen. If you got in a daily routine of interlocking, you would find that after a few days it would be such a "regular thing" that you wouldn't think twice about it. Plus if you take Steve's advice of a 5 deck platter, you can always become a "3 plex" booking-wise during the slow seasons. Heck, on weekdays you could stagger the auditoriums. A 2 hour movie could run in #1 at 7:00 with your next showtime of 9:10 in #2. That eliminates you from having to keep somebody on staff specifically to clean the auditoriums since you would be staggering the shows between the two auditoriums. During the middle part of the movie, you could clean the auditorium not in use. It would also chop off an easy 1/2 hour of your payroll by eliminating the downtime between shows. If you want to get weird though, here's my Guttag-themed suggestion. Set up 3 projectors, all of which are able to rotate 180 degrees to point between the two auditoriums and all have their own set of aperture plates for the specific auditorium. Start reel 1 on projector 1 in auditorium 1, then changeover to projector 2 in auditorium 1. 1/2way through reel 2, you will have rotated projector 1 180 degrees and start that same reel 1 (with appropriate aperture plate) to auditorium 2. Meanwhile you will do your changeover from reel 2 to reel 3, changing over from projector 2 to 3 in auditorium 1. Of course then you must flip projector 2 around to auditorium 2 and get things set for your changeover (rewind and rethread reel / change aperture). Do the changeover in auditorium 2 from reel 1 on projector 1 to reel 2 on projector 2, then load up reel 4 on projector 1 and rotate it back to auditorium 1 (don't forget that aperture). When reel 3 on projector 3 is over in auditorium 1, do the changeover from projector 3 back to projector 1, so you are changing from reel 3 to 4. Then rotate projector 3 to auditorium 2 and reset reel 3 on it, swap the apertures and do your changeover from projector 2 running reel 2 to projector 3 running reel 3 all in auditorium 2. Need I continue? It's super simple, it gives you that fabulous "changeover presentation", it staggers your showtimes and it saves you the cost of buying that 4th projector for your 2 screen. (As an added bonus you can see how this is clearly an easier solution to interlocking with those pesky platters.) Genius!!!  |  IP: Logged Paul Turner Expert Film Handler Posts: 115 From: Corvallis, OR, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 01-07-2004 02:51 PM                     I think I'll take Brad's suggestion about flipping the projectors 180 degrees and just sell tickets to watch the booth. Reverse the ramps and point the seats away from the screen. No film rental -- just run trailers! Anything to cut payroll. Great input from the group. Since I have a matching Cinemeccanica, I'll interlock. But don't think I'm not going to try the beamsplitter first ... And I actually like older machines (Motiograph AA and RCA 9030 running seven years with NO problems) and can find a couple I can put into service. I'll post a follow-up when I try the split before I put in the second projector. Thanks!  |  IP: Logged David Graham Rose Expert Film Handler Posts: 187 From: Cambridge, UK Registered: Sep 2002 posted 01-08-2004 03:25 PM                     Greetings from Cambridge I believe you are heading down a very slippery slope my dear boy. Unless both screens are one hundred percent identical, and that inculdes light paths, keystone angles and rake, then the image will never be focussed correctly. I have done a myriad of experiments of this nature here in the Departmenty of Cinema Technology, and have found that angle, and rake are key factors in image distortion*ref1. The majority of the funding originated from one of the UK's largest cinema chains, but due to poor field trials, the idea was never implemented. *ref1 Acta Cinematogrfia Vol 105, pp 34-76, auth. Harris-Quelch, Ryder, Weir & Rait Your with many high grade silver mirrors in store David  |  IP: Logged Paul Turner Expert Film Handler Posts: 115 From: Corvallis, OR, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 01-10-2004 04:39 PM                     I've decided I'm just going to get a couple projectors and interlink for presentation to the public. But, before I open my doors I will fool around with it and see what happens. Be a great way to kill half a day (before I rock and insulate the booth walls). Right now the city hasn't even issued permits so I have plenty of time to do some research before striking the lamp. I want to see if I can fine-focus screen two by altering the distance between the splitter and the mirror and stuff like that. I'll post when I've given it a shot.  |  IP: Logged

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