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Author Topic: My First Interlock Mark Hajducki Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 500 From: Edinburgh, UK Registered: May 2003 posted 03-08-2004 06:47 AM                     quote: we realized when setting up the interlock tests that the print could only go from #16 to #15, but not back again, necessitating the move of the Passion print back, every show. In a multiplex I used to work in (not in projection) interlocks were always run from the lower to the higher numbered screen. I asked the projectionist and the reason given was that the automation (cinemacica vector) gave out timing pulses in order (from 0 to 12). This resulted in a print move after every show (must have been fun for ROTK) with the added posibility of print damage.  |  IP: Logged Jackson Gilman Film Handler Posts: 37 From: Madison, WI, USA Registered: Jan 2004 posted 03-08-2004 06:06 PM                     Our theater is addicted to interlocks apparently. I do agree with you completely that interlocks are not a smart idea to do consistently. The only reason I wondered if other theaters had been running a lot of interlocks on the Passion print was because we've had many churches bring their congregation in en-masse (no pun intended) to see this movie. The preacher of the church would even hold sermons before and after the film, while the customers would sit there with their giant tubs of popcorn and gallon cups of soda. Bellevue baptist, the largest church in Memphis, bought 2500 tickets, selling out 7 auditoriums including our big screen, and causing us to interlock six projectors. I just can't believe that management would let $12,500.00 ride on an operation that has more risks than some NASA space shuttle launches. One mistake and they lose everything. (so do we.) Oh, and congratulations on the succesful interlock Richard!  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 03-09-2004 06:12 PM                     Our interlock booth (3+4) now has the ability to run the print as an interlock and also take the print back to the cinema from whence it came. So, on Sunday we have an interlock at 6.50pm. It screens earlier in #4 so I'll I/L from 4 to 3 then run the print back again to #4 at the same time so the next show (again in #4) will be ready to go without physically having to move the print. Also comes in handy when a session of Return Of The King (or anything, really but especially a long film) plays in say #4 for the first matinee, then in #3 for the rest of the day. No lifting. Me likeee.  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 03-09-2004 06:19 PM                        Wow, so many people afraid of interlocking a few screens. Maybe that's the reason people stopped building 1000 seat auditoriums, wanting to divide up the failure risk. I've never seen someone screw up an interlock for an audience. I have seen somebody screw up one screen, then screw up the next 3 or 4 screens before their head finally popped off. In most cases an unproportionately larger amount of attention is payed to interlocks than a film running on a single projector. Save mechanical or electrical failure, projectors don't screw up, the person running it does.  |  IP: Logged Chris Hipp Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1462 From: Mesquite, Tx (east of Dallas) Registered: Jul 2003 posted 03-09-2004 06:32 PM                     I have only had two real problems running a syncs and it didnt really take longer to get back on screen than a single. One projector/platter is usually fine so you just have to fix the bad one.  |  IP: Logged Jason Black Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1723 From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 03-12-2004 04:38 PM                        Ok, So I tested our interlock system a week or so ago after this thread came up. Figured out how the switching was set up, etc... dry ran the system (no film) and then put the film to it. Seems to work just fine with no problems to speak of. One thing I do need to ask... on tailing out (shutdown), the lights up cue goes thru the first automation (Hi-Tec - built for Carmike out of St. Augustine, Fl.) to lower teh lights. The second theatres lights won't go down until the cue hits the pickups on the 2nd projector, correct? And it should be Same with the 7 second shutdown delay, correct? I used a 4 reels of test film (defective reels never picked up by the distributor) but my operator didn't cue it out last week. Today, I didn't have enough time to allow it to run all the way thru to the end cues... I'll do that tonight, unless I get the good word here that what I previously asked is actually correct. BTW, I'm using Christie M35GP with Hi-Tec automations (4 cues per show) and Strong platters. I have to interlock 'Passion' tomorrow, so I hope all goes well. I had a VERY bad experience the last time we interlocked (3 houses). Not five minutes prior to the credits, the payout platter decided to erractically feed out, thus throwing the remainder of the film onto the floor. Nothing like 900+ schoolkids and teachers wondering WTF you just let happen to the film. Thus my reasoning for being a little 'gun-shy' when it comes to interlocking....  |  IP: Logged Darren Crimmins Expert Film Handler Posts: 130 From: Dallas, TX, USA Registered: Jan 2002 posted 03-12-2004 05:14 PM                     Platter Safety Ring? It's a good investment.  |  IP: Logged Jason Black Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1723 From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 03-12-2004 10:05 PM                        Darren... Cheap and technically 'behind the times' chain... And you think I coudl get a Platter Safety RIng? Bwwaaa haaaa haaaa  |  IP: Logged Jason Black Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1723 From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 03-13-2004 11:28 PM                        Not that anyone would have noticed.. but the interlock ran fine this morning. A little duct tape on the variac (dancer arm) kept the payour from becoming erratic... and all else was fine. SO maybe interlocking isn't THAT bad...  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 03-13-2004 11:39 PM                        If nobody noticed you did well. I usually use a short length of 2x4 lumber to hold the roller assembly in place (well up, anyway). Saves getting glue all over the tree and allows for the arm to go up if something sticks and it needs the speed for a couple seconds.  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 03-14-2004 12:32 PM                        When John said, quote: Our interlock booth (3+4) now has the ability to run the print as an interlock and also take the print back to the cinema from whence it came. For a second I had this image of the film traveling back to the another theatre where it was shipped from in a different part of town. Now THAT'S an interlock!  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 03-15-2004 04:44 PM                     Hi Frank Well, so long as it was just for a second.  |  IP: Logged Chris Hipp Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1462 From: Mesquite, Tx (east of Dallas) Registered: Jul 2003 posted 03-15-2004 04:56 PM                     Jason, what is wrong with your platters that you have to tape the take up carriage? I use strong platter and have never had to do this. You should have enough tension to hold it half way. What I do is on the feed platter after I thread it I spin the motor by hand a few times to drop the carriage down to about half way. It doesnt have to move, I cant think of many reasons why the takeup projector would speed up in the middle of the show.  |  IP: Logged Jason Black Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1723 From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 03-15-2004 09:02 PM                        Chris, You're talking take-up, I'm talking payout. Variable speed control proportionate to the dancer arm positioning. Man.. did I just spit that out? Take up wasn't taped in place, the payout dancer was. Clear as mud now?  |  IP: Logged Chris Hipp Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1462 From: Mesquite, Tx (east of Dallas) Registered: Jul 2003 posted 03-15-2004 09:26 PM                     yeah, I got confused by Daryl's post. My suggestion, get phase control brains, I've never had a problem.  |  IP: Logged

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