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Topic: Paint in Booth

Andrew McCrea
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 645
From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 08-11-2004 04:40 PM

An old downtown FAMOUS PLAYERS theatre here had white (or very very light grey) walls. It also had dark grey carpeting. The lighting in the booth was a recessed down light above each platter (plus at the trailer shelves), a swive/threading light pointing at each projector and flouresecents above each projector. The flourescents were never used, and there was also a desk lamp at the make-up table. The was only one porthole (probably something like 16x24), plus a very tiny window for the slide projector.

It was easy to see around in this booth and didn't shine in the auditorium at all.

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Frank Angel
Film God

Posts: 5305
From: Brooklyn NY USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 08-13-2004 10:27 AM

In one theatre there are no ports, just this huge window across the front of the booth. Makes it VERY difficult to work because ALL the light has to be very carefully controlled -- it isn't exactly soundproof either so you have to control you voice level....no cursing when you have a problem. You basically are working in the dark except for small winkie lights on the projectors and the racks. The booth had to be painted completely flat black. We started hanging posters on the back all just so you wouldn't get depressed from the total lack of color. Then we found that there was enough reflected light off the posters that you could make a shadow on the screen with your hand. They had to come down and they give is meds for the depression.

One thing that also must be considered along with light hitting the screen is light hitting the audience. In our big booth that does have traditional ports, we found that certain seats would get light spill from the ports. This is quite distracting to anyone sitting in those seats. It took some doing (metal shrowds around the projector work lights for better control) to eliminate it. There wall color in this booth is not an issue in terms of reflecting anything to the screen. We have baby blue for the walls to about five feet up and then it's white acoustic tile up the rest of the wall to the ceiling. The front wall however, is painted flat black up to the tile.

This booth has really bright overheads for non-show work, but during the show all the white light is directional and aimed only at the areas needed. However we borrowed something that is used in some live theatre control rooms -- for "show" condition, i.e., the actual running of a live show, the lighting and sound control rooms are flooded with a very deep blue light (I believe Rosco 85 gel). We have two flourescents high up in the 20ft ceiling that are geled and they fill the room with deep blue light; evidently this color, if it does inadvertantly make it to the stage (or screen) or seating area, is not nearly as distracting as white light. They are called "show blues."

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Nicole Halper
Film Handler

Posts: 47
From: Plano, Texas, USA
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 08-17-2004 09:10 PM

Wow- I have been contemplating this issue myself. See, I've only been working upstairs there for just under a year now,and the Yellow floor and Yellow walls are starting to get to me. Hmmm I was thinking a lighter shade of blue. It's not too depressing, and not to wild. Well, if we wanted wild- Hot Pink was my other idea (but considering we are down to 2 girls...I don't think they Like that idea too much) I would love to re-paint it though!

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Jack Ondracek
Film God

Posts: 2348
From: Port Orchard, WA, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 08-17-2004 10:27 PM

Another issue with booth paint is the amount of reflection you might be dealing with when looking out the ports. Lighter wall colors would tend to be more distracting for you if the lights are on behind you. Darker walls and flat paint would be less distracting. Striking the balance is the challenge.

Up here, we had an owner that addressed the problem in his theatres by leaving the walls unpainted sheetrock. the ceilings are all open insulation with flat black fire retardant sprayed on... pretty attractive!

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Joshua Waaland
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 800
From: Cleveland, Ohio
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 08-23-2004 12:44 PM

The Cinemark booth I worked in had very light colored tan walls. See booth pictures in picture warehouse. Cinemark Macedonia 15.

We didn't have any problems with reflection from the walls as we only really used the track lighting above the projectors to see while we threaded. Otherwise the lights stayed off. The lighter walls make it easier to navigate in the darkness through the booth. The minimal amount of light that is reflected makes it easier to see than with darker walls. Also we had light colored tiles which helped in this aspect. I liked the way it looked. I felt like the lighter colors made it seem much cleaner, bigger and uncluttered.

I worked in a booth with the grey walls before and it was much darker, dreary and dingy looking. Just my opinion.

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