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Author Topic: Pixar, Disney, Dolby "Film Done Right" Contest Mike Olpin Chop Chop! Posts: 1852 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Jan 2002 posted 11-03-2004 05:46 PM                     So far I've stayed out of this, because obviously any one who knows me knows I'm biased to side with Pixar. But, like jhawk said, I'm really surprised that a lot of you are reacting so negatively. Yes, It's not a perfect projectionist program yet, but that's no reason to start waving the middle finger in the direction of Emeryville. The program will improve with input and time. The important thing is that Pixar acknowledges that projectionists play a vital role. A company, especially one that produces its product digitally, could just as easily see us as people who will be eventually replaced by digital machines.(Let's be honest, this is the attitude that most studios, and even many of our employers have.) But instead Pixar is going that extra mile to give us a pat on the back for doing a good job, and providing resources to those of us who would like them. (Website, Toll free number) I, for one, have not been so excited about a film for a long time, contest or no contest. Oh - and I love the idea for the cue marks. The current standard ones are just plain ugly. "And that's all I've got to say about that."  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 11-03-2004 06:15 PM                  quote: Mike Olpin Oh - and I love the idea for the cue marks. The current standard ones are just plain ugly. They may be "ugly", but they do follow ANSI/SMPTE "Standards" not some whim of some wannabe. But, it's a losing battle... I just got back from a meeting about a new PIXAR film to be shot and released in 2.0:1 flat. So much for "Standards"... Get them new lenses while ya can boys. >>> Phil  |  IP: Logged Will Kutler Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1506 From: Tucson, AZ, USA Registered: Feb 2001 posted 11-03-2004 06:17 PM                     While it is not a "perfect" contest, at least it is a beginning. If the film makers finally see the light regarding the quality differences between concession kids and professioal projectionists (craftsman who care), maybe the'll eventually find a way of forcing the theatre chains to hire professional projectionist and pay an approperiate salary? So, quite the gripping and hope for the best...try working with the studios and film-makers...and not against them! Could the "glory days" that we have all been yearning for be possibly returning?  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 11-03-2004 06:22 PM                  So Will, what are you smokin'? TV in the theatres will become common place before ANYONE would even think of returning to the "expensive" professional film projectionist. Why pay a "pro" when ya can hire a H.S. kid to do the same thing? >>> Phil  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 11-03-2004 06:34 PM                     Well let's see.... Ted - will the "winning" theaters be listed somewhere? JHawk - I actually agree with something you said! That being that the studios were probably already going to do these checks. Now as for the rest of it, you must be smoking some of that I-30 stuff. Re: hostility? Not really. Try a big "when will they learn" sigh instead. The contest proves nothing at all, for all of the reasons pointed out already in this thread. It's very disappointing that a studio finally tries to take the initiative, yet manages to botch it up in such a ridiculous fashion. While I get Ted's argument that the most people will be seeing the print on opening day...what about the theaters that receive a damaged reel and can't get it changed out in time? That's certainly not a fair representation of what they are capable of. And I still adamantly stand by the fact that not doing checkups at least a month out from the release date showes that the studio only cares about that first weekend's gross. By checking a month out for the "contest", if the presentation is still flawless by that date, guess what...it's ALWAYS been that good! Those are the people who deserve the kudos. Re: 1-800-PHONE-THX was a great idea, also poorly implemented. Less than 1% of the patrons were still around by the time that notice came up on the screen. Stupid! If they are serious about wanting it shown, they should put it at the very start of the movie. Hopefully our buddy Ted will convince them to add the 1-800-DOLBY-RULES phone number at the beginning, if they so decide to offer such a service. Phil, you're right. Will's smoking something far stronger than that I-30 stuff. Stop dreaming Will! (PS to Ted, just so you know I'm not picking on you. I know you're one of the good guys. I'm just pointing out the flaws so the next time maybe you can have a little more push to make the contest more accurate.)  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-03-2004 06:44 PM                        Ted--interestingly, I know of at least one preview screening of this film that was cancelled because the venue didn't have Dolby Stereo (actually, they have a CP65, but in a mono configuration). It got moved to a nearby multiplex, I think. Steve--I don't work in "sloth like theatres," but I've run a number of venues that don't run film on a daily basis and, shall we say, aren't big on maintenance. Anyway, I think we basically agree here. (It's all moot for me, anyway, since I won't be showing this title on opening weekend...if ever.) If we're going to hold everyone up to a standard of "perfection," then there is not a single theatre in this market that is equipped, maintained, and operated well enough to achieve it. Will--I wish! They should bring back 70mm while they're at it. Anyway, this seems like a basically good idea, though the implementation is sub-optimal. It's definitely a start, though, and if it does anything to improve overall presentation quality, I'm all in favor of it, especially if the implementation can be improved in the future.  |  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 11-03-2004 07:00 PM                        Short release life acknowledged, what's wrong with doing checks on the Thursday following release? Unless you're (Dolby->Studio) is going to take immediate action and correct bad presentations by replacing prints and/or executing incompentent projection personnel, you might as well give them a chance to things up. At the very least you should check the second show on Friday since someone is far more likely to scratch a print after the projector aperture than they are before it (more likely to up intermittent loop size and the higher tension on the takeup side is more prone to scratch a print if a roller is misthreaded than on the feed side). In any case, you're a funny man Ted! Dolby, Dolby, Dolby. (That's four times now, where's my bonus?)  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 11-03-2004 07:05 PM                  quote: Brad Miller PS to Ted, just so you know I'm not picking on you. I know you're one of the good guys... Yes! I agree! Ted and John "Kodak" Pytlak are both great guys and true professionals. Plus all of yous know that while I may not 100% agree with yous, I totally support yous and your companies and have for the last umpteen years. As such, do yous have any job openings that would fit my talents? I've been out of work lately and been sexually selling myself on Santa Monica Blvd here in Hollywood just to make ends meet. For various reasons, I'm a little "short". I would really like to have a day job. Please email me privately. Thanks! >>> Phil P.S. They really are pros and I just cannot resist yanking their chains in jest.  |  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 11-03-2004 07:31 PM                        quote: Phil Hill I'm a little "short". I heard it was much more serious than just a little.  |  IP: Logged Wolff King Morrow Master Film Handler Posts: 490 From: Denton, TX, USA Registered: Feb 2004 posted 11-04-2004 01:21 AM                        I agree with most of the others about this. Sometimes presentation is dependant on the equipment you have to work with. The checkers could be at a theater where the projectionist did his job perfectly, but didn't make the grade because perhaps the theater's choice of wattage size for bulbs was too low or some other budget concern. There's some things out of your control. I'd hope that such checkers would be aware of these possibilities. Often times the job of a projectionist is focused on plugging holes in a dam, more than just the simpler things of starting a show in frame.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-04-2004 02:14 AM                        quote: Brad Miller While I get Ted's argument that the most people will be seeing the print on opening day... Who gives a damn how many people are in the audience? If you're not giving just as good a presentation for 10 people as you are for 300 or more, then you should get out of the business.  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 11-04-2004 03:44 AM                        King of Wolffs: As it was said at the beginning, if your theater has poor equipment, you are putting on a poor presentation, period. While this may not be the projectionist's fault, it'd be unfair to give the theater high marks in general. If something is out of whack, the theater should get marked for it. Screw 'em. They suck ass and deserve to be called for it. quote: Phillip I just got back from a meeting about a new PIXAR film to be shot and released in 2.0:1 flat That is retarded. Did you happen to mention that? Screw the special lenses, most theaters don't have masking stops at that ratio. Do they expect the projectionist to run down and pull the chains manually between the trailers and the movie? They should do 4.5:1 anamorphic instead. Please let them know that they need to wipe their ass after they go diarrhea, otherwise the BS sticks to them and affects their decisions.  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 11-04-2004 05:58 PM                  Ok! Before Joe has a pre-mature orgasm here, my post WAS A JOKE! It was meant to point out and ask why have standards if some ass arbitrarily decides NOT to follow them? I was betting that Steve Guttag, jhawk, or Mike Olpin would have called me out and slammed/harassed me on it. I would have NEVER guessed that Joe would have fell for it! HA! >>> Phil  |  IP: Logged Steve Scott Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1300 From: Minneapolis, MN Registered: Sep 2000 posted 11-04-2004 06:22 PM                     Let's just get the fatcat owners of these corporations out to whatever limited number of theaters, and they'll make their decision based on how comfy the seats are, and how old are the hot dogs in concessions. Then, they can time each hand dryer in the restrooms to see if they all stop after the same amount of time; put a ten dollar bill on a string and test the wits of all the floor staff; and finally, challenge management to build the most wicked cool fort out of all the standees on hand. That should truly test a theater's presentation quality  |  IP: Logged Ted Costas Expert Film Handler Posts: 119 From: Hollywood, CA, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 11-04-2004 07:12 PM                     Brad, You are right, the "automatic DTS deduction" should be ten points instead of five. Thanks Brad. By the way, I am kidding! I wrote a whole paragraph about not being biased... are you selectively reading? I know you have a DTS house, and I know you put on a perfect show everytime. Notice I said the word perfect and DTS in the same sentence. Heck, I'll even say SDDS and perfect in the same sentence (PLEASE SAVE THE SOUNDTRACK WARS DEBATE FOR A SEPARATE POSTING PLEASE). Anyway, this is a 100% un-biased contest. The only bias we have is against poor presentations. And if you are like Brad, and always give 100%, always have a perfect show, and always return your prints in perfect condition... This contest is a big "THANK YOU" to you from Disney and Pixar. Read Card Number 9, enter the contest, and according to the Hollywood Reporter article, everyone who enters gets a t-shirt that was made for this contest. With this contest, everybody wins. The studio wins, the audience wins, and yes Brad, the projectionist wins as well. I hope you get the movie... the "projectionist collector cards" are in the can with all the details. I was going to end with a comment about how Brad is actually not elligible to win this contest, and that the fine print on card number 9 states that... but I'm worried he won't get to the part where I say, "I'm kidding!" So nevermind. Good luck, and keep up the fine work! Yours, Ted  |  IP: Logged

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