Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Uptown Theater ditches quality projectionists in search of a crappy presentation

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Topic: Uptown Theater ditches quality projectionists in search of a crappy presentation

Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 02-24-2005 09:08 AM

Oh yes, oh yes...I hear that they up to print #6 (though print #5 apparantly came in with a scratched reel, imagine that).

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 02-24-2005 02:49 PM

If there was ever a theater that NEEDED a DLP projector... [thumbsdown]

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Dustin Mitchell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1865
From: Mondovi, WI, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 02-24-2005 03:46 PM

Question: who is ordering the replacement prints? The managers or the projectionists?

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Stephen Furley
Film God

Posts: 3059
From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England
Registered: May 2002

posted 02-24-2005 03:56 PM

quote: Steve Guttag
(though print #5 apparantly came in with a scratched reel, imagine that).

Well, if they keep scratching prints, might as well send them one that's already scratched; no point in sendiing them a decent one if they're not going to keep it in that condition.

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Monte L Fullmer
Film God

Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 02-24-2005 04:06 PM

...same basic nonsense that I'm facing - scratching prints due to not caring. - Monte

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Mike Spaeth
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1129
From: Marietta, GA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 02-24-2005 08:56 PM

I find it a little hard to believe that they are up to 6 scratched prints in a single screen in how long? Dustin raised an excellent point ... who is ordering these prints. Sounds like it could be typical union tactics to me ...

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Sam D. Chavez
Film God

Posts: 2153
From: Martinez, CA USA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 02-24-2005 10:11 PM

I'm not sure what the previous poster is implying. Are the union guys sneaking in in the middle of the night with a bulk film scratcher to humiliate the Uptown staff?

Oh please, get a grip!

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 02-24-2005 10:26 PM

quote: Mike Spaeth
I find it a little hard to believe that they are up to 6 scratched prints in a single screen in how long? Dustin raised an excellent point ... who is ordering these prints. Sounds like it could be typical union tactics to me ...

No way! Although I would love to think they are attacking back! Its oh so easy for a person that is not familiar with a JJ to scratch film on one while it is running....... If it were a regular 35mm machine that would be one thing but in a 35/70 its another thing.......

Mark

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Mike Spaeth
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1129
From: Marietta, GA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 02-24-2005 10:53 PM

So ... I should take the previous post to condone union tactics such as these? My point had nothing to do with a "bulk film scratcher" but rather as a question as to whether unnecessary "replacement prints" were being ordered in order to cost Loews $$. I'm not making accusations ... simply asking questions ... has anyone here SEEN the damage?

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 02-24-2005 11:56 PM

quote: Mike Spaeth
Sounds like it could be typical union tactics

That in itself is an accusation.

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 02-25-2005 12:33 AM

First Mike you are making the aquistions since the union is not there they can't order prints and in the reel world a union projectionist still couldn't order a replacement print without management ok
so union bashing it appears is your goal [fu]

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Stephen Furley
Film God

Posts: 3059
From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England
Registered: May 2002

posted 02-25-2005 03:04 AM

quote: Brad Miller
If there was ever a theater that NEEDED a DLP projector...

Too expensive.

quote: Mark Gulbrandsen
Its oh so easy for a person that is not familiar with a JJ to scratch film on one while it is running

Ah, then it's all the fault of the projectors, and there's a simple solution to this problem. All the management has to do is to throw out the 70mm gear and put in the cheapest 35mm machine they can find.

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Dustin Mitchell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1865
From: Mondovi, WI, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 02-25-2005 03:27 AM

quote: Gordon McLeod
since the union is not there they can't order prints

They're still there on weekends apparantly.

quote: Gordon McLeod
in the reel world a union projectionist still couldn't order a replacement print without management ok

I wasn't sure how it worked in union shops, thus I asked.

My post was not to imply any wrong doing on the part of the union but merely an inquiry into who was responsible for ordering the replacement prints. Normaly in these situations (booths run by uncaring personal) if a print gets damaged no replacement is ever ordered, so if the managers are ordered new prints that is at least something.

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 02-25-2005 04:24 AM

Well let's just wait for Steve Guttag to answer the more specific questions. I would also be interested in knowing how much of this damage came from misthreading the projector and how much came from misthreading the platter. They are using a Century JJ projector and a Christie AW3 platter. My money is on that JJ. I've worked booths before with a bunch of 35-only projectors (Simplex/Century/Christie) and that one or two JJs...and films ALWAYS got destroyed on the JJ. There's just something about the fact of it having dual formats that just baffles many people. Heck, even theaters with a bunch of Century SAs and a JJ...film STILL always got damaged on the JJ because it would be misthreaded, even though the path is virtually identical. [Shrug]

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Stephen Furley
Film God

Posts: 3059
From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England
Registered: May 2002

posted 02-25-2005 04:45 AM

Brad, are you saying that the problems are with that particular model, or with dual-gauge machines in general? I've never seen a JJ, only DP-70, DP-75 and Vic 8.

Something I have seen, on many 70mm prints, is scratches which from the position on the frame would be just about in the position where the edge of a 35mm film would be. Not that I've seen much 70mm in recent years; I think the last new release was 'Hamlet'. Even the NFT only runs it very occasionally now.

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