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Author Topic: Oops! I played the wrong movie! John Hawkinson Film God Posts: 2273 From: Cambridge, MA, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 04-05-2006 12:49 PM                     Pete is correct that this is not supposed to happen. There have also been multiple reports on this site where it has happened. I do not think Monte's explanation is correct. The DTS timecode is organized such that the reel number, serial number, and timecode refererence (3 seperate numbers) are all seperate and clearly identifyable pieces of information. It cannot just happen that a serial number matches a timecode. But furthermore, even if it did happen, it would only happen for one timecode sequence, so you might get a blip of the wrong movie (or maybe 4 seconds if the DTS "freewheeling" logic applied), but no more. I think there has been some speculation that it may be possible to mis-configure (with jumpers) the player such that it ignores the reel number and serial number (SMPTE timecode jumpers?). Or perhaps some subtle bug. --jhawk  |  IP: Logged Pete Naples Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1565 From: Dunfermline, Scotland Registered: Feb 2001 posted 04-05-2006 01:18 PM                     That's kind of true John, you can put the players into SMPTE mode, however if you do that, to the best of my knowledge it won't read TC from the reader head. I have a DTS Special Venue unit on service that regularly gets changed from SMPTE to DTS timecode mode, according to what they are playing.  |  IP: Logged Marc Jensen Film Handler Posts: 20 From: Auckland, New Zealand Registered: Jan 2006 posted 04-16-2006 07:37 AM                     Threading the Wrong Film 101 The following examples of how to thread the wrong film and associated near-misses are compiled from my experiences with Kinoton systems and people who just don't bloody well look what they're doing. Option 1. 1.) Show ends. 2.) Grab the ring out of it and plant it in the spare platter. 3.) Grab the leader and move to start threading. 4.) Look puzzled as your brain catches up and nags you into the realization that you were about to do something very stupid. Option 2. 1.) Show ends. 2.) Grab the ring out of it and plant it in the spare platter. 3.) Grab the leader and start threading. 4.) Upon returning to the platter, with leader in hand, read the name of the film lying dormant - The one that you're not actually dragging the front end of. 5.) Utter an expletive. 6.) Waste a few minutes sorting out the mess you made. Option 3. 1.) Show ends. 2.) Grab the ring out of it and plant it in the spare platter. 3.) Grab the leader and thread the projector and rollers. 4.) Carefully check the loops, film path, the whole bit, because you dare not damage the print, eh? 5.) Reset the automation to run the next show. 6.a.) Read the name of the film you just threaded or the one just above or below and utter an expletive. 6.b.) Or, because your checking process is so thorough, check it off on your list where you read the name, then utter an expletive. 7.) Sort out the bluder quickly before customers get a reason to think their show is running behind schedule. Option 4. 1.) Show ends. 2.) Grab the ring out of it and plant it in the spare platter. 3.) Grab the leader and thread the projector and rollers. 4.) Carefully check the loops, film path, etc. etc. 5.) Reset the automation to run the next show. 6.) At show start, check the picture and sound, film path etc. 7.) At feature start re-check, make any necessary focus reajustments and so on. 8.a) Run the show blissfully unaware that you've just done something incredibly twitty (until the supervisor spots it). 8.b) Answer a call from a slightly frantic sounding manager, or better yet, ignore the radio communications and tie up the phone line so nobody can contact you! Okay, that's enough mockery of the situation for one post. Confession time: I did Option 3 tonight. There was a 20 minute gap between shows and I saw what I'd done as soon as I had it set up to go, so no customers were disadvantaged, but that's still the closest call in the "wrong show" sense that I've managed to do in a long time. At least I've never managed to do "Option 4"... Yet.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 04-16-2006 09:03 AM                        Option #5: 1. Manager changes schedule for multiplex, such that two films which were originally intended to swap positions (from cinema 1 to cinema 2 and vice-versa) do not 2. Manager does not give copy of new schedule to projectionist 3. Projectionist shows films according to original version of schedule 4. ...time passes... 5. Manager runs into booth screaming and waving arms 6. Projectionist unthreads both machines, removes trailers from both films, re-threads in correct auditoria using conveniently placed interlock rollers, re-starts shows according to new version of schedule (which he never received) 7. ...time passes... 8. Manager never bothers to apologize to or thank projectionist for dealing with manager's incompetence. This is what led me to interchange "Princess Diaries" and "Rock Star"--the only time I have ever shown the "wrong" films (so far...knock on wood).  |  IP: Logged Alexander Smith Expert Film Handler Posts: 128 From: Walney Island, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. Registered: Jun 2003 posted 04-16-2006 11:51 AM                     Further up this thread somebody suggested temporarily confiscating one payout module where, two films are shown in the order A, B, A, B. Good idea, I like that and it works. Even if you just start to thread the head of the wrong show through the payout module, before realising your stupidity, you can grab the "spare" module and thread the correct show with the minimum of fuss. Naturally, programme planners can reduce the risk of "wrong show, wrong time" buy not putting films on in the ABAB pattern in the first place. :-) Alex (not that we _ever_ show the wrong film, but we like to make it easy for us to correct our own mistake before the show starts so the public don't see it).  |  IP: Logged

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