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Author Topic: Interlocking with delay Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 03-11-2008 08:15 PM                     quote: Ken McFall What happens to all of the film in the loop when the film runs out of the first projector? All of the tension would be lost and the film would drape onto itself causing the last 30 min to scratch itself surely? Brad's always been suggesting that we add a trailer to the tail of a movie when building it up. So methinks you can just add more of them since there's more distance to travel. Though that would be adding roughly 30-40 mins worth of trailers. Still doable.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 03-11-2008 10:15 PM                     Like I said, it takes about 5 minutes to reset for the next show. I never said rethread. (Think about it. )  |  IP: Logged Stu Jamieson Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 524 From: Buccan, Qld, Australia Registered: Jan 2008 posted 03-12-2008 03:35 AM                     Hmmm, intriguing. So you stop the projectors before the tail runs out and use the (already threaded) tail of the previous show as the leader for the next show?  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 03-12-2008 10:39 AM                     In a nutshell, yes, although there are a few other minor things in the setup that needs to be done.  |  IP: Logged Phil Ranucci Expert Film Handler Posts: 236 From: Carpinteria,CA, United States Registered: May 2006 posted 03-12-2008 01:08 PM                     But wouldn't that make the intermission in the first theater as long as the delay between 1&2 plus the intermission in #2? I see that's already been pointed out, but I'm still curious about the intermission.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 03-12-2008 01:39 PM                     Yes that is exactly correct. If the delay is 40 minutes and it takes 5 minutes to reset, 45 minute intermissions are the minimum that can be done. However in some instances, it is better for the theater to do this with one print for the entire first week than be stuck with a contract for 2 prints. (Disclaimer - I don't book 'em, I just figure out a way to make the ideal schedule work in the booth.)  |  IP: Logged Stu Jamieson Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 524 From: Buccan, Qld, Australia Registered: Jan 2008 posted 03-12-2008 06:58 PM                     So assuming that you just ran the print from (say) Proj-A to Proj-B, do you reverse the threading in each projector and then run from B back to A? Or do you physically shift the print back to A, swap the old (threaded) tail for the new leader and then run to B again? I would think the latter would be easier. Presumably then, when the show starts, you utilise the turning platter to wind the removed leader onto the tail of the print and the cycle continues ad infinitum??  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 03-12-2008 07:51 PM                     Auditorium #1 11:00 2:00 5:00 8:00 11:00 Auditorium #2 11:40 2:40 5:40 8:40 11:40 This is just an example. The film is never unthreaded. There is a simple procedure of breaking a splice, winding the leader on and then making a splice.  |  IP: Logged Stu Jamieson Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 524 From: Buccan, Qld, Australia Registered: Jan 2008 posted 03-12-2008 09:11 PM                     Hmmm, you're being very cryptic there, Brad, but I won't give up! So I'm guessing that what you're actually doing is this: Correct?  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 03-12-2008 09:25 PM                     There is nothing cryptic about it...unless you can figure out some other way different from what you have drawn. It's not that complicated in concept. In reality tension and stopping/starting are a bit of an issue.  |  IP: Logged Stu Jamieson Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 524 From: Buccan, Qld, Australia Registered: Jan 2008 posted 03-12-2008 09:40 PM                     It was a little bit cryptic for me because a standard interlock for us would run from platter 1 to platter 2. The idea of running the print from a platter through 2 projectors and then back to the same platter is something I've never done (or considered) and so, for me, it wasn't obvious rather requiring a small conceptual leap to get it.  |  IP: Logged Ken McFall Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 615 From: Haringey, London. Registered: Apr 2001 posted 03-13-2008 05:59 AM                     Stu said ------------------------------------------------------ It was a little bit cryptic for me because a standard interlock for us would run from platter 1 to platter 2. The idea of running the print from a platter through 2 projectors and then back to the same platter is something I've never done (or considered) and so, for me, it wasn't obvious rather requiring a small conceptual leap to get it. ------------------------------------------------------------------- In fact the type of interlock you mention, returning the film to the feed platter is nothing unusual. Indeed with some platters, Strong Alpha Platter is one, it's the only way of doing an interlock. This type of platter does not have independant feed and take-up speed controls relying on the take-up variac to effectivly control both plates. The control module basically just turn's on or off the feed plate. There is a resistor in the take-up circuit so that the feed plate always has a slight speed advantage but that's basically it. Therefore you cannot feed film from the platter unless you are also taking film up as well. I've done it with Alpha PLatters in a botth I would not normally consider interlock in as the staff are not exactly on the ball. But it's worked perfectly for them. Like all interlocks it requires a very rigid operating procedure and sticking to it. Brad's mamoth delay system would be a disaster in any both where everyone goes their own way. I'd turn around and go home if I came in and saw all that film hanging and lying on the floor  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 03-13-2008 09:39 AM                        I find that to be a great solution for when a film comes out that is going to do well on the opening weekend then die a very quick and financially painful death! Like brad said instead of being stuck with two prints for two or three weeks you book only one and drop the extra shows the second week, I like it a lot. This is another example where a professional, well trained, and qualified projection staff can save a theatre money. See, Were not the enemy!  |  IP: Logged Mark J. Marshall Film God Posts: 3188 From: New Castle, DE, USA Registered: Aug 2002 posted 03-14-2008 10:09 AM                    quote: Ken McFall Indeed with some platters, Strong Alpha Platter is one, it's the only way of doing an interlock. Not exactly true. You're right about the speed controls not being independent, but there are ways around everything. I have a theater where they interlock on a somewhat regular basis and sometimes go from one end of the building to the other (because that's where the two biggest houses are) and maybe hit a few in between too, and always go from one platter to a different platter. You have to be careful and aware of what you're doing. Having independent speed controls on the pay out and the take up would simplify the procedure by a few steps, but NOT having independent speed controls doesn't mean you can't do it if you're creative.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 03-14-2008 11:21 AM                     What he means is you can clamp the takeup elevator rollers partway up the post. I used to do this all the time with SPECO LP-270 platters to make them run smoother during an interlock.  |  IP: Logged

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