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Author Topic: What is the worst film mess you've had to deal with? How did you fix it? Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 06-23-2008 08:52 PM                        Those Bollywood movies always seem to wrap very loosely for some reason.  |  IP: Logged Laurie Higgins Film Handler Posts: 45 From: Norcross, GA, USA Registered: Jun 2008 posted 06-25-2008 01:03 PM                        Yes, they do. They are also very prone to brain wraps and tail wraps. Plus then are so filthy when we get them they frequently want to stick. I once had to pull my chair up to a platter and on almost every turn reach over and tap the film so it wouldn't pull multiple layers through the brain. I did this for about an hour when I got the idea to tape a straw to the bottom of the platter above it and let the straw hang down and separate the layers just before they pulled away and headed for the brain. I had to move the straw a few times to keep up with the unwinding of the print, but it worked  |  IP: Logged Sonja O'Reilly Film Handler Posts: 18 From: San Diego County, CA, USA Registered: Jun 2002 posted 06-26-2008 07:45 PM                     I think I may have posted this before, but we ran a Saw marathon for the release of Saw 4 last year. We played Saws 1, 2, and 3, then the new release. Because they were Technicolor and shipping out the next day, I was hustling to break down everything. As I got started on my last print, Saw 1, the ring collapsed, sending the print flying at me. I was sitting next to the MUT because I was tired and when the print came at me, I went "aaah!" and reached across to shut off the MUT. I reached across the spinning plastic reel that was going at full speed. I got a nice burn on my forearm and I still have that scar. The film was laying on the floor and I spent a few hours putting it back together to break it down. And just the week before I had spent a few hours putting Superbad back together when my co-workers (who normally work downstairs and a day in the booth a week, not my choice) decided to move the print without a ring, barring the fact that they all knew you could move the platters instead. They seemed shocked when the print collapsed over the moving board and into the shopping cart we use for moving prints thru the booth. I got the 12 am phone call and screamed for them not to touch it. My trick for putting a print back together is to use masking tape labeled with a number on either side of it as a reference. I cut straight through the tape and when I have the print untangled and straightened out, it makes it easier to put back together. Oh and last year (I think) our ceiling leaked water all over the print of Spiderman 3. I noticed it before it ran and cancelled the show (it had been out for a while). I moved it to a non-leaky auditorium, stick-a-pooed the heck out of it and ran it thru the dry-web media cleaner. We had an incident before with X-men 3 getting wet, sticking to itself and throwing itself off the platter, so I knew what to expect. The dry-web media cleaner soaked up the water and the lamp got the rest as I ran it thru. I shoved a concessionist in there to watch for water damage and periodically checked. Nothing. The print was fine. yay!!  |  IP: Logged Justin Hamaker Film God Posts: 2253 From: Lakeport, CA USA Registered: Jan 2004 posted 06-26-2008 08:54 PM                        As long as the film isn't on some hot list, Technicolor will usually reschedule pick-up for Monday. Maybe not something to be used all the time, but it's great when needed. You just need to call them by about 8:00-9:00pm the night the movie is coming off screen.  |  IP: Logged Justin Gorka Expert Film Handler Posts: 174 From: High Wycombe, England Registered: Apr 2006 posted 06-27-2008 09:22 PM                     I can state without reservation we in the UK cringe when we get a print with the number US123 (for example). They are always a knackered. Film guard is not an excuse for poor workmanship.  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 08-09-2008 03:39 AM                        Here are some pics from my disaster referenced on page one of this thread:  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 08-09-2008 04:30 AM                     ...that ain't nothing...that can be cleaned up within a half hour. ..got one better.... all five reels of a movie is laying below this Christie - failsafe jammed and didn't catch a stuck splice in the trailer pak.  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 08-09-2008 05:08 AM                        That looks fairly recent (within a few years) judging by the lamphouse.  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 08-09-2008 06:43 AM                     Damn, you said it's 'all five reels of a movie'...so there's no way it can be Indiana Jones or Mamma Mia [ 08-09-2008, 10:54 AM: Message edited by: John Wilson ]  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 08-09-2008 07:26 PM                     this pic was taken about 10yrs ago by this theatre's sup trying to put the blame on whoever did this and make himself look good with the mgr.. kinda backfired on the sup due to this wasn't an intentional practice, but a "shit happens" thing and the mgr repremanded the sup for trying to cause trouble. But, it didn't take long to get this all up off the floor. The tail end was found laying on top of this mess and the operator used two 6k reels along with the MUT to wind this up...and a good couple of FG soaked media rolls on the Kelmar to make the print look new again.. It was a slow movie anywhos, thus he only lost one performance. -Monte  |  IP: Logged

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