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Author Topic: Screwed Public Enemy print Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 07-02-2009 12:22 PM                     That's alright - no harm done-my apologies in my comments ... It just looked horribly odd to see such items in film shipments where it's not a common thing for someone to pull a prank like that... Was their white zip ties sealing the cans down, my next question? That would have raised a red flag when the print arrived at the location - of an unsealed delivery (or, was the film on a circuit - like a public sneak of sorts and you got that print from that one theatre..?) Good luck as always -Monte  |  IP: Logged Jeremy Weigel Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1062 From: Edmond, OK, USA Registered: Mar 2007 posted 07-02-2009 12:35 PM                     Maybe someone was trying to show that zip ties (especially generic off the shelf types) don't exactly "secure" or "tamper-proof" the cans and that anyone can place any object in the can(s) at any point during transit. If that is the case, I hate to think of what else could have been put in there.  |  IP: Logged Kenneth Wuepper Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1026 From: Saginaw, MI, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 07-02-2009 02:20 PM                     I have received one can of two into which someone had forced GRAPHITE powder. The reels, can and film were encrusted with the stuff. This was a Technicolor shipment we had to run. It was very hard to clean that mess and some of the powder was on the image areas of the film as well. KEN  |  IP: Logged Jonathan Bodge Film Handler Posts: 83 From: East Dorset, VT Registered: Nov 2006 posted 07-02-2009 03:38 PM                     Union troubles?  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 07-02-2009 05:56 PM                     I still don't see how this makes the print unplayable. Even if there was some damage to the edges it couldn't be that bad as to not make it to the screen. If you're afraid of a screw flying out when you're winding it...just wind it slowly. It's a stupid thing to be there in the first place, I agree...but the show must go on.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-02-2009 06:53 PM                        I agree with John. Unless the screws were literally screwed into the print edges -- damaging multiple sprocket holes. From the photo it just looks like somebody dumped a box o'screws in there. Peter when you get a minute, how about a pic of some of the film damage?  |  IP: Logged James Falloon Film Handler Posts: 72 From: Wigram, Christchurch, New Zealand Registered: Oct 2003 posted 07-03-2009 05:25 AM                     Agreed with above. Don't just write off a print without inspecting it first. It looks as though it's a nice tight wind with the head/tail taped down and I would suspect that very little, if any, actual damage has been done and I doubt that it would show up on screen. As for how the screws got there, maybe someone is trying to send you a hint that you need to fix your seats  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 07-03-2009 09:08 AM                     quote: Kenneth Wuepper I have received one can of two into which someone had forced GRAPHITE powder. Same exact thing here not too long ago. Just one can of two. Strange to say the least.  |  IP: Logged Andrew Bangs Expert Film Handler Posts: 148 From: Kerrville, Texas, United States Registered: Sep 2008 posted 07-03-2009 10:28 AM                        It could be that the print is fine however why take a chance when the studio needs to replace it any ways. We had a bad reel where the sound and picture faded out in a couple places. We discovered this while putting the movie together and thought it might just be part of the film but after our test screening we found it was a bad print. we sent it back got a new reel and a month later we got a bill from the studio saying it was scratched and damaged by us so we had to pay for the reel. Now I do know that when we play a movie for a full run it does get a few minor scratches from the booth monkeys but this thing only ran through our projectors once and through the make up table twice (once on and once off). The initial damage was clearly from the developer. but still they wanted us to pay the 225 for lab fees and reel replacement. So I say if I reel ever comes in looking damaged don't even give them the chance of saying it was your fault just pack it up and send it back. Even if their is a chance it could be Ok. We would rather take the chance to loose just the ticket cost instead of both the ticket cost (due to refunds) and the replacement fees. It's just not kosher!  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 07-05-2009 05:35 PM                     quote: Andrew Bangs It could be that the print is fine however why take a chance when the studio needs to replace it any ways Why on earth do they need to replace it? It's only got some screws thrown in the trunk for goodness sake. It's not like there's an emptying can of oil or something. Sure, make your feelings known to the distributor that you're not happy about getting a print this way, but seriously...this print can't make it to the screen and needs another print? Come on.  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 07-06-2009 01:29 PM                        TES says they have no such screws in their facility. So this means that somewhere between the TES depot and the theatre, that print was opened. Which means it has been compromised. Perhaps pirated. The screws are thrown in by the bootlegger -- his signature if you will -- basically thumbing his nose at the FBI, and the MPAA, and telling Universal they've been screwed.  |  IP: Logged Carl Martin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1424 From: Oakland, CA, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 07-06-2009 05:01 PM                        quote: Kenneth Wuepper I have received one can of two into which someone had forced GRAPHITE powder. The reels, can and film were encrusted with the stuff. This was a Technicolor shipment we had to run. It was very hard to clean that mess and some of the powder was on the image areas of the film as well. maybe you should have left it there!  |  IP: Logged Kenneth Wuepper Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1026 From: Saginaw, MI, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 07-06-2009 09:33 PM                     Carl, We used to keep a block of Paraffin (Canning Wax) in the booth for when we got a "green" print from the exchange. It stops the jitter in the gate from the tacky emulsion on the old acetate based prints. Just touch it to the film above the gate on both edges and the jitter went away for a while. After two showings the prints settled down and no more waxing was necessary. KEN  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 07-07-2009 12:43 AM                     ..but it was a mess when some prints came in that had too much paraffin on the edges ... gums up rails and goos up inbetween the intermittent sprocket teeth. This happened to me two months ago with "Gran Torino" - one of our cinemas complained of "picture hopping". Got there and I can hear that oscillating chatter in the sprocket area and the picture was weaving left to right. I grabbed a toothbrush, soaked it down with FG and scrubbed that sprocket while it was running. Immediately, it quieted down and picture got steady. During the intermission, I took the trap and gate assembly out and dug out so much wax, it was insane. Then, told my superiors of this, for they tought it was a bad print. They never heard of prints being waxed and I had to educate them. lots fun ... - Monte  |  IP: Logged Kenneth Wuepper Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1026 From: Saginaw, MI, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 07-07-2009 06:28 AM                     Yes, Monte, As with everything else, there are those who figure if a little is good more is better. One of our theaters had a new print of "The Blob" that actually would stick in the gate and burn the frames after tearing out the sprocket holes. Only solution was to wax the edges. Problem solved. Back then it was common for our operators to clean the projector between each 2,000 ft reel. It gave them something productive to do with that 20 minute break. KEN  |  IP: Logged

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