posted 01-13-2010 10:31 PM                    

quote: Mike Blakesley

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just open the box and carry 2 or 3 reels at a time...a pain in the neck, but a back saver.

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posted 01-14-2010 02:54 AM                    

quote: Jonathan Althaus

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like the cans, but the boxes tend to not roll around in the back of my truck as much.

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posted 01-14-2010 08:03 AM                    

quote: Ian Parfrey

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Maybe now is the time to go to 6K spools.

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posted 01-15-2010 12:29 PM                       

quote: Technicolor

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On behalf of Tim Burke:

I received several calls and emails from some NATO members asking about the Technicolor 35MM print box. I would like to provide you more of a complete update than the initial email.

As for timing, I don’t anticipate Technicolor Distribution shipping 35MM prints in boxes, other than one test wide, before May. I doubt that many of you have seen, other than the emailed picture, or used our box unless your theatre(s) played Transylmania. I suspect most of you have seen the Deluxe box (gray). There are two primary differences between the Technicolor and Deluxe box:

Technicolor will not put more than 6 film reels in one box. For 7 and more reel films, we will use two boxes.

Technicolor has two handles on opposite sides of the box with lifting instructions printed in large font on 2 wide sides of the box. These lifting instructions were written by UPS Safety Engineers.

A majority of theatre personnel that we have surveyed prefer the box. Most theatres that do express concern of the box say that it is too heavy. It is for this reason that Technicolor made the aforementioned changes. A 6 reel film with 6 trailers in Technicolor box will average 54 pounds. I have in my office:

A print of ‘Precious,’ 6 reels with 6 trailers, in a Technicolor box. It weighs 55 pounds.

A print of ‘Precious,’ also 6 trailers, in two film cans. On can weighs 30 pounds. The other can weighs 47 pounds.

Most theatre personnel carry 2 cans at a time. Currently, a theatre person carrying print of Precious carries two cans at 30 and 47 pounds. The future would be a theatre person carrying one 55 pound box, lifting with two handles, and theatres that received Transylmania told us the handles are comfortable, following lifting instructions on the box written by safety engineers (lifting with legs, keeping close to body, etc) The instructions also encourage using a cart or dolly to transport to and from steps.

Some of the reasons why projectionists tell us that they prefer box vs can are:

- The boxes are cleaner. Many of the cans are very old and incl rust.
- The cans have sharp edges. Every month we receive calls about cuts and torn clothing
- The latches on the cans are old and sometimes take long while to open and close cans.
- Boxes stack better, especially important in crowded projectionist rooms. Many cans are bent and uneven, and don’t stack as easily.

Another plus is that UPS errors will decrease as much as 50% shipping in box than can. Cans are like golf clubs, exception freight, and cannot travel on UPS sort conveyor belts, thus have lot of manual handling. The other reason is probability. Most UPS errors are one can shorts. Assuming a 1% error rate on a 1000 print release, 20 cans could be effected and theoretically 20 theatres. With boxes, it is only 10.

Thank you for all feedback received thus far. Again, I am available via phone or email. My contact information is listed below.

Tim Burke

Tim Burke
Technicolor Cinema Distribution
3418 Progress Way
Wilmington, OH 45177
(937) 383-6089 I Cell (513) 646-9016 tim.burke@technicolor.com

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