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Topic: The digital revolution

Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."

Posts: 10973
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 03-06-2011 12:57 AM

quote: Brad Miller
Dick Tracy had 70mm mag prints as well as CDS.

True, but for the historical angle of Dick Tracy being the first movie to have digital sound in its original theatrical release it would be nice to have a working 70mm CDS setup. Obviously this is much easier said than done.

More than likely the movie would have to be shown either in 70mm Dolby mag or have 35mm prints made using one of the current digital sound processes, or even have a DCP created using uncompressed linear PCM audio. Actually the DCP would deliver the closest thing comparable to CDS since CDS' delta modulation process and outrageously high bit rate is closer in relation to uncompressed LPCM than any of the much lower bit rate processes.

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 03-06-2011 12:10 PM

For what its worth, the soundtrack on the mag 70mm prints of Dick Tracy was *extremely* bright.

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Aaron Garman
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1470
From: Toledo, OH USA
Registered: Mar 2003

posted 03-06-2011 12:48 PM

quote: Manny Knowles
I'm going to be a guest speaker for a couple of the film classes here next month and this is what I'm doing -- only clips though, and not EVERY format -- I only have 2 hours for each class.

That sounds pretty awesome. What clips do you plan on showing?

AJG

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Tom Sauter
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 163
From: Buffalo, NY, USA
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 03-07-2011 06:57 AM

quote: Neil Emiro
For us, digital has been nothing but positive, and our balance sheet reflects it.

Nice to see digital is not the death of an industry, though it is still the loss of a way of life for many of us.

Its too bad Rochester NY, the home of Kodak, can't say the same thing. If you really want proof that Digital now reigns, have a look at the Eastman Business Park. It has a "film was here" feel to it.

I grew up there: every family on my block was employed by Kodak (except the one guy who worked for Xerox). By the time my father retired from Kodak 10 years ago, he was working by himself in a nearly vacant research laboratory. They heyday of film is long gone.

Sure, film will be around a while longer, but the digital revolution cannot be stopped. Resistance is futile (you will be assimilated). Digital projection and on-demand viewing at home is driving a new business model to which we all must adapt.

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Manny Knowles
"What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???"

Posts: 4247
From: Bloomington, IN, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 03-07-2011 06:12 PM

Aaron, it's still in the works.

I know what I'd *like* to show, but I have to prioritize based on (a) the amount of time I have, and (b) what I can get on film. It means I may not be able to present from the actual first films to do <fill in the blank> but, possibly, another film from the era.

And I mis-spoke -- it's not this month (March) -- It's next month, so I have more time than I thought I had.

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Mike Frese
Master Film Handler

Posts: 465
From: Holts Summit, MO
Registered: Jun 2007

posted 03-07-2011 09:59 PM

quote: Tom Sauter
Its too bad Rochester NY, the home of Kodak, can't say the same thing. If you really want proof that Digital now reigns, have a look at the Eastman Business Park. It has a "film was here" feel to it.

Wow, 2.5 million sq ft available immediately.

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Daniel Schulz
Master Film Handler

Posts: 387
From: Los Angeles, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 03-07-2011 10:06 PM

Manny -if you need any DTS discs (or any help trying to secure any film) let me know. I'm an IU alum, and no one could be happier than I am regarding the new theater.

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Louis Bornwasser
Film God

Posts: 4441
From: prospect ky usa
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 03-08-2011 10:11 AM

Digital may have replaced film in most markets. . . ours has different results:

Every year they made MORE 35mm film until 2010. I was told that Kodak dropped but only by 1.2%.

Hardly a significant drop. Louis

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Jonathan Althaus
Master Film Handler

Posts: 435
From: Bedford, TX
Registered: Dec 2008

posted 03-08-2011 01:27 PM

quote: Bobby Henderson
If I visit a Cinemark site at all it's to see something in film-based IMAX.

I believe the Dallas IMAX is being converted from 15/70 to Digital IMAX. I won't go as far as say it's a LieMax, since the screen will still be there. About 10 days ago, I noticed they weren't advertising any IMAX films and then they put up a "IMAX temporarily closed for upgrades and improvements"

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Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."

Posts: 10973
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 03-08-2011 02:57 PM

I'll call a theater "Lie-MAX" based on the projection being used. If it's digital it isn't real IMAX.

What's really funny is it might be better to see "Lie-MAX" projection on screens not so IMAX in size. The bigger you blow up that 2K projection image the crappier it's going to look.

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Jonathan Althaus
Master Film Handler

Posts: 435
From: Bedford, TX
Registered: Dec 2008

posted 03-08-2011 04:21 PM

Very true, but I believe Cinemark might be using 2 Barco 4k's, seeing as they have started rolling out single units in their XD screens around town here. I'll have to look into it and find out for sure

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Aaron Sisemore
Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day!

Posts: 3061
From: Rockwall TX USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 03-12-2011 02:37 AM

quote:
Aaron,

Is there any reason you are not porting your skills into the digital world? With all of the new digital installs, there should be plenty of work. It is just somewhat different work (though much of it really is the same...you just have to think differently). Furthermore, the sound is still the sound...A-Chains go faster though [Wink] B-Chains are identical.

So, instead of aligning a turret or lens holder you boresight (Scheimpflug), converge...lamps are lamps...etc. I see more similarities than differences. About the only new skill to the modern film tech is the whole IT stuff. It isn't insurmountable.

I understand the sound portion just fine, and agree, it is pretty much the same as it was for film sans A-chain. But I am not always building new sound racks all the time and when there aren't any new builds on the horizon, the sound rack work dries up FAST. In most cases, another tech handles most of the easier sound repairs now (he also fixes HVAC and poppers)

I have changed my share of bulbs on the digital projectors, but unless it is an emergency we are to let the Christie techs handle all of the bulb changes and other maintenance, as we have a service contract with Christie. I know very little about the workings of the projectors.

As for the IT part of the equation, I know little to nothing about it.

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Leo Enticknap
Film God

Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 03-19-2011 10:04 AM

quote: Tom Sauter
Its too bad Rochester NY, the home of Kodak, can't say the same thing. I grew up there: every family on my block was employed by Kodak (except the one guy who worked for Xerox).

I visited Rochester in 2007 and even then, it was clear to see that Kodak's emphasis was moving away from film. On the subject of Xerox, I recently finished reading Copies in Seconds: Chester Carlson and the Birth of the Xerox Machine - it was intresting to learn that not only one but two imaging technologies and the companies that developed them have an intimate connection to Rochester!

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Tom Sauter
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 163
From: Buffalo, NY, USA
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 03-21-2011 06:44 AM

Quite am imaging center... Rochester is also home to Bausch&Lomb and Navitar. Navitar bought Buhl optics about a decade ago, and both companies are doing relatively well. While its true that Kodak's production of 35mm motion picture film may be near an all time high, research and development of film products practically ceased a decade ago.

Kodak was, in essence, a giant chemical company. Their chemical business and all of its environmental/regulatory overhead spun off years ago. This was to allow them to pursue digital formats and transition to a digital/electronics company, which never really materialized.

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 03-21-2011 06:09 PM

And for those not playing along at home, Deluxe/ETS film depots, which used to have thiry-something locations across the US are shutting down 15 more locations in the next 2 months, leaving only:
Buffalo
New York
Atlanta
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Los Angeles
Seattle

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