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Topic: Worst 70mm Presentation EVER of IAMMMMMW

Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."

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

posted 01-06-2013 12:21 PM

Once film stock production and processing is gone we can say "welcome to the new era of 'TV in public'."

It's gonna take a long time for digital video technology to catch up to what 70mm could do. It's trying to get there for 35mm. Unfortunately it takes a LOT more than just matching resolution. There's still a lot of issues involving color depth and low light performance. Overall, the death of film is a big step backwards for cinematography. The large format industry might as well just close shop. HDTV resolution projectors showing 4:2:2 material aren't an acceptable replacement for any 70mm system, be it 5/70 or 15/70.

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 01-06-2013 01:28 PM

I've always operated with the thought that each print was the last one in existence. I'm not as gloomy about 70mm (personal belief). Note, Technicolor in the US opened a 70mm printing line while closing down their 35mm one in relatively recent times.

I absolutely agree that it will likely come down to someone making the stock (and what that will cost in the short-run era we are already living in.

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Jim Henk
Master Film Handler

Posts: 364
From: San Diego, CA
Registered: Feb 2006

posted 01-07-2013 02:38 AM

While we're reviewing old arguments, let me stir this in:

quote: Tony Bandiera Jr
I was in the LA local for many years and we had a few very good operators, some who I would call adequate but sadly far too many who were total fuckups. It was that group that killed our local.

I worked the extra board for both LA 150 and Orange County 504 for many years in the 80s, and most every projectionist there stonewalled me when I asked about learning anything from them. Thought it would threaten their job if too many people knew what they knew. And yes, many told me exactly that. They were *not* afraid that I would be a bad or irresponsible student.

Were there a lot of f*****s in the locals? You betcha. The locals made sure of it. Nobody would teach us jack-spit. Why else do you think I recently had to ask what a Century scratch is right on this thread? Never heard of it before.

Sure, there's inexcusably lazy in every industry. But to *ensure* that your *own* people don't know what they're doing? That's a real good reason right there that there were incompetent people upstairs. *And it was very often not even their fault!* Let me re-iterate that. Knowledge not taught was criminally irresponsible to their guys, to the theatres, and suicidal to the IA as a whole. (not hyperbole)

Yes. It's a sore spot to this day. And I should probably get over it. Yes doctor, I'll come quietly...

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Martin Brooks
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 900
From: Forest Hills, NY, USA
Registered: May 2002

posted 01-07-2013 04:16 PM

Frank-
I was at the WR earlier that same day to see Lord Jim in 70mm. While the presentation wasn't as bad as yours (it was in focus), I also found the sound to be very thin, which surprised me because that is supposed to be a very well-equipped theatre. As for the surrounds, I think they're mounted within the fabric walls.

I almost stayed for the IAMMMMW presentation, but I couldn't see myself sitting for another several hours and I found the WR screen to be disappointingly small. The whole point of those 70mm presentations, even the Ultra-Pan 70 (single projector Cinerama) ones, was a screen of overwhelming size.

However, even if I had been at the IAMMMMW presentation, I don't think I would have rated that as the worse 70mm presentation of recent years. That's reserved for "The Master" at the Ziegfeld. The print had positive dirt from end to end. It looked like a 70mm print that was leftover from the 1970s, not a new print that had been playing for just a week. After that presentation, I decided that the age of film was truly over - if that's what 70mm is going to look like, I'd actually rather see a digital print. I find that incredibly sad. I was so excited that "The Master" was released in 70mm.

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Mark Lensenmayer
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1605
From: Upper Arlington, OH
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 01-09-2013 12:10 PM

quote: Tony Bandiera Jr
In 1981-82, while stationed in Tucson with the Air Force, I went to the local Plitt to see "TRON" in 70mm. The show was well done, and I asked to see the booth.

quote: Will Kutler
The Tucson theater you must be referring to was the El Dorado

According to the list at in70mm.com, TRON played at the EL CON in Tucson.

Now returning you to your normal programming.

<Interrupt = OFF>

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Jonathan Goeldner
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1360
From: Washington, District of Columbia
Registered: Jun 2008

posted 01-19-2013 08:26 PM

quote: Martin Brooks
Frank-
I was at the WR earlier that same day to see Lord Jim in 70mm. While the presentation wasn't as bad as yours (it was in focus), I also found the sound to be very thin, which surprised me because that is supposed to be a very well-equipped theatre. As for the surrounds, I think they're mounted within the fabric walls.

I almost stayed for the IAMMMMW presentation, but I couldn't see myself sitting for another several hours and I found the WR screen to be disappointingly small. The whole point of those 70mm presentations, even the Ultra-Pan 70 (single projector Cinerama) ones, was a screen of overwhelming size.

However, even if I had been at the IAMMMMW presentation, I don't think I would have rated that as the worse 70mm presentation of recent years. That's reserved for "The Master" at the Ziegfeld. The print had positive dirt from end to end. It looked like a 70mm print that was leftover from the 1970s, not a new print that had been playing for just a week. After that presentation, I decided that the age of film was truly over - if that's what 70mm is going to look like, I'd actually rather see a digital print. I find that incredibly sad. I was so excited that "The Master" was released in 70mm.

'Lord Jim' at the AFI Silver screening looked like it was shot last week - can't say I recall the sound, I didn't find fault with it.

as was the print with 'The Master' - there were no print imperfections at the Silver and was damn impressive, but my beef was with the soundmix which really did not add much or heighten the surround sound channels.

I had read that early-test 65mm shooting of 'Les Miserables' had been done, but was ultimately abandoned ... [Frown]

guess we'll have to see if the rumors are true that the new film version of 'Ivanhoe' will indeed be filmed in it's entirety in 65mm.

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Tony Bandiera Jr
Film God

Posts: 3067
From: Moreland Idaho
Registered: Apr 2004

posted 01-22-2013 02:14 PM

quote:
<Interrupt = ON>

quote: Tony Bandiera Jr In 1981-82, while stationed in Tucson with the Air Force, I went to the local Plitt to see "TRON" in 70mm. The show was well done, and I asked to see the booth.

quote: Will KutlerThe Tucson theater you must be referring to was the El Dorado

According to the list at in70mm.com, TRON played at the EL CON in Tucson.

Now returning you to your normal programming.

<Interrupt = OFF>

The website is wrong, it was the El Dorado (a twin) for the screening I was at. EL CON was a six-plex.

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Will Kutler
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1506
From: Tucson, AZ, USA
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 01-22-2013 08:05 PM

Agreed. If memory serves me correctly, The El Con 6 was one of the first multiplexes in AZ. I remember reading something about this in the AZ Daily Star or Tucson Citizen. El Con was not 70mm capable.

Both the El Dorado and Buena Vista were originally single screens, then twinned. By twinning, the existing theaters were not split in two. Rather new auditoriums were added on.

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Tony Bandiera Jr
Film God

Posts: 3067
From: Moreland Idaho
Registered: Apr 2004

posted 01-23-2013 07:54 PM

Will, now that you mentioned the Buena Vista, was it 70mm equipped? My memory of 30+ years ago is questionable at best, but Buena Vista seems to be the theatre I was at..I seem to recall finding it amusing to see a Buena Vista film at the theatre of the same name.....or I could be wrong.

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Will Kutler
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1506
From: Tucson, AZ, USA
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 01-23-2013 10:45 PM

I do not believe that the Buena Vista was 70mm...I do not remember 70mm being advertised there.

The south theater (B.V. II) was a change-over booth. B.V. I was platter.

Cue proximity sensors (in B.V. II) were installed with "Annie". I was in the booth when the detector failed to work causing tails (and sound) to flash on the screen at closing credits. I informed the projectionist of this situation (he was at the rewind bench). He busted tail running to the projector, shoving me asside and every expletitive you can think of comming out of his mouth.

And yes, Disney Buena Vista films were shown at the "Buena Vista". I also remember that, now that you mention it.

After B.V. closed and became a live venue event...then closed for good I attempted to get in touch with the property owner/manager for one final look inside. I was not successful. Another F.T. member asked me to look for the cornerstone with architect info. He told me were to look, but never did find it.

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Sean Weitzel
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 619
From: Vacaville, CA (1790 miles west of Rockwall)
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 01-26-2013 04:22 PM

Hey guys, Michael Coate asked me to drop a scan of this Tuscon newspaper clipping from Tron's opening day. Seems to back up what is published at in70mm.com:

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Will Kutler
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1506
From: Tucson, AZ, USA
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 01-26-2013 04:59 PM

I never did say that Tron did not play at El Con. It did, and I saw it there. However the El Con Six was not, and I repeat was not a 70MM house. This theater had deep, narrow auditoriums with non-curtained flat screens. The movie listing you uploaded does not mention 70mm.

The El Dorado was Tucson's 70MM house. BTW, the Tucson Fox was originally designed for Grandeur, but I do not believe that equipment was never installed.

70MM presentations at the El Dorado were heavily advertised. The El Dordao auditoriums resembeled the Martin Cinerama in Seattle as pictured on Page 2 of the Cinerama forum at the WideScreenMuseum.com

[IMG]
]http://www.widescreenmuseum.com/widescreen/wingcr2.htm[/IMG]

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Sean Weitzel
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 619
From: Vacaville, CA (1790 miles west of Rockwall)
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 01-27-2013 12:22 AM

Mike asked if I could post this last scan which seems to indicate the El Con did play Tron in 70mm which brings my question, were newspaper movie listings for 70mm more often accurate or not so much?

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Michael Marini
Film Handler

Posts: 27
From: issue maryland/ USA
Registered: Dec 2005

posted 01-28-2013 11:39 AM

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Jarod Reddig
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 513
From: Hays, Ks
Registered: Jun 2011

posted 01-30-2013 12:25 PM

Looks like the El Con was a 70mm house unless as mentioned they advertised incorrectly in the paper?

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