my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Large Format Forum   » Superman Returns (Page 5)

This topic comprises 6 pages: 1  2  3  4  5  6

Author Topic: Superman Returns John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 06-15-2006 10:27 AM                        quote: Mark J. Marshall I'm kind of excited about this. But for all of this work and expense on the presentation side, to not shoot the thing in 3D and/or 65mm in the first place is profoundly lame. I suspect the decision to have a 3D IMAX release was made after the production was already "in the can".  |  IP: Logged Mark J. Marshall Film God Posts: 3188 From: New Castle, DE, USA Registered: Aug 2002 posted 06-15-2006 10:33 AM                    You're probably right... you usually are! Hopefully this little episode (if successful) spawns a small sea change in Hollywood. We'll see.  |  IP: Logged Brian Michael Weidemann Expert cat molester Posts: 944 From: Costa Mesa, CA United States Registered: Feb 2004 posted 06-15-2006 04:59 PM                        quote: Paul Linfesty The Regal stack ad in the Fresno Bee indicates that it will play at the Edwards Theatre there in IMAX 3-D Yep, it's my understanding that Fresno is opening IMAX 3D just in time for this release. My tech said they were moving equipment from the Valencia location up to Fresno, and he was there for stuff.  |  IP: Logged Michael Coate Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1904 From: Los Angeles, California Registered: Feb 2001 posted 06-15-2006 05:28 PM                     quote: Brian Michael Weidemann Yep, it's my understanding that Fresno is opening IMAX 3D just in time for this release. I was just about to ask when this happened since I had the understanding that the Fresno venue was an 8-perf "Giant Screen" install. So does this mean that the Valencia location is now IMAX-less?  |  IP: Logged Paul Linfesty Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1383 From: Bakersfield, CA, USA Registered: Nov 1999 posted 06-15-2006 06:24 PM                     quote: Michael Coate So does this mean that the Valencia location is now IMAX-less? I would hope not. The Valencia location is the only IMAX theatre within driving distance to me.  |  IP: Logged Mike Schindler Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1039 From: Oak Park, IL, USA Registered: Jun 2002 posted 06-15-2006 08:10 PM                     quote: Dick Vaughan 1570 24FPS runs at 337.5 feet per minute so 3 minutes = 1012.5 feet Thanks!  |  IP: Logged Joseph L. Kleiman Master Film Handler Posts: 380 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Apr 2005 posted 06-18-2006 08:16 PM                     Interesting to move the system from one theater to another instead of purchase or lease a new one. The staff at Valencia told me that the former IMAX theater is now a conventional theater with "a larger screen." Sounds like what Regal branded the former Fresno IMAX last year.  |  IP: Logged Brian Michael Weidemann Expert cat molester Posts: 944 From: Costa Mesa, CA United States Registered: Feb 2004 posted 06-22-2006 05:59 AM                        Just got home ... our IMAX GT projector has just been equipped with the hood-mounted, automatic polarizer swing mechanism. It's a pretty nifty doohickey, even if it's going to be yanked off when Superman's run is through. While it's mounted (as it would be a pain to remove, what with the hoses), the polarizer glass plates themselves can be removed by unscrewing the sides and sliding them out, so you can run normal 2D movies. While the plates are in, the upper (right eye) deck is stationary, as normal. The lower (left eye) polarizer swings up with a pivot on the right side, between the plates. So, when it's open, allowing the left eye 2D to play clear, the polarizer is in front of the upper lens and polarizer at a 90 degree angle. (At that point, I think both filters are aligned with each other, but it's playing black slug anyway, so it hardly matters.) Programming in the DTAC event list for opening and closing the mechanism is a snap ... especially if the DVD-ROM soundtrack is going to include the cue marks in the file, like they already do for "Begin END Credits", where you can drop in a "house-lights-to-half" cue or similar. We also got a battery back-up for the QT Reel Unit. In the event of, say, a system E-shut, the platters won't have their power cut off as well. That caused damage to prints in the past, when the tension arm would quit communicating and the momentum of the print alone would pull itself way too tight and possibly out of the output sprockets, when the projector came to a complete stop within that second-and-a-half. And now that shouldn't be a concern! FURTHER UPDATE! What a gyp! The four sequences are, respectively, 2:59, 6:42, 6:29, and 1:16 ... for a total of 17 minutes and 26 seconds of 3D, in a film with a total running time of 2 hours 31 minutes 6 seconds. The assembly should be completed tonight, at which time I will run it. Review to come. [ 06-25-2006, 05:48 PM: Message edited by: Brian Michael Weidemann ]  |  IP: Logged Mark J. Marshall Film God Posts: 3188 From: New Castle, DE, USA Registered: Aug 2002 posted 06-28-2006 10:13 AM                    What are the three 3D trailers?  |  IP: Logged Tim Rectanus Film Handler Posts: 51 From: Raleigh, NC, USA Registered: Jul 2005 posted 06-28-2006 02:45 PM                        Open Season, Ant Bully, and Happy Feet.  |  IP: Logged Mark Lensenmayer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1605 From: Upper Arlington, OH Registered: Sep 1999 posted 06-28-2006 06:25 PM                     3 comments specific to the IMAX edition of SUPERMAN RETURNS. A couple of the "take glasses off" cues are a bit hard to see. I believe it was the second 3-d section where the visual cue was very hard to see. Many in the audience missed the cue and kept glasses on. The 3-D sections seemed a bit dark and fuzzy to me. They weren't as crisp as the 2-D sections. I was expecting to see distinct, visible planes of depth, like old 3-d comic books, but it looked very smooth. When Superman flies fast, though, it is very difficult to make him out clearly. The whole "glasses on/glasses of" thing is a bit wearying. The 3-D is nice, but having to hold the glasses for such a long time is tiresome. I hope in the future, its either all 3-D or no 3-D.  |  IP: Logged Brian Michael Weidemann Expert cat molester Posts: 944 From: Costa Mesa, CA United States Registered: Feb 2004 posted 07-02-2006 07:12 AM                        quote: Mark Lensenmayer A couple of the "take glasses off" cues are a bit hard to see. There's a reasonable explanation for this: either one eye goes black, which is the only eye that flashes the red "take glasses off" symbol, while the other eye sees the movie properly, before the polarizer swings away ... OR ... (if the polarizer timing was adjusted), it swings away immediately before the right-eye goes black, which allows both eyes to see an image which is mostly the left-eye print's main movie images, with the right-eye's flashing symbols difficult to make out because they're superimposed (dimly) on the screen, PLUS the fact that the polarizer that swung out of the way is now obscuring the right eye deck THAT MUCH MORE, because it is held in front of that lens. There was a lot of thought to this upgrade, and it makes some sense (because it allows the left-eye print to play alone as a 2D), but it's hardly perfect from a presentation standpoint. I've been sitting on these for a few days, but here are some images from the Superman Returns IMAX debacle ... The print came in a total of 88 reels, 44 per eye. The right eye was mostly black slug, in the red-labeled boxes. When the print assembly was completed, there was a pile of plastic bags which had held all the reels, and the unfolded boxes which is, I'm sure, a good deal of recyclable cardboard. The 3D sequences are indicated by three symbols displayed along the bottom of the right eye print frame. The four 150-minute 72" platters of the QTRU, at full speed during the beginning of the presentation; two feed, two take-up. (A 120-minute platter is leaning against the wall on the right.) I've got a video of these things ramping up, but I'll have edit it first and adjust contrast/brightess settings to make it presentable before I link to it, or send it to Brad for posting, or something. These things sure do haul ass!  |  IP: Logged Tim Rectanus Film Handler Posts: 51 From: Raleigh, NC, USA Registered: Jul 2005 posted 07-02-2006 09:45 AM                        Brian, what clamps are those that you are using? Are those the unadjustable screw in ones that just look like one continuous thing at speed or is that actually a continuous piece around the whole print. I have seen those for 35mm platters, I think, but not for 70mm. and Is your booth as large as it looks in that picture? {Insert witty joke here} Superman has been a bit of an ordeal but the crowds that are coming makes it all worth it, well most of it at least. Maybe the concessions sales make up for the rest of it. As problems go, "I can't find seat" is a good one to have, from our perspective at least. Superman really may Save the Day for a few theaters. BTW, do other Large Format theaters have problems/complaints/protests from 35mm houses when they get DAY AND DATE Hollywood releases?  |  IP: Logged Brian Michael Weidemann Expert cat molester Posts: 944 From: Costa Mesa, CA United States Registered: Feb 2004 posted 07-02-2006 02:05 PM                        Yep, each print is fitted with eight of the screw-in clamps. That's not a single band, that's just the speed they're spinning ... well, the extended exposure necessary from the camera in order to get a decent light reading, that sure helped the illusion. And our booth really is not too cramped, despite the angle of the picture. Yes, the large crowds are what make it all worth it! The IMAX is the only auditorium selling out (546 seats) for this movie, and each day so far has seen the last available day's tickets all sold by noon or 1:00pm. They all cheer and laugh and leave happy! (Well, at least they all did when we finally got our auditorium's AC up to 100%) The funny part is people excited over a movie like this usually cheer after the trailers, when the feature begins. We get people booing at that point! Surely, however, it's due to the first "remove your glasses" prompt.  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 07-02-2006 08:31 PM                     Not sure how the 3D bits fit in or if the opening titles open the film, but maybe the opening should have been 3D as well? Kind of sad for anyone involved to have the start of the film booed...if Michael Bay had directed it, this would make sense, but...  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 6 pages: 1  2  3  4  5  6

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.