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Author Topic: Marcus Now Equipping D-Cinema Robert Minichino Master Film Handler Posts: 350 From: Haskell, NJ, USA Registered: Dec 2005 posted 09-26-2006 03:03 PM                        The projector motor usually runs about 1/4 to 1/2 HP IIRC, which is way more than offset by the power sucked by all the electronics in the D-Cinema projector, server, etc.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-26-2006 04:36 PM                     quote: Mitchell Dvoskin Whatever saving gained by eliminating the motors would be more than offset by higher wattage xenon bulbs required for d-cinema. Actually allot of the boat anchor rectifiers out there that are way innefficient will be replaced by highly efficient switching type... all DC projectors are so equipped with them so far... so there may actually be a cost savings in spite of the higher lamp wattage required. At the very least it would be a wash with no increase in power usage. Mark  |  IP: Logged Samuel Andrew Wetzel Film Handler Posts: 16 From: Appleton, Wisconsin, USA Registered: Apr 2006 posted 10-03-2006 02:34 AM                     correct me if I'm wrong here. but digital cinema is bound to have it's own share of problems. for example i work at a 14 screen Marcus house and solid training has always kept shows running. however, our box office computer systems go down frequently....the tech support is pretty much worthless....they charge some exorbitant rate for every call we make to them....just for them to remotely reboot a box office terminal (they don't give that option on the terminals themselves so you can't always fix it without calling). it seems to me that a conversion to digital cinema would be the same thing. skilled projectionists would be replaced by tech support 1-800 numbers...and if you're lucky enough to work at a theatre with skilled projectionists you'll still end up having to pay an arm and leg for the one phone call to do something that anyone could do by pressing a button 1000 miles away as long as they had the right equipment. the tools of a projectionist allen wrenches, screw drivers, etc...you might be saving 20 bucks an hour by not having to pay a booth tech but you'll end up spending much more than that on those tech support calls. with a competent, trained staff and well maintained equipment...no scratches or dirt will be projected on screen.  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 10-03-2006 12:04 PM                     In the case of Marcus and Carmike, the technical support on all that equipment is to be handled by Christie/AIX and is worked into the overall deal. Basically, if the equipment acts crappy, Christie/AIX are going to be eating a lot of the cost. Those systems are also designed to need little if any manual operation. My understanding is the scheduling software can get all the showtimes, trailer schedules and everything pretty automated. I don't know if that includes programming in when the projector turns on and off, but I see no reason why that couldn't be programmed as well. Still, at least a couple people in the theater's staff will at least need to know the basics for spotting problems and communicating them to technical service person working in their region. But overall, I see far more potential in digital cinema eliminating some staff positions than creating the need for more staffers. That may be especially true once all the movies are simply auto-downloaded via satellite.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-03-2006 01:30 PM                        What will happen in the case of theatres that are not currently using automation? Won't they still need some minimum-wage kid to babysit the equpment and operate the house lights, etc.?  |  IP: Logged Dustin Mitchell Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1865 From: Mondovi, WI, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 10-03-2006 04:12 PM                     The Christie/AIX package includes the Christie DCA-21 automation as part of the install. I've never worked with a CA-21 box but from the pictures I've seen on this sight its pretty much the same thing, just tailored to digital projection.  |  IP: Logged

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