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Topic: Carmike installing 2300 Christie/AIX DLP systems

Michael Gonzalez
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 790
From: Grand Island , NE USA
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 07-20-2006 10:47 AM

Hmmm, a little strange as my location has yet to make the list. Ours will be installed about a month from now. The plan did change as we are now only getting 5 screens done (instead of 10). The booth and screens have have been measured and the roof has been prepped for the satelite dish. Things are moving along at a pretty decent pace...

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Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."

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

posted 07-20-2006 07:19 PM

Considering you have a 10-plex there, a 5-system install is the standard sort of thing. Most Carmike theaters getting D-Cinema installs are getting 50% of their screens converted to video projection on the initial sweep. This is supposed to make up for the fact not every movie gets released with a D-Cinema version.

None of Oklahoma's theaters are listed on the D-Cinema coming soon list. However, I have heard a good deal of electrical supply work is happening at lots of Carmike locations well in advance of the D-Cinema install.

Apparently when the conversion first started the difference of electrical requirements in many existing theaters was not taken into account and that slowed down the process. That factor has been solved and new installs are happening much faster and far more efficiently. That list of "coming soon in D-Cinema" theater locations may be a pretty short term list.

Regardless of the situation, Carmike is promoting the D-Cinema thing pretty aggressively. When I watched a 35mm version of Superman Returns here locally I saw a Miami Vice trailer with a Carmike tie-in promoting DLP and digital cinema. From what I understand all Carmike locations have to show that clip regardless of whether they already have new Christie digital projectors or not. With that kind of move being made it seems clear Carmike intends to have most of its locations equipped with at least a few digital projectors very soon.

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Carl Martin
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1424
From: Oakland, CA, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 07-22-2006 04:13 AM

sounds like a snipe all the landmarks are playing, again regardless. 10 seconds, black background, some hazy colorful ovals, cheesy disingenuous slogan: "it doesn't get any more real than this".

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Michael Coate
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1904
From: Los Angeles, California
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 07-25-2006 08:58 PM

quote: Bobby Henderson
Mike, when talk like you are the moderator of this forum (which you ARE NOT at all) and come off like you are the only one who has any right to post any thoughts or comments on this stuff, it makes me purposefully not want to ever visit your damned website!

Honestly, why should any of us be required to visit your website? Who made you God all of a sudden? And really who gives a fuck if some little tidbit of "news" happens to get repeated?

Get a grip and get over yourself.

Bobby,
I realize you (and others) are probably angry at me for some of my postings of late, but your latest comment comes off as a lame, uncooperative, spiteful attempt at getting in the last word. We could argue forever — and I would so love to do just that — but what's the point? Instead, I'll close by quoting a little something a friend recently reminded me of that I think effectively summarizes my current feelings about Internet "communication":

Arguing on the Internet is like competing in the Special Olympics. Even if you win, you're still retarded.

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Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."

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

posted 07-25-2006 10:34 PM

Mike, you were first to change things to an angry tone when you talked about how annoyed you were getting by the posts of others.

Further, I didn't "win" anything or "get the last word." Everyone moved the discussion elsewhere 2 weeks ago.

No one is getting paid to casually discuss subjects like digital cinema here on this forum either. Most folks in this forum are not getting paid to stay brushed up on that subject in their day jobs either. Therefore, I don't think those of us in that camp need to be reprimanded about a piece of trivia we missed or something else that got repeated.

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Jarryd Beard
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 229
From: Hellertown, PA
Registered: Jul 2004

posted 08-13-2006 01:58 PM

quote: David Stambaugh
Did you notice they labelled the "Before" and "After" images backwards?

Actually, those comparisons aren't for the most current redesign, but rather the one that took place awhile back. A quick glance might make the "before" image look like the current one, but it's actually two designs ago (page was blue, then yellow, now blue again). V'Roooom Technology hasn't updated their page in awhile.

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Michael Gonzalez
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 790
From: Grand Island , NE USA
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 09-11-2006 11:04 PM

Well we still dont seem to be on the list yet but we are currently in the middle of our install. The plan did change yet again as we are once again having all 10 screens digital but three of those will be combos (film and digital).

After finally seeing a digital presentation, I have to admit that I was completely blown away. I knew that the picture was going to be brighter but I had no idea that the colors were so much more vivid and that the resolution was going to be so sharp (you can see some of the blemishes on Orlando Bloom's face in Pirates [Big Grin]

). I think someone elso might have mentioned it but the field of depth is much improved from film. As an example, on the Disney logo segment (which is different then what they have on film), it almost looks like you can just walk right into the screen. So color me impressed. [thumbsup]

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Adam Martin
I'm not even gonna point out the irony.

Posts: 3686
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 09-12-2006 01:18 AM

quote: Michael Gonzalez
I knew that the picture was going to be brighter but I had no idea that the colors were so much more vivid

So what equipment is this replacing? Specifically, lamphouse model, projector head and lens?

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Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."

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

posted 09-12-2006 08:28 PM

My thoughts exactly.

In addition to the make & model of projector as well as lenses used on them, how was the setup maintained? My chief complaint with many of D-Cinema's biggest proponents is they almost always compare D-Cinema to film done wrong. It rarely, if ever, compared to film done right.

I think the list of DLP-equipped locations on Carmike's website may be out of date. It hasn't been changed in a few weeks.

quote: Michael Gonzalez
Well we still dont seem to be on the list yet but we are currently in the middle of our install. The plan did change yet again as we are once again having all 10 screens digital but three of those will be combos (film and digital).

I've noticed the "all screens digital" trend happening lately. With as many units as Christie/AccessIT are putting together it may be quite a bit more efficient to simply get entire locations done in one trip rather than having to go back later and finish the other half of the job.

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Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 09-12-2006 08:49 PM

So, they are actually _removing_ film projectors in the process of installing [dlp]

projectors? Why? What would be the benefit of removing something that is already installed and paid for?

Is Carmike getting better film rental terms in return for accepting digital "prints"? Aren't there still relatively few titles available for [dlp]

exhibition?

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David Stambaugh
Film God

Posts: 4021
From: Eugene, Oregon
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 09-12-2006 09:49 PM

Cinemark removed the film projector when they installed DLP on one screen here (for Monster House 3D, which is still running there).

The way I understand it, the savings on "prints" goes toward paying for the new equipment, in the form of a credit (payment) on the loan.

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Dustin Mitchell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1865
From: Mondovi, WI, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 09-12-2006 10:53 PM

The digital picture really is amazing, I have to say I have been very impressed. Our six digital projectors (at a twelve plex) relaced Chritie heads/SLC lamphouses which had Schneider lenses. I, and everyone else who works here, have been blown away by the qaulity of the digital presentation.

As far as titles available digitaly just about everything except product from smaller studios is available digitally.

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Michael Gonzalez
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 790
From: Grand Island , NE USA
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 09-12-2006 11:10 PM

I would have to get back with you on the exact model #s as I don't really remember what and what. I have worked at a small number of locations and here is the short version:

Ballantyne Pro-35 projector (not sure what lamphouse or lens)- Those projectors were built like tanks with a pretty decent picture providing the plastic coupler wasnt shreadded to bits.

Christie P-35GPS with Christie Lamphouse - Once again not sure what lens.

Simplex PR1014 (once again not sure what lamphouse of lens) - These are basically what the DLPs are replacing.

I guess I should clarify my eariler statement as I have seen similar colors on some film prints (Cars being a recent example) but if 20 percent of films have the vibrant colors (my estimate) so far most of what I have seen in Digital has it (Granted I didnt see Miami Vice). Keep in mind that I have not seen much in the way of product. So far a couple of trailers and part of Invincible so I dont want to make any definitive statements. But I know that I have been getting tired of seeing grainy films as I have complain about it often enough in some of my film reviews.

Once again the film prints of Cars looked gorgeous but some of the recient films like Da Vinci Code and parts of Pirates 2 have looked really bad on the exact same equipment. There are two parts required to have "film done right" one is our side as far as keeping the equipment in good condition and proper presentation. The other part is getting a near flawless print and too many prints I have receive have been less than steller. I have already talked about film grain but there is also the dirty prints (from processing) and everyone has seen the "color change" that happens at times from reel to reel. And of course there is the damage that poor film handling is responsibe for. Digital is here because BOTH sides of the industry have shot themselves in the foot.

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Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."

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

posted 09-13-2006 11:39 AM

quote:
So, they are actually _removing_ film projectors in the process of installing [dlp] projectors? Why? What would be the benefit of removing something that is already installed and paid for?

Many theaters must have film projectors removed because there isn't enough room to run both systems side by side. My understanding is Carmike was originally going to leave film projectors intact only on the largest movie theater screens in their busiest theaters. They may have revised that plan to have more locations keep a couple or more film projectors intact.

I don't know how Carmike plans on accomodating both systems for one auditorium. I hope they don't just carve out new projection ports that are throwing the image at the screen at an angle. Keystoning really sucks regardless of whether the projection is film or video. Having the film or digital projection consoles move into place by rails to a single, properly aligned port would be far superior. However that's a more complicated install.

quote: Dustin Mitchell
The digital picture really is amazing, I have to say I have been very impressed. Our six digital projectors (at a twelve plex) relaced Chritie heads/SLC lamphouses which had Schneider lenses.

It shouldn't be much longer before I see how things go with the Carmike theater here in Lawton. The projection quality here was already really good for 35mm. I'm not expecting to much of any improvement on image quality at all -particularly when the 'scope images are cropped inward on the DLP chip to a 2048 X 872 pixel image.

The one improvement I am looking forward to is the audio end of things. Uncompressed LPCM 5.1 at 20 or 24 bits of depth certainly is a big jump above DTS, Dolby Digital and SDDS.

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Paul Konen
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 981
From: Frisco, TX. (North of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 09-13-2006 12:18 PM

Another reason to replace the equipment is the extra costs involved with getting another port window created, extra electrical costs to run or T the 3-phase circuit.

Also, the Digital Projector is offset from the center line, but the electronic masking of the chip can compensate for the keystoning.

JMO.

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