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Topic: re-installing 35 for Interstellar?

Leo Enticknap
Film God

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

posted 09-13-2014 11:06 AM

quote: Marcel Birgelen
Even Titanic II didn't make it to 35mm film [Razz] .

Oh, yikes. Someone had to, I guess. Actually, someone has gone one better and is actually trying to build one. When, at the press conference to announce the project, the Australian billionaire behind the project was asked the inevitable question, he replied, "Of course it'll sink if you stick a bloody hole in it!". He clearly does not have a career in politics in prospect - far too honest and straight-talking!

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Peter Castle
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 220
From: Wollongong University, NSW ,Australia
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 09-14-2014 02:11 AM

That billionaire is now a member of Parliament and has his own party with 3 more members in the Upper House.

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Barry Floyd
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1079
From: Lebanon, Tennessee, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 09-15-2014 09:06 AM

I was asked by my booker via email last week if we still had 35mm capability. I thought he was crazy for asking, but now I know why....

Spent more money on those two digital projection systems than I did for my house, and now someone wants to go back to 35mm?

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Carsten Kurz
Film God

Posts: 4340
From: Cologne, NRW, Germany
Registered: Aug 2009

posted 09-15-2014 10:34 AM

These are the guys who forced cinemas into digital.

I'd laugh at them LOUDLY if they'd put up such a request.

- Carsten

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Justin Hamaker
Film God

Posts: 2253
From: Lakeport, CA USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 09-15-2014 02:11 PM

At my location, it would be impractical to re-install the 35mm machines, even if we still had them. Besides obvious issues of taking a screen off-line to put the 35mm projector in place, doing so would not be a simple plug and play procedure. We re-did all the electrical at each auditorium for the requirements of the digital system. Switching back to 35mm would mean re-doing all of that electrical work, then doing it again when the show was over.

All of that work would be for something which is unlikely to add any additional ticket sales. We can all agree there is a very small percentage of people who would choose a 35mm presentation over a digital presentation if given a choice. But how many of those would choose not to see the movie because 35mm isn't available.

When we did our conversion to digital, we contemplated leaving one 35mm projector in place "just in case". Initially we thought it might be needed as a backup for digital, or because there might be the occasional film which was distributed only on 35mm. However, we scraped this plan because it would have required additional modifications to the projection room, and because it was pretty obvious there would not be a wide release with 35mm only distribution after 2011.

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Marcel Birgelen
Film God

Posts: 3357
From: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2012

posted 09-15-2014 02:48 PM

Business-wise it makes about zero sense to keep 35mm in place if your business is first-run movies. It's nice for those ego-tripping directors to demand a grand 35mm release, but maybe they should've had their voices heard before the conversion started in full swing...

quote:
Oh, yikes. Someone had to, I guess. Actually, someone has gone one better and is actually trying to build one. When, at the press conference to announce the project, the Australian billionaire behind the project was asked the inevitable question, he replied, "Of course it'll sink if you stick a bloody hole in it!". He clearly does not have a career in politics in prospect - far too honest and straight-talking!

The logic of building a functional quite-but-not-yet-there replica of an 100-year old ship defies me... But then again, we're talking about a guy who operates his own fake plastic Jurassic Park.

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David Buckley
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 525
From: Oxford, N. Canterbury, New Zealand
Registered: Aug 2004

posted 09-15-2014 04:10 PM

So these "reinstallations" - where are they getting the kit from?

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

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

posted 09-15-2014 04:21 PM

If anyone is actually considering re-installation...DON'T pull the digital projector...just cut a new port in! Why mess up your 99.999999% bread an butter?

There will be precious few markets where running film will make any financial difference...particularly if it is only 35mm film. 70mm? Now that can be a draw but again, it is going to be in rather large markets where the small percentage of people that care would be in enough numbers.

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Marcel Birgelen
Film God

Posts: 3357
From: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2012

posted 09-15-2014 04:25 PM

quote: David Buckley
So these "reinstallations" - where are they getting the kit from?

You didn't hear about the instant-35mm-kit?

I guess it's all just old 35mm equipment that has been gathering dust for a while either in the booth or in storage.

Is there still a manufacturer producing new 35mm gear? I can't think of a single one...

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Bernie Anderson Jr
Master Film Handler

Posts: 435
From: Woodbridge, New Jersey
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 09-15-2014 07:22 PM

I was asked today about running 70MM at Palasades. I didn't see the email, I'm assuming its 35mm, but I know that Lincoln Square did a run on 70mm yesterday for a test.

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Monte L Fullmer
Film God

Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 09-16-2014 01:08 AM

Bet the DCIP boys are fluffing all over this since they wanted film out in the first place and replaced them with SONYs.

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Marcel Birgelen
Film God

Posts: 3357
From: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2012

posted 09-16-2014 03:37 AM

The only ones that really wanted film out were the "Studio boys", because it saves them millions in distribution costs. And not everybody is in bed with Sony [Wink]

.

Obviously, companies like Barco, NEC and Doremi, that were new to the market and hadn't any interests in film were eager to fill in this quite lucrative niche and started pushing together with the studios.

But please make no mistake, just like Steve already mentioned, even if there is some kind of a film revival, it will almost certainly be short-lived.

Just like vinyl records, film will not entirely go away for the foreseeable future, maybe it will even create a considerable niche of "film-o-philes", but considering a broad return to mainstream is just wishful thinking.

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Louis Bornwasser
Film God

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

posted 09-16-2014 09:11 AM

The issue (by now) is who will run it? I can only think of one or two multi cinemas that still have ANY staff left over from before digital.

When 35mm was being removed, a very few of my customers decided to keep 2 houses as possible film houses. They then proceeded to lay off anyone who could thread. What is the point? If no one knows what to oil/thread/change bulb, then you become WORSE off with film.

Best to realize this world is digital and learn to live in it. That is why I retired.

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Frank Angel
Film God

Posts: 5305
From: Brooklyn NY USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 09-16-2014 10:43 AM

So they want to run it on FILM, eh?....the same guys who insisted that film has scratches and dirt and faded color and jitter and weave...the same guys who said that 4000 + 35mm film projectors had to ripped out because no one could possibly enjoy a movie if it wasn't shown on rock-steady, no scratches, no dirt, no color fade DIGITAL. THOSE guys now want theatres to re-install 35mm? For ONE engagement?

Where's the tar? Where are the feathers?!

Anyone have that picture of the parking lot with hundreds of consoles lined for the scrap heap? That would go nicely posted again here.

quote: Pete Naples
I recently reinstalled 35mm in Warner Brothers preview theatre, London for this very purpose.

Pete, how ironic....the WARNER BROTHERS theatre? Warner Bros...who just said to the art houses, screw you; no more classic film...run it on digital or not at all.

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Daniel Schulz
Master Film Handler

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

posted 09-16-2014 11:50 AM

quote: Brad Miller
If Nolan was going to get 5/70 prints made I would be all over this. Instead we have to wait for Tarantino to bring film back properly (and no 15/70 does not count).

He is.

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