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This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3
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Topic: Opening A Brand New Theater--Any Suggestions?
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Michael Barry
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 584
From: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-10-2001 10:57 AM
Hmmm...well THAT went down like the proverbial lead balloon - ouch!  What can I say...well, the idea I had was not to the exclusion of film cleaners, Brad, because I think that's an excellent idea. I simply didn't think of that when I posted. So now I say Kinoton + film cleaners for each theatre (although it's a moot point since it turns out the gear is already ordered - so just go for the film cleaners). Pete and Ken: Sorry you haven't had good fortune with this equipment. What model did you have trouble with, Pete? Ken, can you describe what you find annoying? I have used practically every brand of projector, and they are my favourite in terms of image quality, hands down. Maybe that's just me... Gord, Mark, Larry, Steve...I'm dying here - please help?!? 
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Ken Lackner
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1907
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 10-10-2001 12:07 PM
Well, for one thing, the lens turret doesn't open, so threading is a pain in the ass. And whose idea was it to have one focus knob for both lenses? If you are doing a split with one movie flat and one scope (I would make sure that didn't happen if I did the house assignments, but I don't), sometimes you have to adjust the focus each show. Yes, I know I can run the RP40 and propperly focus the lenses so that they are both in focus, but it's still anoying. And what is up with that plastic "skate"??? They are extremely anoying to remove for cleaning, and even more anoying to put back. I also don't like the fact that they don't have pad rollers; you have to hold the runners open while threading. Have the newer models done away with these anoying features?
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Adam Martin
I'm not even gonna point out the irony.
Posts: 3686
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 10-11-2001 11:43 PM
quote:
Yes, I know I can run the RP40 and propperly focus the lenses so that they are both in focus, but it's still anoying.
Laziness is not an excuse. You aren't going to get any more out of the projector than you put in. If the lenses were set up properly, you wouldn't be complaining about having one focus mechanism, right? If there are 16 to fix, do them a couple every night and eventually they'll all be done. You should have to do this every time a lamp is changed, anyway. Back to the original topic, my vote is for: clean as much as possible every night after the construction crew leaves; and, keep everything that is not currently being worked on covered.
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John Wilson
Film God
Posts: 5438
From: Sydney, Australia.
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 10-12-2001 06:03 AM
>>If you are doing a split with one movie flat and one scope (I would make sure that didn't happen if I did the house assignments, but I don't), sometimes you have to adjust the focus each show<<But surely you check focus on each film anyway, right? The single focus knob would be better if it were two...but if that's my biggest complaint (and it is, although it's not a problem if you just take the time to make sure they are both focussed) then I'm one happy camper. We are using FP30D's in all our screens. They are hands down the best machine I've ever worked on. Rock steady...good light...great SRD via basement readers (see 'Exit Stage Right...Moulin Rouge' thread). Running these beauties with FilmGuard...it just doesn't get any better. Brad, you've got to find some of these babies and take a look. We are open seven days.
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Dave Macaulay
Film God
Posts: 2321
From: Toronto, Canada
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 10-12-2001 05:59 PM
Back to opening suggestions...
This is all probaly common sense stuff, but you did ask for suggestions...
The last couple of weeks before opening, attention will drift away from the booth. Probably completely. The management will be obsessed with the lobby, concessions, and auditoria plus finding and training the cash staff. The booth, out of sight, will be forgotten.
You will have to push for trades to work on any unfinished business up there. Make sure you do. Lie shamelessly, everyone else will be doing the same to ensure their pet project is being completed. You should start as soon as possible to set ridiculously early deadlines for booth completion, there are lots of BS reasons to give the site supervisor - the projectors need to be "broken in" for a week, Engineers have to fly in from <insert distant city> at great expense to set up the equipment on a certain day and heads will roll if it isn't ready for them, etc. etc.
Talk to your local distributors and get a few junk prints for testing, so you have at least 2 reels on each machine. Less and nobody does enough splicing, much more and they don't do enough threading. Make them up with automation cues like a real feature presentation.
Distributors are usually OK with this, they'll have lots of prints awaiting disposal and don't mind having them used this way. Have your staff make them up and run them as many times as possible on all screens at once. This lets you find the problems - people, machinery, and operations - before there are paying customers to placate.
If a miracle happens and the sound alignment gets done before opening morning check every house. Everything you can. Even very competent and careful techs can screw up simple things when rushed and doing the same thing 30 times for 30 screens (I don't know how many you have of course). Once everything is connected it's possible to do a complete B chain with an R2 when the speaker wiring is very mixed up. (been there, done that...) The microphones can't tell that the C highs are coming from the L speaker, and it's easy to assume someone else has already checked and phased the speakers.
There have been other posts about cleaning, dust, and air filters.
Remember that construction dirt isn't like "normal" dirt. It is cement dust, gypsum dust, metal powder, carpet and fibreglass fibres. It's very abrasive stuff.
Try not to bring in show prints until you do a complete cleaning. Best is to do a complete damp mop and rag cleaning before the run-in and again afterwards before the show prints come in - more dust will have settled, guaranteed. Since a lot of booths have no ceiling now, you have to get on a ladder and dust the tops of all those pipes and ducts up there!
If you have an air compressor and blowgun use it only sparingly, and only in the lamphouses and on the projectors. It just moves the dirt around and that will settle right on your platters.
Do a free pre-opening event for someone, maybe the staff families or construction crew. That lets everyone try their jobs with "real customers" but the customers aren't very hostile about problems if they get in free.
Rule #1: The first real show should NOT be the gala opening!
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Jason Black
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1723
From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 10-12-2001 08:40 PM
JC,
While I read many posts regarding dust control in the booth, I'm surprised that I didn't see someone mention a product called Dust-Down. It may be found by other names, not sure, but the point of it is dust control during construction. On the openings I've had hands in, I've made sure that there was plenty ot go round the building, anywhere there was concrete, which may or may not apply to your booth.Apply liberally, then have it swept up as needed (daily-every other day, etc). Follow up with a thorough dust mopping, then MANY thorough wet moppings. You'd be surprised at how this will help bring down dust/dirt levels in the auditoriums, as well as the booth. ------------------
The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!
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Bruce McGee
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1776
From: Asheville, NC USA... Nowhere in Particular.
Registered: Aug 1999
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posted 10-13-2001 08:04 AM
It's a bit late for this, but, what are your thoughts on a central vacuum system that exhausts to the outside?The Fox Theatre in Atlanta has one that was installed in 1929 that is still in use. I've installed one in a friends home. The hardest part was the installation of the room outlets in the floors. The thing really sucks!
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