Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Sconce lighting

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

»	Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE » Operations » Ground Level » Sconce lighting - on or off during shows? (Page 2)

This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3

Author

Topic: Sconce lighting - on or off during shows?

Carl Martin
Phenomenal Film Handler

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

posted 10-28-2004 05:41 PM

does the law take into account that movie theater exit signs will be shining in the dark and thus don't need to shine anywhere near as brightly as they would in a restaurant, say, to be visible? not to mention that they're a detriment when they shine so brightly.

carl

| IP: Logged

John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 10-28-2004 06:10 PM

quote: Carl Martin
does the law take into account that movie theater exit signs will be shining in the dark and thus don't need to shine anywhere near as brightly as they would in a restaurant, say, to be visible?

I suspect the main reason there is a requirement for a certain brightness is that the signs need to be easily seen through smoke. Use a shield to keep the light off the screen, but don't compromise safety by dimming the signs below the required brightness.

| IP: Logged

Daryl C. W. O'Shea
Film God

Posts: 3977
From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from)
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 10-28-2004 08:26 PM

quote: Carl Martin
does the law take into account that movie theater exit signs will be shining in the dark and thus don't need to shine anywhere near as brightly as they would in a restaurant, say, to be visible?

I'd hope that in any modern theatre the house lights would automatically come up full in the event of a fire alarm.

| IP: Logged

Randy Stankey
Film God

Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99

posted 10-28-2004 10:34 PM

quote: Daryl C. W. O'Shea

I'd hope that in any modern theatre the house lights would automatically come up full in the event of a fire alarm.

In just about all of the recently built commercial theaters I have worked at, the fire alarm system is interlocked to the movie projectors. When the fire alarm is activated all projectors in the building are cut off. When the projectors are cut off the house lights come up.

In two out of three venues that I am in charge of at the college, the theater lights have a "Panic" mode to them which brings on ALL circuits to 100% when activated. Although I can see why such a feature would be used, I don't care for it. I can think of several reasons why not to use it.

In movie theaters, I think a projector cut-off is a good idea.

| IP: Logged

Dick Twentyman
Film Handler

Posts: 21
From: Highton, Victoria, Australia,
Registered: Oct 2004

posted 10-28-2004 10:49 PM

In Australia, it is common practice for house lights to be held at reduced level for filmads and trailers to allow latecomers to find their seats. These lights are then taken out for the feature, and brought back to half for end credits. While feature is screening, only aisle and exit lights are illuminated (aisle lights are on dimmers) as required by law. The Building Code of Australia also requires exit lights to be illuminated at all times that the public occupy a premises. The relevant Australian Standard requires exit lights to be white lettering on a green background, but allows for theatre and cinema auditoriums to use exit lights with green lettering on a black background. My preference is all lighting (other than aisle and exit lights) to be OFF whilst feature is screening. Light from the screen is more than adequate to define the auditorium space limits.

| IP: Logged

Jeffrey Korns
Film Handler

Posts: 22
From: marion, ia, usa
Registered: Oct 2004

posted 11-07-2004 09:13 PM

Hello.

According to some retired projectionists and stage hands I had opportunity to know over the years, the grand movie palaces always had lights on during the presentations. These were the large theatres that had coves and domes that were lit with a 3 color light system. According to these employees no respectable manager ever had a completely dark theatre. They would light the domes softly during different portions of the program. Red cove lighting might be used during the newsreel and blue during the feature. Quite often the small sidewall sconces would be on, but at a reduced level. Of course when these theatres were built they operated on a continuous show basis, so ushers would be regularly showing patrons to their seats.

Recently the local performing arts center (a very ornate 1928 movie theatre of 2000 seats with lots of coves, domes, and under balcony domes) was "renovated/restored". About 6 years ago our theatre organ society helped re lamp the 3 light system and used it effectively during silent film presentations and other organ events (it helps that we have a union stage hand and professional light tech on our board). The problem is that the management of the theatre has no idea how to use the indirect lighting system. As the opaque 25 watt colored bulbs burned out the low paid maintaining staff replaced them with higher wattage, standard, white bulbs. The management does not understand indirect lighting, or care about it. Our group, and several of the employees who care about the theatre, are pushing to get the money and time to restore the lighting again.

| IP: Logged

Steve Kraus
Film God

Posts: 4094
From: Chicago, IL, USA
Registered: May 2000

posted 11-07-2004 11:42 PM

Well, with the sconce out there is greater risk of injury if people are going to and from concessions and the movie happens to be dark. But wit sconce in they are more apt to be eating cheese. [Eek!]

(Sorry that was really bad.)

| IP: Logged

Jarryd Beard
Expert Film Handler

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

posted 11-15-2004 04:25 PM

Our wall lights are full for Screenvision slides, mid for trailers, low (not off) for feature, and mid for credits. Projectionist usually brings lights up to full during credits on a busy night when we have clean in a hurry. (Flushes out those patrons who must read every credit b/c they want to hire the caterer for their wedding or something. I have to give David G. credit for that joke.)

| IP: Logged

Carl Martin
Phenomenal Film Handler

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

posted 11-15-2004 05:24 PM

quote: Jarryd Beard
Flushes out those patrons

so you treat your patrons like shit? seriously though, if they paid to watch the film they should watch as much of it as they please. i watch the credits, and i hardly ever pay to see a film.

carl

| IP: Logged

Carl Martin
Phenomenal Film Handler

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

posted 11-17-2004 04:43 AM

urgh! this issue has just reared its ugly head. yesterday my manager had bulbs put in our long-unused sconces in the upstairs theaters. they shone on the screen for the first set today, after which i disabled them. we tried out some blue bulbs which seemed ok, but he insists the amber looks nicer. they'll be put on a (manual) dimmer at some point but until then it's just going to look tacky during the show.

the sconces probably were a much better idea when they were in the balcony before the theater was triplexed.

carl

| IP: Logged

Jarryd Beard
Expert Film Handler

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

posted 11-17-2004 11:41 AM

quote: Carl Martin
so you treat your patrons like shit?

Sorry Carl, a bit of humor. Our theatre is slope style and we always make sure our employees never clean in front of or even near patrons watching the credits. The reason for bringing the lights up to full is a bit of aid to floor staff that may be cleaning a heavily littered area. (It's rare to use the work lights because some people may still be in the auditorium.) We try our best to make sure all patrons have a great experiance at Carmike.

| IP: Logged

Mark J. Marshall
Film God

Posts: 3188
From: New Castle, DE, USA
Registered: Aug 2002

posted 11-18-2004 03:54 PM

Work lights should NEVER be turned on during credits if a patron is still in the auditorium, unless they are the ONLY one in the auditorium, and they're crawling around on the floor looking for their keys. Don't schedule The Incredibles to start up again ten minutes after it's over on a Sunday afternoon, and you won't have that problem!

[thumbsdown]

Film done wrong!

| IP: Logged

Jarryd Beard
Expert Film Handler

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

posted 11-18-2004 07:41 PM

quote: Mark J. Marshall
Work lights should NEVER be turned on during credits if a patron is still in the auditorium

I'm sorry for this being such an issue. I hope, Mark, you don't think we turn the work lights on with patrons present. I said that it's rare that we get to use the work lights for that very reason, the fact that patrons are present. What is done is bringing the sconce lighting up to full. These have very little interference with the screen. Even if a patron was missing keys, they would have wait until all others have left the auditorium until the work lights would be turned on. In fact, we've turned the work lights on pre-show for one patron when she was in an empty house and wanted read a book before her movie. Other than that, no work lights with patrons. I have been to Loews Theatre and witnessed the slide projector being turned on during the credits. That's just plain rude. The projectionist just stood looking out the port after he did it.

| IP: Logged

Mark J. Marshall
Film God

Posts: 3188
From: New Castle, DE, USA
Registered: Aug 2002

posted 11-18-2004 08:53 PM

Okie doke. Sounds like we're pretty much on the same page. Thanks for the clarification, and sorry for the confusion! [Smile]

| IP: Logged

System Notices
Forum Watchdog / Soup Nazi

Posts: 215

Registered: Apr 2004

posted 11-23-2009 03:54 PM

It has been 1830 days since the last post.

| IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3

Printer-friendly view of this topic

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.