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 3)

This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3

Author

Topic: Sconce lighting - on or off during shows?

Marco Giustini
Film God

Posts: 2713
From: Reading, UK
Registered: Nov 2007

posted 11-23-2009 03:54 PM

Sorry if I pick up this old thread.
I'm living in the UK now and I'm quite shocked watching movies with lights turned ON during main feature!!
In my country law says that stairs and exit paths must be illuminated (usually we use led lights). Law says that fire exit sign must be illuminated too. Where I used to work, our signs were dimmed during the feature and they would glow 100% if a fire alarm was activated.

Now, I've been in a VUE, in an Odeon and in a Showcase Cinemas. Showcase Cinemas is the only one that does NOT keep light on during performance, suggesting me that maybe UK's law is NOT saying that the light must be on.
But in both VUE and Odeon cinemas I was VERY annoyed by the lights. I wear glasses and as Brad said even the dimmest light can unfortunately reflect in our lenses (even with anti-reflect treatment). But I think that when you see the cone of light of the "safety light" on the screen there's definitely something wrong.

I saw "A Christmas Carol" at Odeon, I could see the whole room, I could have read a newspaper. The contrast on screen was very poor, blacks were completely washed out and I could see the shadow of the masking on the screen.

I'm so surprised, never - ever - watched a movie with lights turned on in my country. What's the purpose of projecting a movie in a room that is not completely dark??

Marco

| IP: Logged

Caleb Johnstone-Cowan
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 593
From: London, UK
Registered: Mar 2006

posted 11-23-2009 10:20 PM

In the UK lighting levels will depend on the licensing conditions set out by the local council, this Act is 100 years old now and also provides the legal basis for councils to censor films if they want to.

| IP: Logged

Marco Giustini
Film God

Posts: 2713
From: Reading, UK
Registered: Nov 2007

posted 11-24-2009 06:30 PM

Hello Caleb

On what basis Councils decide the lighting level in the auditorium? Since Vue and Showcase are both in Reading (Borough Council) and one has lights on and the other has not, I would think that it depends on something related to the room itself.

I'm not going to pay money in low-quality cinemas with lights ON during feature!!

| IP: Logged

Mark Hajducki
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 500
From: Edinburgh, UK
Registered: May 2003

posted 11-25-2009 07:28 AM

I think some chains have had issues of people suing them after falling down auditorium stairways, claiming that there was not enough light. These people would probably have tripped over on a completely flat floor.

Some auditoria are better designed in terms of lighting than others, and can have stairways lit without disturbing many people.

Edinburgh Council states in its cinema licence conditons

quote:
20 All exit doors in the premises shall be indicated by a fixed lighting transparency bearing the word “EXIT” in
letters no less than 10 centimetres high. All exit doors shall be useable at the end of each performance.
The transparency shall be illuminated by a maintained system of lighting and must be visible from the
auditorium at all times when the premises are open to the public.

...

27 The premises shall be lit to the satisfaction of the Council. A maintained system of secondary lighting shall
be provided throughout the building, kept in proper working order and kept on when the premises are open
to the public.

Since those conditions were published the word "EXIT" on the signs has been replaced with the running man symbol.

| 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.