|
|
This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3
|
|
Author
|
Topic: Regal Theaters Quality Question
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sam Graham
AKA: "The Evil Sam Graham". Wackiness ensues.
Posts: 1431
From: Waukee, IA
Registered: Dec 2004
|
posted 02-15-2005 07:18 AM
quote: Jim Ziegler
I lived in KC for years and never saw a show there... You have to wonder what Act III was thinking putting that theatre in a casino in the middle of no where..
That plex was part of a development deal they had with Station Casinos, which is how they established their base in Las Vegas. Without that relationship, it would have never happened.
It didn't hurt that Station Casino built a magnificent facility overall. Two "riverboats" (they aren't, really, which ended up being a long legal battle ultimately put to a public vote to define just what a riverboat was), several restaurants, the 18-plex, and a hotel. I don't gamble, and I could keep myself entertained for a weekend there without ever leaving. It was the most successful casino in town, but the company ended up selling it when threatened with losing their license over some questionable tactics in the process of getting said licence.
Today, Ameristar owns it, and hasn't changed it much (if it aint broke...)
KC-18's presentation was a typical Act III all-THX "Stadium Riser" design and decor (Regal dropped THX certification, naturally). It was THE place to see movies in Kansas City when it initially opened...until AMC got their stadium beasts going. It's not exactly a huge grosser, but I doubt it's exactly in trouble either.
quote: Jim Ziegler
How is that new Century in Des Moines?
Aside from occasional electrical problems, at least initially, and the satellite concession stands' seeming inablility to ever be able to make change for a $20, it's good. I've seen movies on a little over half their screens, and have no complaints.
Well okay, one complaint (to Hollywood)...Give us something decent to watch. When your local 20-plex is showing "Hitch" on their FOUR LARGEST SCREENS, something's wrong.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monte L Fullmer
Film God
Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004
|
posted 02-16-2005 01:52 AM
Interesting..we're back on the REG topic.
Hopefully, and hopefully, with all of the complaints and few praises that are mentioned here and in the past, that the REG people and other big circuits, both nationwide and worldwide, are taking these comments from all of us in this FG forum to heart, (for I used to work for REG, and must apologize to this company and to this FT forum for my share of bad-mouthing that I've mentioned in earlier posts on the topic of REG. For I absolutely had no business of presenting myself in a unprofessional state, to the public and in this FT forum, on comments that really were not of importance. For such comments were not important to the members of this forum and to the subject circuit mentioned) and truefully do their best to remedy these conditions that are presented here for if they plan on existing, or being successful, they must do something about these presentation conditions.
These comments by us are just a inkling on what the general movie-going public are witnessing. What comments would they be saying, good or bad?
Granted, we "tekkies" see FAR,FAR more flaws and impefections than the normal movie going individual. It's being that we are selves are serious "professional profectionists" in our trade.
Thus, we have a tendency to be more "nit-pickey" on areas that the average movie going person don't even see - like flickering bulbs, slight out-of-focus pictures, offset masking issues, skewed anamorphic lenses, using opaque tape in the splice joining areas, et.al.
Yet, it seems when a dialog picture is in play, and since the left/right/surrounds aren't driving, these people DO come out and complain that "all of the speakers aren't working!"
I do believe that sound is more of a greater issue to some of the public than the visual of the presentation.
And with these comments written in this forum are written and spoken proof of our testimonies in this trade that we hold so dear and proud of having.
We ARE a unique bunch of "film handlers"
thx-Monte
| IP: Logged
|
|
Chase Hanson
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 172
From: San Diego, CA
Registered: Oct 2004
|
posted 02-16-2005 12:17 PM
quote: Monte L Fullmer
Thus, we have a tendency to be more "nit-pickey" on areas that the average movie going person don't even see - like flickering bulbs, slight out-of-focus pictures, offset masking issues, skewed anamorphic lenses, using opaque tape in the splice joining areas, et.al.
Thats actually part of the irony present in what we do.
I recently transfered theaters inside the same market, and I was almost shocked to see that my new home theater was recieving higher marks in film presentation than one I had just left. This new theater has a significantly more difficult time keeping prints clean, and appears to scratch movies at a significantly higher rate than the previous theater.
It appears that our Customers(Guests) have a significantly different opinion of what a good presentation looks like, than we do.
| IP: Logged
|
|
Thomas Dieter
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 234
From: Yakima, WA
Registered: Jun 2004
|
posted 02-16-2005 01:19 PM
quote: Monte L Fullmer
Granted, we "tekkies" see FAR,FAR more flaws and impefections than the normal movie going individual. It's being that we are selves are serious "professional profectionists" in our trade.
Thus, we have a tendency to be more "nit-pickey" on areas that the average movie going person don't even see - like flickering bulbs, slight out-of-focus pictures, offset masking issues, skewed anamorphic lenses, using opaque tape in the splice joining areas, et.al.
I totally agree with this. Having previous work at a drive inn theatre that ran Reel to Reel projection, I trained myself to look for the queue for reel change, and still to this day, I look for it. The funny thing is, everyone I watch a movie with is courious at why I count and make hand jestures about every 15 to 20 mins. After the show is over, I tell them why and everything, and they say, I've never seen that, or I didn't know that.
I mean, when I go to a theatre, I see all the factory splices and theatre splices (even the good ones), and they don't even notice the blatant ones.
I guess it's just because of the fact that they rather enjoy the film for the film and not pick out the inconsistencies in the presentation of it.
Thomas
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monte L Fullmer
Film God
Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004
|
posted 02-16-2005 09:20 PM
..on this comment on cue marks:
When I was back in changeover booths, esp in the drive-ins where our booths were on the same level and next door to the snak-bar,customers would stop by the open door of the booth, (being the nights were kinda warm and no AC in the booth) to see my machinery (Motiograph AA's, Motiograph sound and Ashcrafts Corelites lamphouses), the people would ask me why of the two machines.
Course, I told I had to tell them the "golden story" of the two machine operation, due to the reels were only 18 minute reels, and within a chapter of this story is the magic "cue marks" that we've been trained to see.
Back then, there were more than one kind of cue mark. We had 9-pointed black stars, green circles, black circles, then the now common black dot, then the common homemade circular cue mark made by the cue maker that pratically every booth had.
I told them that there are two sets of cues: first set 7 seconds before the beginning of the end leader, and the second set, one foot before the end of the leader, or 5 seconds apart between the two sets of cues.
I remember showing one couple watching me make a changeover that night. They knew me well enough to where I would let them in the booth to see what I did.
The end of reel drop ding rang, I checked my carbons, then swung the switch and struck up the arcs and focused the arcs to the focus card, and waited for the cues. First set,I started the motor, and opened up the hand dowser. Second set, I stomped on the foot dowser button and swung the sound lever to accept the proper machines's sound. Then shut off the lamp, and turned off the motor to rewind the reel in the Goldberg rewinder, then proced to thread the next reel to repeat the operation again.
This couple saw this and was quite amazed of this operation that I was doing and asked me if I went to college to learn this operation (wow, I wonder if this should have been a required thing for making excellent projectionists..lol).
..and to this day, whenever when I meet this couple, they STILL tell me that they can still see the cuemarks when they go to movies and remember of my demostration that I presented to them and still is amazed of this unique trade, even though they chide me in a joking matter, of "ruining" their movie going experience by watching for the cues (LOL).
..just stuff we can't do today with automated booths.
-Monte
-Monte
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
All times are Central (GMT -6:00)
|
This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3
|
Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classicTM
6.3.1.2
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.
|
Home
![[thumbsup]](graemlins/thumbsup.gif)
. I won't even get into employee courtesy ![[thumbsdown]](graemlins/thumbsdown.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic