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

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Ground Level   » Credit requirements for booking prints (and photos of film equipment being junked) (Page 3)

This topic comprises 4 pages: 1  2  3  4

Author Topic: Credit requirements for booking prints (and photos of film equipment being junked) Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 08-21-2011 12:07 AM                     Mike...I'm not optimistic about a secondary market for used Digital...except if a theatre chain goes bust. These cost so much, folks are going to run them until they are no longer reliable. In particular, the series 2 machines. The series 1 machines I see popping up occasionally are the ones that an exhibitor would need to spend thousands on to get them DCI compliant enough for the studios. They also often have a reason they are no longer wanted (not reliable). As to the numbers, I'm not as convinced as some have proclaimed. I think the industry is going to have a situation come 2013 and hopefully, they will be able to resolve it. -Steve  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 08-21-2011 02:07 AM                     What's interesting, in adding in the comment about "numbers", is that I've seen these some of these changes occur with 35mm pullouts for digital, and now with library servers occupying the booth where one individual does all the digital work - from core injests of both trailer and feature files, to playlist assembly to final house assignment, which is all done by one computer console. Now, the hearing of actual outside advertising companies that will have full control of these operations where after the pre-show, a signal will be sent to the unit to begin playback...and throughout the entire week's performance times. It's just another way to trim down playroll so the cinemas can stay with within their required "numbers". This seems the ideal method of what is coming upon us now so the "numbers" can be there. But, is this all gonna work without any problems .. we just don't know for sure.. ..who knows, maybe those units destined for shredding have to be reused....  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 08-21-2011 02:07 AM                        Admittedly, I'm not in the loops that many of you are. As an independent drive-in operator in a medium-sized market, my threshold has always been when the big chains started seriously converting their installed equipment base. Why get excited about jumping "on the train" when Regal & AMC weren't doing so... or worse... still installing film gear. It wasn't more than a couple of years ago that Strong announced a big contract with Regal for Century gear, IIRC. In a little over a year, our market has gone from one converted screen to more than 10, or about 25% of the installed base. That should be about 40% to 50% by the end of the year, if what I'm seeing plays out. I've also had three cases where a sub-run 2nd-feature booking was delayed due to 35mm prints not being available. The delay wasn't more than a week, but that never happened before this year. So... the line I drew in the sand years ago has been crossed. I don't know if running film will become a critical problem in 2, 3 or 5 years, but it doesn't really matter. We're lining our ducks up to be ready when the time does come. As for the discussion surrounding this indoor house, it's too bad that emotions are driving the train. Whether you make digital a factor in your plan or not, I agree with those who think you're making a fatal mistake not to take this issue seriously.  |  IP: Logged Mike Frese Master Film Handler Posts: 465 From: Holts Summit, MO Registered: Jun 2007 posted 08-21-2011 10:39 PM                        Jack, Not including my 4 screens we are 26/38 converted to digital in my area. The remaining 12 are supposed to be converted by EOY which will leave me as the only 1st run still running film. My 10% of the screens equals only 2% of gross. Steve, Thanks for those photos. As someone who would not mind an upgrade here and there on my film equipment, I could not help to gasp.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-22-2011 01:56 PM                        Yeah, if that stuff has zero value, as Steve says above, it should be free for the hauling at some point!  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-22-2011 02:58 PM                        It looks as if the Boston area (~15 mile radius) is about 65% D-cinema and 35% 35mm film. (Not one theatre in this market could run a 70mm print if it arrived today, although at least two have the potential to do so with some notice, and one is actively working on achieving the capability.) This is by screen, not location, and counts only commercial theatres and not non-profits, special venues, and Imax houses not part of an existing commercial theatre. Don't quote this, as it's based on some personal knowledge and some educated guesses. I am counting the format that is likely to be shown most often, even if a given theatre may be capable of showing both film and D-cinema. The split seems to be mostly along chain/independent lines. Independents and art-houses (including Landmark, as far as I know) are almost all 35mm. AMC and National Amusements are largely D-cinema. Not sure about Regal, but they have several Real-D screens at their Fenway cinema. AMC has pulled out all 35mm capability from at least one theatre, which has already bitten at least one film film festival. Most of this change has happened in the last year. There were very few screens in this market in 2009. Steve is right--this will get interesting in a few years, and I am sure that a 50/50 film/digital split is the distributors' worst nightmare, especially with many theatres capable of showing only one format or the other. As for the "worthless" equipment: the platters can stay in the dumpster, but I'll offer $1 each plus shipping for Isco or Schneider lenses. I am not a theatre owner and do not compete with any of the people throwing this stuff out, so they should have no reason not to sell to me....  |  IP: Logged Joris Springer Film Handler Posts: 83 From: Almere, Flevoland, The Netherlands Registered: Feb 2007 posted 10-01-2011 06:06 PM                     I hope that that never happends to our Victoria 5's. Sure they have their problems but I much rather have them warm in our projection booths, maybe no longer operational but still ready to work, they don't deserve to be standing outside without anyone to care for.  |  IP: Logged Paul Looker Film Handler Posts: 83 From: Pittsburgh, PA/United States Registered: Sep 2009 posted 10-01-2011 09:04 PM                     I can't imagine that we would not need new sound equipment. Our processors are ultra stereo jb series and they are getting the job done with qsc amps (2 1700's and 2 1200's one for each auditorium). We have electro voice tl606dw speakers behind the screen with hp9040 horns on a dh1a driver. I don't want to do 3D because the vast majority of my customers come here because we don't. As far as screen size, all 4 are different but I want to start with an auditorium with a screen size of roughly 16 x 26 running flat and 12 x 26 running scope. Throw is about 60 feet.  |  IP: Logged Jeremy Jorgenson Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1002 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: Feb 2005 posted 10-28-2011 10:00 PM                        Wow. I just came across this thread. Those pictures on page two are pretty crazy.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 10-29-2011 01:08 PM                     I'm waiting for someone to post a video on YouTube of these units and items being shoved in the shredders for later metal extractions.  |  IP: Logged Ron Funderburg Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 814 From: Chickasha, Oklahoma, USA Registered: Nov 2007 posted 10-30-2011 10:39 AM                        The latest numbers I have seen suggest that 60% of all screens in America are now digital. The six screen I manage will be by end of year, or so I am being told. I did get an email welcoming my theater to Real D 3D so I am assuming that we are converting soon. I personally think that film will no longer be available or will cost you extra to get, by mid 2013 but with the deadline for VFP being Sept. 2012 film could be done end of next year! And if you buy something that isn't already in the buying group (or you aren't in already) then you will not be able to get VFP's, or maybe you can but I don't think so.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-30-2011 08:42 PM                        You don't have to be in the buying group to get VPFs. (not VFPs) You just need to find an integrator that will handle your conversion.  |  IP: Logged Mike Frese Master Film Handler Posts: 465 From: Holts Summit, MO Registered: Jun 2007 posted 10-30-2011 10:26 PM                        quote: Ron Funderburg I personally think that film will no longer be available or will cost you extra to get, by mid 2013 but with the deadline for VFP being Sept. 2012 film could be done end of next year! And if you buy something that isn't already in the buying group (or you aren't in already) then you will not be able to get VFP's, or maybe you can but I don't think so. Something to think about: If you are in a competitive market (meaning it is easy for customers to go to a different theater) and in that 2800+ rank range: there have been stories of digital theaters not getting a movie b/c of the VPF vs a digital theater of similar gross getting that same movie. Two studio reps of top 5 studios have agreed that the VPF will hurt you on occasion in getting a movie.  |  IP: Logged Ron Funderburg Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 814 From: Chickasha, Oklahoma, USA Registered: Nov 2007 posted 10-31-2011 10:24 AM                        Of course, the VFP will just as you have to pay a guarantee to get some films now or can't get them. Your grosses have always been a factor in you getting or not getting a film what is the difference in a VFP or the cost of the print to the film company? Nothing has changed on that!  |  IP: Logged Mike Frese Master Film Handler Posts: 465 From: Holts Summit, MO Registered: Jun 2007 posted 11-01-2011 07:58 PM                        quote: Of course, the VFP will just as you have to pay a guarantee to get some films now or can't get them. Your grosses have always been a factor in you getting or not getting a film what is the difference in a VFP or the cost of the print to the film company? Nothing has changed on that! Ron, not true. The guarantee with at least one studio (the top one) has decreased from $1500 to $1000 for a digital theater not receiving a VPF from when they were film. Another studio has been more generous in movie allocation since the switch before. The guarantee has actually done up in some circumstances for a move-over movie for digital. I have had talks with sales reps of 3 of the major studios and they believe that there could be better availability of movies on the break for theaters who are not receiving a VPF vs when they were film.  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 4 pages: 1  2  3  4

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

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.