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Topic: Upcoming 70mm Screenings

Michael Coate
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1904
From: Los Angeles, California
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 11-14-2007 01:39 PM

quote: John Walsh
If I remember, a 70mm print of Aliens was destroyed on opening night at the Criterion theatre in New York. The owners had just twined the place in time for opening, and probably rushed the job.

"Aliens" (1986) didn't play at the Criterion. (The Manhattan first-run 70mm bookings were 84th Street Six, Gotham, Orpheum Twin & Warner Twin.)

Maybe you're thinking of one of the other venues mentioned above, or if you're certain the incident occured at the Criterion then perhaps it was "Blade Runner" (1982) or "Die Hard" (1988), both of which had their 70mm prints damaged and received some trade/newspaper coverage.

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 11-14-2007 01:39 PM

I must admit...to me, 70mm has always just been wider 35mm. It really doesn't need any particularly special care due to its gauge. Mag tracks, be they 8, 16, 35 or 70mm all need to be treated with appropriate care regardless of film size.

As for reels and take up tension...I can assure you, I never had to push start the 70mm reels versus the 35mm reels. Now as for setting clutches...I did not change the settings between 70mm and 35mm if the reel size was the same (22" x 8"). I did lighten the clutch for 20 minute reels or in booths with 6K reels I would adjust the clutch between 6K and 2K reels...more to optimize than that I couldn't find a position where it would work for both (if the 6K reel had 7" or larger hubs).

I've never had 70mm gate tension to be particulary tricky other than when DTS poly prints came on line...they are weaker prints and the width of the film being pinched by the lateral guide rollers could cause the film to buckle a bit and curl in towards the runners.

BTW...The Senator in Baltimore, MD is slated to play Lawrence of Arabia in 70mm starting next Wednesday 11/21/07...it will be in DTS-70.

Steve

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David Stambaugh
Film God

Posts: 4021
From: Eugene, Oregon
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 11-14-2007 01:44 PM

Michael: I think I mentioned before that I swear I saw a double-bill at the Edwards Big Newport where the regular feature was 35mm, and they had an evening sneak of "Top Gun" in 70mm (one of those deals where you buy a ticket for one movie, get to see the other one too if you want). I'm absolutely positive that "Top Gun" was shown in 70mm, and whatever the other movie was, it was 35mm. But I can't for the life of me remember what the other movie was. Any idea? Might be another Paramount release.

Anyway there were no visible or audible problems for them to switch from 35mm to 70mm. It was completely seamless as far as the audience could tell.

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Michael Coate
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1904
From: Los Angeles, California
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 11-14-2007 01:47 PM

Dave: "Blue City"...May 10, 1986.

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David Stambaugh
Film God

Posts: 4021
From: Eugene, Oregon
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 11-14-2007 01:59 PM

Hmmm. I don't recognize that title, let alone recall having ever seen it. Maybe it was so bad I've unknowingly expunged it from my memory. [Big Grin]

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Mark Lensenmayer
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1605
From: Upper Arlington, OH
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 01-22-2008 02:47 PM

70mm Screening

Vertigo

February 14, 2008 -- 7pm

Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus OH

Bruce Bartoo is the primary operator there, and he always does excellent work. Should be a fine presentation.

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Ron Funderburg
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 814
From: Chickasha, Oklahoma, USA
Registered: Nov 2007

posted 01-24-2008 01:32 PM

Far and Away list only 65 mm as the film negative and the process was Panavision Super 70 it shown in 70mm (2:20 to 1) and 35mm (2:35 to 1)

Titanic was filmed in superscope 35mm with 70MM blow ups the underwater scenes were filmed in Techniscope!

Gettysburg was filmed flat format 35mm with 1.85 to one and had 70MM blow ups and the aspect ratio was still in the 1.85 so it was pillar boxed in!

The problem with 70MM is there just is not enough demand to make it economical to use for final out put. You don't see any theaters with design that benefits. With that said there is the Orpheum in Okmulgee it can run (and does when they can get the prints) 70MM so there are some small town theaters that can and would still do it if it was around!

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Brian Guckian
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 594
From: Dublin, Ireland
Registered: Apr 2003

posted 01-24-2008 04:41 PM

quote: Blaine Young
I've been wondering about the screening of Titanic. I thought I read somewhere that all of the 70mm prints for that had been played to death and there only a handful to begin with.

Not true - I saw the film in 70mm in Germany in October 2006 and it looked fine. (Must have been the print Brad screened [Smile]

quote: Sean Weitzel
sadly, the last screening I attended, at least one of the prints was covered in scratches and vertically jumped throughout. It was hard to determine whether the machine was threaded incorrectly, or the perforations were damaged, but it sure didn't look good at all. I asked the manager about it once i noticed the problem and all he said was "it's the print". Sigh. I later learned that both prints were all but destroyed by the time the engagement ended.

Upsetting though they are, these problems are not intractable. What is required for showing 70mm is some form of venue accreditation where the Distributor can be sure that a sufficient level of competence and equipment specification exists. Venues that don't meet the criteria don't get the prints. This is similar to ideas I raised in this thread:

Classic Prints

quote: Ron Funderburg
The problem with 70MM is there just is not enough demand to make it economical to use for final out put.

Actually there are growing numbers of new 70mm prints in circulation - log onto www.in70mm.com for updates, and indeed for information on all aspects of this format.

There is nothing uneconomical about striking limited quantities of 70mm prints - bear in mind that the Studios are striking vastly more expensive IMAX blow-ups all the time.

Best of all, shooting on 65mm to use the 70mm projection format to its fullest advantage is not expensive; the additional cost is marginal.

quote: Steve Guttag
I'm also happy to say that we are installing 70mm projectors into the new Library of Congress facility in Culpeper, VA in addition to Nitrate rated 35/16 projectors.

If Library of Congress protocol permits Steve, it'd be great to see some photos here on Film-Tech when it's all done! [thumbsup]

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 01-24-2008 11:09 PM

Most government facilities that are not open to the general public have restrictions on photography or distribution of photography. It is entirely possible that they have or will have a set of publication photos of the venue though. I know there is a web site that has a picture of the main theatre (and a story of how he got thrown out of the place while taking said picturs!)

Steve

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Brian Guckian
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 594
From: Dublin, Ireland
Registered: Apr 2003

posted 01-25-2008 03:13 PM

Understood; I guess I was thinking that the projection room may not be as critical as other parts of the building, but as you say perhaps they will have their own stills that they are OK about reproducing.

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Michael Coate
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1904
From: Los Angeles, California
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 01-29-2008 08:22 AM

Let the 40th anniversary tributes begin! "2001: A Space Odyssey" will be shown at Pacific/ArcLight's CINERAMA DOME on Jan. 30 (that's tomorrow!).

quote: ArcLight website
AFI 100: 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY

SPECIAL DOME PRESENTATION IN 70MM WITH SIX TRACK DISCRETE MAGNETIC SOUND

A landmark, science fiction classic--and one of the best films about exploration of the unknown -- '2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY' was released at the height of the space race between the USSR and the US in 1968- the same time as NASA's exploratory Apollo Project with manned Earth-orbiting missions.

'2001' brought in four Academy Award nominations, took home the Oscar for Best Special Effects and ranked HAL 9000 as the 13th villain on AFI's 100 Years…100 Heroes and Villains list and the 15th film on AFI's 100 Years… 100 Movies-10th Anniversary.

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Richard May
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1057
From: Floral Park, NY USA
Registered: Aug 2004

posted 01-29-2008 12:16 PM

Does the RCMH Christmas show count? The opening film is 70MM 3D. Guess not. It's worth seeing though. [Smile]

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Ben Wales
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 602
From: Southampton. England
Registered: Jul 99

posted 01-29-2008 03:54 PM

quote: Brian Guckian
Not true - I saw the film in 70mm in Germany in October 2006 and it looked fine. (Must have been the print Brad screened

It was also screened at the last year's Widescreen Film Festival in Bradford and the DTS sounded fantastic as well the print.

I belive that it may be screened in 70mm at the Rex Cinema in Berkamsted in April - well worth checking this out at this Cinema!.

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Brian D. Whitish
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 103
From: Seattle, WA, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 02-05-2008 11:17 PM

Sadly I just got back from Seattles Cinerama for a presentation of 2001(My Favorite Movie) at my favorite theatre. There was a union projectionist there till 2 years ago. I wish he was back. The first two reels ran with only surrounds working and bad focus. I went out and got my money back. I was so sad. Thanks AMC!

Brian

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David Stambaugh
Film God

Posts: 4021
From: Eugene, Oregon
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 02-05-2008 11:31 PM

Major projection flaws aside, how was the condition of the print in Seattle? I see their web site says "Original Print in 'B' Condition". Seattle Cinerama

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