What is of interest is the accurate depiction of the 35mm frame including optical, DTS, Dolby Digital and SDDS tracks.
With the start of the Olympics here, there is a new Nike ad that has athletes, including Cathy Freeman moving around on a frame of 35mm also. The frame looks great and it even has a Dolby digital track with double D logo able to be seen, what it misses though is any optical track! The art director probably thought it got in the way!
Compare these two examples to the crummy example of film on the "8mm" poster, it looked nothing like standard 8mm or Super 8mm.
An advertisement done a few years ago for Cadbury Chocolate showed a Cinemeccanica Vic 8 in a projection room.....in mirror reverse! Another example of the "look" being just right.
Can anyone else think of examples of filme or projection rooms depicted in ads, films or TV shows, does it ever look real?
It starts with a shot of the screen with a girl eating Lindt chocolates. It then cuts to a tracking shot of the projectionist through the port glass and he is drooling. He wants a chocolate. He checks the projector (not the real Orpheum Century JJ's, but Kalees) and then runs down to the concession stand and eats some Lindt chocolate.
It then cuts back to the screen and the image is melting on screen and the sound is getting slower as the projector melts the film. He races back upstairs and presses a button and opens the dowser (you all know that's how you get a melted film back on screen, right?) All is ok and the girl is again eating her chocolate. He takes another look at the projector and races out the door again. It's pretty good.
As some of you already know, I worked at the Orpheum for a good many years. This ad had been on for about one year but had finished about six months before this next bit happened...
The chief of the time was running a matinee of 'Dances With Wolves' one Sunday and was down in the concession stand having a drink and a chat, when out comes a patron...
Patron: Hello
Chief Projectionist: Hello
Patron: Do you work here?
Chief Projectionist (who had a 'manner' about him), was standing behind the counter and was dressed in his usual grey overalls thought this was a pretty stupid question so said (duh):Yes.
The patron moved closer to him and looked him in the eyes closely and simply said...
Patron: Lindt Chocolates.
It took about two or three seconds for the penny to drop and his face went white. He then ran upstairs to find he was off screen with Kevin Costner and lots of buffalos all over the booth floor.
Clever patron, I say.
----------------------
Regarding that Nike ad...did you notice the SRD track is on both sides of the film? 12 track, perhaps?
There was a commercial on TV recently, I don't think it showed a booth, or even had anything to do with movies, but there was a sound effect that was obviously sourced from a Century R-6 motor being started. I know it, because that sound is burned into my memory, from years of hearing it constantly. "Dwoooheeeeeeeeee"
------------------
Better Projection Pays!