Ive visited our newest multiplex (about 12 months old) a couple of times recently and have been very disappointed with the quality of the screen image.
The films seen were Oceans Eleven and Gosford Park. Both films appeared very muddy on screen with total lack of contrast and lousy resolution, and never at any stage looked crisp and bright.
Id go as far as saying that if the screen luminance was 18 FootLamberts then Im Elvis Presley.
Before I start putting my complaint to the company (Hoyts, Chatswood ) Id like to get opinions from anyone who has screened either or both these films on GOOD equipment.
Did they look as I had expected- bright and sharp or am I out on a limb here.
Im aware that films are sometimes shot to look dim and dank but dont think this was the case with these films.
P.S. Another annoyance was thin brown vertical lines (about 2-3 feet apart) top to bottom of screen all the way across on flat format, and starting at left centre and going across to right centre. (scope format)
Even on this dimly lit screen they were obvious on exterior daylight shots.
Any ideas on this problem.
Oceans 11 should have looked just fine.
My guess on the vertical lines are that the seams in the screen are visible, but Ive never seen them appear brown.
Andrew Dunn BSC shot it using very fast EI 500 speed film. Based on the following quote, I think the low contrast "look" sounds like a deliberate artistic choice:
"We used it for interior candle lit as well as brightly lit scenes, exterior sunny scenes, and exterior dark cloudy rain scenes. It performed magnificently throughout. It dug into the blacks, even with a combination of a stocking on the back of the lens and a black dot filter on the front. There were huge latitudes and I loved the depth and creamy texture. It was like looking through a glass darkly at the shenanigans of a period between World War I and World War II, but in the same breath there is also a naturalistic feel so the audience won't feel too divorced from what actually goes on. All the action is seen through the eyes of the below-stairs people, and in particular one character who takes the audience on a journey, so there has to be a fairly subjective feel to the film."
Cant help you with Oceans Eleven, but if James R. Hammonds, Jnr said it should have looked just fine there must be a problem. I would certainly complain about the screen, how distracting! What was roughly the picture size ? Whilst looking impressive on some films, most oversized screens I have seen suffer from insufficient light for 35mm.
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Thanks for info. on Gosford Park. I may have to give them the benefit of the doubt on that one.
Screen size about 40 ft x (whatever). on 'scope.
What about those screen seams. I have never come across this problem before. Are screens usually made up of such narrow strips.
Can anyone enlighten me on this point.
As I still have keys to the old Regal until boarding up shortly, I measured the distance of the Harkness screen seams which are 4 feet. Perhaps the seams showed because of sub standard cheapo screens installed. Or the air conditioning has caused the problem in the long run.
No excuse for not having a good light on a 40 ft scope screen. The screens I was talking about were at least 60 ft.
Gosford Park looks crappy where ever you go...period.
Ocean΄s Eleven, although super 35 looked fantastic.
Did you see these in the same cinema screen? If you have access to a car, a bus or a train and then a bus, I suggest that since you are someone who obviously cares about quality, take a ride out to the Randwick Ritz sometime soon.
We use only digital sound in all screens and also all films are treated with Brad΄s mazing FilmGuard so they΄re all clean as a whistle.
Did you say those marks were scratches or marks on the screen by the way...?
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"It's not the years honey, it's the mileage". - Indiana Jones.
As for the screens, it looks like they where poor when they where put in (as it is only 12 months old). Whenever we open a new cinema we check each screen and if any seams are visible we reject and get them replaced. I opened a cinema in Budapest recently and the screens where installed by Hamman (Germany) and even though they where matt, they where perfect and we did not have to replace any!
Per