This is topic Screens.....and much more! in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Andrew Lee (Member # 1330) on 10-23-2002, 10:07 AM:
Dear Forum Users,
On the advice of John Pytlak, I have set myself up on this great web site and forum. My name is Andrew Lee and I am the VP here at MDI. MDI manufactures screens for the cinema industry (small and large format) as well as specialty venues and home theatre.I have an extensive background in this industry. Starting with 14 years with Imax and a technologist responsible for development of many technical aspects associated with projectors, screens, 3D glasses, and so on. For a year after departing Imax, I worked with a high end home theatre company in Toronto designing and installing home theatres for those with more money than they knew what to do with. I am now the VP here at MDI.
If any of you have any questions or concerns regarding screens, 3D projection or applications related, please put them by me and I will be more than happy to help out. I've noticed this site has an abundance of experienced techs and hope I can add to the mix.
Kind regards,
Andrew Lee
VP, MDI
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 10-23-2002, 11:31 AM:
Welcome Andrew! 
You're one of the few people to take my advice. 
------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
e-mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: here
Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 10-23-2002, 11:49 AM:
Welcome Andrew
Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 10-23-2002, 02:05 PM:
When we first opened our theatre we had a silver screen that had mustard squirted on it. The previous manager had tried to clean it off but the wipe marks were very visible. The screen used to be referred to as the Big Butt Screen. I ordered a new 10'x24' screen and was told MDI shipped the fastest. So we order one from them through our cinema supplier. When the box came, I thought 'this can't be right?! This box is way too small.' The screen fit in what looked like a medium FedEx box. I thought they must have sent me a 10"x24" screen.
Turns out they have a very thin screen material and integrated plastic grommets. The screen went in just fine and that was the last complaint we got.
Thank you MDI.
Posted by Andrew Lee (Member # 1330) on 10-23-2002, 02:34 PM:
Thank you for the kind words Ian.Andrew
Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 10-23-2002, 08:24 PM:
Ian, Are you serious? It came in a box fitting a 10 inch by 24 inch screen? And when you open the box, out popped a 10 foot by 24 foot screen with grommets on a 6 inch center and it fit perfectly? This is incredible.
Please send me a box of what ever you are smoking.
P.S. I loved your answer. It tickled the cockles of my heart. 
Please move this to the joke forum under weird happnings.
Andrew, Welcome and my regards to you and to Joe.
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-23-2002, 09:21 PM:
Andrew, I'm not familiar with your screens. Do you know if there is any theater in the Dallas area using them? I would like to check them out.Off topic, what brand of screen has those godawful seams that look like base side film scratches? (I was told that it was "thought" to be a Technikote screen, but my informant was not 100% certain.) I have always found Harkness screens to be the one to beat. They are simply magnificent screens!
Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 10-23-2002, 09:24 PM:
A brand new MDI screen and frame was just installed here at the Museum Of Ancient Life. The screen is 48' by 63' and looks beautiful! Its nice as now large format theatres other than Imax can have huge 3D systems!! More competition makes for a healthier economy and so on.....
This screen didn't come in a small box though. It was 49 feet long by about 2 feet square!
Mark @ CLACO
Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 10-23-2002, 10:38 PM:
I worked for a company that was part of the Technikote family for 8 years. If the seams are not accurately welded with the thick PVC fabric you can see some seaming. On Hurley they use a sewing setup which can pucker and if they do not match their pre-coated stock you can have paneling where some panels are brighter than others. MDI, Cinemeccanica,Trident, Harkness U.K. and their German counterpart use a lighter weight but strong PVC that can be folded. I have had experience with all of the above and at one time or another any manufacturer can drop the ball....such as reversed PVC panels, discolored support material, open gaps in seaming during the welding process, paint splatter during the spray process while too cold or unclean equipment. The "perfect' supplier has been Stewart since they cast a single sheet versus panels with a PVC material that has a pliablity of a rubber condom ( funky to install, especially on a wrap around frame )but then again one Stewart you could buy 3 or 4 cinema screens. All of the above manufacturers have been good in replacement issues.
The worst I have seen is some screens in Latin America which consists of sewn panels of perforated car roof top liner material in which each seam has a valley of 25 - 50mm at each junction point 
Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 10-24-2002, 02:30 AM:
Brad - it's Technikote. We have one (about 5 years old) and I can't stand those damn seams. The former screen was also a Technikote and did not have the problem (or not nearly as noticable, at least.) It lasted for 17 years, so that's why I went with the same brand. I almost wish some joker would throw a shoe through this one so I could replace it and let the insurance pay for it!
Posted by Dick Vaughan (Member # 540) on 10-24-2002, 02:55 AM:
Hey Mr LeeGlad to see you on FT at last 
Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 10-24-2002, 07:01 AM:
Mike, you should have asked for a replacement upon installation when there was a recourse.
Posted by Andrew Lee (Member # 1330) on 10-24-2002, 08:17 AM:
Gentlemen, As I'm somewhat new to forum etiquette I'll answer everyone in one shot in hopes this is the way to go.
Bob, we can fold a 10' x 24' screen with grommets into a 10" x 24" x 3" box. Ian is not smoking anything I'm aware of.
Brad, I will look into our database and let you know where in Dallas there are MDI screens. Most Imax SR 3D screens are MDI made. Yes Harkness do make excellent screens.
Mark, If a screen comes rolled from us it's a large 3D screen, otherwise it is folded. We have however developed a 3D screen that can be folded if it less than 35-40 feet high.
Richard, I agree, all screen manufactuers have "dropped the ball" every now and then. Stewart is no exception. All screen companies have their good points and areas that need improvement.
Dick, it's good to hear from you again. We are long overdue for a pint.
Andrew
Posted by Andrew Lee (Member # 1330) on 10-24-2002, 08:44 AM:
As a member of this forum, my goal is to help out in any way I can with issues that I have experience with. I will not comment negatively about other screen manufacturers. I will also make every attempt to be neutral with respect to the company I represent. If anyone finds that I am veering off this path, please let me know.Andrew
Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 10-24-2002, 11:51 AM:
Thanks Andrew, my apoligies to Ian, but I still want him to send what he is smoking. I did say it was incredible. Do you have any of these screens in the New York City area. I would like to go look at one.
Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 10-24-2002, 01:10 PM:
Andrew, welcome. And the timing is very auspicious as I am right this moment involved with a few installations that will require three new screens. Does MDI have those swatch books samples that you could send us? We are considering silver screens and it is great to hear that MDI specializes in that surface. Swatches are helpful, but like Bob, I would love to see a full screen, especially the silver surface screen. I have always been very wary of considering a silver screen because of the danger of winding up with a traveling hot-spot. But in two of these new installations they will be using video projection in rooms where seating stays pretty much within the width of the screen, so I may bite the bullet and recommend silver. I recall seeing some literature from the original CinemaScope specs which required a silver screen. The claim was that it didn't have the hotspot problems because the surface was lenticular. Fox called it the Miracle Mirror, or something cheesy like that, but I don't recall seeing who made it for them. Does anyone still make a lenticular surface silver screen? And would that significantly reduce hotspotting (just made that up)? Then next question, would it not work for 3D if it is spreading light out more evenly? (Sorry for all the questions right out of the starting gate).
Again, welcome to our little oasis of techno-fun.
Frank
PS -- If a swatch book is available, this is da place:
Brooklyn Center Cinema
Attn Frank Angel / Suite 154G
2900 Campus Road
Brooklyn NY 11210
Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 10-24-2002, 01:49 PM:
My only negative comment on the MDI screens is the "mini-perf". It is way too visible from even 15-20 feet away. Other than that, the MDI screens seem just fine to me.Steve
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"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"
Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 10-24-2002, 06:39 PM:
Richard...I didn't think there was anything "wrong" with the screen; just that the seams are a bit noticable. I have never had any complaints about it. But when this one is ready for the scrapheap, I will definitely look into other options.
Posted by Andrew Lee (Member # 1330) on 10-25-2002, 08:46 AM:
Frank, your screen samples will be sent to you today. You should get them early next week.As a matter of fact our new 3D screens are lenticular. It's the only way to go. Silver lenticular is the only way to control hotspotting on a 3D screen. Yes this type of screen does spread the light out more evenly. People in this businees have been trying to successfully make a lenticular screen since the twenties. The biggest problems are controlling the fidelity of the pattern, even application of the coating, and seaming. The Fox screen you mentioned and many other attempts suffered from these afflictions.
We are 95% there as the seams are invisible under 3D projection, but barely noticable under 2D (sky or similar type scenes) projection to a trained eye up close. In a few months, this will no longer be an issue.
We have many 3D screens out there, but none with the lenticular surface in your area. Check out the samples and then get back to me.
Take care,
Andrew
Posted by Andrew Lee (Member # 1330) on 10-25-2002, 08:53 AM:
Steve, I appreciate your comments. In fact we will probably be re-naming this particular perf pattern as it is not truly a mini-perf (it's intended for closer viewing than standard cinema perf, but not under 15 feet)per say. We have two new perforation patterns that we are about to offer that do come under the headings mini and micro perf. We are currently doing sound transmisson and digital projection tests. As a matter of fact I am trying to prepare a paper on the relationship between perforations and digital projection. There is quite a bit of misleading information out there and I want to set the record straight.
Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 10-27-2002, 03:21 PM:
Andrew, I'll be looking for the swatchs...thanks. And something I neglected to ask about....two of the installations will require non-pref screens. Is this configuration available?Frank
Posted by Andrew Lee (Member # 1330) on 10-28-2002, 08:51 AM:
Frank,Not a problem at all.
Andrew