Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: LOTR print title..

This is topic LOTR print title.. in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Jeremy Fuentes (Member # 2135) on 02-05-2004, 06:24 AM:

This may sound like a stupid question, since I really don't keep up with LOTR, but was the final installment supposed to be called something different? On the print that we recently sent back, I noticed that all the heads and tails, and even the box it came in were labeled Til death for Glory. Was this done for security reasons, which I just read on an older thread, or for another reason. By the way, the reason I just noticed this, is because I did not build it, and the guy that did, didnt bother asking about it. Just wondering>

Posted by John Anastasio (Member # 607) on 02-05-2004, 06:36 AM:

Since the films all have the same titles as Tolkien's original novels, I'd put the smart money on that being a security device. That's a pretty common ploy with expensive new films to keep them from being hijacked.

Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 02-05-2004, 12:55 PM:

It was 'supposed' to be a 'security' device, but ETS puts both the 'secret title' and the real title on the same box/cans, so at least with ETS it is pointless.

-Aaron

Posted by Jeremy Fuentes (Member # 2135) on 02-05-2004, 01:11 PM:

I noticed that, I just forgot to put it in my original posting. What a waste!

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 02-05-2004, 04:01 PM:

It's still a good idea not to post 'code names' even when ETS puts the name on the other side, since both the real and code name is (almost) never on the cans in Canada.

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 02-05-2004, 04:14 PM:

I see...

So it's the Canadians...

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 02-05-2004, 05:08 PM:

...that aren't idiots posting the real title on the other side of the can.

Posted by Ron Lacheur (Member # 1126) on 02-05-2004, 09:05 PM:

It's because the film depot in Canada is VFS.

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 02-05-2004, 10:07 PM:

Which is owned by TES, but I didn't think the details were entirely necessary. [Smile]

Posted by Liam Utley (Member # 1931) on 02-06-2004, 07:36 AM:

Well if someone was going to hijack a print of LOTR, firstly they would need to have either a projector to run it on, or a customer teed up to buy the print. This would mean that they have some idea about what they are stealing. Now if they see many copies of a film called "For death til Glory", a 10 spool film that nobody has heard of, right before LOTR is being released, you would have to be an idiot not to figure out what it is.

Posted by Matt Frankish (Member # 2131) on 02-06-2004, 10:15 AM:

Plus, they never tell us that films may be coming with a codename on, and more than once our projectionists have been thrown into a panic as it appeared we didn't have the right films. I think it's a pointless practice that just causes confusion for no gain in security.

Posted by Brad Allen (Member # 470) on 02-06-2004, 12:46 PM:

All this security is a joke. Especially when the print continues to sit in our theatre (along with others) as long as 4 weeks AFTER the run finishes because ETS doesn't have enough room in the van to haul it, or They haven't delivered anything to us in that time, so they don't care to pick it up. We have to call and threaten to start charging a storage fee before they will come retrieve it. I've had prints set as long as 2 months after the end of a run. Great security scheme there.

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 02-06-2004, 03:07 PM:

I have no direct knowledge in this area but it has been theorized in the past that the intent for security titles is to stop piracy before prints reach the depot. I guess the studios are looking at the whole process and are concerned about pirates getting to the film somewhere between the depot and the lab.

Its still pointless; there were what, two movies opening that week-Mona Lisa Smile and Lord of the Rings? Mona Lisa didn't have a security title, so what's that leave?

Posted by Liam Utley (Member # 1931) on 02-07-2004, 01:47 AM:

Even if the "security label" thing did work, sometimes they choose the CHEESIEST titles that are just so obvious. Master and Commander anyone?

Posted by Nate Lehrke (Member # 1460) on 02-07-2004, 01:54 AM:

(off topic) I like that the Christmas release of Peter Pan was sent with a fake title. As if someone would want to steal that! I wouldn't take it, if it were free.

Do any particular studios send prints with fake titles more than the next?

Posted by Chris Hipp (Member # 1788) on 02-07-2004, 02:37 AM:

Most ETS prints have been coming with codnames on the cans, but it is rare to have any prints with the code names actually on the heads and tails.

Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 02-07-2004, 12:31 PM:

The only prints I have seen that had the 'code names' actually printed on the leaders were all three LOTRs and Star Wars Episode II.

-Aaron