Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Help with interlocking threw drop ceiling

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Posted by Stephen Frazza (Member # 2320) on 12-02-2004, 12:44 AM:

After showing my manager/owner the interlocking 101 16 screen interlock video he wants us to be able to interlock more screens.
We have 9 screens in 6 booths.Screens and booths were just tacked on as the were built wherever possible.So they are all over.We interlock all the time in the 3 booths that have 2 projectors each but sometimes we need more seats. So my only option is to break holes in walls and go threw drop ceiling.

The way our booths are is that you open a door and go up some steps
so that the floor of the booth is only about 4 feet from the lobby drop ceiling.

So i am curious if anyone has ever done or seen anything like this .My plan is to start off one platter go to projector 1 then threw about 12 feet of drop ceiling into another booth,then to an accumulator,then threw another wall, 6 more feet of drop ceiling into a booth with 2 projectors we already interlock and finally end at the platter after projector 3.
I skip the projector in the second booth because the theater only seats 50 so it is not worth it to do alone.

So i would appreciate any thoughts comments on this.
My questions are how far can i space rollers out and how much sag will there be?I dont think much because of the accumulator pulling down on the film.

Also how to get the film threw the drop ceiling?I picture a sort of clothesline with a clip to clip the leader on and then pull it threw.

So any thoughts on if this is doable would be great.

Posted by Chris Hipp (Member # 1788) on 12-02-2004, 01:29 AM:

I would suggest that you have some type on a conduit for the film to go through to keep it protected. At my theater, we do an interlock between two houses in seperate booths by this means and ,as you suggested, we just use a rope with a clothes pin to pull the film (leader) across.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 12-02-2004, 02:19 AM:

Have rollers, will travel. ANYTHING can be done if you take a creative look at it. [Big Grin]

Posted by Chase Hanson (Member # 2779) on 12-02-2004, 03:25 AM:

First things first

You would probably want to get a building plan to see what kinda walls you have where. You also might want to consult a local building inspector to see if there are any special criteria that you have to meet.

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 12-02-2004, 06:21 PM:

Don't miss this photo tour with interlocking through air ducts!