Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Star Wars Episode III Screening

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Posted by Kevin Woodard (Member # 2843) on 04-21-2005, 04:54 PM:

Our general manager just recently informed us that only he and the Projection Manager are allowed to build and preview all 3 or 4 copies that we get in of it. They have to sign some sort of agreement before we can even get the movie in.I was just wondering if anyone else had received this news or if he is just messing with us. It does sound like something that would occur however, so I wouldn't be that surprised.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 04-21-2005, 05:10 PM:

What, is George going to send a cop around to make sure nobody unauthorized is catching a glimpse of his masterpiece?

Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 04-21-2005, 05:17 PM:

I will be viewing it on Wednesday, May 4, thank you very much.

Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 04-21-2005, 06:14 PM:

You're probably not supposed to tell anyone that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker's father. Oops! [Razz]

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 04-21-2005, 06:20 PM:

Sounds like bs to me, at least as far as Lucasfilm is concerned. Odds are it is either coming from the GM himself (so he won't be bothered by the kiddies during the screening) or it is coming from his district or home office because they don't want to have a big party on their hands (quite possibly for insurance reasons).

Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 04-21-2005, 06:56 PM:

The studios do use them on High profile films that are about tobe released or are in production. The Disclosure Agreements states that you can't discuss the film with the press. I get them all the time from Warner Bros., New Line and few others. But I get work-in-progress prints of films months in advance of release. So they don't want any info released.

But this thing is a few weeks from release.

That's Hollywood [beer]

Posted by R. Andrew Diercks (Member # 1725) on 04-21-2005, 11:54 PM:

I will also be viewing it Wednesday, May 4. [thumbsup]

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 04-22-2005, 12:16 AM:

It sounds exactly like something LucasFilm would do. When episode 1 came out, they had a rule that ONLY the projectionists were allowed to screen the prints, not even managers. Amazingly people at my theater didn't bug me to "let them in" because they didn't care too much about it. Not even the managers, which amazed me. Each of us took a print and watched it. We then had constant diarrhea for the following 3 weeks.

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 04-22-2005, 07:08 AM:

Curious if this release will indeed be "dCinema only" as threatened.

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 04-22-2005, 08:39 AM:

Is that a joke?

Posted by Anslem Rayburn (Member # 1267) on 04-22-2005, 12:14 PM:

quote: Manny Knowles
Curious if this release will indeed be "dCinema only" as threatened.

HA. We run Digital Cinema at my theater, and the new multiplex (which doesn't run digital) has been given Episode III. Forget digital only, they aren't even rewarding early adopters over film-only theaters.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 04-22-2005, 12:51 PM:

The d-cinema "requirement" will be for the 3-D extravaganzas that will be out in 2007. Geez, I gotta get to the bank. [Roll Eyes]

Posted by David Yauch (Member # 2754) on 04-23-2005, 04:45 AM:

We have plenty of digital pre-show projectors that we would be more than willing to use to butcher the presentation of any such 'digital only' performance.

Posted by Ted Costas (Member # 473) on 04-27-2005, 05:43 PM:

I've already seen the movie in both 35mm and 2K Digital Cinema, and let me tell you this much... what?... no! NO!!!!! I can't, I can't breathe! Help...!

NOOOOooooooooooooooo!

Natalie!!!!!

Ted

Posted by Bevan Wright (Member # 1884) on 04-27-2005, 10:35 PM:

Sounds like it is time for THE POLL..... how many D-cinema screens of SWIII?

Posted by Paul Konen (Member # 41) on 04-27-2005, 11:20 PM:

Me, on both of them.

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 04-28-2005, 02:44 AM:

This issue has been laid to rest.

George made it abundantly clear that SWEPIII will be dCinema only. Just like Episode II.

[Roll Eyes]

Posted by Dominic Espinosa (Member # 2122) on 04-28-2005, 04:21 AM:

quote: Manny Knowles
Curious if this release will indeed be "dCinema only" as threatened.

We're all film and we got 2 prints coming.

Posted by Brian Michael Weidemann (Member # 2243) on 04-28-2005, 05:35 AM:

I think the latest word is that we're booked for six auditoriums. That's four regular 35mm, one lightened print for our "giant screen" auditorium (in no way to be advertised anywhere NEAR the "IMAX" name, since this will be a 35mm), and one for our DLP in #17.

The funny thing is, the DLP wasn't even the first confirmation (in fact, I think it still might not be a 100% guaranteed thing). Go figure.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 04-28-2005, 07:52 AM:

Will there be Imax DMR prints?

Posted by Joshua Waaland (Member # 287) on 04-28-2005, 08:01 AM:

Lucas really needs to get over himself. [uhoh]

I loved the first three installments probably only because I was a kid and it played into my imagination at the time. I still love them because they remind me of my childhood. As for the last two that came out, they are crap IMHO. I don't have high expectations for this one either. [puke]

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 04-28-2005, 08:58 AM:

Sounds like Mr Lucus want's as few people to see the film as he knows in his heart the it is a pile of [bs]

.

Not that I need an excuse to avoid it like the pox's.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-28-2005, 09:23 AM:

quote:
I've already seen the movie in both 35mm and 2K Digital Cinema,

Ohmygawd... it must be part of your jawb to have to watch it more than once.... did they have to handcuff you to the seat? I feel that many of us hope that George will just go away...... hopefully this will be his fade out [Roll Eyes]

..... It might be more aptly titled "Howard The Duck Meets Pizza The Hut"

Mark

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 04-28-2005, 09:38 AM:

THis is the one I am most looking forward to. I am not a star wars geek or anything but this is the one that shows the darkside at it's fullest force. May the force fuck everyone up. Hey, at least Lucas got someone to help him write the screenplay on this one.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 04-28-2005, 10:37 AM:

quote: Darryl Spicer
I am not a star wars geek or anything but this is the one that shows the darkside at it's fullest force.

Sorry to disappoint you...but DCinema technology doesn't have the real contrast ratio to show "the darkside" [Smile]

If any of the film makers really wanted to have the ultimate movie experience...then call Panavision or Arri and get themselves equipped to shoot on 65mm film...then you will be able to use the technology to its fullest rather than embarass themselves with just how low a quality the current video (or even high speed duplicatd 35mm film) is.

Posted by Brian Michael Weidemann (Member # 2243) on 04-28-2005, 11:45 AM:

quote: Scott Norwood
Will there be ...

Nope, no IMAX DMR. Explicitly. [Frown]

No deal. Not at this point.

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 04-28-2005, 01:23 PM:

quote: Steve Guttag
Sorry to disappoint you...but DCinema technology doesn't have the real contrast ratio to show "the darkside"

Don't worry Steve, I'm not disappointed...I am showing it with film on all three screens. [thumbsup]

Posted by Adam Wilbert (Member # 1184) on 04-28-2005, 10:09 PM:

I'm out of the first-run loop now, but when I ran EP:I, the midnight public showing was the pre-screening. (IE, we got the prints that afternoon.) I'm suprised that people are getting their prints early enough for this to even be an issue.

Posted by Luke Jennings (Member # 3032) on 04-28-2005, 11:56 PM:

We've just run the print yesterday over here at the OFLC to classify it. We had a security in to watch and make sure nothing untoward happened.

The print we received had only been run once, had just arrived in the country the previous day and was taken back to Fox immediately after we finished.

Posted by Brian Michael Weidemann (Member # 2243) on 04-29-2005, 01:43 AM:

I guess it's because this film was completed and in its final form early enough to its release. Also I hear there are a lot of charity screenings going on, so the whole seeing-it-before-the-19th thing isn't as big an issue as it apparently was with episodes I & II.

If our digital print is uploaded enough days in advance of opening, I'm thinking all of us projectionists are going to be the envy of the people waiting outside the theatre. (Note: no one has begun lining up yet, not at our theater.)

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 04-29-2005, 08:55 AM:

quote: Brian Michael Weidemann
If our digital print is uploaded enough days in advance of opening, I'm thinking all of us projectionists are going to be the envy of the people waiting outside the theatre.

Typically, theatres get a film print a day or two before the picture is scheduled to open. For Digital Cinema, how many days before the scheduled screenings is the data received and the theatre visited to unlock the encryption keys to allow screening? [Confused]

Posted by Thomas Jonsson (Member # 1902) on 04-29-2005, 05:33 PM:

Not much time for screening here. The print will arrive on
opening day.

Two full pages of "rules and regulations" to be signed and
returned to Fox.

But I do look forward to see the film.

Thomas

Posted by Anslem Rayburn (Member # 1267) on 04-29-2005, 05:46 PM:

Typically a tech is on-site to install the data and encryption keys the Monday or Wednesday before a picture's release, but we have had it as late as the night before (once). For example, we opened Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy today, and a tech was here on Wednesday night setting it up.

Posted by Brian Michael Weidemann (Member # 2243) on 04-29-2005, 09:23 PM:

Our regular Digital Cinema technician usually comes in to upload the "film" on the Monday night prior to its Friday opening, and it is screened for QA by her, and whatever projection staff are on hand, immediately thereafter.

In the case of the final Star Wars trailer on our digital Robots, the "print" of Robots was uploaded that Monday, but she came back to do the trailer itself Friday morning. This was because that episode of The OC was supposed to have the premiere and, George forbid, anyone would see it before then! [Roll Eyes]

But since this print has been out and screened in final form already, we anticipate we'll get it uploaded on Monday, like normal, even though it opens Wednesday night. Who knows.

Posted by Alan Dallas (Member # 2537) on 05-01-2005, 01:18 PM:

Pff, I grabbed the SW:EP3 Final Trailer off the internet 3 days before we got our Robots prints. Gotta love "marketing leaks". [Smile]

And D-Cinema.. BAH! Gimme 35mm or give me death!

In this case I get to keep my life. Confirmed booking of 3 35mm copies of SW:EP3 2 weeks ago. I'll be building them up on Wed afternoon since it opens Thur. All current employee's are invited to view the first run through's Wed evening. [Big Grin]

Why? I need all those extra eyes to watch for bad splices.. ya that's it, bad splices, thats the ticket. [Razz]

Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 05-01-2005, 02:39 PM:

So no 12:01 shows for you?

Posted by Alan Dallas (Member # 2537) on 05-01-2005, 02:50 PM:

Nope, We have not and probably never will run a 12:01am showing of anything. 9am is the earliest showing of anything we ever ran and the last movie in the last set of the night is usually NLT 11pm.

Beauty of it is, Weds are real dead for us a 14 screener. So getting an open house without actually Cancelling a showing to preview in should be reletivly easy. [Smile]

We have a 30 minute rule. No tickets sold 30 mins after show time start = open house. [Big Grin]

Just have to watch the runtime length so preview doesn't bump into next show time.

Posted by Ted Costas (Member # 473) on 05-05-2005, 06:25 PM:

What can I say that won't get me fired or killed?

How about this: You will not be disapointed.

I have a few guys that work for me that really are into it. They don't have beach chairs outside the Mann Chinese, but one of them turned to me and said as we were screening the film for the first time, "I've been waiting 30 years for this..."

He and the other "fans" were very pleased. They felt it was a, "Wow, what a way to end the saga, with a F-ing bang!"

Non-fans were pleased too.

Myself, well I guess I fall somewhere in between, but I still liked the movie... and you will too.

One note: When building up the print, be extra careful with the splice attaching Reel 6 to Reel 7... it's not the best place in the story to have a change-over. So look out and keep your presentation... well, I know you guys are good, so just a heads up.

All the best,

Sith Lord Costas
Dolby, Dolby, Dolby

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 05-05-2005, 09:26 PM:

Ted:

Is Dolby doing any in-theatre evaluations on this release? Are you still looking for experienced evaluators in various cities?

For the film prints, was the film-out to an IP or directly to multiple DNs?

I'm going to guess 110 Digital Cinema sites on opening day worldwide. And Kodak is likely still making all the VISION Color Print Film that is needed worldwide --- the refrigerated tractor trailer trucks are still rolling out daily.

Posted by John T. Hendrickson, Jr (Member # 849) on 05-06-2005, 05:01 PM:

John-

Any chance we will see the 2393 stock?

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 05-06-2005, 09:24 PM:

quote: John T. Hendrickson, Jr
Any chance we will see the 2393 stock?

I've heard most prints will be on Kodak VISION Color Print Film 2383.

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 05-06-2005, 10:38 PM:

"Most" prints? Why most? And what about the rest?

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 05-06-2005, 10:50 PM:

*** POSSIBLE MINOR SPOILER ***

Kind of straying from the topic, but this morning the hosts of the west-coast syndicated Mark & Brian radio show went on for almost a half hour about how much they liked this movie. They don't pull any punches, so if they hadn't liked it they would've said so. They especially praised how Lucas subtly alters the "look" of the movie as it reaches the end so that things closely resemble how "Star Wars" looked in 1977. Apparently "Revenge of the Sith" ends exactly where "A New Hope" began. [Cool]

Anyone know if these L.A. media screenings (yesterday) were on film, or were they digital?

Posted by Aaron Haney (Member # 747) on 05-15-2005, 07:32 PM:

quote: John Pytlak
I've heard most prints will be on Kodak VISION Color Print Film 2383.

Shame it won't be on 2393. I love that stuff.

When the first Episode III trailer was piggybacked on "The Incredibles" last year, it had the added benefit of being printed on 2393, since most prints of Incredibles were on that stock. It looked very nice -- good color, great black levels. Sucks that the theatrical prints of the actual movie probably won't look as good.

Lucas can certainly afford the extra few percent it costs to print on 2393. He even said once that sometimes one just has to bite the bullet and spend a little extra for the sake of quality. Of course he was referring to other people's money at the time (it was one of his many public lamentations regarding theater owners not spending their own money on digital projectors).

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 05-15-2005, 10:27 PM:

quote: David Stambaugh
They especially praised how Lucas subtly alters the "look" of the movie as it reaches the end so that things closely resemble how "Star Wars" looked in 1977.

That was even obvious in the first trailer from last year. Some of the hair is definitely '70s-inspired.

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 05-16-2005, 12:24 AM:

There was a mini-doc called "Wedgie 'Em Out" on the starwars.com website during the Episode II production phase (it may be included on the DVD). The doc shows Lucas working with the art dept., specifically addressing the need to evolve the "look" of the new trilogy, moving away from the sleekness of the spaceships in Ep1 toward the chunkier look previously estabilished with Ep4.

I've decided that I have a need to see this installment. It is therefore a relief to be hearing good things about it. You guys better know what the heck you're talkin' about or...or...well...you just better be telling the truth!

Posted by Brian Michael Weidemann (Member # 2243) on 05-16-2005, 01:18 AM:

KINDA MAYBE SPOILER: I think the most apparent "sublte change" in the look of the film is nothing more than the fact that we are seeing the interior and exterior of the ambassador ship from Alderan that we see in the first scenes of Episode IV ... in fact, the very doorway that Vader first steps through. That sterile white hallway just screams out Star Wars.

Posted by Edward Jurich (Member # 1787) on 05-17-2005, 07:06 PM:

quote: Brian Michael Weidemann
Our regular Digital Cinema technician usually comes in to upload the "film" on the Monday night prior to its Friday opening

So I'm wondering, if the system locks, won't reboot, etc, how long does it take to get the tech back to fix compared to undoing a platter wrap.

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 05-17-2005, 07:42 PM:

Why are you comparing a system shut-down to a brainwrap?

Posted by Edward Jurich (Member # 1787) on 05-17-2005, 09:18 PM:

quote: Michael Schaffer
Why are you comparing a system shut-down to a brainwrap?

I figure these would be the most common problems with the two.

Posted by Paer Hoegberg (Member # 3133) on 05-17-2005, 11:30 PM:

We almost never do screening of any major film. The reason is simple, the print arrives only some hour before the first show - there is no time.

I look forward to see this movie, why? Ths is the first Dolby-EX print we receive since we got our CP650:s.

Posted by Brian Michael Weidemann (Member # 2243) on 05-18-2005, 12:19 AM:

Actually, the most common problem we have with the DLP is automation stuff, likely because it's integrated (poorly) with its sister Christie 35mm. At the worst, we have to cue the house lights manually and switch the sound format. Big deal! That's pre-school projection anyway.

The server is very reliable and I think it's crashed only once since it was installed years ago, which was an upgrade from the prototype we've been running since ... 1997? '98 maybe. That one was just as reliable.

But if it did require a service call from a tech, we'll probably just lose that one show. But we have pretty much always been playing a 35mm in another auditorium to whatever movie is in our digital, so a few passes and rerouting to let them finish their movie wouldn't be out of the question.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 05-18-2005, 04:38 AM:

To all:

We had our screening tonite at one of our theatres to check out the print. (One FRIKKEN GOOD MOVIE! - good luck to all who works in their theatres who have the opportunity to present this movie).

This seems like simple routine to some, or all, but it was a very special night for me....

I have ALSO gone full circle...

....For I've opened ALL of the six STAR WARS releases-from the 2nd release in June of 1977 (we didn't make the inital 100 print release of May of that year), to tomorrow night when I actually opened the midnight show.

That's 28 years from the beginning to the end for Luca's "Space Cowboy" movie that wasn't supposed to do any business (thank goodnes that FOX floated Lucas the dough to make this epic).

..just a personal tribute that I must share..(and wonder if there is anyone out there who has acheived such an accomplishment) as this that started tonite with this screening and will end with the press of the start button on a X-90 console running film through a Mil-2000 machine (and the sound in SR-D), Wednesday night.

Lots have changed since back then. The original release was in mono and acetate-few prints were struck in Dolby "A" in that year.

Now, we'll have to wait for Lucas to do his "Indiana Jones" project...and then I can have the opportunity to do full circle with that one as well.

thx again-Monte

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 05-18-2005, 11:42 AM:

Monte, did you handle an original "Star Wars" print, or did you handle an original "Star Wars Episode IV" print? The first batch (of I think about 100) did not say "Episode IV in the opening crawl. I've ran one of those originals. [Cool]

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 05-19-2005, 04:03 AM:

quote: Brad Miller
Monte, did you handle an original "Star Wars" print, or did you handle an original "Star Wars Episode IV" print?

..If memory serves me correctly, I handled the first one, for I don't remember seeing the "IV" in the title in the scroll, and unfortunately I wasn't really paying attention at such details at the time.
Yet, I've got 50 feet of that original print from machine damage due to a takeup belt deciding to let go and I wasn't up in the booth-being downstairs in the concession fixing a syrup tower delivery problem. that 50 ft, course has long since gone to magenta, but from me fixing the damage that was done to that section using splicing tape, it's still runnable. I didn't get into trouble for that after I told my chief engineer what happened, he just ordered another print and called this damage "excessive print wear.." (whew, got out of that one easily enough..lol..)

But the '78 re-release of SW (in which I ran again that following year) did have the "IV" in the title and soundtrack encoded in Dolby "A"

Still...quite some experiences to be had in these six releases..

thx-Monte

Posted by Phil Blake (Member # 2012) on 05-19-2005, 09:04 AM:

This release is some what an anniversary for me , December 1977 saw us open episode 4 at the drive in , it was my first first solo movie i ran.

back on topic , I can understand the print care in regards to piracy , lets face it piracy is a nail in all our coffins! , Our episode 3 print arrived the day before the screening , I guess many other australian sites would have had similar delivery times .

Out of interest I checked out a P2P fileshareing site over a week a go finding that Episode 3 was there all 700,000 odd Mb of it free to download ! so how did it get there ? my guess not from any cinema operators as they did not have any prints ....... ???
the plot thickens.

As with the new USA laws regarding camcorders in cinemas I think Australian govenment should take steps to stop pirate DVds coming in with holiday makers from Bali . tens of thousands of Bali holiday makers return home with pirate DVD which they paid no more that $2.00 each for , and the titles are more than often films that have not been released in australian cinemas as yet.

anyway I had a look at episode 3 on the big screen with big sound and it was great ,something that could not be reproduced with home entertainment stuff. The saga ended on a good note .

Posted by Michael Coate (Member # 757) on 05-19-2005, 01:19 PM:

You knew this post from me was inevitable. [Smile]

quote: Brad Miller
Monte, did you handle an original "Star Wars" print, or did you handle an original "Star Wars Episode IV" print? The first batch (of I think about 100) did not say "Episode IV in the opening crawl.

quote:
If memory serves me correctly, I handled the first one, I don't remember seeing the "IV" in the title in the scroll. But the '78 re-release of SW did have the "IV" in the title

From: http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/star_wars_a_day_long_remembered.htm

quote:
"Star Wars" opened initially in a mere 43 locations across the United States.

quote:
The “Episode IV: A New Hope” tag at the head of the opening scroll was not present in the original prints of the film. The tag was seen for the first time by audiences in America during the spring 1981 re-release, the first re-release after the 1980 original release of the follow-up to “Star Wars”: “The Empire Strikes Back.”

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 05-19-2005, 02:01 PM:

Great site there!

Being younger at the time, paying attention to detail wasn't on my high priority list at the time, but as you grow older.......

...and now it's offical: I've started ALL 6 premiere showings of Star Wars - from 1977, to 2005. (Whew! - 28 years with one movie. Wonder if anyone else has these memories and experience as this..)

Here is a pict of me starting this morning's 12:01a (00:01) Thursday opening show.

.. and it was still a lot of fun seeing the crowd's reaction when the "FOX" trademark (which is the old one from the initial 1977 release, but with the added "News" slug below the "pyramid"), to the "STAR WARS" flashed on the screen.

Actually started two houses that night.

thx-Monte