quote: Mike Croaro

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Finally, is it my imagination or are the screens in today's Ultra modern multiplexes grossly oversized?

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...Welcome to Film-Tech! This is THE site of sites for almost all of any sort of projection/technical information database that could be found.

Going back to your question above? It's called "a movie going experience" - people LOVE to go to the movies and they want to be entertained and have the experience of their lives. If you go to a special domed venue, that dome screen really take the breath away to some folks.

In the mid 70's to early 90's, the mall cinema and those long narrow auditoriums commonly called "the shoebox auditorium", ramped "shotgun style" seating with dinky flat screens and mono sound at some of these places were the norm since, outside of "StarWars", movies weren't much to brag about and the attitude of going to a movie was just "going to a movie."

Now, especially with digital sound and how this sound can be so captivating to the audiences, why not make the picture presentation the same to where one will never forget what they've just seen?

Maybe, this will kinda tell the story on how what size one wants their screen to be big for their theatre's auditorium.

But, one BIG thing: Never have any auditorium dimensions that can divide itself in two - twice long as wide, or twice wide as long. This will cause you some massive sound problems, especially with stereo and surround speakers...

I play with 16mm as well. Have 3 B&H machines, plus have a friend who lives in 16mm heaven also.

good luck-Monte

[ 04-27-2005, 04:34 AM: Message edited by: Monte L Fullmer ]
 

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Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 04-27-2005, 07:14 AM:
 
If you do a search, you can find topics regarding screen sizes. In todays multiplexes, the wisdom is to 'wow' the customer by installing the largest screen that can fit. The SMPTE has data suggesting screen size based on the average person's viewing angle, auditourium size, what kind of seating, etc.

I often find that people say the screen is too big, (and sometimes they are correct) but what they usually mean is the image is of poor quality (shakey, grainy, poorly lit, etc.)

Welcom aboard
 

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Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 04-27-2005, 01:41 PM:
 
I've never heard anyone say that an IMAX screen is too big, so John is right. If a screen is perceived as being too big, then it probably is because of other factors that are negatively impacting the experience.

And welcome to the the forum. Nice thing about 16mm, it is still FILM and not video. In the right setting, you can make 16mm very much a theatre experiece.
 

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Posted by Dominic Espinosa (Member # 2122) on 04-27-2005, 02:09 PM:
 
I personally believe that if you can help it the size of the auditorium should be derived from the size of the screen.
You want the full aspect ratio of the films being presented or as close to it as you can build. It really makes a difference.
I actually like our #3 auditorium. It's a little short but the perfect length for scope features. Looks absolutely amazing.
We do have a 20'x50' (approx) screen in our big house but the trouble is because of the magnification any amount of image instability can ruin the presentation.
A good print though...Such as our print of interpreter on Kodak 2383 was beautiful. Rock solid stability and vibrant colors.
Really makes you appreciate it.
 

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Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 04-27-2005, 08:28 PM:
 
A good guideline is standard SMPTE 196M. The preferred viewing distance for screening rooms is between 2 and 4 times the height of the image. So for a 20 x 48 foot image, most of your "good" seats should be between 40 and 80 feet from the screen.
 

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Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 04-28-2005, 03:09 AM:
 
Identify a point that is roughly 2/3 the distance toward the rear of the theatre on the centreline and then draw a 45-degree angle toward the screen so that the "V" is where the spectator's nose would be. The width of your scope image will be indicated by the lines where they intersect the wall at the front of the theatre.
 

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