Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Auditorium lighting problem

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Posted by Thomas Pitt (Member # 4322) on 08-13-2007, 05:33 PM:

In Leeds Light today, there seemed to be a problem with the lighting before the movie started. I'm not sure if it was just in the one auditorium I was in, or whether it affected all auditoriums - but it was certainly noticeable!

At Leeds Light, all the auditorium lighting is provided by sconces on the walls. They should be at full brightness during the pre-show advert slides, dim down to a medium level when the advert reel begins, and turn down to a very low level (but not completely off) when the movie begins.

Before the show, the lights were on as usual. Suddenly, the lights all go off (100% off, not the low lighting level). A couple of seconds later they fade back up to full brightness in about one second. This seemed to happen at random; there was no noticeable pattern to the cutting off.

It even happened during the advert reel, and during the movie itself. However, once the dim level was set (full, medium or low), the lights only went back up to that dim level after cutting off. Therefore, it wasn't very noticeable during the movie.

I remember a topic about this sort of thing in a different cinema - but on that occasion, the lighting was suddenly going up to full brightness in the middle of the movie! Anyone know why it might be happening? I doubt it's a loose connection in the dimmer control, as that would cause the lights to flash on and off sporadically without respecting the dim level.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 08-13-2007, 06:47 PM:

What is a Leeds Light?

Regardless, you have a problem with your dimmer and a tech should come in to fix it.

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 08-13-2007, 08:59 PM:

quote: Brad Miller
What is a Leeds Light?

I'm pretty sure it's the name of a theater.

He lives in Leeds and said this was at Leeds Light.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 08-13-2007, 09:40 PM:

I figured that out after a minute, but I was still making a point. [Wink]