Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: 70mm festival?

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Posted by Paul Gordon (Member # 3320) on 09-22-2009, 08:51 AM:

Hey all...

Just want to get an idea of what good 70mm prints are still around in Canada and the U.S these days.

I want to put on a small 70mm festival at the only 70mm venue left in the Ottawa area. Are only option is magnetic sound or optical though as they don't have a DTS system.

Looking for the following prints and they can't be magenta balanced... I know its a long shot...

Lawrenece of Arabia
Pink Folyd's the Wall
2001
Quest For Fire (35mm blow up)
Buraka
West Side Story
Dune
Tron
Sound of Music

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 09-22-2009, 09:55 AM:

If you are thinking of the bytown they dont have any mag preamps anymore

Posted by Paul Gordon (Member # 3320) on 09-22-2009, 10:18 AM:

No the Museum of Civilization in Hull... Vic 8's

Posted by Sean Weitzel (Member # 244) on 09-22-2009, 11:41 AM:

The Castro theater down here in San Franciso has been doing fairly regular 70mm runs recently.

Patton - recent restoration and new print. Looks and sounds fantastic - i think this is DTS sound though

Brainstorm - good color, good sound, unfortunately the first half of reel 2 has sprocket damage (somewhere along the way an inboard set of 35mm sprocket teeth punched holes into the middle of the image)

Jacques Tati's 'Playtime' Recent restoration and new print. Looks and sounds great.

Starman (blowup) - Original print. Good color, however it was starting to go VS when I saw it 3 years ago. Don't know how it is now or if it's available anymore.

Tron - This is a print that was struck in 1999. It's still in great condition.

2001 - I think this is a print that was struck in 1995. It's starting to show some wear. Scratches/lines, etc.

Ghostbusters - I haven't seen this print.

Top Gun - Haven't seen this one either.

I'm pretty sure I've heard of recent screenings of "The Wall"

Lawerence of Arabia 1989 restoration - I last saw this print in 2000 I think, whenever the closing for renovation "festival" was for the Cinerama Dome before they constructed the new Arclight complex. The print was very nice.

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 09-22-2009, 11:52 AM:

I've seen 'West Side Story' on 70mm fairly recently, but to be honest, it didn't look as good as a new 35mm print which had been made a few years previously.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 09-22-2009, 12:00 PM:

In 2004, I ran Ghostbusters, The Abyss, and Starman at a science-fiction convention. Ghostbusters was in decent condition, but was a rather poor quality blowup. The Abyss had some sprocket damage, but was otherwise gorgeous. I'm sure that it would have sounded great on a better system than ours (which was just into the barely acceptable range). Starman was probably the print that Sean described above--near-mint, gorgeous, and in early-stage VS.

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 09-22-2009, 04:15 PM:

Unfortunately, 70mm prints have got a lot going against them surviving in good condition. Almost all of them are colour, and therefore subject to fading. All 70mm colour prints are on chromogenic print stocks, mainly Eastmancolor, but also other similar stocks, Fujicolor, Sovcolor etc. They were never made by the more stable Technicolor dye transfer process. Most 65mm production, and many 70mm prints were from the days before low-fade stocks. Most 70mm prints were on triacetate stock, and therefore are more likely to have perforation damage, tears and Vinegar Syndrome. The breakdown of triacetate is catalysed by the presence of Iron (III) ions, which are present in the oxide used in the magnetic stripe on all 70mm prints with analogue sound tracks.** The fading of the colour dyes is also accelerated by acetic acid evolved during the breakdown of the triacetate film base. 70mm prints are expensive to produce, and so new prints are seldom produced to replace worn or faded ones. The magnetic recording on analogue 70mm prints can be damaged by magnetised equipment, or by magnetic fields from rectifiers etc. Given all of this, it's not surprising that there are not that many good 70mm prints around.

** ok, this is not quite true, but near enough.

Posted by Paul Gordon (Member # 3320) on 09-24-2009, 08:44 AM:

another question...

Whats the deal with 70MM dts? is it just a matter of buying 70mm DTS readers? I guess a normal DTS processor will work?

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 09-24-2009, 08:53 AM:

Same player, different readers. You're supposed to use two players (and two sets of disks) and a failover board from DTS for redundancy, but the system will work fine without that.

The 70mm readers can probably be rented if you don't want to own them.

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 09-24-2009, 11:45 AM:

For some 70mm DTS prints, don't you have to make a modification to the processor to get the five behind screen channels?

Posted by Paul Gordon (Member # 3320) on 09-24-2009, 11:46 AM:

I think your just stuck with the standard 5.1

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 09-24-2009, 12:21 PM:

For ToddAo playback a 6th Decoder chip must be installed in the 6D and then the channels must be reasigned on the cable for ToddAo
regular 5.1 70 like Titanic and Vertigo use the regular DTS 5.1 config
The extra chip can be left installed with out any side effects
The DTS 6 cannot do the ToddAo format

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 09-24-2009, 08:49 PM:

Didn't the "special venue" version of the DTS-6D have the capability of custom assigning audio channels as a standard feature? I also seem to recall that player having all six audio channels capable of full range playback.

BTW, isn't there at least a couple or so 70mm DTS prints of Lawrence of Arabia available to book? Sony had some of them made for the 30th anniversary release back in 2002. At least for that movie there should be a choice between Dolby SR mag and DTS in the 70mm print inventory.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 09-24-2009, 10:18 PM:

the special venue unit is a different fish it reads smpte to start with rather than DTS which is a difference in TC chip and a jumper
The bottom line if one wants to run toddao dts it is a 6d with all 6 chips
LOA was 70 a type or 70 sr initially
the DTS version i am not sure what the track config is and I would check with Harris before making any conjecture on it
2001 also had different versions of the disks as well

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 09-24-2009, 10:28 PM:

There's a 70mm DTS version of 2001? The one that I'm aware of (one of two, one of which was trashed in its first engagement) that was made in 2001 was mag.

Posted by Christopher Seo (Member # 7) on 09-28-2009, 02:35 AM:

I'm certain that the recent "Lawrence" 70mm DTS mix is 5.1 and I'm almost certain that the 70mm mag prints are Format 42 with SR (definitely not Format 41). As far as I can gather the restoration mix has always been 4.1 (Left, Center, Right, Surround, Subwoofer).

I too am under the impression that the 70mm "2001" prints made in 2001 were all mag (Format 41 with SR). The several different prints I've seen or run were all mag, certainly. I think the newer 35mm prints are quad-track, so some kind of DTS mix would exist, but probably no special venue mix.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 09-28-2009, 06:15 AM:

The 70 prints up here of LOA were toddao format with SR or A type depending on the print

Posted by Paul Gordon (Member # 3320) on 09-28-2009, 03:43 PM:

Hey Gordon,

Do you know what other 70mm prints are in Canada?

Thanks,

Paul

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 09-29-2009, 10:39 AM:

You need to contact your booker as prints are often being shipped stateside

Posted by Christopher Seo (Member # 7) on 09-29-2009, 05:15 PM:

Gordon,

Very interesting about the "Lawrence" prints in Canada. Do you remember when they were made? The prints I have run were made around 2002 which I assume was the last batch. Also, whether the dialogue was panned or center only?

Posted by Paul Gordon (Member # 3320) on 12-18-2009, 08:31 AM:

Festival is starting to take shape...

Not a lot of 70mm prints in Canada though, Warner has nothing so no 2001! [Frown]

So far we have

Vertigo DTS

Spartacus DTS

Lawrence of Arabia 6-track I think, Sony tells me Deluxe has no way of checking the prints that are 70mm?

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 6-track...

Khartoum (though doesn't it need Ultra Panavision 70 Lens Adapters?)

Still looking for more....

Posted by Ron Lacheur (Member # 1126) on 12-18-2009, 02:28 PM:

Any scheduled dates for this festival Paul? I might have to take a flight to Ottawa [Smile]

You should be able to get Ghostbusters in 70, it has made it's way around the US for some time.

Posted by Robert Throop (Member # 61) on 12-19-2009, 10:08 AM:

Please keep us posted on the dates. I may take a trip to Ottowa as well.
Bob

Posted by Per Hauberg (Member # 529) on 12-19-2009, 04:10 PM:

Have You contacted Thomas Hauerslev in Copenhagen ?
He has a gift for tracking down 70mm prints all over the world.
----
The was a brand-new print of "Where Eagles Dare" last spring at Bradford, and I believe there has been a new "STAR!" (DTS) recently, too.

Posted by Paul Gordon (Member # 3320) on 12-21-2009, 08:22 AM:

I will keep you all posted...

Currently the planned dates are October 8,9, 10th 2010

Might play a couple blow ups to.. Paramount has a bunch of stuff in Canada

Untouchables
Star Trek 6
Top Gun
Titanic

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 12-21-2009, 08:25 AM:

I've run Ghostbusters in 70mm and it looks pretty terrible. It's grain-city for the entire film. Not a good way to show off the capabilities of the format.

Posted by Paul Gordon (Member # 3320) on 12-21-2009, 08:38 AM:

Of all the blow-ups, the one I'm really looking for is Pink Floyd's the Wall... I think that would be killer with 6-track sound... but there is probably only pink prints left [Frown]

Posted by Victor Liorentas (Member # 5272) on 12-21-2009, 05:39 PM:

The Wall is a great sounding 6-track and so is the Fame blow up!
Same director too!

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 12-21-2009, 06:51 PM:

Pink Floyd The Wall sounded fanatastic in 6 track...problem was the 70mm image was very soft.

Posted by Paul Gordon (Member # 3320) on 02-06-2010, 04:19 PM:

70mm festival update

Its happening Sept. 24-26th at the theatre in the Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec (Across the river from Ottawa, the Capital of Canada). The theatre holds 500, runs Vic 8's in changeover, sound is through a Dolby CP200 (5 screen channels, 10 surrounds plus subs)

The Lost Dominion Screening Collective presents the 1st Annual 70mm festival

Lawrence of Arabia 6-track mag, Super Panavision 70
Spartacus 6-track mag, Technirama
Baraka 6-track mag, TODD-AO
A Place to Stand, 6-track mag, In 70mm(Canadian Produced Short Film)
Seasons in the Mind, 6-track mag, In 70mm (Canadian Produced Short Film)
Untouchables (Blowup) 6-track mag, In 70mm Dolby Stereo
Star Trek VI (Blowup) 6-track mag, In 70mm Dolby Stereo
Top Gun (Blowup) 6-track mag, In 70mm Dolby Stereo

Also a bonus Imax 3d film (title to be announced)

Still working on a couple more titles, for more info go to
www.lostdominion.ca or www.in70mm.com

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 02-06-2010, 05:56 PM:

Where are you getting the print of a Place To Stand

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 02-06-2010, 06:03 PM:

Excellent to hear!

BTW...The AFI/Silver will be showing Playtime in 70mm (DTS) in March

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 02-06-2010, 09:23 PM:

Gordon, maybe there is a print of A Place to Stand floating around out there? I remember you asking about it when it played at one of the American Cinematheque 70mm festivals at the Egyptian in LA several years ago. I take it it's a pretty good film?

Posted by Paul Gordon (Member # 3320) on 02-07-2010, 10:49 AM:

A Place to Stand, Seasons in the Mind and Ontari-oh! are coming from Ontario Place (Cinesphere).

Posted by Jonathan Smith (Member # 5609) on 04-21-2010, 12:25 PM:

I am THERE. How much will it cost to get in? Is Quebec still a part of Canada these days? [Wink]

Posted by Greg Routenburg (Member # 1742) on 04-22-2010, 11:24 AM:

The Top Gun print is in pretty good shape. I saw it at Cinesphere in Toronto a few years ago and I don't imagine it's been run much, if at all, since. Baraka is very exciting. I've wanted to see it in 70 since I first watched it.

Posted by Paul Gordon (Member # 3320) on 04-26-2010, 06:12 AM:

Here's the lineup:

Sept. 24-26th 2010

(all films are on 70mm, with 6-track mag.)

Lawrence of Arabia
Baraka
Spartacus
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Topgun
Indy and the Last Crusade
Star Trek VI
Untouchables

Canadian Short Films on 70mm include:

A place to Stand
Multiple Man
Seasons in the Mind
Festival
Where the North Begins

For more on the festival go here

http://www.in70mm.com/news/2010/canada/index.htm

Posted by Paul Gordon (Member # 3320) on 08-31-2010, 02:40 PM:

70mm festival in Gatineau Quebec is just around the corner. Here is the official lineup:

Canadian Museum of Civilization
100 Laurier St. Gatineau Quebec

FRIDAY, Sept. 24th 2010

1:30pm Vertigo, 1996 restoration

4:00pm Star Trek 6: Undiscovered Country

7pm Vertigo

9:30 Baraka (A Place To Stand Plays before Feature)

SATURDAY. Sept. 25th 2010

10:30 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

2pm Spartacus, 1991 restoration

7pm Lawrence of Arabia, 1989 restoration

SUNDAY, Sept 26th 2010

11:00am Canadian Shorts on 70mm

1pm Lawrence of Arabia

6:30pm Baraka (Seasons in the Mind plays before feature)

9pm Untouchables

Tickets now on sale:

for more info go here:

http://in70mm.com/news/2010/canada/index.htm

or here

http://lostdominion.blogspot.com/

Posted by Robert Throop (Member # 61) on 09-13-2010, 02:01 PM:

I'm planning to attend this festival. Will there be any other Film-Techers?

Posted by Paul Gordon (Member # 3320) on 09-16-2010, 06:29 PM:

I know a bunch of Canadian Film-tech members are going...

also film Preservationist Robert Harris is attending. Should be a good time.

Posted by Robert Throop (Member # 61) on 09-26-2010, 10:43 PM:

I just returned from this festival. Paul Gordon and his guys did an incredible amount of work on this and it paid off!
It was an opportunity to see some very rare films. The projection was first class.
Kudos to Paul!

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 09-27-2010, 11:55 AM:

Top Gun will sound amazing

Agreed about Ghostbusters -- grain city -- but it sounds good

Posted by Paul Gordon (Member # 3320) on 09-27-2010, 12:33 PM:

Thanks Robert, it was great to meet you. I'll try and get some photos to you and in70mm soon...

Posted by Thomas Hauerslev (Member # 566) on 09-28-2010, 11:35 AM:

Bob's report: http://www.in70mm.com/news/2010/dominion/index.htm