Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Does SHOAH have a built-in intermission?

This is topic Does SHOAH have a built-in intermission? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=011025

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 09-09-2011, 06:31 PM:

Is there a built-in intermission, or am I going to have to create one? If the latter, any recommendations for a suitable break?

Posted by Edward Havens (Member # 4715) on 09-09-2011, 06:51 PM:

If I recall correctly, the intermissions for each part is around the 2:30 mark. But it has been 25 years since I've seen it.

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 09-09-2011, 09:17 PM:

Wexner Center at Ohio State ran this in April. You could call the Wexner and get ahold of Bruce Bartoo, the staff projectionist. He should have that answer.

The Wexner contact info is on this web page.

The Wexner operation is very similar to what you do at IU.

Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 09-10-2011, 06:13 AM:

It's been so long now I am sure my memory of it is only that it was 27 reels. We ran it over two nights. I am sure I would have notated that on the Projection Report, but we just moved into a new office space and I can barely find my coffee cup let along old files. I will look thu the boxes where they MAY be, but confidence is low on this.

Are you doing long play reels or plattering it? If there is a built-in intermission, it should be easy to spot (unless some yahoo cut it off and didn't put it back). Other than an obvious INTERMISSION title, just go half way and look for a nice fade-out. Not to worry -- believe me, after this VERY slow paced doc with lots of interviews and talking heads passes its half-way mark, your audience will not care where you break it as long as they can get themselves to the bathrooms.

Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 09-10-2011, 11:17 PM:

Shoah is 32 reels, I know, we've got an abandoned print. We screened it for a local group when it was new in the 80s. When we called for a shipping address we were told to hold on to the print and an address would be forthcoming. A few weeks later a call yielded the same results as did another call a couple weeks after that. The next call got the number has been disconnected message and a letter was returned "Unknown at This Address".

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 09-12-2011, 02:32 PM:

27 reels -- 32 reels -- and now.....

It seems they may have balanced the reels differently over the years because my print shipped in two distinct parts "Shoah - Period 1" (15 reels) and "Shoah - Period 2" (16 reels).

I will post the complete details on this print in the "Feature Info" forum when I've checked the entire show (probably tomorrow some time) but, for now, I can say that Period 1 contains an "Entr'Acte" title card at the end of Reel 8, and then it closes with "End of the First Era" (and credits) at the end of Reel 15.

So the answer is "Yes, Virginia, there is a built-in intermission in SHOAH."

Posted by Carl Martin (Member # 1146) on 09-13-2011, 05:07 AM:

the print i saw in february was, as manny says, 31 reels, with intermissions after reel 8 of the first part, and reel 9 of the second.

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 09-13-2011, 07:53 PM:

Here we go again...

Entr'Acte at tail of Reel-8 (both parts).

Also, although my boxes are all labeled "Print #00002" the tail of the final reel says "Print #4" -- oh my!

I'll post a proper report in the other thread but I guess we've learned something here -- your mileage (or print) may vary.

Posted by Carl Martin (Member # 1146) on 09-14-2011, 06:23 AM:

funny... i looked again at my timings of the reels and there were no two that could have been doubled up. to fit the first part (as seen by me) of the second era onto 8 quite full reels would require major surgery. so it looks like the break in your print comes earlier.

going by my memory of the "intermission" tag's appearance, i suspect it was spliced in by the projectionist. was yours actually printed into the reel?