Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: 70MM screen

This is topic 70MM screen in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Michael Cornish (Member # 6529) on 06-15-2018, 01:51 PM:

Would it be worth while to open a multiplex with the main screen to have 70MM capabilities? Both DTS and original 6 track mag?

Posted by Phillip Grace (Member # 2262) on 06-15-2018, 08:57 PM:

I've had to give some thought to this myself recently and IMHO "YES!"
Pros: Assuming ongoing supply of content and suitable programming 70mm capability offers additional drawing power to the venue. It creates a point of difference between your situation and your competitors. You also also get 35mm film capability with a typical 70mm projector.
Cons: Can you be assured of having a competent projectionist to run it? Extra expense is involved providing the necessary additional equipment.
Cautions: At this point in time there is only limited support available for film and film-sound equipment, so the set-up should include duplicate equipment, particularly sound system components, arranged to be available for immediate or very quick changeover in case of equipment failure.
The absolute worst case scenario to plan for is a brief interruption to a screening. A single failed performance is intolerable.
The audience expects a better than average experience. 70mm screen results should be optimum to properly showcase the high-end medium, and keep faith with the audience. F.O.H. service should also be to a higher standard in association with the 70mm presentations.
The metallic non-depolarizing screen required for almost all 3-D stereoscopic image systems is not compatible with the screen surface required for 70mm film presentation, which should be matt white, and have very even luminance distribution. If the two systems are to co-exist in the same auditorium an alternative solution must be found. This last point is based on experience re-equipping some local 70mm screens for Tarantino's "Hateful 8" when it was released.
An invoice for 2 cents is in the mail. [Smile]

Best regards.

Posted by Terry Monohan (Member # 8285) on 06-15-2018, 10:48 PM:

Yes go for It. Give the public a big deep wide curved 70mm screen with curtains. They will pay extra to be entertained with a nice clear crisp film print. Plug 70mm, some people have no idea what It is and they missed the roadshows of the 50's & 60's. Many older 70mm prints are available and have been restored. Use this prime new large cinema not just for 70mm but 35mm film for special classic events. Bring in some nice color LED lights for the side wall fixtures. Hire a good film projection person that knows what showmanship and presentation are for DCP and film. Bring back TODD-AO. Look It up and see what It was about in the mid 1950's. Put in nice slope seats forget the recliners. You will fit more people in the 70mm space. show your customers some retro class.

Posted by Martin Brooks (Member # 1269) on 07-11-2018, 10:08 PM:

Before you consider this, make sure you can get the prints, because there's obviously no point if you're not going to be able to show any 70mm films anyway. There were 100 U.S. 70mm prints of "The Hateful Eight", but there's been only 8 to 25 prints of most of the others.

I also wouldn't bother unless you have at least a 50' screen and preferably even larger.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 07-12-2018, 07:05 AM:

I second the "make sure you can get the prints" statement above. Putting equipment that never or is hardly used seems like a waste of time and money.

On the mag front, I'd, at this stage, let that be very secondary. There are no new magnetic prints being made. What magnetic prints that are out there are going to continue to dwindle and age with each year. So, unless you make arrangements with an archive that will loan your magnetic prints, again you'll spend money and effort to put in something that never gets used and when you do get a print, you'll come to find that the rollers/bearings don't spin because they've been sitting for so long.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 07-12-2018, 09:27 AM:

Isn't it getting ever more difficult to get 70mm prints to show (or even film prints in general)? I'm under the impression any theater showing 70mm needs to sort of prove itself before studios will take a chance letting it show a print. The theater needs both a properly functional 70mm projection setup and staff that knows how to show it. Both are key to avoid damaging prints.

Obviously the studios are more lenient with new releases, such as The Hateful Eight, but such releases are few and far between. For older titles whose prints haven't already been damaged to some degree the studios are probably going to be more hesitant.

Posted by Marcel Birgelen (Member # 6801) on 07-12-2018, 02:14 PM:

If you want to run a new first-run 70mm print, you sure need to have some track record with the studios for that.

Nobody will give you a print costing north of $25K, without any track record to show for, if the alternative is a hard drive worth a few bucks. Maybe if you want to pay for the print or give them some guarantee they can offset with your earnings...

Posted by Robert Harris (Member # 1712) on 07-15-2018, 07:07 AM:

4k