Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: How steep is the learning curve from 35mm to 70mm?

This is topic How steep is the learning curve from 35mm to 70mm? in forum Large Format Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 06-08-2006, 12:50 PM:

A "hot tip" just came down the pipe for me. I may have the chance to work in a 70mm theater.

All I know is they have Kinoton. I will be finding out more, soon.

My question is: How much do you think I'll have to learn to get up to speed, working on a large format system?

Most of what I know is from reading. I've operated a Norelco AA-II/carbon arc but in 35mm mode.

I'd like to be able to assure the people I'll be talking to that I can make the jump.

Posted by Bob Brown (Member # 1205) on 06-08-2006, 02:01 PM:

Well Randy, this depends on what kind of 70mm projection system you will be running. I really cannot comment on any other system than the IMAX 70mm system, there you could be running the booth solo, in about 2 weeks, but to fully know the system I would say 6 months to a year and this only depends on your "teacher" Any way good luck !!!!!

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 06-08-2006, 02:23 PM:

I know it's not an IMAX. It's a 5/70.

It's this place.

I just got handed the training video today.
When I get a chance to play it I'll tell you more.

Posted by Jeremy Jorgenson (Member # 2989) on 06-08-2006, 02:34 PM:

For a competent and knowledgeable 35mm projectionist that cares about presentation, it shouldn't take too long. I got up to speed on an 8/70 machine (Ballantyne with Strong lamphouse & platters) in a matter of days, but I did have 15/70 experience prior to that.

Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 06-09-2006, 09:23 AM:

Randy,
They are running 8/70. I just trained 2 people there on the sound system. If you know film, the projection part will be easy. Do not be intimidated because of the film size! [Wink]

Be intimidated because of the cost of the print!! The theater is set up to do live stuff and presentations up front. I think they have 5 or 8 mic inputs up front. If you take the job...cool, let me know.
later, Rick

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 06-10-2006, 11:58 AM:

I just watched a training video on the system.

Kinoton MP 75 E projector.
Kinoton EMK 1 automation.
Couldn't identify the platter. Probably Kinoton. Didn't see the nameplate.

I don't think I'll have any problems learning.
(But they did a few things in the video that I wouldn't have done. [Wink]

)

Posted by Joseph L. Kleiman (Member # 3097) on 06-12-2006, 12:50 AM:

The Kinoton MP 75 E runs 435, 570, and 870 on one projector, with minor sprocket adjustments.

Posted by Charles Greenlee (Member # 3856) on 07-12-2006, 09:55 PM:

I would love to try my hand at a 70mm system. How much more do the 70mm films cost compared to their 35mm counterparts?

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 07-13-2006, 10:16 AM:

quote: Charles Greenlee
I would love to try my hand at a 70mm system. How much more do the 70mm films cost compared to their 35mm counterparts?

Kodak sells 70mm VISION Color Print Films for just about twice the price per foot for 35mm print film, so it's not the cost of the raw stock that pushes the cost of a print into 5 figure territory. (70mm Kodak VISION Premier Color Print Film 2393 is less than $0.20 (20 cents) per foot)

The cost of 70mm prints is considerably higher than 35mm release prints for several reasons:

1. The prints are printed and processed on machines that run much slower than typical 35mm release prints.

2. The high cost of making a 65mm duplicate negative needs to be factored into the cost, prorated over dozens, rather than thousands of release prints.

3. If DTS is used, the time code must be printed from a separate negative, sometimes as a second pass through the printer.

4. Mag striping and sounding have become prohibitively expensive and much less available due to the very high cost of meeting new environmental restrictions on volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Coating, curing, and sounding were labor-intensive, and added days to production schedules.

5. Making 70mm prints is a much more labor-intensive operation than 35mm release prints, that have a very efficient production infrastructure.

Posted by Cameron Glendinning (Member # 3516) on 07-14-2006, 10:58 PM:

70mm is easy, dont worry you will love it. IMAX is the only one that really requires retraining (4 weeks in my case), enjoy! you will pick it up very quick.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 07-17-2006, 06:24 PM:

It's true that to run IMAX you need to basically take 99% of what you know about projection and throw it in the trash can as you won't be using it.

Took me 5 days to learn and be confident enough to run my own show.

5/70 is just bigger and is pretty much just an adjustment of what you know...not a re-learning.

Posted by Cameron Glendinning (Member # 3516) on 08-02-2006, 05:11 AM:

John sssh, It was one month paid training! It might only take a week to pick up, but takes management the other three weeks to relax and get use to the idea [Razz]

Posted by Brian Michael Weidemann (Member # 2243) on 08-02-2006, 05:24 AM:

When I train my guys (for IMAX), they're usually seasoned 35mm veterans. And, yes, that first day I mention that most of the common sense 35 stuff has to be temporarily forgotten about. IMAX (and other large format, rolling loop systems [Wink]

) is a whole new monster.

I've never needed to train anyone beyond, say, six or seven shifts' worth before I'm comfortable letting them run normal shows. Most of the troubleshooting and routine glitch stuff you only learn by doing ... with me only a phone call away, of course! I don't know how many times I've explicitly showed how to switch from chilled water to city water, only to have someone, the first time they need to do it, have no idea how without getting me on the phone. Fortunately, our chillers haven't gone out any time recently enough to remember. [Smile]