Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: CURRENT IMAX INSTALLS NO LONGER BELONGS IN THIS FORUM

This is topic CURRENT IMAX INSTALLS NO LONGER BELONGS IN THIS FORUM in forum Large Format Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 04-30-2015, 04:36 PM:

Since IMAX has officially dropped all 15/70 it in no way is appropriate to post about their silliness in the Large Format Forum anymore...because it's not.

Only actual 15/70 large format discussions are to be posted in this forum.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 04-30-2015, 10:39 PM:

I would assume installations of other digital "large format" theaters, like Regal RPX, AMC's Prime/ETX, Cinemark's XD, Carmike's Big D, etc., etc., etc. no longer belong here either. As if any of the premium digital stuff ever belonged in this forum in the first place.

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 04-30-2015, 11:58 PM:

The description of this forum is, and always has been, "Forum exclusively for discussion of 8/70 and 15/70 film formats."

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 05-01-2015, 06:56 AM:

Perhaps it would be appropriate to have a PLF forum.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 05-01-2015, 08:38 AM:

I don't think that stuff needs to be referred to as "large format" or "PLF" since there is nothing truly large format about any of those digital-based concepts. When one figures in the lower resolution of digital 'scope blown up great big it actually seems like anti large format.

Terms like "premium priced theaters" or "premium big screens" might be more accurate.

Posted by Marcel Birgelen (Member # 6801) on 05-01-2015, 09:20 AM:

There's also a discrepancy here in naming. Large format refers to the medium.

Digital premium concepts, no matter how large the screen, don't use "extra large hard disks".

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 05-01-2015, 11:36 AM:

They don't show more pixels of native image detail than standard priced theaters either.

IMAX' method of doubling two of the same image over the top of each other does NOT equate to doubling image resolution or detail, even though they try to imply that with their marketing fluff. So many IMAX fans have bought into that nonsense, swearing up and down they're seeing something extra in an digital IMAX presentation of a movie versus seeing it in a standard priced theater.

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 05-01-2015, 11:48 AM:

So if you're a museum or other public attraction, will IMAX no longer sell / rent / lease you a 15-70 setup for sciencey movies?

Posted by Terry Lynn-Stevens (Member # 7349) on 05-01-2015, 11:52 AM:

Steve, I believe that you could still get one. But why would you want one? There is no way that it could be economically viable? And you will not get DMR Hollywood films in 15/70.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 05-01-2015, 01:35 PM:

quote: Terry Lynn-Stevens
But why would you want one?

I can think of several reasons: a) because it looks better than any other motion-picture format, past or present; b) because some venues want dome screens and there is no [dlp]

option for those yet; c) because there might be some 15/70 titles that one wants to play that are not available in any other format (are there any of these?); and d) because it is awesome and big-screen TV is not.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 05-01-2015, 01:51 PM:

why would a museum want one well there are still large libraries of 1570 film the economy of there rent is good so I don't see a reason a museum or sciencecentre would not use one DMR is a blip and always has been on a market that it moved into

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 05-01-2015, 02:30 PM:

The theater where I work used to show 8/70 but has converted to digital.

Now we just call it "Giant Screen."
i.e. Not referring to the film or projector format but the size of he screen.

Since most customers don't understand the technology to begin with, it's the only term that they can relate to which wouldn't constitute false advertising or stoop to empty, marketing buzzwords.

Just telling them "digital" and "giant screen" is enough information for 90% of the people.

Posted by Terry Lynn-Stevens (Member # 7349) on 05-01-2015, 03:31 PM:

Scott, have you seen the replacement for 15/70?

As for laser prints, the 15/70 titles are now available (and becoming available)for IMAX distributed IMAX film.

The new laser projection fills the screen fine and is brighter than a 15/70 projection. The color can be debated but the DMR stuff looks pretty damn good for a 90 foot screen, I am sure the 15/70 sourced material will look even better. And if you have no chance at obtaining any DMR prints, then you would be a real fool to invest in a new 15/70 facility. The older IMAX set up is a obsolete solution.

You can still obtain the older 15/70 prints but there are no DMR Hollywood titles going forward.

Posted by Marcel Birgelen (Member # 6801) on 05-01-2015, 06:56 PM:

quote: Bobby Henderson
They don't show more pixels of native image detail than standard priced theaters either.

Let's call it LPF then: Large Pixel Format. [evil]

Posted by Eric Richard (Member # 8635) on 08-13-2015, 05:28 PM:

Hollywood DMR may be done, but in no way is IMAX 15/70 finished. I spoke with MacGillivray Freeman Films just the other day about getting the Everest documentary to coincide with the feature film Everest. He mentioned it was only available in 15/70, as well as many of their older titles. And what about Interstellar? That had a IMAX 15/70 release, although extremely limited.

Posted by Bill Brandenstein (Member # 7758) on 08-13-2015, 08:58 PM:

But Eric, that doesn't mean there will be new installs. The rare film presentations might continue where it's still possible, which is happening in fewer and fewer places, although I suspect the original museum-type Imax installations that never do first-run features will be the last to turn over.

Posted by Larry Zuverink (Member # 1483) on 03-04-2016, 09:56 PM:

We are running Batman Vs Superman on 15/70 at Celebration Cinema Grand Rapids North. Confirmed last week. We have the hybid system that the Digital slides sideways on rails and film projectors move forward. From what I hear we are only 1 of 10 running it.

Brad if I posted in the wrong place. Sorry but it seemed right.

Posted by Christopher M. Belch (Member # 846) on 03-26-2016, 02:37 PM:

Larry,

Do you run any other 15/70 films on a regular basis, or is your projector for one-offs?

Posted by Larry Zuverink (Member # 1483) on 03-28-2016, 04:57 PM:

One offs. The last film we ran was Interstellar. Not for sure but I'm hearing there will still be about one feature a year that will be ran on film. If we do it again that is. Staffing is the issue. Even I'm pulling projection shifts. In fact right now. [Smile]

Posted by Christopher M. Belch (Member # 846) on 04-02-2016, 04:52 PM:

Very cool! How many trained projectionists do you have? It's one thing to hold on to the equipment, but having knowledgeable staff to run it is a bit harder to maintain if you're not running them on a regular basis.

Sometimes timing works out perfect - the Michigan Science Center had an opening just at The Henry Ford closed, so I've bought myself a little extra time in the industry (though I'm thankful I have a full time job as a high school teacher - these jobs are few and far between...)

Posted by Bill Brandenstein (Member # 7758) on 04-05-2016, 02:35 PM:

Interesting to see the Henry Ford still has a non-branded "Giant Screen Experience" with new "state of the art" 4K digital projection. Sad that people have forgotten that the art was defined then and now by 15/70.

Posted by Allan Barnes (Member # 5178) on 05-03-2016, 07:25 PM:

Larry

Sorry for very late reply... I drove 2 hours from Canada to your "north" cinema for BATMAN vs SUPERMAN... I enjoyed a 70MM afternoon matinee. I'll do it again NOT ONE SCRATCH ON THE PRINT - A GREAT SHOW. I'll do it again if you get more 70MM stuff.

Are you putting new chairs in the IMAX room ?