Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Renting Digital Projector

This is topic Renting Digital Projector in forum Digital Cinema Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Jake Spell (Member # 5294) on 01-07-2011, 10:21 PM:

The theater I work at is looking into renting a digital projector to fill a 54'w x 29'h screen with content from a Direct TV or cable box.

Thanks for any help!!

Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 01-07-2011, 11:20 PM:

Do they have a barrel full of money?

Posted by Jake Spell (Member # 5294) on 01-08-2011, 01:50 AM:

Not exactly... If its something that is going to cost a fortune to do then they may hold out for a permanent install. Just looking for some pricing for the moment.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 01-08-2011, 03:23 AM:

If its just DirecTV, they may get out of it cheaper by renting two portable (professional 3 chip DLPs) and stack them.

Posted by Jake Spell (Member # 5294) on 01-08-2011, 11:51 AM:

Do you know any places that rent these? Were located in Charleston South Carolina.

Posted by Cameron Glendinning (Member # 3516) on 01-08-2011, 06:48 PM:

The cost of video projectors has dropped alot over the last few years. The main question is do you really need to fill the screen?

10 years ago I worked at an IMAX with a much larger screen than the you have. We never dreamed to fill the screen for private events that used video. No one ever complained because the image was still huge!

A panasonic 6300 with a 6000 lumen output, 720p image quality might be an affordable option, its published specs allow for a 600" image.

There are plenty of more expensive options like 10,000 lumen (or bigger) Christies rentable from staging companies.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 01-08-2011, 06:52 PM:

In the 10k lumen range, my current favorite is the Christie HD10K-M. These are pretty readily available for rental now. I think I measured something like 33 fL with this on a ~25' wide superglo screen. For your size screen, you would need more like 20k lumens (depending on the screen surface), which you could get by stacking two of these, as Brad mentioned. Or you could live with a dim picture. Or get a brighter projector.

Posted by Dave Macaulay (Member # 813) on 01-09-2011, 06:12 PM:

Large staging companies usually have projectors suitable for this. Unless you are showing DCI content you don't need an actual cinema projector. The cinema models are generally available without the DCI input cards for non-cinema use and that's what staging services may have for very large screens. I don't know if there's such a projector in Charleston... in New York, L.A. or Toronto I could probably rent one with little trouble. Price is going to be pretty high of course. Stacking two smaller projectors is a good option if you can't find a single unit bright enough.

Posted by Jake Spell (Member # 5294) on 01-10-2011, 02:39 AM:

Thanks for all the input guys!! Very much appreciated, I think Ill see what the local staging companies have to offer as one is pretty large and does events all over the nation. [beer]

Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 01-10-2011, 07:58 AM:

And are you going to get a license for the content from Direct-TV or the cable company? Theatre screenings have been shutdown in the past for not having the license from cable and Direct-TV,etc.. In past cases the content provider stated anything over 50" needed it. Most of the times they go after locations doing sports events. And you deal with the service provider's commercial accounts department.

Posted by Jake Spell (Member # 5294) on 01-10-2011, 12:27 PM:

Didn't know that would had been an issue so I will definatly look into it. Thanks!

Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 01-10-2011, 08:10 PM:

Figure $7,000 to $10,000 to bring in a 3D compatible DCP, set it up an break it down after the show, this should include costs for techs to do the work, cables etc. etc.