Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Now the 3D world goes berserk

This is topic Now the 3D world goes berserk in forum Digital Cinema Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Per Hauberg (Member # 529) on 05-29-2012, 05:07 AM:

"Before running our new film, please exchance Your xenon bulp, and please go through this truckload of extra adjustments, making Your equipment fit our film instead of everyone else's."
Thats the essence of a mail this morning.

"Prometheus" is going to open in Denmark in a few days with projector alterations that for me would mean a tech visit almost without warning.

Will this be our future ? Jackson and Cameron demanding half a new installation for each new film, Scott ordering major alterations with so short notice, it will be impossible for local techs to visit all cinemas before premiere.

Is this a way of telling the small theatres once more, that we are not wanted ?

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 05-29-2012, 06:22 AM:

What exactly are these adjustments? What happens if you don't make them?

I wouldn't be happy about it, but I suspect that they're fairly minor compared to the modifications which you would have had to make if you'd wanted to run The Robe on it's original release, likely to include:

Probably alterations to proscenium.

New screen frame.

New 'Miracle Mirror' screen.

New Curtains, tracks and boarders.

New sprockets, mag penthouses, aperture plates, anamorphic lenses and mountings for them for both machines.

Possibly moving both projectors back to allow the anamorphics to be fitted.

Possibly enlarging the ports, and possibly fitting new larger fire shutters if these were still in use.

Extra amplifiers and speaker systems plus 12 kHz. surround switching system.

Possibly replacing steel spools with aluminium ones,

Necessary cabling installation including machine changeover and format changeover for magnetic/optical for new sound system.

New splicer.

De-gaussing tool.

Possibly new arcs, many older ones had to be replaced to get enough light on the screen, which in turn would probably have required new rectifiers or generators.

I've probably forgotton something, but what would that list alone have cost? Of course, Cinemascope was a success, and many films were released in the format, but it could have died out as quickly as 8-perf Vistavision, or Fox Grandeur did, in which case it could have been a very expensive upgrade for just a handful of films.

Of course, if you also wanted to show Todd-AO you would also have needed:

New projectors.
More new spools.
Another new splicer.
Two additional sound channels.
New rewinds.
Probably new film storage cabinets.
New lenses for both machines.

What would all that have cost compared to the upgrades to the digital system for this film?

Posted by Per Hauberg (Member # 529) on 05-29-2012, 08:00 AM:

Njyeah, Stephen

What You are listing here, are the alterations to be done for launching two all-new formats, as it is right now going from analog to digital.
In the Prometheus-case it's the never-ending upgrade of the barely installed digital gear for one film - next being The Hobbit HFR and next Avatar even higher FR.
What I claim is, that only the biggest cinema chains can afford this "new film, new technique" proces.
I am simply asking for a standard in film projection for an amount of time, making it possible for us to pay the gear, before the next is coming.

As a very young lad, I installed 70mm in my little flea circus, as I did DTS, SRD, EX and so on, and kept my core audience from time to time (still about 25.000 tickets a year). The funds for my retirement went digital - still not pulling a bigger crowd.
Pic and sound have been fine all the way, and I've had fun doing it, -but profit: None - and the next investments to keep status quo in box office, should be on morgage. -No way. People will this time have to go elsewhere for "Prometheus".

Greetings from Downtown Malling - which for a mayor city urban citizen must be the most far out, poor misery ever seen [beer]

Posted by Pietro Clarici (Member # 4937) on 05-29-2012, 09:02 AM:

Every Disney 3D movie in the last three years came with a technical sheet that strongly suggested a new-ish lamp (at least 500 hours remaining) and a light level check. It basically only means that your 3D system should be operating in spec (4.5fL) at all times.

Is there something new with Prometheus?

Posted by Jake Spell (Member # 5294) on 05-29-2012, 09:25 AM:

Im curious, What other changes do they suggest that you do?

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 05-29-2012, 11:27 AM:

I think the film-makers are just wanting you to make sure your equipment is properly adjusted and aligned. I wouldn't get bent out of shape over this.

Posted by Jim Cassedy (Member # 4115) on 05-29-2012, 12:30 PM:

1) Make the changes-
2) Send the distributor the bill. [Razz]

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 05-29-2012, 01:22 PM:

Just curious, under a VPF is the theatre responsible for extra maintenance demanded by the studio?

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 05-29-2012, 01:34 PM:

Where is "the DCI spec"? If I were "in spec," I would disregard any changes to the contrary. Louis

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 05-29-2012, 06:05 PM:

I have never understood the point of these letters. Theatres that care about doing things correctly will do so regardless of whether such a letter arrives. Theatres that do not care will not. (And if my picture is sufficiently bright and not flickering, then why should anyone care about bulb hours? And what if I am using carbons and not bulbs, anyway?) So, why send the letter?

If the distributors really cared, then they should send out people with light meters and sound test equipment to every theatre that books their movies. And they should refuse to book their movies in theatres that do not meet SMPTE standards. I dare them to do this.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 05-29-2012, 11:51 PM:

..about as bad when they call you up to check if the feature content has been ingested properly..

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 05-30-2012, 12:43 AM:

Worse when they want to ensure that the stuff was deleted; if I want to clutter my disk with useless movies I don't have keys for anymore, that's my prerogative. [Smile]

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 05-30-2012, 06:35 AM:

I'm still unclear about this; are these 'modifications' recommendations or contractural requirements or technical requirements?

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 05-31-2012, 01:11 PM:

Reminds you of the letters we used to get, strongly urging us all to set our faders at "7".

Gratefully, we all ran to our processors to do that, instantly improving our previously deficient presentations.

[Razz]

Posted by Joris Springer (Member # 4175) on 06-17-2012, 08:12 AM:

I always find those letters funny, especially with the 500 hours remaining part. So nice on a 500 hour lamp, means that they want me to replace the lamp for each show? [Razz]

Posted by John T. Hendrickson, Jr (Member # 849) on 06-20-2012, 10:46 AM:

I think those letters are mostly CYA. That way, if the distrib gets a nasty letter they can say: "Well, we told the exhibitor what they needed to do in order to give you the proper presentation."

Posted by Dominic Espinosa (Member # 2122) on 06-20-2012, 10:52 AM:

I agree with the above mostly.

My personal feeling is that these are just like the letters we used to get saying "please make sure it's framed right and run the fader at 7.0. Or 0.0 if you have SDDS" [Razz]

But it's true, the good exhibs will be running in spec and the studio should have no fear. The rest will do what they will.

While we're at it, how about the letter no one in my chain saw until the hard drives arrived for MOONRISE KINGDOM which required us to modify or create new function memories to deal with the aspect ratio?