Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Regal CineMedia News

This is topic Regal CineMedia News in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 08-22-2002, 01:57 PM:

EDIT: Deleted dead link. [Frown]

[ 01-30-2003, 09:15 PM: Message edited by: David Stambaugh ]

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 08-22-2002, 02:12 PM:

AFAIK, the emphasis in the CineMedia plan is on in-theatre advertising, not "Digital Cinema" presentation of feature films, which would require much higher quality:

"...RCM expects to utilize its industry leading digital network to distribute digital advertising and digital programming."

"RCM is developing the world's largest video and communications network in its theatres for the delivery of digital content including on-screen and in-lobby marketing and advertising products, as well as sports, education and entertainment content. "

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
e-mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Posted by Mike Williams (Member # 1140) on 08-22-2002, 04:03 PM:

RCM is basically taking off with what UA was doing with the Satelite Theatre Network (STN).

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 08-23-2002, 02:49 AM:

The idea sounds good for things like computer controled slide presentations and rolling stock ads since they are crap quality to begin with. But nothing is close to being ready for High quality presentations of feature films. If you want it done right that is.

Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 08-23-2002, 12:58 PM:

quote:
connecting high-quality digital projectors in nearly 4,600 theatre auditoriums and plasma screens in its theatre lobbies in over 400 theatres in its top 51 markets in the U.S. by the end of 2003. RCM expects to utilize its industry leading digital network to distribute digital advertising and digital programming.

If they say digital one more time, I am going to PUKE! It's VIDEO dammit!! No doubt Regal will find some way to save money and use these projectors to indeed show feature films. Somehow... if they have to wait for the DVD, they'll do it...

=TMP=

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 08-23-2002, 01:29 PM:

"because digital is better"

Morons.

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 08-23-2002, 01:35 PM:

AFAIK, Regal is NOT going to "digital cinema" because they know the quality is not there yet. These digital setups are only for pre-show entertaiment purposes as well as simulcasts such as the Korn concert. Feature films will continue to be presented they way they should be - using film! At this point, Regal is not even using digital cinema in their largest mega plexes. I could tell you how I know all this, but then I'd have to kill you.

BTW, is that HP as in Hewlett-Packard?

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 08-23-2002, 03:01 PM:

Pre-show "entertainment"? Don't they mean "screen advertising"? Or will they actually be showing shorts or other non-advertising programming?

And how does it make economic sense to replace slide projectors ($500) with digital projectors ($5-10k plus cost of server, bulbs, etc.)?

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 08-23-2002, 03:43 PM:

New York must be the pilot region for Regal CineMedia. The UA Union Square and UA Cortlandt are among the first Regal-owned theaters to use this technology in the preshow. To get the particulars search the Film Handler's Forum for "Sunshine State".

Posted by Mike Williams (Member # 1140) on 08-24-2002, 07:46 AM:

It's more than just a pilot program... it is a full rollout. It should be in mostly all of the REG theaters by next year sometime.

Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 08-24-2002, 10:39 AM:

Oh come on now, Scott! That "Fandango" ad is VERY entertaining!

=TMP=

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 08-24-2002, 10:54 AM:

There's a wild Fandango loose in the building. Look out!

Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 08-24-2002, 12:44 PM:

I assume this will result in the lowering of admission prices, due to the increased ad revenue. Wait a minute, what the hell am I THINKING??!!

Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 08-24-2002, 02:30 PM:

Actually, maybe they'll feel jutified to raise admission, since they're giving us MORE! Real moving commercials instead of those boring old staticky slide thingies (I saw one of these set-ups at the AMC Empire 25 in NYC. I think Minority Report got it right as far as ad bombardment goes, but it won't be THAT far in the future, Im afraid

Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 08-25-2002, 12:12 PM:

When I saw Minority Report, I was always thinking about that Earthlink Inernet commercial, where the man walks out of his apartment and past the newspaper stand. The man asks him if he wants a newspaper, and he goes, "No thanks. Not today." and proceeds on his way.
Along the way he's walking by various people asking thinkgs like, "How about a new cell phone? Vacation to Vegas? How is your stock portfolio? Need life insurance?" and the like, until he starts to RUN!

At my college, I don't know how or why they allow those bozos with their little tables to set up shop all over the place and dare to stop me to try and sell me one of those blasted human Lo-Jack devices known as a "DIGITAL" cell phone!! So not only are they getting income from tuition payments, but now they have ad revenue, and they STILL make us print our syllabuses online because they can't hand them out because of "budget cuts"... something's wrong here.

Here's a link: Campaign for Commercial-Free Schools

=TMP=

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 09-08-2002, 06:41 PM:

College football in high-definition at Regal theaters:

HDTV Football

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 09-11-2002, 12:32 PM:

This is not a bad thing at all. It will allow theatres to show events as welll as films. Whats the advantage? We could probably pull a bigger box office take on events than films, and it meets a customer need. Let's say, hypothetically, the Beatles get back together to do ONLY ONE CONCERT. Of course everyone in the country is going to want to see it, so CineMedia books exclusive rights to screening it live at all their theatres, and sell tickets for like $18-$30 or so. This is a better, more attractive solution than Pay-Per-View for our customer, because it provides them with the complete "Crowd" experience.

Of course their are also many down sides to this, including crowd control, alcohol, etc, but i'll leave it up to you guys to rant about them.

Please dont flame me for using the Beatles in my example .

Posted by Martin Brooks (Member # 1269) on 09-11-2002, 09:52 PM:

Considering the fact that two of the Beatles are deceased, I think they could charge a lot more than $18-$30 if they could get all four Beatles to show up.

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 09-11-2002, 10:04 PM:

George said something like "I'll do a Beatles reunion when John does". Of course John was already dead at the time.

Posted by William Hooper (Member # 71) on 09-12-2002, 12:49 AM:

Man, they were pushing this in the 50's with TV projection in theaters then, extolling the same attractions of the same events (concerts, sporting events) & it bombed. There was another wave of hype & a small installed base for it again in the 70s, & it went kaflooie.

It just may be that sporting events are not theatrical events, & concerts aren't either, unless they're concert films. Who knows, though, now auditoriums are approximately 20 times smaller & that may somehow make the difference.

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 09-12-2002, 12:39 PM:

I, of course, meant the remaining beatles, but with the miracle of DIGITAL reanimation, we could bring them back ala "Simone"

Posted by Jeff Akin (Member # 1198) on 09-12-2002, 01:02 PM:

I can see it now...WWE WRESTLEMANIA X9...Get your seat at your local Regal Entertainment Group Location TODAY!!!

They've also been talking about setting up gaming consoles and other video things for conventions and the like.

There is also talk of running the rolling stock AND the trailer package through these. This will totally eliminate the ghastly chore of updating trailers.

------------------
-----------
2 Time ICWF Champion

2 Time ICWF Hardcore Champion

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 09-12-2002, 01:33 PM:

Been there, done that...

From Screen Digest:

"23 January 2000
Famous Players begins showing monthly pay-per-view (PPV) World Wrestling Federation matches in 17 cinemas across Canada, following trial in Toronto multiplex in October 1999 when all 300 CD 14.94 (USD 10.20) tickets sold out. Super Bowl also screened on 30 January."

As others have noted, sporting fans often want to enjoy a few drinks with their friends while watching a game or match. IMHO, large screen digital projection of sporting events would seem to be better suited to a sports bar rather than a fixed-seating theatre auditorium. Floor-to-ceiling, rear-screen 9 x 16 foot HDTV displays in a sports bar would be quite impressive, and achievable with today's technology.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 09-12-2002, 02:20 PM:

quote:
"There is also talk of running the rolling stock AND the trailer package through these. This will totally eliminate the ghastly chore of updating trailers."

Aha, another one of those "sounds good on paper but sucks in the real world" ideas. Since most print damage is typically done to the first trailer on a roll of film, starting with reel 1 of a feature is NOT a good idea.

Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 09-12-2002, 09:32 PM:

So let me get this straight... they want to use cheap LCD projectors to show trailers for upcoming FILM movies in 4:3 in an AUDITORIUM?? Are we to expect Scope letterboxed trailers such as those for Two Towers or Episode 3 to be a tiny 2.39:1 rectangle in the middle of a huge screen? What if a particular trailer would be considered inappropriate in a given market or location regardless of the home office's decisions? How will/can that trailer be removed or changed? Will it also be easier to eventually just show the whole damn feature through the CineMedia projector and forget about that nasty analog film alltogether?

Oh, and who would want to go to a theater and shell out money to watch television? You have to be dressed and everything!

=TMP=

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 09-12-2002, 10:21 PM:

Why would any distributor allow his product to be split with live programming? Usually, double-features are prohibited during the first few weeks of a film's release (with exceptions for drive-ins, etc.). In a multiplex, it would make sense for most of these "alternative content" events to be run on the largest screen(s) in the complex, yet those are the screens most likely to be occupied by "new" film product which wouldn't be allowed to share the screen with anything else.

I do agree that sporting events would probably work better in a bar environment than a theatre. Are any sports bars showing HDTV signals using DLP projectors?

Posted by Mike Williams (Member # 1140) on 09-13-2002, 10:51 AM:

I have not heard any talk of running previews on the Video projectors.. just the intermission program. Maybe Jeff was thinking of events like sporting events or concerts to have some sort of preview.

Imagine the logistical nightmare involved with running previews on that before every show like that.. (it would be like working in a 20 screen changeover booth). The poor projectionist/manager would have to be at every projector just in time to start the film projector right at the end of the end of the digital previews. (Unless RCM is planning on standardizing the automations of every projector in the company which I doubt.)

Posted by Mike Williams (Member # 1140) on 10-08-2002, 01:00 PM:

More news on Regal CineMedia from Box Office magazine.
http://www.boxoffice.com/scripts/content.asp?terms=2031

Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 10-08-2002, 04:58 PM:

quote:
In the long term, the CEOs hope to use this communications web for digital cinema.

Uhh... err...

quote:
We want to get advertisers to look at this as a new medium and thus put more effort into making the advertisements creative and entertaining [to] make the line between what is advertising and what is entertainment really blur.

Is this really what we want? A blurred line between commercials and movies? Is this a hint that the two will be eventually shown on the same projector? Am I just paranoid?

quote:
REG remains on the record as cautiously optimistic about a full and complete rollout of what Campbell calls "digital cinema." He does, however, see standard 35mm film still "being shown in a significant number of theatres 10 years from now."

*WHEW* Let's just hope that the distributors don't find the CineMedia projectors and network "good enough" to use and jump on it.

=TMP=

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 01-30-2003, 09:02 PM:

Regal CineMedia & Vivendi Universal sign some kind of content deal: Regal - Vivendi

Other notable recent Vivendi news:
Microsoft to buy Vivendi Games?

Vivendi Owes Barry Diller $2.5B?

Vivendi Hides Liquidity Crisis?

Vivendi Insider Trading?

Lee Majors Sues Vivendi Universal

Vivendi Accused of Influence Peddling

Shareholders Suing Vivendi

Vivendi Accused of Tax Evasion

[Big Grin]

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 03-02-2003, 12:13 PM:

The Film God must have known something would happen!

Regal CineMedia's new digital preshow is The Twenty, named because it runs ~20 minutes. I caught it yesterday at the Regal Warrington Crossing in front of The Quiet American.

The Twenty has content specially produced by NBC ("rehearsals" for a musical with sitcom stars), Turner Classic Movies (an Oscar Month promo) and Universal (how "The Hulk" becomes a roller-coaster ride at Universal Studios Orlando). Commercials are included and replace the rolling-stock adverts.

The Twenty is run in flat 1.85 ratio with CD-quality sound. Program ends with the Regal "rollercoaster" policy snipe and a "Thanks for Watching" close. When the program ends the 35mm projector starts, masking goes to scope if need be (The Quiet American is in scope) and the first trailer hits the screen. The feature follows the last trailer.

[ 03-02-2003, 05:49 PM: Message edited by: Charles Everett ]

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 03-02-2003, 12:28 PM:

How did it look and sound quality-wise? How large was the screen (roughly)?

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 03-02-2003, 01:04 PM:

The sound quality is excelent. I do dissagree about puting the policy on the preshow. I think it's better before the film because it tells the audience "Hey! Shut Up! The movie is starting" - and the resolution is of course better on film, but for tabletop digital projection, the Christie Road Runner L6 puts up a nice image.

Regal's "The 2WENTY"

Posted by Mike Williams (Member # 1140) on 03-02-2003, 01:25 PM:

Look at the upside...

The last two movies I saw since the 2wenty has started have not had any rolling stock. All the commercials were in the pre-show and the trailers started at the adv. start time.

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 03-02-2003, 03:45 PM:

If the rolling stock is getting separated from the trailers, then this is a good thing. But the Regal roller coaster belongs at the end of the trailers, not at the end of the CineMedia stuff.

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 03-02-2003, 09:35 PM:

I know that the roller coaster does appear as the last part of the pre-show. I don't know, however whether the roller coaster is also included on film before the movie starts. The system is being installed this month at my theatre, so i guess i'll find out soon.

What I would like to see is a diferent shorter version to put at the end of the 2wenty. Kind of like AMCs "Comming Attractions" trailer. Then play the full version between the trailers and the movie.

Posted by Chad Calpito (Member # 1562) on 03-03-2003, 12:54 AM:

First off, I will have to agree with Brad Miller that Digital is much better since I have seen a few movies in this format and with first hand experience in running the projector. Secondly, since Regal also owns & operates Edwards Cinemas and United Artists, the Regal Entertainment Group has a DLP Digital Projector at the Edwards Mira Mesa Stadium 18. Granted, Regal itself does not have Digital Projectors in it's own theaters does not mean they won't switch over eventually. Soon enough, DLP Digital Projectors will be the ultimate wave of the future and 35mm will be obsolete. We might as well face that fact. The new format will be perfected and will be more cost effective once it becomes more feasible to make more movies in this new format. Anyway, I am familiar with Regal's new Digital system they are implementing. Good luck to Regal.

Chad

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 03-03-2003, 01:13 AM:

Brad said:

quote:
"because digital is better"

Morons.

Chad said:

quote:
First off, I will have to agree with Brad Miller that Digital is much better since I have seen a few movies in this format and with first hand experience in running the projector.

I'm confused. 1280x1024 Digital Projection sucks. So do the current digital artifacts.

Running a DLP show is easy. Then again, so is running a 35mm show.

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 03-03-2003, 08:12 PM:

Hi, Chad.

Nice to have another San Diego person. I presume your from the Edwards Mira Mesa 18 based on your post. I'm down here at the Edwards Rancho San Diego 15. Now to clear things up.

CLAIRIFICATION 1
Brad was being sarchastic. Digital Cinema (DLP) sucks. There are cases, however, when digital can look nice. But the fact remains, DLP simply does not offer the kind of resolution that film does. I have commented on this before in other posts. Do a search on DLP and my name to get a more detailed view on my opinion of DLP. (BTW - I have seen a DLP movie at your theatre about 7 or 8 times. I'm glad you guys finaly got the separate port window built for it. the borderd image used to really suck.)

One of Regal's corporate officials has commented in that he is "cautiously optimistic" about digital features, like the kind you are talking about. However, like most of us he knows that the quality is not on par with film, theese projectors are not yet cost effective, and standards (like sound and video compresion formats) still need to be put in place.

CLAIRIFICATION 2
The digital network we are refering to is not the same one your thinking of. Your thinking of the one used to show features with. This new system most of us are talking about in here, is for advertising, and will replace your slide projector. Your instal up there should be starting very soon, if it's not allready underway.

Keep up the great work up at the Mira Mesa. I might swing by sometime to check out Daredevel DLP. Hey, just because it's lower resolution, doesn't mean I can't enjoy the novelty of it!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EDIT:
Just read your "who"
Appearently you work at domino's. That's cool! But than where did you operate a DLP at?

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 03-03-2003, 08:15 PM:

Hey Mike, Do you know if Regal's Eugene theatre (Cinema World 8) is scheduled to get the CineMedia deal installede any time soon?

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 03-03-2003, 08:18 PM:

I don't really know for sure. They are rolling this out region by region, and the San Diego area is currently the area they seem to be focusing on. From what i understand, they will have it installed "In all major markets" by summer.

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 03-03-2003, 08:26 PM:

Well, that probably rules out Eugene getting it until sometime in 2005. [Wink]

Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 03-03-2003, 08:32 PM:

I wonder if Bakersfield will be included soon? Our Edwards is STILL not running the Regal policy snipe.

Posted by Chad Calpito (Member # 1562) on 03-03-2003, 08:39 PM:

Hey Mike. I do know what Regal is doing since I work for the company. It is nice to see another person in the San Diego area on this awesome web site. Anyway, DLP Digital Cinema is awesome in my opinion and of course, I know what Regal is doing as far as the Digital Systems they are using for the previews, but, not the actual feature.

I am also a consultant for another small movie theater chain that is utilizing the Barco Industries Digital DLP Projection System. Even though I still love 35mm Film Projectors, DLP Digital will always have the edge over Film Technology. Let's face it, Digital DLP is better. [Smile]

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 03-03-2003, 08:43 PM:

That sound you just heard was a shot across the bow of the SS Film-Tech. [Wink]

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 03-03-2003, 09:00 PM:

Is Digital DLP different from Analog DLP? [Wink]

Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 03-03-2003, 09:10 PM:

I will admit that the last DLP shows I saw looked pretty good, but at present not as good as film...that is, film done right. (clarification: My experience with DLP has been with top showcases (Ziegfeld, Chinese, El Capitan, not with rank-and-file theatres)

The closest came with SIGNS, which I don't think I could have known that it was digital or film if not for the advertising and DLP and Technicolor digital snipes.

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 03-03-2003, 10:16 PM:

Paul-
They aren't showing the roller coaster?? That's strange. Ask them about it. We recieved ours last summer.

Chad-
My bad, i thought you had confused Cinemedia with DLP.
However, I still must dissagree on DLP. Yes, the collors are brighter, and the image is more steady, but I am a resolution nut. I can't stand being able to see the pixels when i'm 20 ft away from the screen. DLP is probably the future, but it still has aways to go, in my opinion.
Oh, and it would be nice if they were affordable. [Smile]

About your consulting for a small chain - That chain wouldn't happen to be the DLP-Crazy Ultra Star would it? Can you confirm the rumors about Ultra Star reopening the El Cajon 8? I hope they do, it was a nice theatre back in it's day.

Posted by Chad Calpito (Member # 1562) on 03-03-2003, 10:46 PM:

Yes, I am working with Ultra Star Cinemas. In fact, that's where I started my film projection duties before doing Projection exclusively, etc. Anyway, I can't confirm any rumors as of yet if they are going for the El Cajon 8, but, I will say this, they are always looking for new locations with potential. They do have at least 3 locations in the Riverside/Fontana areas. Anyway, since working with Regal, I have helped Ultra Star develop some positive Booth work environments, etc since I have contacts with the Corporate Officers.

Anyway, I do agree with you that Digital Projection still has a long way to go. The DLP Digital still needs a lot of fine tuning, but, has potential. The costs are very high as well, which is another downside. For now, we all will pleasently live with the old tried and true 35mm Film Projection Systems.

Chad

Posted by Kathy Roberts (Member # 1410) on 03-04-2003, 02:10 AM:

The roller coaster policy is part of the digital advertising part..it's at the end. I'm still at a theatre that doesn't have digital..so we still put it at the end of the trailers. Apparently, the digital technology or the upload or something isnt ready or capable (sp?) of running the trailers yet. Too much information or something.

Posted by John Hawkinson (Member # 1135) on 03-09-2003, 12:03 AM:

Is editting out dead links a good idea? If anything, it removes information that was there previously, and prevents people from using resources like Google's cache (or whatever) to find the content.

--jhawk

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-09-2003, 12:05 AM:

Probably not. That is why it is always preferred to copy the text of the link over into the post, for when that day comes when the link dies. So long as there is a link to the page where it came from as well as credit given to the author and publisher, I don't think there is much of a problem legally.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-10-2003, 04:51 PM:

My apologies to the members.

Apparently Chad Calpito is not the real person he claims to be, working at the places he claims to work. This was just discovered today. He will not be rejoining us. There is no need for further discussion.

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 06-15-2003, 01:19 PM:

The UA Union Square in NYC is now using The 20wenty -- and with the current (June) edition the Regal "rollercoaster" policy snipe is being phased out.

A new, more polished "Welcome to Regal Entertainment" snipe now finishes The 20wenty. At the end of the snipe the Regal Entertainment logo comes up with a voice-over "Our feature begins after these previews".

I assume that the "rollercoaster" will be replaced, region by region, as Regal/UA/Edwards theaters are equipped to show The 20wenty.

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 06-15-2003, 05:19 PM:

Cinemedia is broadcasting a Beyonce Knowles concert to selected theatres. www.regalcm.com for details.

We got our 2wenty system in a few months ago. I have to say that at first i was skeptical about this program, but i've grown to like it more and more.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blow-by-blow of new regal policy trailer. - Which I have seen far to many times than is healthy. I call it "Picture Globe".

Music- The 2Wenty Theme (which you will hear at least 6 times durring your average visit)

The twenty ends with a swishs sound that fades in to the new policy trailer.

We see the horizon of a globe filled with moving images (looks like random stock footage) The sun sets over the globe in sync with the swoosh sound.

Femail Voice (same one from roller coaster)
"Welcome To Regal Entertainment Theatres"

Music begins

We dive down twords the globe and into one of the pictures. This picture is of a waterfall as seen from the top. As we decend, a green leaf drifts down through the waterfall. We continue to dive deeper into the waterfall untill everything fades to blue. From the blue, three pillars of light fade in where the waterfall used to be. We continue to decend. Pictures start to appear all around. Some are stock images (people smiling, having fun etc.), but most are concession items. We come in close to a picture of the Coka-Cola logo.

Femail Voice:
"Beverages provided by Coka-Cola. Enjoy it!"

The picture "ripple fades" out and we come in close to a picture of Raisinetts

"Refreshments are available in the lobby"

Picture ripple fades away. We come in close to a really dark picture with swiriling light coming from a dark mechanical eye ball. The light comes together and expldes to form the Christie logo

"This edition of the 2wenty was brought to you on Christie projectors"

Northern lights style color effects fill the screen. A siliuette of a woman holding her finger to her lips appears accompanied by the text "Quite Please" flowing cicularly. Another woman with a cellphne appears. She pulls it away from her head and pushes a button on it and tucks it away. The words "Turn of your cellphones" are visable of the screen. "No Smoking" is visable right after that.

Femail Voice: "Please Turn off your cellphones... "

A siliuette throws a piece of littler into a wastebasket. As she throws, it freeze frames and zooms in on the trash entering the wastebasket matrix style. Motion resumes.

"and keep our theatres clean by disposing of trash in the specified containers..."

Ticket siliuetes fall from the top of the screen.

"Remember: Gifts Cerrtificates and Group rates are available at all of our theatres for special occasions & events."

As she says that the text "In case of emergency, head to the nearest exit." apperars over the falling tickets.

The top of a giant "E" swosshes back to reveal "REGAL ENTERTAINMENT GROUP" set against curatins. Underneath the logo are the individual logos for Regal Cinemas, Edwards Theatres, And UA.

Femail Voice: "We hope you have enjoyed this edition of the 2Wenty. Your feature pressentation will begin after the following previews."

The curtain opens out to set the logos against a starry outer space sceene.

This image remains frozen on the screen untill the projectionist starts the 35mm projector.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All of the 2wenty, including this policy trailer is stored on hard disks on a server system and also on server clients at each auditorium. It would be possible for a projectionist to download this content to a portable drive, if they really knew what they were doing. I won't however, because personally, I'd like to keep my job.

Also, they do change really small things in it from time to time. Usauly its a slight re wording, or a change in the colors of the northern lights segment.

EDITED 6-16 BY MIKE TO REPLACE INACURACIES DURRING TRAILER

[ 06-17-2003, 04:59 AM: Message edited by: Mike Olpin ]

Posted by Mike Williams (Member # 1140) on 06-15-2003, 06:27 PM:

I'm curious... Where did you get the screenshot?

Posted by Daniel Fuentz (Member # 1684) on 06-15-2003, 07:13 PM:

Mike, is this policy trailer replacing the rollercoaster in all Regal locations, or is it only seen on the digital presentation?

Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 06-15-2003, 08:12 PM:

Regal Cinemedia is clueless. I'm working at a theater that was purchased from Regal Cinemas on May 2 ... we're still getting a weekly slide package from Regal Cinemedia ... apparently the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing ...

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 06-15-2003, 10:47 PM:

Mike W- I got that image by screenshoting www.regalcinemedia.com just before the content apears.

Daniel - It replaces the roller coaster at all locations with the DCN equiptment installed. ( I grabed a couple copies of the roller coaster for my "reel of useless fun film" )

Mike S - send me an e-mail, and i'll track down the phone number you need to call to get them to stop sending you stuff.

Posted by Daniel Fuentz (Member # 1684) on 06-15-2003, 11:08 PM:

Ah, I see! I'll have to visit the Edwards here sometime and see if they have this installed yet. (They did not on my last visit.) Now, if you ever want to get rid of one of those copies of the rollercoaster trailer, I'd give it a good home. [Big Grin]

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-16-2003, 01:46 AM:

quote:
This image remains frozen on the screen untill the projectionist starts the 35mm projector.

Can they use start timers? That would really suck if the projectionist had to stand there and wait and wait until the 2wenty show got to a certain point before starting the projector. If he was late, it would also look bad to the audience waiting there for a few minutes.

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 06-16-2003, 02:27 AM:

Yes, Brad, I have to stand and wait for the twenty to end. Thats why I have the policy trailer memorized line-for-line.
They probably can use start timers at theatres that have them. We use a very basic Christie automation without any such feature.

It really makes things difficult, especialy when you have 5 screens starting at 7:30 all at opposite ends of the building. People wind up staring at the logo for a while. Once, a patron was waiting for me to start his movie, and when i got there, he fliped me off thrigh the port window!

My suggestion: Show the logo for about 30 seconds, then change it to something like "Please stand by..."

Ocasionaly someone will complain to me that "the movie froze".
I reply " Okay, sir, is it showing the regal logo?"
they'll say "yes"
I respond " Then the computer is rebooting. Once it has finished booting up, your show will continue".
"oh , okay then." [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 06-16-2003, 09:34 AM:

I haven't seen the Twenty, or 20Wenty or 2Wenty or whatever it is yet, but it sounds very "Theme-Park-esque" if you ask me.

For example, let's take the Back To The Future ride at Universal Studios. The "pre-ride entertainment" shown on those TVs as you wait in line is timed to when the ride starts to give you background info, safety rules, trivia, etc. If there's a large crowd or something gets held up, the logo just sits up on the screen until the next "cycle" begins. There was one time where a group of people were taking a LONG time to get into their DeLorean, and the video of Doc kept repeating:

Allright folks! Hurry up! Get in! Come on now! We haven't much time! Is everyone ready? Then here we go!!!....Allright folks! Hurry up! Get in! Come on now! We haven't much time! Is everyone ready... [Roll Eyes]

I think Regal should add something to the end of that presentation. If the "Your feature will start..." thing sits up there for more than 5 minutes, another card should appear:

"Your show should have started by now. Someone go get a manager!"
OR
"The employee who should have started your show by now is currently in the process of being fired. Please stand by..."

=TMP=

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 06-16-2003, 11:45 AM:

Why couldn't they have rigged the serial port on the video server to a relay that starts the film projector automation? That would make much more sense than forcing the projectionist to run around to each screen, wait for the DLP show to end, and then hit 'start' on the film automation.

I'm assuming here that all of the theatres that show this thing have multiple screens and automated projection equipment. Does Regal have any single-screen houses? I know that they have a twin in Richmond, VA., but the have automation.

Mike S. -- you might not want to tell Regal to stop sending you slides. Maybe you'll get lucky and they'll forget that they're not supposed to send you a free DLP setup. That could provide some fun entertainment for the employees, at least (think Playstaton/Xbox/etc.) [evil]

Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 06-16-2003, 03:27 PM:

My goodness, Regal Cinemas just keeps getting better and better! Why did I EVER stop working for them?? [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 06-16-2003, 05:27 PM:

I concur. Leaving them was the best thing I ever did.

OOPs - did I say that?

Posted by Andrew Walls (Member # 179) on 06-16-2003, 10:27 PM:

It doesn't matter if you have the digital pre show or not, customers will still flip you off if you start their show late. Which is what you are doing if they have to watch the Regal logo for more than a minute or two.

Posted by Christopher Duvall (Member # 284) on 06-16-2003, 10:34 PM:

The 2wenty ends right at advertised showtime. The servers are linked to an atomic clock. If your watches are in sync with the server, you should be walking up to start the projector as the Regal logo hits the screen. The showtimes are picked up from the point of sales, so it it knows when to start the 2wenty. We have not had any problems since we started running it.

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 06-17-2003, 04:26 AM:

Andrew, Let me give an example -

7:30 - #1 - Matrix Reloaded (A)
7:30 - #11 - Down With Love (C)
7:30 - # 8- XMen 2 (C)
7:30 - # 3 - Daddy Day Care (B)
7:35 - # 2- Bruce Almighty (A)

7:28.0 - I stand in booth A at theatre 1, waiting for pre show to end.
7:30.0 - pre show ends, start projector
7:30:10 - leader finishes rolling thrugh, douser opens, have a few seconds of green band to frame and focus with
7:30:15 - framed, focused, quick roller check, head back to main projectionist hallway, walk to next closest booth (B).
7:30:45 - arive at theatre 3 in booth B. Start.
7:30:55- leader thrugh, time for frame/focus/rollers
7:31:05-back to halway making my way to booth c
7:31:35- arrive at 11 in booth c. start. yada yada.
7:31:50-11 is up and looking good - time to head over to 8 - where people have now been starring at a logo for almost 2 minutes.
7:32:05 - arive at 8, greeted by [fu]

in port window.

4 projectors located in 3 booths, all in perfect frame & focus along with the "Olpin Guarenty of No Roller Scratches" in two minutes is pretty damn good.

Posted by Mike Williams (Member # 1140) on 06-17-2003, 04:57 AM:

Sounds like there is room for improvement in the movie schedule.. 5 of the 15 movies you have start at the same time? Why not spread them out a little? It might keep the crowd down at concession also and make the per cap better.

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 06-17-2003, 05:03 AM:

Thoose really arent my decisions to make - I just get the schedule, and do what it says. To be fair, the shows only stack up like that for the 7 o'clock rush. Generally, its prety nicely smoothed out.

On one ocasion, we had 6 movies at the same time. I called downstairs for back up on that one.

Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 06-17-2003, 07:58 AM:

Mike,

Why not thread in frame to begin with?

Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 06-17-2003, 01:38 PM:

If you have more than 20 minutes between shows, does anything else show before the final 20 minutes when the preshow thing starts?
It's a pain having a lot of shows starting close together, but it's do-able- I used to work at both a 6-plex and a single-screen a block away owned by the same company, so they had one projectionist for both buildings. I often had one movie start at the 6-screen at say 7:00, then the show at the single-screen start at 7:05, meaning I'd have to run over, thread the show and have it started in 5 minutes, then be back at the 6-screen by 7:10 for another show which I'd already have threaded. I don't advise anyone to schedule shows like this if your people don't have a lot of experience! Most other people had the shows running behind.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-17-2003, 03:29 PM:

Mike, you need to come work at a booth with locked down framing controls. Get it right or face the customer's [fu]

hehehehehe [evil]

By the way, roller scratches shouldn't be your big issue here. If you are having to adjust the framing control when you start up, that is knocking off your loop sizes which could result in loop scratches or damage to the digital tracks rendering them unplayable or with dropouts.

Posted by Carl Martin (Member # 1146) on 06-17-2003, 05:15 PM:

i think mike's point was just that, no matter how perfect your threading is, you should always take a look once the picture hits the screen. it's redundant, but redundancy is good!

carl

Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 06-17-2003, 05:38 PM:

Well, if Mike had said "check the frame/focusing" I would have been less concerned [Smile]

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 06-17-2003, 05:53 PM:

What happens if there are fewer than twenty (2wenty?) minutes between showtimes? Does the DLP show start late or does it start several minutes into it?

And, yes, I agree with the others: thread in frame! And, in most cases, there shouldn't be a need to adjust focus except when prints move or when there is a lens change (double feature, print move, etc.).

Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 06-17-2003, 06:23 PM:

Although, as a moviegoer, I have to be honest and say I prefer the frame to be adjusted at the start (as one megaplex nearby ALWAYS does) than to have the film hit out of frame and STAY out of frame (which is what happens at another megaplex nearby). Too bad the thread-in-frame seems to be a dying practice around here (in Bakersfield, not in F-T) [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 06-17-2003, 07:49 PM:

AGHHHH!!! THE FLAMES! THEY BURN!

Of course I thread in frame. Like Carl says, its importaint to check these things. Please note that i added only 5 seconds per start to check all this. All in all you save 15 seconds on the whole run. Theatre 8 still starts 1:45 late.

Now to answer the questions:

In the time between the end of the last show, and the begining of the 2wenty, nothing is on the screen, and there is no sound.

There never is a turnaround that is under 20 minutes. But since you asked, there is a device that is attatched to the wall outlet the slide projector used to plug into. When power flows into this device, it allows the L6 projector to show the preshow. If power is interupted (as is the case whenever the 35mm is running) it puts the L6 into standby mode, and won't let it exit standby mode until power is restored (the 35mm shuts off).

Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 06-18-2003, 06:38 PM:

Threading in frame is a no-brainer, but like Mike showed, sometimes there's a need to make a little "adjustment" now and then. Some trailers, (and in some cases, features as discussed in another thread) have these little framing nuances that need to be corrected now and again. This is why the idea of "locking down" the framing knob is retarded. (There, I said it.)

Our print of "Nemo" starts out with the "Brother Bear" trailer which has the green band text printed low on the screen. If the operator doesn't stand there to check and make SURE the framing is right and it's just the trailer, he'll rack it up to center and then there will be a black line at the bottom when the hard-matte feature starts.

=TMP=

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-19-2003, 04:11 AM:

quote:
Our print of "Nemo" starts out with the "Brother Bear" trailer which has the green band text printed low on the screen. If the operator doesn't stand there to check and make SURE the framing is right and it's just the trailer, he'll rack it up to center and then there will be a black line at the bottom when the hard-matte feature starts.

And THAT is precisely why locking down the framing knobs is the best possible thing for a mainstream theater. Trailers are getting real bad about not being center framed. So when projectionists tweak the framing on them, they are actually screwing up the feature's framing.

What's more important, a trailer running perfectly in frame or the feature? Think about it. A locked down framer absolutely guarantees the feature (the part of the show that the customers patronized your theater to see) will be presented properly. Either it's dead on perfect, or it's way off.

So Thomas, when you work a shift after someone else, do you have to run around and check all of the framer settings? Of course you do! Because you have no idea what the last guy did. If your framers were locked down, you wouldn't have to worry about it. So long as you threaded in frame, it would be dead centered every show. I have better things to do than play jack-around for an entire round of shows after a projectionist who either used the framer as a crutch or from adjusting to a trailer that was not printed centered. The last mainstream feature I have seen that was printed off center was 1992, and that's a good enough record for me to lock those damn things down.

You crazy guys and your framing controls! (There, I said it. [Razz]

)

Posted by Josh Kirkhart (Member # 1046) on 06-19-2003, 04:58 AM:

http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=317

Little article about how powerfull this in-theatre Digital Promotion may get.

Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 06-23-2003, 01:33 PM:

Brad -- Why not have the trailers AND feature in frame? [Smile]

Unfortunately, yeah, the framing knobs are all screwed up when I come in. Usually racked to their extremities. The other "operators" blame the equipment. [Roll Eyes]

But my point was, regardless of whether you thread in perfect frame every time, there WILL be instances where you need to adjust framing. Shrunken prints, lab printing errors from reel to reel, etc. Sure, in a perfect situation you wouldn't need to, but everyone knows only digital projection can be perfect. [Wink]

Besides, what if you have a brand new, perfect answer print threaded in frame all running well and a stray moth, or some other fluttering insect makes its way into the booth and is mesmorized by the bright Xenon only to fly into the intermittent and cause it to jump a sprocket. OOps! Have to re-thread because the framing knob is locked down! [Razz]

BLAH! I thought this thread was about Regal CineMedia!!

=TMP=

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-23-2003, 03:07 PM:

Is the bug problem in Florida really that bad? Still, with mainstream films I haven't found a need to adjust framing for 10 years. Now if we're talking about independent arthouse product...well that's a different story. Those prints are a joke.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 06-23-2003, 03:28 PM:

With normal contact printing, the only vertical shift that the lab should be able to introduce is the difference between the perf height of the BH-1866 negative perf (0.073 inches) and the KS-1870 perf height (0.078 inches), at most 0.005 inches, depending on the direction the film was transported during printing. This relatively small shift is sometimes seen reel-to-reel on prints made on a bi-directional printer.

When the image shifts more than this, the fault likely is in the original cinematography (composition), or may be due to improper setup of the optical printer or digital recorder being used for titles or effects.

Standard SMPTE 195 specifies the tolerances for vertical position with dimensions J=K nominally equal (the horizontal centerline should be equidistant between two perforations) and dimensions F=H within 0.012 inches (0.30mm) for the top and bottom of the projectable image area.

Posted by John Hawkinson (Member # 1135) on 06-26-2003, 02:03 AM:

5 thousandths of an inch is one quarter of one degree on a framing knob with 4 perfs worth of travel. [Razz]

--jhawk

[Edit: math was right, but we care about 4 perfs, not 4 frames. ]

[ 06-26-2003, 12:27 PM: Message edited by: John Hawkinson ]

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 10-17-2003, 07:15 PM:

Now, when The 20wenty ends, there are little "movie camera" logos in the top left and top right corner of the screen. This nice little visual cue alerts the booth to start the film projector for the trailers and feature.

I noticed these "movie camera" logos on the end of The 20wenty when I saw Casa de los Babys at the UA Union Square.

Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 10-17-2003, 08:09 PM:

Why not just put in the standard changeover cues at the end of it? [evil]

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 10-17-2003, 08:14 PM:

They just added these about a month ago because some projectionists were jumping the gun and starting the film projector before the regal logo had finished flying out onto the screen.

Edit - last Friday the policy trailer was revised again, and a significant portion has been cut. It is now under 35 seconds, down from the 2 minute original described earlier in this thread.

[ 10-20-2003, 09:26 PM: Message edited by: Mike Olpin ]