Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Broken DLP Makes Customer Leave

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Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 06-12-2006, 07:28 PM:

Polaris Rave 18 -- Far North Columbus OH

Made a special trip up there tonight to see CARS with DLP projecction..only DLP in area, and quite a bit out of the way for me. Got a bad feeling when paper signs said CARS in Theatre 1 would be in Theatre 7, knowing that 1 is the DLP screen. Ticket seller confirmed...no DLP and no idea when it would be back up. Very disappointing. Wife and I left.

I'll be sure to call up there later in the week before I try again.

Wasn't DLP going to solve all of the downtime problems? I thought digital meant perfect! [Wink]

Posted by Mike Babb (Member # 1379) on 06-12-2006, 08:46 PM:

New igniter was installed and back and running today, I did it myself. Sorry you made the trip for nothing...

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 06-12-2006, 09:01 PM:

Must not be a digital igniter.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-12-2006, 11:44 PM:

What type of system is in use there?

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 06-13-2006, 02:42 AM:

quote:
I thought digital meant perfect!

No, sorry..FAR from being perfect in any means...

DigCinema opened up a whole new world of problems...just like any computer problems .... chip array problems, sys board problems, server problems, and networking problems....and finally the same..user input error problems...

As what used to be posted in the front of this FT site: "FILM - might be a four-letter word.." (forget the rest of this saying...) where I would say, "yet, it has proved itself to be a stable medium."

-Monte

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 06-13-2006, 05:38 AM:

Mike, Thanks for the information..we'll go back and check it out later in the week.

Brad, that is a Real-D system installed for CHICKEN LITTLE. It has run many of the digital releases since the original install.

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 06-13-2006, 05:57 AM:

one must remember that a lot of things that can prevent a movie from hitting the screen have nothing to do with the projector head. Console and sound can prevent a movie from running or not running at the quality level that it should.

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 06-13-2006, 09:47 AM:

What digital projector brand?

Posted by Mike Babb (Member # 1379) on 06-13-2006, 10:22 AM:

Barco DP100

Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 06-13-2006, 04:14 PM:

quote: Monte L Fullmer
DigCinema opened up a whole new world of problems...just like any computer problems .... chip array problems, sys board problems, server problems, and networking problems....and finally the same..user input error problems...

It would be very interesting to know what the general consensus was when each of the major changes in cinema occurred. If we had a forum like this, we could all go back and look, but hey, we can't really now can we.

Really though, what was the majority thought when we introduced...

Talking
Color
Panavision
Stereo
Surround
Stadium Seating
Reclining Seats
Adjustable Armrests
Armrests with drink holders
Platters
Film-Guard
Xenon Lamps
Previews
Commercials
Product Placements
On Screen Kissing
Hugging
Sleeping in the same bed
Swearing
Digital Sound
George Lucas the brilliant
George Lucas the current
Polyestar
Technicolor
IMAX

and so on....

basically my point is that we are going to have changes, advances, and each time they will not be perfect, and there will be problems. However in time we refine these processes, and move forward to the next technology to try and refine the experience.

Film is a time tested technology, but lets face it... We live in a world with limited resources. The amount of whatever it is that is used to make the film is going to increase with the ever increasing number of crap films and population going to see them. Better we build computers that can play hundreds of these crap films and quit transporting these things around wasting fuel and natural resources.

It's going to get better. It's better in the long run for the environment. It's better that we at least try to provide a solid entertainment experience, instead of staying in one technology for the end of all time.

Ciao

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 06-13-2006, 04:53 PM:

Since when is an igniter problem unique to DLP ?

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 06-14-2006, 08:08 AM:

Back when I saw Chicken Little in DLP, I noted that the xenon bulb was on long before the show started. When I asked about that here, someone mentioned that they were told to keep the bulb on all day. I rhetorically asked what the difference was between a xenon bulb in a DLP projector and one in a film projector that necessitated it being on all day, and not surprisingly, I received no answer.

Maybe it's because the ignitors aren't reliable.

[Razz]

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 06-14-2006, 09:04 AM:

It has something to do with reducing thermal stress on the DLP chips. They would prefer to be hot all the time than to be subject to repeated temperature cycles.

I'm surprised that they didn't have a spare igniter at the theatre; if they did, then the show wouldn't have been lost.

Did they have a backup 35mm print, or was the screen dark until the repair could be completed?

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 06-14-2006, 09:16 AM:

Barco chassis is very modular so the fix should have been easy.....still dealing with a lamphouse and power supply working to a projection head [Smile]

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 06-14-2006, 10:01 AM:

In order to achieve longer lamp life, DCinema machines reduce the number of ignitions. ANY flicker in a lamp immediately shows on a video image...there is no shutter to mask it like with a film projector.

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 06-14-2006, 12:16 PM:

quote: Steve Guttag
In order to achieve longer lamp life, DCinema machines reduce the number of ignitions.

Why not do that with 35mm too?

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 06-14-2006, 02:13 PM:

Film houses that have lamphouse dousers capable of withstanding the heat often do leave the lamps lit for the day. Same with IMAX - strike it once and just go to standby current between shows. Unfortunately the dousers on many of today's lamphouses can't handle the heat and burn/melt through in a very short time.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 06-14-2006, 07:33 PM:

..why the good ol' Cine V8 with the side shooting lamphouses left the bulb on all the time..dowser plate was a good thinkness to easily absorb and handle the heat ..

Isn't there a damper handle on DLP machines .. so the bulb can be left on .. or at least a dowser that can handle the heat when closed so the bulb can stay on continually?

Posted by Shane Cooper (Member # 2510) on 06-14-2006, 07:50 PM:

I used to run this location. There was a backup 35 mm print on hand so no shows were missed for the opening weekend. (obviously not in DLP though).

Posted by Paul Konen (Member # 41) on 06-15-2006, 10:43 AM:

I cycle mine between shows. Also, there is a damper that can be activated by the TPC (Touch Panel Controller).

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 06-18-2006, 01:51 PM:

We returned to the RAVE 18 Friday afternoon to see an excellent DLP presentation. Image was crisp clean and evenly lit, and the sound was superb (Nice to hear some subs with some punch!). (Wow, CARS sure has one ACTIVE sound track!!)

I saw only the DLP projector in the booth...no 35mm. (The screen-right port hole was empty.)

Many, many thanks to RAVE personnel who offered to arrange free admission, but we decided to go before that could be arranged. Apparently RAVE corporate doesn't think such a complaint from a customer is worth a response.

We enjoyed the presentation, and will return to the RAVE. I only wish the traffic didn't make getting there from my part of town so difficult.