Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Remodeling starts in 2 weeks

This is topic Remodeling starts in 2 weeks in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 01-07-2004, 12:35 AM:

Well We have a set of Blueprints in hand for remodeling our facility well at least a top level and auditorium print anyhow. Small Auditoriums will be 113 seats down from 186, and the Large will be approx 296 down from 480. Still have not heard a word about equipment package so I am prepared for the worst. An all enclusive Christie or Strong package. [Eek!]

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 01-07-2004, 02:16 AM:

Congratulations! One question though, why can't you pick and choose between different pieces of equipment to end up with a better overall package?

Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 01-07-2004, 07:39 AM:

You know I have been pushing that issue ever since they said they were going to remodel over a year ago and I put together the info package I did for them, and I have had everyone from the Company owner, to the VP of Operations, to the Head Technician tell me it was a very good and informative package with really good numbers as far as overall cost. But that was as far as the converstaions went. And I still do not know for sure what if anything I am getting in the way of equipment upgrades. So who knows at this point. But after busting my ass for close to 250 hours of research, which I was not paid for, printing with my own Ink and paper, my own money to assemble the books together with out being reimbursed. If they do not give it some really serious thought and they purcahse an all Christie or Strong package, I am OUTTA There.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 01-07-2004, 08:17 AM:

I think Strong still makes the Ballantyne VIP package.

[Eek!]

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 01-07-2004, 08:30 AM:

It would be funny if they ended up with an all Kinoton package [thumbsup]

!
Mark

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 01-07-2004, 08:58 AM:

They need a mixed package. It would be great if you could get some MiT lamphouses and give those a try.

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 01-07-2004, 09:11 AM:

quote:
I think Strong still makes the Ballantyne VIP package.

You are a cruel man, Tim! [evil]

Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 01-07-2004, 10:01 AM:

Why are your seat counts dropping so sharply? What/how exactly are you remodeling?

=TMP=

Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 01-07-2004, 11:12 AM:

We are going from a traditional graded slope to Stadium. The big reason the Large houses are loosing alot is to keep them within ADA compliance with out having to destroy the middle of the building to provide upstairs access. At 305 seats I believe it is an upper ADA access way would have been required. As to an All Kinoton package I did specify PK60D's and as an alteranative Platter the ST200E if the new AW3's were not to thier likings and we could not rebuild ours resonably cheap. I never have used the ST200E so I would not mind having them so I can form my own opinions about them, espicially since they hava a version out now that includes the Upper and Lower Swivel rollers, Larry sent me the model number and a Drawing of them a year ago just seems to escape me what it was now. As to other things All screens Dolby CP650 with EX, 4 biggest with 650XO/ Tri Amped/ 10 channel houses 6 biggest would also have DTS XD10's, QSC Monitor Crossovers, DSC AMPS. JBL Speakers. I did specify in my offerings that all rooms be built to the THX standard even though we are not going to do THX certifications. Kelmar Encore Dimmers Christi SLC 30 and 40 Lamphouses with the Auto Focus Mirrors, Schnieder Lenses Harkness Hall Screens Oh yeah the 6 smaller auditoriums would be standard 6 channles Bi Amped Automation CA21 of course. 8 foot equipment racks with the 4 big houses having 2 of them a piece. All totaled up to $860,000 or $86,000/auditorium to do it my way. [Cool]

I also am trying to talk the Galaxy folks into Waterfall curtains in all 10 auditoriums. I have 3 Travelers currently and everyone from the coporate office who comes down just seems to be so intrigued with them I might actuallt be able to persuade them to do it. Now if I can only get the person that was recommended to give me a qoute I would really be set.

Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 02-09-2004, 12:54 PM:

Well it officially started at 8:00 a.m. this morning. A of 12:15 p.m today Auditorium 8 has been closed and the seats removed from the floor. I have taken photo's and once I figure out how to gt them into this post I will come back to edit it. Just do not have the time right now.

Posted by Jeremy Fuentes (Member # 2135) on 02-09-2004, 01:40 PM:

Hey, Todd. Where is this theater at. Maybe I can stop by and take a look-see if I go up to Austin anytime soon.

Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 02-09-2004, 02:20 PM:

Hey Jeremy, It is off IH35 just past hwy 290E behind Lincoln Village and the Highland Mall. The physical adress is 6700 Middle Fiskville Rd #201, but the theatre actually faces Huntland Dr approx 1/4 a block off IH35 southbound access road burried behind an Outback Steakhouse. Drop me a line before you head up and I will e mail you detailed directions or if in town already call the theatre at (512)467-6165 and I can talk you to the theatre from any area in town. As Brad can tell you my theatre is hard to see from the highway and if you do not kno where your going you can get lost in a real hurry.

Posted by Ron Lacheur (Member # 1126) on 02-10-2004, 02:01 AM:

Wow, 10 channels tri-amped? What JBL speakers did you list? 5674's?

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 02-10-2004, 06:10 AM:

Hmmmmm, gee William, that package sounds awfully familiar! [Big Grin]

Posted by Jeremy Fuentes (Member # 2135) on 02-10-2004, 06:16 AM:

OK, Todd, I will let you know if I am going up there anytime soon. My sister lives there, so I think she can help me find the area, if not I will call.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 02-10-2004, 07:22 AM:

Will there be 70mm capability?

Did they go with curtains on all screens? No slides, I hope?

Sounds like it will be a nice theatre, in any event. It's good to see a multiplex owner who cares about quality.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-10-2004, 08:58 AM:

Hopefully they did not go with the Screen Dissarays. Awful speakers at best! I see some items mentioned where they wasted money though.....

Mark @ CLACO

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 02-10-2004, 10:40 AM:

The reason most theatres go with packages is becuase the manufacturer will cut a better price if the whole package comes from them also there are fewer "compatability issues" when it comes from one manufacturer and also few dealers sell all brands so there are issues there of who will bear the responsibilty if the final product doesn't integrate togather

Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 02-11-2004, 02:01 AM:

Ron Laucher said:

quote:
Wow, 10 channels tri-amped? What JBL speakers did you list? 5674's?

Yes Ron JBL 5674's it was.

Brad Miller said:

quote:
Hmmmmm, gee William, that package sounds awfully familiar!

Indeed Brad, It is the same stuff you and I had discussed a year ago. We both had the same idea's in mind which just goes to show we think alike, which could be scary, or we know good equipment when we see it LOL.

Scott Norwood asked:

quote:
Will there be 70mm capability?

To my knowledge Scott the answer is no. Unless they plan on Keeping the Vic 8 for some strange reason.

quote:
Did they go with curtains on all screens?

I wish, They have not stated anything about the curtains as of yet, but they did take note of the 3 auditoriums that had them and were constatly pointing them out to the folks remodeling as if they were talking about at minimum maintaining those auditoriums with curtains.

Mark Gulbrandsen said:

quote:
Hopefully they did not go with the Screen Dissarays. Awful speakers at best! I see some items mentioned where they wasted money though.....

I have no Idea what the heck there going with Mark, I do not think they do Either. I specified out 4 auditoriums 10 Triamped with the JBL 5674's and 8430 surrouns with JBL Sub's and the other 6 Bi Amped 6 Channel with JBL 4675-8LF's, and the same Subs and surrounds. All racks would have QSC DCA amps and QSC DCM monitors. All would be equiped with CP650 with the 4 10 channel theatres having CP650XO's all CA21 automation Kinoton PK60D projectors Christie SLC Consoles varying from 2500 to 4000 in bulb size 6 out of the 10 Racks would also include DTS XD10 units and we would use the 3 currrent DTS6D and DTS6 units in the smaller theatres with 1 small one being Dolby Digital EX only. I had this all put together complete with Visio Drawings of each rack and with install labor included already for $860,000.00. I did not think that was a bad price at $86,000.00/per screen for all new equipment. But last I heard they were going to only upgrade the sound to Digital in the theatres that did not have it and bandaid my ailing booth equipment until next year. Thing that scares the shit out of me here is they think the DTS6 AD units are the best thing to happen since sliced bread and if they show up, I am going to be working at an other theatre that gives a shit about it's sound quality in Austin.

I will try to take daily photo's of progress and send tehm into Brad for you all's viewing pleasure for as long as I am working there through this.

Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 02-12-2004, 06:49 PM:

Well day 4 into our remodel job.Auditorium 7 90% empty of chairs and 8 is totaly empty of chairs. A new doorway out of the front of the auditorium is being cut in Number 8 as of today. Should be finished tomorrow. Exit ways out from under the middle of the screen will be enclosed. Maybe there is hope that they did read my perspectis on this remodel job. [Cool]

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-12-2004, 07:13 PM:

WOW! Those better be awfully large rooms for 5674's! That would be somewhat overkill in a 200 seater. The 5672 would be fine. In a situation that is smaller the expense of the 5671 s would not worth it and the 4675 would be in most cases better and more cost efficient.

Here is a room that we recently installed 5674's into...baffle wall and all. This is a large single screen theatre situation.

Mark @ CLACO

Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 02-18-2004, 09:29 PM:

Well week one has gone by on this lovely shindig we call a remodelling project. Intresting things have come about. Today the decieded they needed to make a change in management to move the theatre more in the direction the company had invisioned. Then I come to find out that there not getting us new projectors and platters ther going to rebuild the platters I have and rehab the projectors. Oh but they will make my two big houses 3K's instead of 2K lamphouses. Also We getting Slide projections and the curtains are being ripped out of my three that have them according to the Interim manager. So much for the weere going to make this a class operation like no other in Austin. Yeah right were the last place to have curtains and actually use them. 45% of our customers are driving 30 miles to get away from Regal and Cinemark. Number 1 reason why? We dont inundate this with continous bombardment of advertisement while thier waiting for thier movie to start. Well I guess where going to give them a good reason to quit driving that extra 30 miles to get sometihng differnet for thier entertainmet dollar. Supposedly I am getting a fax Friday that has the list of equipment we are getting. Any one wanna starts a money spread on what will be on it?

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 02-19-2004, 07:55 AM:

Why remove the curtains? Don't you have those timers that can be set up to close the curtains and turn off the slides one minute before showtime? If you must do slides, that would be the classiest approach.

As for the "equipment list," judging from your latest post, I would guess that they will be buying:

- 10x slide projectors (with the long-lasting and very dim FHS bulbs, rather than the brighter EXR or EXW type)
- 2x 3kw lamphouses (used) with bulbs (which will be run far beyond their useful life for that nice "flicker" effect)
- 1x CD player (for Movie Tunes)
- 1x distribution amplifier (probably from Ebay)
- installation of unbalanced lines from distro amp to each sound rack (for that nice added "60 Hz hum" ambiance)
- 1x TV and VCR (VHS of course) for showing ads and the occasional trailer in the lobby
- several rolls of duct tape and assorted Radio Shack products to fix whatever breaks

Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 03-19-2004, 06:26 PM:

AND WE JUST GOT FUCKED! The only sound improvements being done is my 4 small auditoriums are getting DTS6AD units adn Crown Amps and I am getting a DTS unit for # 7 which would be my only Non digital house after this. Can any one expalin what kind of FUCKIN IDIOTS run copmpanies that spend 1.2 million on renovating the seating in a complex, then put Pure Crap in for Sound in the smaller theatres and nothing for the larger ones but Brag about the $40,000.00 Preview Screen for teh lobby that nobody gives a FUCK about. I hope this place sinks into Hell now.

Posted by Ron Lacheur (Member # 1126) on 03-19-2004, 07:49 PM:

Welcome to Corporate North America.

What were the processors in the non-digital houses?

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-19-2004, 07:57 PM:

Fucked? Geez, that's putting it nicely. Sure money plays a role in purchasing, but why bother if that's what will be purchased? Do it right or just leave it as it is.

Mark my words, your theater will only see a slight improvement in attendance. If the presentation doesn't impress above and beyond the competition (which it won't), then they just blew over a million bucks for nothing.

Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 03-19-2004, 08:10 PM:

Ron the Non Digital Houses are as follows: #1: Dolby CP50 in Center Surround. #3: Kintek Center Surround #7: Full blown Dolby CP55 passive crossovers(The only one in the complex still using a Passive crossover. Even the Kintek have a Bi Amped Center Channel) #8: Ultra Stereo JS260 Center Split Surround #10: Kintek Center Surround. For Photos of the booth as is now look in teh picture wharehouse for the EFW Highland 10 in Austin TX. The dealer that sold us this shit UCS in Dallas. Time to dust off and polish up the ole Resume. The only thing I have working in my favor in this right now is the Manager that is here temporarily is wanting the exact same sound equipment in his theatre when it is remodeled and he si going to be chewing on Galaxy's owners ear at Show West next week about this. I went back and repriced just upgrading the sound racks with Dual basement readers on the Cinemecannicas with new Screens and it was only $460,000.00. According to Stan Lamb at UCS the stuff he is getting is what he could get with the budget Galaxy gave him to work with.

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 03-19-2004, 09:06 PM:

The crappy Restaurant Row Theatres operated by Wallace used to pack them in until Signature Theatres opened their Dole Cannery theatres with 18 auditoriums with THX sound here in Honolulu. A lot of people at that time felt it was great to have a theatre complex make an effort with their picture and sound presentation and the Dole was very popular because of it and it has become the best place to go for the best presentation when it came to picture and sound. A littile over a year after the Dole Cannery opened, Pacific spared no expenses and opened the Ward 16 with much better sound and picture and it has replaced the Dole as the ideal place for the best presentation in Hawaii. As reported earlier in another one of my posts, Wallace's Restaurant Row Theatres has become A $1.00 house with 2nd run movies and $1.00 hot dogs. Discriminating audience know the difference and they will always go to a theatre that offers the best presentation. William, It is unfortunate, the owners of you theatres chose to skimp on projection and sound. As Brad said, they will come after you are finished with your remodeling but when they realize your presentation is sub standard, they will go elsewhere. I know, I would.

-Claude

Posted by Ron Lacheur (Member # 1126) on 03-19-2004, 09:11 PM:

Why did they go with DTS6AD when you have CP50's there? I believe you can hook up the 6D to the CP50 with an interface board.

As for Crown amps, I've never been impressed by them. Were they the " CE " model?

Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 03-19-2004, 10:31 PM:

Ron I am not sure what series of Crap amps we specified by them, but I can gaurantee you For the money that was in my trimed down version, yeah the $460,000.00 one, we could have had all new QSC DCA Amps with the DCM Monitors, still could of done 4 big houses with DTS XD 10 in the 10 Channel Tri Amp config, attached to Dolby CP 650 XO's with the remainder all Biamped Dolby CP650's with our remaining DTS6D's and SDDS unit attached to them. We would have been double stacked on all Digital formats in each theatre all with Surround EX already there. Also would have been new stage, surround, and subwoofers in all auditoriums with 4 Subs in t he Big ones 3 in the next size down and 2 in the small ones. Instead we are remaining a 1 subwoofer per theatre and teh 14 yr old Ashly amps that are starting to fail will be replaced on an as needed bases. Go Freakin' Figure.

Posted by Ron Lacheur (Member # 1126) on 03-20-2004, 03:28 AM:

Yeah you really did get screwed. [Frown]

Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 03-20-2004, 02:35 PM:

quote:
Yeah you really did get screwed

Probably why my ASS is sore right now.