This is topic Iron Man 2 Stupidity in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.


To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=8;t=006139
Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 05-04-2010, 07:11 AM:
 
I suggest everyone download the torrent and burn it on to a DVD just in case you can't get your cans opened or your digital copies unlocked.
 
Posted by Kyle Butler (Member # 5601) on 05-04-2010, 07:18 AM:
 
I was thinking the same thing!
I just got a call yesterday.
I guess we SHOULD get our keys for the digital by thursday.
Unlock time of 2pm thursday (We have a midnight, so i guess were not screening it first?)
and the cans... well, she couldn't tell me when we would get them.
and she couldn't tell me when the unlock code would work either.
Although the original fax said 11am thursday.

Either way, its ridiculous.
Were getting 6 prints and a digital.
They can't possibly expect myself or anybody else to build all six prints on the fly and just hope everything works out.

I take pride in my work, but we all make mistakes.
This whole locking cans until the last second bullshit really doesn't help any of us cut out theses mistakes.
And I care about my job.
Imagine how shitty it is for theaters that don't?
 
Posted by Michael Voiland (Member # 5386) on 05-04-2010, 08:27 AM:
 
I saw one of the technicolor boxes in one of our chains other booths it had a bag that was locked. Like a black canvas zip up bag in the box.
 
Posted by Hieu Trung Ngo (Member # 3298) on 05-04-2010, 11:28 AM:
 
We just got notice that we won't be getting digital drives until Thursday between 1 and 3PM and that keys will not be valid until 1145PM. They will be providing a key to tech reel 1 in digital to ensure proper ingestion....
 
Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 05-04-2010, 12:36 PM:
 
Why are they waiting so long to get the drives to you? It is useless without the key. There should be no reason that a drive can not show up on a Monday to be ingested and then send the keys out on Thursday. I hope you have a central library server because your day will take longer than those putting prints together if you have to ingest on more than one server.
 
Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 05-04-2010, 02:46 PM:
 
Welcome to the wonderful world of D-Crapema. [Roll Eyes]

As for the prints, I would say [fu] the studio, if I didn't get the combination to the locks in time to properly build up the show in time they either don't get the shows at all or I'd tell them give me the codes or I'm cutting the locks. [Big Grin]

I'm willing to bet that worldwide they lose MORE money on lost shows from this nonsense than they lose from the alleged cinema's part in the piracy issue. [Roll Eyes]
 
Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 05-04-2010, 02:55 PM:
 
How 'bout that?
There is indeed a verified copy of "Iron Man 2" out on the 'Net. It is Russian in origin. But the point is: It's there.
Yet they still insist on being idiots about this.

Your stupid "Catch a camcorder" program didn't help much. Oh that's right the film was released in other countries first - countries that don't support film anti-theft efforts.

FAIL!
 
Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 05-04-2010, 03:05 PM:
 
quote:
I just got a call yesterday.

and the cans... well, she couldn't tell me when we would get them.
Well whoever called you should have looked at the fax that was sent out. The cans are supposed to be delivered Thursday. Same as any other print.
 
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 05-04-2010, 04:20 PM:
 
Why was it released in other countries first? Does this mean that the USA is not the best any more?

I would love to see a theatrically projected DVD of a camcorder copy. The irony would be too awesome... especially if there was a guy in the audience trying to pirate it with his camcorder.
 
Posted by Ian Parfrey (Member # 5122) on 05-04-2010, 04:41 PM:
 
I agree fully with Tony's suggestions.

They obviously still haven't learnt from the debacle that German cinemas experienced with the "Avaturd" opening.

If any theatres suffer no-shows due to this last minute bullshit, then a politely worded statement pointing out the REFUNDS that had to be given - and then deducted from the takings later that day due to their incompetence - MAY just give these tossers the hint.

And just to make it perfectly clear to the studio dipshits who insist on these games...

Iron Man 2 is already on Torrents...BEFORE theatrical release!

You are too late! Do you now understand?
 
Posted by Jonathan Althaus (Member # 5042) on 05-04-2010, 06:10 PM:
 
The reason it was released late in the states is that JJ Abrams secret project (Cloverfield 2?) will have a teaser with the film. Well thats the only sensible reason I can find anyways.
 
Posted by Kyle Butler (Member # 5601) on 05-04-2010, 08:26 PM:
 
quote: Mike Blakesley
Well whoever called you should have looked at the fax that was sent out. The cans are supposed to be delivered Thursday. Same as any other print.
Most of our prints get here tuesday or wednesday.
Its fairly rare for us to get prints on thursdays anymore.
Lucky me.
 
Posted by Hieu Trung Ngo (Member # 3298) on 05-05-2010, 11:39 AM:
 
I'm actually not sure why they wait so long to let us ingest the content. We had the drive for a screening the other day but just received an email saying that any screening content is not the wide release version and that that version would not work with the wide release keys. So we have to reingest the movie when we get it again. Between this and the IMAX debacle we're currently having at the theatre, we're never going to get these prints teched in time for the midnight shows tomorrow.
 
Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 05-05-2010, 06:33 PM:
 
As was stated earlier, Why are they waiting until the last second to let us even get the hard drive? I thought that digital would put a stop to this crap!
 
Posted by Jonathan Althaus (Member # 5042) on 05-05-2010, 06:37 PM:
 
Inbox was flooded with IronMan digital related emails today. They're delivering the drive between 8:30 and 10:30 tomorrow morning. So I'm sure it'll get here at 2pm. The first film will unlock at 6pm, with the second unlocked at 11:45, but does come with a screener key. KDM's arrived early this morning. I smell a disaster.
 
Posted by Kyle Butler (Member # 5601) on 05-05-2010, 07:32 PM:
 
ALso, it has been pointed out by regals and as far i know, amc's tech service, that there could be a serious issue with midnight showings of IM2 on doremi servers since a lot of the doremi's have an issue with keeping the correct time zone.

We were told to cancel the digital midnight and replace it with an interlock.

This is getting so ridiculous
 
Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 05-05-2010, 08:01 PM:
 
quote:
I thought that digital would put a stop to this crap!
You, Sir, have been duped. [Smile]
 
Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 05-05-2010, 08:12 PM:
 
This is the only industry where the suppliers treat the dealers like absolute crap...I guess it's because there are only a few suppliers and they know we can't "replace" them.
 
Posted by Jonathan Althaus (Member # 5042) on 05-05-2010, 09:47 PM:
 
Doremi issue here. The clock runs 13 minutes slow. We'll have a whopping 2-3 minutes of spare time between unlock and play. Should be fun.
 
Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 05-05-2010, 10:34 PM:
 
quote: Jonathan Althaus
Doremi issue here. The clock runs 13 minutes slow. We'll have a whopping 2-3 minutes of spare time between unlock and play. Should be fun.
http://www.ntp.org
 
Posted by Elise Brandt (Member # 5552) on 05-05-2010, 11:18 PM:
 
The odd thing is, digital really Could put a stop to the mentioned crap, it's the people who insist on continuing it. I'd wager with time and enough practise it'll get easier.... but I'd still like to know who exactly it is that decides that a given theater (or a given country for that matter) can't have the drive or the key until the last possible minute, I would like to know if s/he has been explained the process and understands what that decision means or if s/he is one of those people who make decisions looking at charts and diagrams and know nothing of the actual applications. I have a hard time imagining either option.

Again, none of that crap here in the Great North. Drives in a week early, keys open full three days before first show. Which was last night.
 
Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 05-05-2010, 11:48 PM:
 
quote: Elise Brandt
I'd still like to know who exactly it is that decides that a given theater (or a given country for that matter) can't have the drive or the key until the last possible minute, I would like to know if s/he has been explained the process and understands what that decision means or if s/he is one of those people who make decisions looking at charts and diagrams and know nothing of the actual applications.
I would guess that your speculation is correct. The decision is likely made by some suit who's never seen the inside of a projection booth (modern or otherwise).
 
Posted by Jeremy Weigel (Member # 4208) on 05-06-2010, 12:41 AM:
 
Yeah, this whole thing of not unlocking until 11:45pm is bullshit. Both my GDC servers are behind about 45 minutes. Whats even more aggravating is that I can't update the time myself; I'll have to go through GDC and have them send me an update spript. Otherwise my midnight showing isn't going to start until around 1230. [Mad]
 
Posted by Sam King (Member # 4029) on 05-06-2010, 12:52 AM:
 
All this isn't even about IRON MAN 2, it's about the attached trailer, rumored to be the CLOVERFIELD sequel
 
Posted by Jeremy Weigel (Member # 4208) on 05-06-2010, 12:59 AM:
 
[Roll Eyes] [puke]
 
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 05-06-2010, 02:45 AM:
 
I do not understand why all of these servers have the wrong time. What's up with that? Are these things so extraordinarily weak that they cannot even keep the correct time? Are you serious? That is just sad. Digital cinema is not very advanced at all. Did a child design this shit? Apparently that is the case, because it clearly wasn't designed by smart people. I would be ashamed to run a digital cinema. Wake me up when the technology advances to the point where it can actually keep time. This is completely laughable. My VCR is more advanced!
 
Posted by Ian Parfrey (Member # 5122) on 05-06-2010, 02:59 AM:
 
quote: Mike Blakesley
The decision is likely made by some suit who's never seen the inside of a projection booth (modern or otherwise).
This CAN have benefits [Big Grin]
 
Posted by Julio Roberto (Member # 4976) on 05-06-2010, 03:08 AM:
 
It would be terribly expensive to have servers set on the correct time.

Do you know how much it would cost to send a DCI trusted person with a $50 "atomic" wristwatch to each cinema in the world twice a week to punch in the correct time?

Of course, non-DCI approved procedures can't happen, in case any of us thieves decide to trick the system into playing a show at a different time than we are reporting. Or something.

Lost shows? Overtime $$$ in salaries? Who cares as long as the DCI-mafia is not the one paying and there is 1 in 10000000000000000000000 chance of avoiding 1 piracy case? It's all worth it. Again, as long as they are not the ones paying for it.
 
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 05-06-2010, 03:16 AM:
 
So why are thy doing the 11:45 unlock in the first place? Are they going to be delivering the 35mm reel #1 at 11:45pm as well? They absolutely should. What if some asswipe starts their 35mm show at 11:30? There's no stopping it otherwise.
 
Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 05-06-2010, 03:16 AM:
 
Yea, went to the DFS depot on Wednesday and saw tonnage of cans with locks on them ready for the couriers to take and grab to their destinations.
 
Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 05-06-2010, 06:05 AM:
 
quote: Joe Redifer
I do not understand why all of these servers have the wrong time. What's up with that? Are these things so extraordinarily weak that they cannot even keep the correct time? Are you serious? That is just sad.
Very true. Pathetic indeed.
 
Posted by Dominic Espinosa (Member # 2122) on 05-06-2010, 08:31 AM:
 
Can't say for all servers but with a few I've seen it's like this:
Media block/decoder time is set by the factory and cannot be changed. Might be set to the wrong time zone or off by a few minutes (I've seen as much as 20).
The time on the projector dashboards, etc. comes from the controller/sms server. That time can be changed by NTP server or other means depending on your server and skill level.
That time is then used to kick off automated events.

However the media block time is technically unchangeable (again depending on skill level but I don't dare touch it for fear of Mission Impossible-like self destruct mechanisms) so that you can't set the date and gain early access to encrypted content or continue access after the KDM expires.

As for IM2, I guess enough of us complained (especially with IM1 and IM2 on the same drive) about pushing an ingest job that might run 14 hours while other movies are playing out. We get it between 8:30AM and 10:30AM.
Sure would've been nice if it came in on Wednesday like a normal F***ING movie!

P.S. I love the idea of showing a pirated cam copy...this should be on a youtube feed somewhere...
 
Posted by Jonathan Althaus (Member # 5042) on 05-06-2010, 09:53 AM:
 
Almost 10 and no drive yet. I'm sure it'll get here sometime this afternoon
 
Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 05-06-2010, 10:37 AM:
 
quote: Dominic Espinosa
Media block/decoder time is set by the factory and cannot be changed. Might be set to the wrong time zone or off by a few minutes (I've seen as much as 20).
Sounds like a warranty issue...?
 
Posted by Jeremy Weigel (Member # 4208) on 05-06-2010, 10:46 AM:
 
quote: Joe Redifer
I do not understand why all of these servers have the wrong time. What's up with that? Are these things so extraordinarily weak that they cannot even keep the correct time?
All computers will have time drift which is not uncommon. The difference is you have access to either the bios or the OS time (unless its been restricted with a password or limited usage rights settings) to reset it manually. These days most computers are connected to the internet and thus will auto update in most cases.

As I understand the dCinema servers will also auto update if connected to the internet, but we have no internet access in the our booth. Otherwise, the server manufacturer has to write a script to update the time (based on how far off the time is for that particular server. We had this done back in November, but within a month the time had drifted by several minutes. Till now its not been a problem.

I can understand not allowing access o the time function so a booth operator can not accidentally forward the time and cause KDM's to expire, activate eaarly, or even roll back the time extend the useful life of the KDM.
 
Posted by Kevin Fairchild (Member # 4985) on 05-06-2010, 11:04 AM:
 
Cant all servers adjust the secure clock? It is DCI spec (if that means anything) to allow servers to change the clock by up to six minutes per year. It's sure easy to do in the Dolby server. Just make sure you are running at least version 4.

Maybe a new thread should be started on this.
 
Posted by Jonathan Althaus (Member # 5042) on 05-06-2010, 11:10 AM:
 
I was told that the doremi can have a single 30 minute change every 12 months. We finally got an email about time drift from corporate and are to advise our booking dept to let Paramount know if it will be an issue.
 
Posted by Chris Mosel (Member # 1451) on 05-06-2010, 12:36 PM:
 
Technicolor said a new key with an hour earlier start time is available for $100.00
 
Posted by Jeremy Weigel (Member # 4208) on 05-06-2010, 01:33 PM:
 
Sounds to me that they're getting nervous. I find it a little on the extortion side to offer up a KDM for $100 for an hour earlier validity to avoid late starts.
 
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 05-06-2010, 02:01 PM:
 
So it'll take up to 14 hours to ingest Iron Man 1 and 2 while other movies are playing? That is waaaay beyond pathetic. I would be ashamed to have such crappy technology even in my dishwasher. I can build up two prints about 12-13 times faster than that and believe it or not I can even do this while other movies are playing.

Digital just gets more and more stupid with each passing day, it seems. Those who "upgraded" to digital, you will get no sympathy from me about this mess. You bought into digital and this is what you get with it.
 
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 05-06-2010, 02:09 PM:
 
quote: Chris Mosel
Technicolor said a new key with an hour earlier start time is available for $100.00
Wow, my solution is simply to walk into the auditorium at the stroke of midnight, welcome everyone, get them all excited, then request everyone pull out their cell phones and call 1-800-993-4567 and voice their opinion on the delay.

$100? No, I don't think so.

Regardless they just released the combinations in case anyone doesn't have immediate access to them.

7731
2873
2117
3281
8609
4802
 
Posted by Julio Roberto (Member # 4976) on 05-06-2010, 02:14 PM:
 
quote: Brad Miller
Regardless they just released the combinations in case anyone doesn't have immediate access to them.
Cool. Now we can FINALLY pirate the movie. [uhoh]
 
Posted by Jonathan Althaus (Member # 5042) on 05-06-2010, 04:05 PM:
 
Any theatre that reported an issue with their server clock in our company got new keys, unlocked at 6pm tonight.
 
Posted by Fred Schoenfeld (Member # 2632) on 05-06-2010, 04:23 PM:
 
For what its worth... our lock would not open with ANY of the combinations listed!! We called Deluxe and after waiting on hold for about five minutes, we were told to cut the lock while the agent was on the phone! Since I don't keep my bolt cutters on my person (only my 9 MM Ruger), they agreed to allow us to cut the lock without staying on the phone with them. Instead, I was able to open the metal clip securing the latch above the lock so that I did not have to cut the lock off to open the can.

As mentioned in previous posts, the whole idea of locking cans only succeeds in inconveniencing theatre personnel and probably does very little in stopping film piracy. I equate it to the government policy of gun laws which only serve to keep guns out of the hands of law abiding folks, while the bad guys don't give a 'rat's ass' about following the law!! I think the same applies to the current 'locked can' policy!!
 
Posted by Jeremy Weigel (Member # 4208) on 05-06-2010, 07:06 PM:
 
Well I guess with all the complaining that's going on Paramount sent out new KDM's. They validate at 6pm. Just tried ours and they work. Even skipped to the end to make sure it wasn't the test key for reel#1
 
Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 05-06-2010, 07:14 PM:
 
I have to download my drives individually. I got the first one done in about 2 and a half hours. I couldnt download everything, because I am sharing this film with another on the projector.

When I started the 2nd one, I got about 3 hours into it, when we had a series of power failures that knocked all the 35mm's and the digi's out all at once. Once I got everything restarted, I discovered that I was going to have to start over with the twin IronMan movies! They finished at about 6:30. I built both shows, and did a quick test on the first movie, and then the first reel of the second one. It played, but I told the associates that if something breaks down tonight, all they can really do is USE THE FILM copy that we have, that I built in record time this afternoon.

After a day like today, I wouldn't be surprised if we hear about some really messed up midnight shows tomorrow. I hope my location is not one of them. I like to think that we are a professional theatre that doesent screw things up.
 
Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 05-07-2010, 12:14 AM:
 
We didn't get the unlock code by fax, but did get the original fax with the phone number. When I called the number at about 7:00pm EDT, the message played for a few seconds and hung up on me before providing any useful information. I tried this several times with the same result.

Having no computer or fax machine in this booth, I ended up calling Mark Christiansen's office at Paramount. He was sympathetic (although I think that he missed my point that locked cans as a concept are a major inconvenience), and had Kristen (?) from Deluxe call me back a few minutes later with the lock code.

Although the people with whom I spoke were helpful, this exercise wasted about half an hour of my time for no benefit. Gee, thanks, Paramount! [Mad]

Edit: oh, and I got a defective reel, too! [Mad] [Mad]

[ 05-07-2010, 09:57 AM: Message edited by: Scott Norwood ]
 
Posted by Steven J Hart (Member # 2340) on 05-07-2010, 08:01 AM:
 
I tried the phone number and it didn't work for me either, just gave me a dial tone after 10 seconds or so. No internet at the theater, so I went next door to an insurance agency and used a computer there to get the combo. First time I tried, it only gave me one code, back to the theater I went and it didn't work. Went back and tried it again, this time the website yielded 6 codes, Finally I was in business. Why couldn't they have at least left the can with the trailers and reel 1 unlocked!!!!!
What a pain in the ass!
 
Posted by Jonathan Smith (Member # 5609) on 05-07-2010, 08:48 AM:
 
Lock cutters ahem ahem ahem.

Hey, if they don't give you enough time to build and inspect, I wouldn't even pay for replacements. It's not like we are pirates. We're trying to guarantee a basic acceptable experience to the customer and that takes precedent over any security BS.

quote: Brad Miller
$100? No, I don't think so.
That WAS a joke, right? Again, a pair of lock-cutters is cheaper than $100, and that's new and a one-time charge [Cool]
 
Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 05-07-2010, 09:06 AM:
 
quote: Julio Roberto
Cool. Now we can FINALLY pirate the movie.
You're too late. It's been on the net for about the last week.
 
Posted by Steve Anderson (Member # 364) on 05-07-2010, 09:55 AM:
 
quote: Mark J. Marshall
You're too late. It's been on the net for about the last week.
The one I saw on the net, during the opening you could here a couple of people talking.... definitely recorded here in the good ol USA nice camcorder version too!
 
Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 05-07-2010, 11:36 AM:
 
This was the first time I had to deal with the locked cans since it's the first Par picture we've played on the break in a while.

We got the codes by email AND by fax, but it refers to the "vertical number next to the bar code on the lock" and as much as I stared at it, there WAS NO VERTICAL NUMBER on my lock. So I just tried all the combos and the fourth one worked.

Agreed, it's an unnecessary pain in the butt.

I wonder how many people make money off of this process? That's probably the bottom line of why we have to deal with it.
 
Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 05-07-2010, 11:49 AM:
 
Mine didn't have a lock number, either. Apparently, this has nothing to do with the print number (why have two sets of unique IDs?).

According to the lady at Deluxe with whom I spoke last night, the codes vary by region, and were related to the color of the barcode stickers on the locks (mine were green).
 
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 05-07-2010, 12:23 PM:
 
It should be:

Purple 7731
Green 2873
Pink 2117
Blue 3281
Yellow 8609
 
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 05-07-2010, 10:21 PM:
 
It has nothing to do with the region. I had several prints and they had most of the codes represented.
 
Posted by Mike Frese (Member # 4361) on 05-07-2010, 11:40 PM:
 
My lock number was underneath the white deluxe label.
 
Posted by Bernie Anderson Jr (Member # 410) on 05-08-2010, 01:07 AM:
 
2 of my 3 cans (green locks) didn't even have the correct codes that was listed on the deluxe website. It opened on something like 2768. I had to look at it twice to see if I was seeing it right. And this number we got off of a post that was deleted on IMDB Forums on Wed.
 
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 05-08-2010, 02:38 AM:
 
Remember, humans (generally those who make a low wage) have to set the codes for these locks one by one. It is not surprising that many are a digit or two off from their listed code.
 
Posted by Dominic Espinosa (Member # 2122) on 05-08-2010, 09:13 PM:
 
Oh yeah...Our lock didn't have a number either. But my friend big-ass-hammer opened it right up with little fanfare...
 
Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 05-08-2010, 09:29 PM:
 
I once had a lock that had the wrong code set. I figured out the code three days before they gave us the codes so that was not a problem. I left the code the way it was, locked it on the handle of the can and sent it back that way.
 
Posted by Ed Alvarado (Member # 2760) on 05-10-2010, 05:11 AM:
 
yeah i have to agree with KYLE BUTLER i mean the mpaa is never gonna be able to stop the pirates from releasing copys so why bother having others wait until the last minute they are only causing problems with projectionist and movie theater chains because the day of the transformers midnight showing the HDD they sent us was not working properly and we had to call them for an emergency copy and were charged for it.
 
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 05-10-2010, 11:55 AM:
 
Is your theater just stupid??? REFUSE to pay for the replacement copy.
 
Posted by Chad Souder (Member # 343) on 05-14-2010, 10:40 AM:
 
quote:
For what its worth... our lock would not open with ANY of the combinations listed!! We called Deluxe and after waiting on hold for about five minutes, we were told to cut the lock while the agent was on the phone!
True story. The same happened to me. My grinder went through the lock in about 20 seconds.
 
Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 05-14-2010, 11:06 AM:
 
quote: Brad Miller
Is your theater just stupid??? REFUSE to pay for the replacement copy.
It's more advisable to go ahead and pay the charges and fight it later. Having an outstanding bill these days can cause prints to not get shipped.
 




Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classicTM 6.3.1.2