[QUOTE]
[IMG]http://fastcache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2011/11/e489da791c3608be8b26ca1d3ccfef8e.jpg[/IMG]
Wanna know why movies are called flicks? It's because of the flickering light that's emitted from film projectors. Like smoking, smell-o-vision, and intermissions, it looks like 35MM films and their projectors are on their way out of the cinema.
[URL="http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/15/8822102-report-35mm-film-will-be-dead-by-2015"]According to a report[/URL] from IHS Screen Digest Cinema Intelligence Service 2012 will "mark the crossover point when digital technology overtakes 35mm." This is bad news for film purists like[URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BON9Ksn1PqI&feature=related"]Quentin Tarantino[/URL] and [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXhusVVnidY"]Steve Spielberg[/URL]. It's actually good news for Smurf-documentarian James Cameron. According the IHS head of film and cinema research David Hancock, [I]Avatar[/I]was the tipping point pushing theatres toward digital projection.
According to Hancock, before [I]Avatar[/I] digital projection accounted for 15-percent of global screens. After the film was released, digital projection grew 17-percent in both 2010 and 2011. Here are some more harrowing items from the report for lovers of celluloid:
By the end of 2012, the share of 35mm will decline to 37 percent of global cinema screens, with digital accounting for the remaining 63 percent. This represents a dramatic decline for 35mm, which was used in 68 percent of global cinema screens in 2010. In 2015, 35mm will be used in just 17 percent of global movie screens, relegating it to a niche projection format.
It was bound to happen eventually. While I wait, I'm going to watch a few Goddard flicks at the local independent theatre. [[URL="http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/15/8822102-report-35mm-film-will-be-dead-by-2015"]MSNBC[/URL]]
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Digital projection is boring, it is like working your DVD player at home. I worked as a projectionist over the summer and it is a lot of fun.
[QUOTE=ketchup v2;33295408]Digital projection is boring, it is like working your DVD player at home. I worked as a projectionist over the summer and it is a lot of fun.[/QUOTE] As a kid I always would wonder what goes on in there. Care to explain what it looks like?
fuck
i just hope some theaters keep the projectors, i want to be able to see rocky horror for a long time
[QUOTE=ducky5;33295426]As a kid I always would wonder what goes on in there. Care to explain what it looks like?[/QUOTE]
I can do you one better. Took these when I was learning the projectors to study em when I wasn't at work so I could get it down quick. Click for larger images.
[img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/0vydC.jpg[/img_thumb]
Inside of the projector, you 'thread' the film through there before the start of every showing.
[img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/birco.jpg[/img_thumb]
This is the 'platter', it has 3 levels. The whole film is held on this at once and is fed through to the projector then out of the projector and back on the platter.
[img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/UvSbR.jpg[/img_thumb]
Another part of the platter where the film is threaded through. You can see two of the levels there.
[img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/NL68G.jpg[/img_thumb]
Shot of the projector with the film threaded through.
[img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/2aWVa.jpg[/img_thumb]
Back panel of the projector, never really got around to using it because it's more for maintenance.
Other than that there isn't much else to see besides making the movies. They come in big grey heavy (50lbs) boxes and need to be put together in conjunction with a special table and the platters. Takes about an hour to put one together. Any specific questions just ask.
[QUOTE=ketchup v2;33295652]I can do you one better. Took these when I was learning the projectors to study em when I wasn't at work so I could get it down quick. Click for larger images.
[img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/0vydC.jpg[/img_thumb]
Inside of the projector, you 'thread' the film through there before the start of every showing.
[img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/birco.jpg[/img_thumb]
This is the 'platter', it has 3 levels. The whole film is held on this at once and is fed through to the projector then out of the projector and back on the platter.
[img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/UvSbR.jpg[/img_thumb]
Another part of the platter where the film is threaded through. You can see two of the levels there.
[img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/NL68G.jpg[/img_thumb]
Shot of the projector with the film threaded through.
[img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/2aWVa.jpg[/img_thumb]
Back panel of the projector, never really got around to using it because it's more for maintenance.
Other than that there isn't much else to see besides making the movies. They come in big grey heavy (50lbs) boxes and need to be put together in conjunction with a special table and the platters. Takes about an hour to put one together. Any specific questions just ask.[/QUOTE]
that's some cool stuff. amazing how this technology has lasted
[QUOTE=ketchup v2;33295652]
Other than that there isn't much else to see besides making the movies. They come in big grey heavy (50lbs) boxes and need to be put together in conjunction with a special table and the platters. Takes about an hour to put one together. Any specific questions just ask.[/QUOTE]
Sometimes I see what looks like the tinfoil tubing they use to take the hot air out of dryers sticking out of the projector, do those also take heat out? If they do, what does the heat come from? How big is the light bulb? How bright is it? Thank you so much :dance:
[QUOTE=ducky5;33295725]Sometimes I see what looks like the tinfoil tubing they use to take the hot air out of dryers sticking out of the projector, do those also take heat out? If they do, what does the heat come from? How big is the light bulb? How bright is it? Thank you so much :dance:[/QUOTE]
Yep, I would assume some sort of cooling. The heat comes from the bulb, it is pretty big. In fact there have been times where I burnt myself on just some of the metal on the projector because I was trying to hurry and thread the film through again after it had just ended. Typically you want to wait a few minutes because its so hot.
Reminds me of that scene in Fight Club
Oh, dear. They replaced the 35 MM projects right as I was quitting projection at my old job last year. Sad thing, really, I loved the hell out of those things. Was always fun trying to run around and thread 12 projectors in under 15 minutes.
Also, wow ketchup, you have pretty much the exact platter system as one of the projectors we got about a year or two before we went digital. Those things were ballin compared to the older ones we had that'd break down every 5 days.
Still hated the brains though. We seriously had a box full of broken brains because of how old they were getting.
[QUOTE=Shining_Sabe;33295793]Oh, dear. They replaced the 35 MM projects right as I was quitting projection at my old job last year. Sad thing, really, I loved the hell out of those things. Was always fun trying to run around and thread 12 projectors in under 15 minutes.[/QUOTE]
I got my time down to about 1:20 - 1:30
[QUOTE=ketchup v2;33295766]Yep, I would assume some sort of cooling. The heat comes from the bulb, it is pretty big. In fact there have been times where I burnt myself on just some of the metal on the projector because I was trying to hurry and thread the film through again after it had just ended. Typically you want to wait a few minutes because its so hot.[/QUOTE]
Has the film ever ripped mid movie?
Haha, this is the only bad thing about 35MM film - when you have those midnight showings and you're really tired but want to make things easier on yourself when you have to come in at 9AM:
[img]http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/163056_1590631082564_1139468178_31568168_5162761_n.jpg[/img]
Also, here's sort of what a platter/projector system looks like from far back (if you're wondering about the wiring this was my very last day of work and they were preparing for the digital projectors that were coming about a month after that)
[img]http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/156898_1590630722555_1139468178_31568167_1194281_n.jpg[/img]
[quote]Has the film ever ripped mid movie?[/quote]
It happened to me before. We had a brain that somehow managed to get it's film wrapped around the bottom of the platter over the course of 5 minutes sometime in the middle of the movie. Still wondering how the hell that happened.
[QUOTE=Shining_Sabe;33295843][img]http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/163056_1590631082564_1139468178_31568168_5162761_n.jpg[/img]
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Holy crap how did you manage to do that.
Yeah, I work at a movie theatre (AMC) in Canada. We have 24 screens, and I think 5 of them have switched to RealD/3D digital already. One is also an IMAX theatre now. AMC signed a deal to replace all of its 35mm projectors by the end of 2012 with digital ones.
Also, we have the exact type of platter systems you guys posted, except our projectors are a little different:
[IMG]http://media.screened.com/uploads/0/4083/504364-lvr_cinema004_super.jpg[/IMG]
Pretty much like this.
Also, do any of you projectionists have any funny stories? Brain wraps, exploding bulbs, stupid projectionists, etc?
This is a shame really, i've been working at a movie theatre for about two years are was ultimately trying to get moved up to projection; However, by the end of this year we will have replaced all of our 24 theatres with digital. Talking to the current projectionists, they only support this as we currently have most of our theatres already replaced with digital and when a film projector breaks, all hell breaks loose trying to fix it as they no longer make parts and instead have to salvage them.
I would have loved to have worked with the film. I'm probably still going to get moved up to projection though but now they really only need 1 person a shift as opposed to 3 on a busy day, seeing as all you LITERALLY have to do is push "play" on a computer.
[editline]15th November 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=Prez;33295962]Yeah, I work at a movie theatre (AMC) in Canada. We have 24 screens, and I think 5 of them have switched to RealD/3D digital already. One is also an IMAX theatre now. AMC signed a deal to replace all of its 35mm projectors by the end of 2012 with digital ones.
Also, we have the exact type of platter systems you guys posted, except our projectors are a little different:
[IMG]http://media.screened.com/uploads/0/4083/504364-lvr_cinema004_super.jpg[/IMG]
Pretty much like this.
Also, do any of you projectionists have any funny stories? Brain wraps, exploding bulbs, stupid projectionists, etc?[/QUOTE]
That's the same system my AMC uses. Hell i don't even work projection and i still get to be part of the great stories.
[QUOTE=mysteryman;33295985]
I would have loved to have worked with the film. I'm probably still going to get moved up to projection though but now they really only need 1 person a shift as opposed to 3 on a busy day, seeing as all you LITERALLY have to do is push "play" on a computer.
[/QUOTE]
Although it's easy, we still need 3 booth people (1 morning, 1 midshift, 1 closer).
[editline]16th November 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=mysteryman;33295985]This is a shame really, i've been working at a movie theatre for about two years are was ultimately trying to get moved up to projection; However, by the end of this year we will have replaced all of our 24 theatres with digital. Talking to the current projectionists, they only support this as we currently have most of our theatres already replaced with digital and when a film projector breaks, all hell breaks loose trying to fix it as they no longer make parts and instead have to salvage them.
I would have loved to have worked with the film. I'm probably still going to get moved up to projection though but now they really only need 1 person a shift as opposed to 3 on a busy day, seeing as all you LITERALLY have to do is push "play" on a computer.
[editline]15th November 2011[/editline]
That's the same system my AMC uses. Hell i don't even work projection and i still get to be part of the great stories.[/QUOTE]
Oh cool, which AMC do you work at?
[QUOTE=Prez;33296002]Although it's easy, we still need 3 booth people (1 morning, 1 midshift, 1 closer).
[editline]16th November 2011[/editline]
Oh cool, which AMC do you work at?[/QUOTE]
Well i meant 3 on a mid to closing shift on a busy day at once.
And One right outside of Philadelphia. Neshaminy 24.
weavers guild and looms all over again in this thread
technology progresses, it's good that they've improved the format
I mean, what are the negatives?
[QUOTE=Prez;33295962]Also, do any of you projectionists have any funny stories? Brain wraps, exploding bulbs, stupid projectionists, etc?[/QUOTE]
I actually did this myself.. I wasn't sure if I was just tired or out of it or what but I had to be there early that morning and I went to go thread. As I was threading I couldn't shake the feeling I was doing something wrong. Then as I got about halfway done I realized that I had taken the tail end of the movie and threaded it through. Like I said, I have no idea what was wrong with me.
I also was messing around one time and hid behind a platter and was going to scare a co-worker when he came in the room. Well I lost my balance and bumped the rollers and caused the whole film to get tangled around the projector. Lots of angry customers that day.
[QUOTE=ketchup v2;33295926]Holy crap how did you manage to do that.[/QUOTE]
Um, I think what happened was I overshot the splice because I fell asleep and I stopped the motor on the table and fell asleep again, so the film just sort of spooled underneath the table. Either that or I overshot and just rolled it back and threw everything on the ground since it was a Madea movie and I hate them. Not sure though, as I said it was like 2 AM in the morning during a Harry Potter midnight.
[quote]Also, do any of you projectionists have any funny stories? Brain wraps, exploding bulbs, stupid projectionists, etc? [/quote]
I once put on Pirahana 3d instead of Toy Story 3d because we had never done two different movies on a digital screen before and I didn't check the schedule.
[QUOTE=Contag;33296054]weavers guild and looms all over again in this thread
technology progresses, it's good that they've improved the format
I mean, what are the negatives?[/QUOTE]
Less range of color depth and a flatter less sharp image.
There is a significant difference in a 35mm projection to a digital one.
I applaud you for your work on the madea movie; that series is a plague on every worker in a movie theatre.
My girlfriend works at a cinema. They just switched over to digital about a month ago.
Quality is much nicer than 35mm imo.
[QUOTE=Edthefirst;33296089]Less range of color depth and a flatter less sharp image.
There is a significant difference in a 35mm projection to a digital one.[/QUOTE]
While most don't really notice it, i can notice the difference between the two formats and prefer film. It's to a point where, since becoming an amateur cinephile about a year ago, i will strategically plan seeing a movie i really want to see when it's moved into one of our theatres that still run 35mm.
[QUOTE=Edthefirst;33296089]Less range of color depth and a flatter less sharp image.
There is a significant difference in a 35mm projection to a digital one.[/QUOTE]
How does that occur, considering most movies have at least some parts transposed into a digital format? Or does it occur with those segments as well?
Damn, lots of projectionists here.
So does the platter system allow for reel changing without multiple projectors? Movies come in multiple reels, right?
In the old days they would use two projectors and switch between them to seamlessly change reels. Is that still how it's done?
Personally I'm fine with digital, either way that's the future and it's cheaper and easier for cinemas to not have to deal with film.
[QUOTE=mysteryman;33296115]While most don't really notice it, i can notice the difference between the two formats and prefer film. It's to a point where, since becoming an amateur cinephile about a year ago, i will strategically plan seeing a movie i really want to see when it's moved into one of our theatres that still run 35mm.[/QUOTE]
The only thing I hate about 35mm is because I'm so used to splicing movies every time I watch a 35mm movie I always notice when the movie changes reels.
[quote]So does the platter system allow for reel changing without multiple projectors? Movies come in multiple reels, right?
In the old days they would use two projectors and switch between them to seamlessly change reels. Is that still how it's done?
Personally I'm fine with digital, either way that's the future and it's cheaper and easier for cinemas to not have to deal with film. [/quote]
Yup, movies come in multiple reels, they're combined (spliced) together.
It might be cheaper in the long run, but the projectors are downright expensive to buy. I'm pretty sure my theatres company is in heavy debt right now.
A hummingbird couldn't catch ketchup v2 at work.
So it's gonna go the way of vinyl?
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