|
Author
|
Topic: Reel sizes in the cinema
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Andreas Eggeling
Master Film Handler
Posts: 467
From: R.I.P.
Registered: Aug 2003
|
posted June 23, 2006 06:06 PM
Hi all,
in the 90s, when I was a student, I worked in a cinema as an projectionist.
The cinema was built in 1993 and a new "Kinoton" machine with reels for about two and half hour of film was used.
The disadvantage of reels is, that you have rewind the film after each show. Sometimes, if we show old acetate prints, the prints would be splitted during the rewinding over rollers when a damaged position crossed the rollers. Once it was really horrible, because a complete trailer was splitted. I have to cut them out and throwing away. When rewinding the film, polyester film is electrostatically loaded, which tightens dust and dirt magically.
The advantage of big reels is, that you can rewind few feets (meters) the film, if the film teared or the matrix of the projector was out of control.
The age of the machines is independent of the choice of the reel size. Also new machines can play only small sizes. And old machines from the 40s, 50s... can be used for new big reel systems or plates.
When we showed "Pulp Fiction" we have to use two big reels. We made a break after reel 7. The sales of beer was particularly high with this film.
If you show films with horizontal platter system you havenīt to rewind the films after the end, but otherwise you canīt rewind the film few minutes when it is a unintentional break during the show, because the film is running down ago from the inside of the plate.
Films with very long running time f. e. "Titanic", "Lord of the Rings" can also prepare problems with platter system. The end of the film can fall the edge of plate down. If it is hot in the projection area, polyester films can unwrap out of round. Im remember when the Projectionist cooled the area desperately with ice water and a fan.
Open Air cinemas here in Germany make often an intentional interruption , in order to sell drinks and meals.
I heard that these kind of interruption is usually done in normal cinemas in Switzerland. So, perhaps this is the reason
why there is a break in greek cinemas????
Andreas
[ June 24, 2006, 02:56 AM: Message edited by: Andreas Eggeling ]
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mike Peckham
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1461
From: West Sussex, UK.
Registered: Jun 2003
|
posted June 24, 2006 05:56 AM
Guys
Thanks for all the replies...
John, Loafing, me? Never ![[Wink]](wink.gif) !
Dimitrios, the cinema on Mykonos is definitely 35mm, I'm going to try and get a sneaky peak in the projection box on Monday, if I do I shall take my camera and post some pictures on here. It must be the one you were thinking of, it's in the Chora, the name is something like "Cine Mantz".
Caprice? Haven't found it yet, does it come with your recommendation ?
Chip,
From what you describe, it looks as though the cinema here is running one 35mm projector with a 6000ft spool.
David,
The Mykonos cinema is just as you remember from your time in Greece in the sixties. It is a little like being in someones back garden which gives it an "intimate" feel. There are cats wondering around and usually a crowd of children present that seem completely oblivious to the film being shown but happy to chat away amongst themselves! The seating is all garden chairs and the patrons tend to reorganise them as they arrive to sit in little huddles with their friends, there are also small garden tables dotted around, so the whole seating plan becomes a little like being in a cafe once people have got it just the way they want it!
Oh yes, and all the films are still shown with Greek subtitles and the original language preserved.
Andreas
quote:
When we showed "Pulp Fiction" we have to use two big reels. We made a break after reel 7. The sales of beer was particularly high with this film.
Hmmm... me thinks this was a good marketing ploy that perhaps bigger European cinemas have forgotten about, at the start of the interval at the Mykonos cinema there is a mad rush for the small refreshments vendor who not only sells ice cream, beer and popcorn, but hot snacks like pizza and cheese pies - he seems to do quite well...
Graham,
Great pictures, is this a cinema where you work? It's amazing what goes on behind the scenes, those projectors and film transport systems look and sound incredible!
David,
Is that you in the bottom shot in the Gallery? It looks like an amazing theatre and I noticed in the write up that it claims to be the largest drive in theatre in the Southern Hemisphere! Wow, I was in Australia for a couple of months at the end of last year and would have made a special effort to get to Melbourne if I had realised, seeing a film there would have been a great experience for a Brit like me for whom drive ins are but a fantasy!
Thanks again for all the replies, I shall endeavour to get a closer look report back - hopefully with photos...
Mike ![[Cool]](cool.gif)
--------------------
Auntie Em must have stopped wondering where I am by now...
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David Kilderry
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 963
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Registered: Feb 2006
|
posted June 27, 2006 08:30 AM
Kevin, the three things you need for drive-ins to be successful are: lots of cheap land, good weather and high car ownership. Certainly in Australia (and the US and Canada) those things mostly are/were true. There was never a permanent drive-in built in the UK.
Most North American drive-ins however closed for the colder months, here in Australia they have always operated all year round. We also still have relativly large cars; I drive a large Ford V8 sedan. This certainly helps drive-ins as families need to all be able to fit comfortably in their cars for two hours.
They did, and do still exist across most other parts of the world however. Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Africa, South and Central America, even Russia and China have drive-ins. They exist in the South Pacific but New Zealand never had any, as laws there prevented them from being built! (Large cinema chains exercising pressure to protect their hardtop cinemas)
The US peaked with drive-ins in the late 1950's with over 4,000, Australia and Canada both had around 350 each. Most other countries had less than 50 at most. It is estimated today around 500 still operate world-wide.
We went tonight and saw Over The Hedge, the kids and I loved it. I know it was a busmans holiday, but I just love seeing movies on film. I used to set-up my Std 8 projector for other kids to watch my movies in the hallway at home as a child, these days I still get a buz the same way except it's all on a slightly larger scale!
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
). ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Mad]](mad.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic
