Behind the Big Screen - Part 1

[Onneff69]

The only thing I'd strongly disagree with him about is the platter system being "easier" on film than the older traditionall 2 projector reel to reel setups (although he is right about the platters contributing to more dust & dirt to the film). In fact, the major studios won't even allow an "archival" print of their classic movies to be released to a theatre that has only a platter system to show it - due to the greater wear & tear on the print - besides the extra "dust in the air" factor.

[Onneff69]

Victor has to be one of the few most intelligent and skilled "modern" projectionists I've seen or heard speak in ages (especially on YouTube) and would qualify as a *real* projectionist in the "old-school" tradition (vs. most of what's found in multiplexes today). He has a sensibility and pride along with an accurate knowledge of film & projection equpiment - things that were common (& mostly required) in the days of single huge screen theatres, pre-late 70s/early 80s.

[andresbriano]

I commend Victor´s efforts. Unfortunately that booth does not look THAT clean in the video. One thing I do envy is not having the need to label the tails of the films to know which one it is. There´s something very magical about small operations like this one. LONG LIVE FILM!

[tripjet999]

Good theaters run film, not crappy digital.

[wishwacom]

nice work ..... really good lesson ,thanks a lot ..

he is a very good teacher

[sOuLjAvIcK]

lmfao victor looks like he wants to slap the shit out of the interviewer lmfaoo

[Airboy15]

Some theaters still use this format, but the top theaters nowadays use digital. As of today, we can say film is more of a small-town format. and digital is a big-city format.

[frediswyde]

Interesting documentary,spoiled by music-why include it the video is great on it's own!!

[vic19644]

I should have mentioned the wonderful FILMGAURD film cleaner which cleans and protects film prints like every show was the first!This theatre now has curtains that open and close!We have also added Dolby digital to our sound system.I also upgraded to ISCO Ultrastar hd lenses and a curved gate!

[boldav45]

Wow! I always wondered how that was done in the theater. Well done and instructional.

[dinkone1]

eww strong platters, hated using them lol!

[lightman47]

better than a christie. lol

[ibanezman1025]

Thank you for this informative video. I love film, and just hearing the sound of film moving through a projector is wonderful. I hope film never goes away as it is a beautiful format.

[Scsibut]

ohhhh.....my bad....those are old Simplex model 35 then.....I forgot all about them

[Scsibut]

those are old Century projectors

[cartoonyboy]

I saw the name Simplex on the projector's side door.

[brasscoe76]

cool video. your projectionist was very informative.

[marketmd]

FILM...wow...so...20th Century!

[delmilander]

Why does the projectionist have his film come off the top reel clockwise? That's opposite of the way I've seen it most everywhere else.

[vic19644]

If i run a movie reel to reel i run it counter clockwise because the other projectionists around here keep doing it clockwise i go with the flow but not allways.For the sake of the video i wish i had gone counter to avoid this question.

[Ampex196]

Rewinding on to spools emulsion out seems to be common practice in the US. Here in the UK we normally wind base out(so the feed spool would always run clockwise). The only exceptions being on certain US machines (eg. Simplex) where the fire traps are specifically designed for reverse take off.

[troxyprojy]

I was a projectionist in the UK and there were two trains of thought about winding : winding em in was deemed 'the norm'by some of my fellow projectionists, but I worked in a preview theatre ( professional screening room ) where films in progress ALWAYS came in emulsion out and returned to the client emulsion out.Most labs I use in the UK send material to me emulsion out:my Steenbeck(a flatbed viewing device) cannot run emulsion in : they never have:so for 25 years have preferred emulsion out.

[Ampex196]

I'd personally only return a print emulsion out if requested. I've noticed in recent years many new prints arriving from the labs with some reels 'in' and some 'out' (often alternate reels) and often some head out & some tail out.

[pegbars]

He's running an emulsion-in wind. It can help maintain a more-consistent focus.

[vic19644]

Sometimes film will get stuck in the gate and melt on screen,very spectacular to see.

[mathewbailey08]

Most projectors have switches to automatically shut off the projector & lamp if the film breaks. Some projectors don't have that & sometimes there would be film on the floor.

[vic19644]

I apprenticed with both schools of thought.When i run a feature reel to reel i do wind the other way.

[cc213t]

The reel he loads on the projector is wound wrong way out!

[vic19644]

High speed printing of films to make opening day on 4000 screens run by untrained under paid kids makes for less than perfect images.Its hit and miss but mostly miss.Film needs TLC TO SHINE.

[christianlogic]

I've always wondered how this is done. It'd be interesting to hear some projectionist horror stories. Like, what happens when the film breaks?

[Olphus]

Being a projectionist doesn't seem that fun - you can't sit and watch the movie because of all the noise.

Also, what did he mean film could be much better, is there so much more you can do to improve it? I know 1080p is a digital limit right now and film doesn't have resolution at all, or...?

[KWDproductions]

Perhaps if Victor is reading this, he can respond to your question about improving film.

The way film is handled and projected, will impact the image on the screen.

1080p is the digital limit of the official HD spec only. Digital can go much higher, and will need to for digital projection to compete with film. 35mm film doesn't have "resolution" but it is estimated to be equivalent to about 7 mega pixels. 1080p HD is currently about 2 mega pixels.

[GentlemanlyScholar]

@Olphus Digital cinema uses 4k resolution, I believe.

[leonaprime01]

Yet another brilliant episode! Very informative. I can't wait to see more. Keep up the good work! ^_^