35mm Interlocking 101

Interlocking a single 35mm print through 16 projectors. Taken from Film Tech.

Higher Quality Video Available Here
http://www.film-tech.com/warehouse/wareview.php?id=1261&category=3

Pictures & Descriptions From The Video Here
http://www.film-tech.com/warehouse/pics/interlock/interlock.html

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• 35mm
• Interlocking
• projection
• theater
• film

[Greys4]

Wow, this is absolutely crazy. We have done 2 projectors at my theater but now more than that. And the 2200 feet worth of leader is ridiculous. I couldnt even imagine having to thread that or figure it all out without it being scratched somehow.

[catnip20]

If you haven't already, Check the links in the more info description. There are pictures & a etter quality video, Youtube kind of messed up the video a little bit. The pictures are amazing!

[VcordII]

1-When the Multiplex just wants the second screen to be shown 1/2 hour later, do the spools accumulate the 1/2 hour of film?

2-Is there a third spool next to each projector?

3-Can a single spool be both accepting film and letting it out?

4-Are theaters now using LCD projectors?

[catnip20]

I can only answer your fourth question as I did not shoot the video, Maybe the folks over at film-tech links in description, Will be able to help answer those. Most every theater still uses a 35mm projector for showing the feature, I believe I read that only 5% in the world are using DLP projectors now. Most do however use a small DLP or LCD in place of a 35mm slide projector for showing adverts.

[stephenpadgham]

if you watched it all you know cos he states how much leader was used watch at 7:00

[catnip20]

WOW 2200 feet of leader thats over 22 minutes for just leader alone!

[htdatb]

at my theatre we interlocked 4 projectors.. however they were not synched together so we had to have 4 people starting them at the same time.. NIGHTMARE!!!

[rumourandscandal]

Surely one for the record books? Film distributors...take note...

[slycordinator]

It's possible... just rarely, if ever, done.

For instance, the guy running that film-tech site posted about how he had set up a delayed interlock of either 30 or 40 minutes by using a bunch of extra rollers accumulating that much film and he put up a picture of his setup that did a 15 minute delay.

And it's not that the 2nd projector starts later. It's that you have enough extra in between to make up for the delay.

[corbin5167]

I love it! The most I've setup & ran is 6 theatre interlock with one print. We have 9 auditoriums & need 2 prints for all though...No automation 4 interlock either, using synchronous motors setup with pins & accumulators manual start with 5 guys & a timer on the 1st projector to start- That's Oldschool!

[XXsakurafan]

damn i wish we had them projectors we only

have fp20 and dp75 about 35 years old

[morenom1029]

if they want to interlock 2 screens the i dont think its possible to have a 30 min waiting period between the shows.

they have to be synced together which mean if your interlocking projectors 1 and 2 pressing start on 1 will automaticly start 2.

[firemaker68]

You have to love Christie projectors!!!!! But Im afraid to say I cant say the same about their platter trees! It seams like im always either replacing a bad led or re-timing the platters or something stupid!

[hellsconquerzero]

what do you mean by spools are you talking about the platter decks or what. Most Interlocks are ment to be run at almost the exact same time. So you would have 2 theaters showing Iron Man at 7 which is really just one film print. You wouldnt add 30min of leader just so the other can start at 7:30.