A couple of years ago, I was told by a fellow by the name of Joe Habbermell at Technicolor that I was to "play whatever damn print he sent me". Needless to say, this was over an extremely poor used print that had played once at a screening and had green scratches...he would NOT replace it. According to him, it "would be impossible for a print to be scratched and damaged from just one run". I don't know if this (colorful metaphor removed) person is still with the company, but I get the feeling I am still on his dump list for daring to climb the chain of command further than the ladies who answer the phones at 4 in the morning. In short, I get used screener prints ALL THE TIME! In most cases, they are damaged beyond the presentation standards of my theater and must be replaced.

In the 5 or so years TES has been around, perhaps 3 or 4 used prints have been acceptable. The reason is these trade screening theaters KNOW they will receive a brand new print come the opening date and they just RIP the thing off the platter and pay NO CARE WHATSOEVER to the film's handling. Most used prints have scratches after ONE RUN!

So let's put this in simple terms. A given movie has perhaps a dozen prints made which are circulated around for various trade and press screenings. Then comes the actual release date with a few THOUSAND prints. What are the odds every other print sent to my theater will be a used screener print? I mean REALLY...WHAT ARE THE ODDS???

At this point, I would like to point out that in the 5 years of ETS's existence I have only received ONE used screener print from the ETS depot. Seriously, doesn't that sound more like realistic odds to receive a used screener print?

Therefore, would everyone please respond to this thread as to what your individual theaters receive. Bear in mind, a major release which was "sneaked" the weekend before should not count, as typically half of the prints are used. I'm talking about FIRST RUN theaters opening the movie on the ORIGINAL BREAK date without nationwide sneaks the weekend before. Also remember, I am referring specifically to the hideous orange cans containing reels that won't stay together that are a staple trademark of the Technicolor depot. Please keep responses similar to the ones below and make them all in respect to Technicolor depot prints.

*Never get used prints (this is the one I'm betting everyone will respond with)

*Perhaps one used print a year

*Receive used prints all the time

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Last used prints we got were:
Outside Prividence. (We got it second week instead of opening.)
Thomas Crown Affair (Sneak)
Ideal Husband (Late booking & a re-booking)

All of them except the re-book of Ideal Husb. were in good condition. (Obviously used but clean as can be expected and well-spliced & no scratches, except for an occasional thin, black one but it only lasts for 1 min or less.)

However...
Love of the Game, Stigmata, Stir of Echoes and one other one that I can't remember ALL had to have reels replaced. I've been "yelling" at everybody to inspect every foot of all TES prints upon build-up, lately because there seems to be a 'rash' of crummy prints lately. (Maybe a new hire in the lab?)

To their credit... the reels come when they say they will and we have had no 'missed pick-ups" in about the last year.

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