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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Author
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Topic: Romeo is Dark (way below 16 footlamberts)
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Michael Barry
Jedi Master Film Handler
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Posts: 584
From: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-12-2000 12:35 PM
I just arrived home from a most disappointing night at the movies. A few friends wanted to go out to see 'Romeo Must Die' and I went along, having enjoyed screening it at the distributor's head office theatrette. The idea was to catch it with a Friday night opening weekend crowd in a typical multiplex environment, so we headed off to a recently renovated 16-plex. I knew we were in trouble the moment I entered, because there was a trailer in progress and it was so dark and murky - there were no blacks (they were grey) and no whites (they were grey). Contrast and color were virtually non-existant and the resulting image was lifeless. I would estimate that the screen averaged about 8 or 9 footlamberts maximum, almost as if the rectifier had been left on its 'standby' setting. Once the feature started, my friends and I noticed that the sound was so soft that the dialogue could hardly be heard. I was nominated as the one who should mention it, so I found someone who told the projectionist. No dice. Ten minutes later, one of my friends told them too. Still no dice. The quality was poor, too, almost as if they were running Dolby A. Barely any surround activity; all in all, a totally uninvolving experience. At the end, we told a manager who listened patiently but didn't quite understand (through her own admission) the true nature of our complaint, which we condensed in the end to, 'we could hardly see the picture or hear the sound'. She told us that we were the only ones that had mentioned anything about it, and I explained where I had screened the film recently and knew what it was supposed to look/sound like, and what I saw/heard tonight fell well short of the film's potential. She suggested that it could be the print, but we mentioned that it could not be because all the trailers looked dark too. She then asked us what they could do about it, and I said that the bulb was either too low powered or not adjusted correctly. (We didn't get to the sound). She said that she wanted her complex to be as good as it could be so the comments were appreciated, but didn't offer our money back or even complimentary tickets for next time. She mentioned something about emailing me but didn't get my details, because she promptly left after that. The whole issue felt unresolved, however, and we left frustrated. It has never been more apparent to me that running films in this manner totally short changes the audience, who are not getting their money's worth and are not experiencing what was intended - sometimes with an enormous discrepancy. I'm sure that had the director, the DOP and the sound engineers been present, they would have been horrified, but the audience is not conscious of this discrepancy. I'm convinced, however, that the film would have impressed them more, been more involving and more impactful had it been presented correctly, and that their opinion of the film would have been elevated tremendously, even if they weren't aware as to why that might be. It's the reverse scenario that proves to be interesting: the theatrette I work at often receives comments from clients/critics, etc. along the lines of, 'The picture is so rich. It's amazing - when I go to regular theatres, it never looks that good'. This happens time and time again! They notice when it's great, but don't when it's not. I'll bet that if you started a movie with 16 footlamberts and at reference level, then halfway through the feature you cut the current to half and switched to Dolby A at half the volume - THAT would generate complaints!!! With no reference, however, the audience doesn't know what they're missing. I hope this doesn't sound too preachy but I'm most disappointed that I wasn't able to share with my friends what I had experienced. (Not to mention the irony of being paid for a great screening and having to pay for a lousy one.)
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John Pytlak
Film God
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Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 05-12-2000 01:32 PM
Michael:Sobering words. I'm afraid that your closing comments are all too true: without a reference to show how good a film can be presented, the audience doesn't know what they are missing. Rather than complaining about dim pictures or poor sound, they simply don't come back again because it was a unsatisfying and frustrating experience. Projectionists shouldn't give in to mediocrity! Do the best job you can with what you have to work with, and urge your theatre's management to upgrade equipment or resolve problems that are beyond your direct control. Don't be part of the problem, as this manager was, in being "clueless", condescending, or accepting poor presentation quality. I fear that the current poor financial situation of many theatre circuits (due to overbuilding) and the unknowns regarding the future of digital cinema have "paralyzed" many theatres into not investing in the equipment and skilled people needed to improve film presentation quality. Let's not commit suicide like Romeo did. Our Juliette (good film presentation) is really just asleep, and will live again. ![](http://www.film-tech.com/ubb/smile.gif) ------------------ John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging Eastman Kodak Company Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419 Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA Tel: 716-477-5325 Fax: 716-722-7243 E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
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Jason R. Weinsteiger
Film Handler
Posts: 34
From: Kutztown, PA, USA
Registered: May 2000
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posted 05-12-2000 11:59 PM
the biggest problem we're having right now in our theater also relates to sound. We generally show a mainstream film in our DTS theater and an art film in the other, and the sound bleeds through quite generously. for instance, this week "The Closer You Get" was trying to compete with "U-571."i do the best i can to keep the DTS film down and the non-DTS film up, but i can't turn the DTS film too low, obviously, and turning the other up really loud doesn't completely help keep out the sound of explosions. any suggestions? jasoN ------------------ "That's what life is - a series of down endings. All Jedi had was a bunch of muppets." -Dante Hicks
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Oscar Neundorfer
Master Film Handler
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Posts: 275
From: Senoia, GA
Registered: May 2000
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posted 05-13-2000 04:46 AM
There is one theatre I go to regularly. It has good popcorn. That is the good point. Unfortunately this chain and others hire too many of the following categories of people: 1-Brain Dead 2-Teenagers who don't care 3-Adults who don't care 4-Almost totally untrained whose training consists of: SEE THIS NEAT STUFF? THIS IS A PROJECTION BOOTH. NOW, RUN IT. AND IN ALL YOUR SPARE TIME, SERVE POPCORN. 5-Managers and assistants who couldn't find their butts with both hands, a flashlight and a map. 6-Managers and assistants who are arrogant and think they are doing you a big favor by selling you a ticket. Don't dare tell them anything is wrong.I am painting with a very broad brush, and I know it. This is certainly not ALWAYS true, but it happens all too often. It is one thing to build many multi-screen megaplexes. It is entirely another thing to properly staff and train and in the process be able to present the kind of quality presentations that we all know is possible with a little care. Ultimately it all comes down to the people at the top who are not DEMANDING quality at every level and who are willing to pay for it. ------------------ Oscar Neundorfer Chief Engineer SMART Devices, Inc. oscar@smartdev.com
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Oscar Neundorfer
Master Film Handler
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Posts: 275
From: Senoia, GA
Registered: May 2000
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posted 05-13-2000 04:55 AM
Jason,Regarding your sound bleedthrough problem, there are only 2 things I could suggest. 1- A re-construction of the walls and ceiling areas between the auditoriums to achieve better isolation. Probably not very practical and probably expensive. 2- (SHAMELESS PLUG) Buy the SMART AFT660 limiter to allow soft digital sound levels to be heard normally, but keeps loud digital sound levels from becoming too loud and bleeding through.
------------------ Oscar Neundorfer Chief Engineer SMART Devices, Inc. oscar@smartdev.com
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John Walsh
Film God
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Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999
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posted 05-13-2000 08:03 AM
Regarding Michael's comments about low light (and other problems) at a theater, I can only suggest that when you realize that the presentation is poor and it's something you think can be fixed, give them 5 min or so to fix it. But if it's still not acceptable (within the first 10-15 min. of the feature starting) you must simply walk out and get your money back. Don't wait any longer. Don't even allow them to give you a pass "for next time." Also, if you bought any popcorn, candy or soda- return them also (you bought them to see with a film, and they did not deliver.)Now, the problm of course, is this: You are with your friends (who usually don't know about proper film presentation) and you don't want to make a fuss and spoil the evening. I actually think that some theater management people _count on this._ But, this kind of thing can't be encouraged. The only way management will listen to complaints is to "vote with your dollars." So be polite, but be firm and leave.
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Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays
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Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999
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posted 05-13-2000 10:04 AM
I remember seeing a 3-D film in a Redstone theatre in the early 80s. My date and I got there about 15 minutes into the show. I put my 3D specs on and immediately saw trouble. Something looked blind and flat about the movie. In the theatre's zeal to keep the picture off the seats (remember, no aperture plates), they'd placed one of the porthole masks up too high, and it was cutting halfway into one of the stereo images. Only the top half of the movie was in 3D! And here was the lemming audience, sitting there like nothing was wrong, forcing "Ooohs" and "Aaaahs" in the requisite places. I complained to a manager. He plead ignorance, so I dragged him into the auditorium and made him look at the picture one eye at a time. He admitted he saw what I was talking about, but said "We have to do that to keep the picture off the seats." I told him that makes it NOT a 3D movie, because you're killing a necessary component of the process. He had the audacity to argue this point for a few more minutes before throwing me a bone and saying that he would tell the projectionist.The (union) projectionist then proceeded to jack with the CONVERGENCE control!!! You should've heard the collective groan from the audience when their eyes were pulled apart (this part WAS funny)! Well, knowing the projectionist had just screwed the show up beyond hope, we demanded our money back and went to a restaurant instead. ------------------ Better Projection Pays!
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Jason R. Weinsteiger
Film Handler
Posts: 34
From: Kutztown, PA, USA
Registered: May 2000
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posted 05-13-2000 11:27 AM
oscar sayeth:"Regarding your sound bleedthrough problem, there are only 2 things I could suggest. 1- A re-construction of the walls and ceiling areas between the auditoriums to achieve better isolation. Probably not very practical and probably expensive. 2- (SHAMELESS PLUG) Buy the SMART AFT660 limiter to allow soft digital sound levels to be heard normally, but keeps loud digital sound levels from becoming too loud and bleeding through." ----- i have thought of the first suggestion, but i came to the same conclusion you have. The second sounds good to me at this point, and we even have a SMART amp. wanna tell me more about it? a url would be nice. i can be reached at jrw78@aol.com if you dont wanna post to the group jasoN ------------------ "That's what life is - a series of down endings. All Jedi had was a bunch of muppets." -Dante Hicks
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Oscar Neundorfer
Master Film Handler
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Posts: 275
From: Senoia, GA
Registered: May 2000
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posted 05-14-2000 08:46 PM
Hi Jason,Go here for a look at the AFT660. Then call me at 1-800-449-6698 if you want to talk about it. http://www.smartdev.com/aft.htm Let me know if I can help.
------------------ Oscar Neundorfer Chief Engineer SMART Devices, Inc. oscar@smartdev.com
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Michael Barry
Jedi Master Film Handler
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Posts: 584
From: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-14-2000 11:55 PM
Brad:I didn't get a chance to get the name of the manager (she left too quickly) but I'm in the process of finding out. John Wilson: Yes, it's the same company! The floors were remarkable! I didn't mention this at first (the company, not the floors) because it may have seemed that I was merely playing 'sour grapes'. This is not true, as I definitely went along with an open mind, hoping for the best. Thanks to everyone who provided me with feedback; it is truly appreciated! The overall situation can be improved with little difficulty and expense; perhaps it will be with a little encouragement.
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