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Topic: those silly cardboard reel bands

James R. Hammonds, Jr
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 931
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 08-04-2001 01:25 PM

what do you guys think of these?

i think they are a wast of time.

plenty of other films come without them with no problems, so why use them?

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 08-04-2001 02:19 PM

I like them because I can secure the film tightly with the tip of the leader tucked into it without having to resort to tape.

Those new TES plastic/paper (whatever they are) reel bands with the peel off stickers are flimsy, annoying and a horrible design. The theory is nice, but the BONEHEADS that pack the film keep putting the label for the movie and reel number over the seal, thereby rendering them useless for repackaging. When I see them now, I tear them off and throw them into the trash where they belong.

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 08-04-2001 03:57 PM

And, many new films don't even use the reel bands. Just a hunk of tape is all they have holding it together, if you are lucky.

Paul

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-04-2001 06:25 PM

And the short piece of tape that is used to secure reels only works ONE TIME. When first-run theatres repack a film, they should use a nice LONG piece of new, good quality tape. The original piece will come loose in shipping, especially on TES prints (due to rough Airborne handling).

Same goes for the reel bands. Tape those suckers down if the string is gone (which in my experience, it almost always is).

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Jerry Chase
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1068
From: Margate, FL, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 08-04-2001 06:43 PM

...and don't forget to fold over one end of the new tape to form a pull tab. Simple, courteous.

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 08-05-2001 01:21 AM

Personally, I can't understand why the industry still doesn't use reel bands on all films...

Steve

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"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"

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Christopher Duvall
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 500
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 08-05-2001 02:15 AM

I think the answer is pretty obvious. The print should leave the building exactly as you received it (or better if possible).

'Nuff Said

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Chris Duvall
General Manager
Regal Cinemas Colonnade14
Las Vegas, NV

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Bill Enos
Film God

Posts: 2081
From: Richmond, Virginia, USA
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 08-05-2001 07:35 AM

The stupid paper bands are a holdover from days before tape. They serve no purpose. A couple inches of tape holds better than 10 feet of these paper jokes, though I always use them when supplied It will be good riddance when the last one is gone. Join in the later part of the last century and face it--tape works and it is applied to the leader, a part you are not running thru your machine.

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John Walsh
Film God

Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 08-05-2001 07:59 AM

I agree with those who do not use/like the paper bands. They are outdated and useless. But, (like Chris) if the print came with bands, I use them returning the print.

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Joseph Pandolfi
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 213
From: Milford, CT.
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 08-05-2001 09:00 AM

I also agree with the ones that do not use them. For me it's just pulling them off and it goes right in the garbage. I reuse the tape that were prevously been used to mark the leaders when the print is built. Then they are put in order with the H1, H2 etc. facing out.

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Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-05-2001 10:07 AM

For me, the only really useful thing about the paper bands is that they usually have the reel number written in large letters, which is much easier than having to deal with taped reels with longish leaders where the previous theatre didn't bother write the reel number on the tape.

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 08-05-2001 01:26 PM

Bill:

How on Earth can claim that tape holds better than the paper bands? The number of prints with a disaster of leader in the can as they unravel in shipping from tape giving it up is FAR FAR higher than with the bands where the only problem is with the string coming off and that is a relatively small comparison.

Putting tape on the leader is wholy unnecessary, increases handling and dirt and with the bulk of the masking tape users out there...leaves sticky residue.

In this era of recycling, the paper band wins again in that it can last as long as the print...the tape is a use once (and if you use it again, good luck on it holding until the next booth gets it).

The paper band also is a better way to label the reel, in my opinion and helps keep the print cleaner during shipment.

The collectors that try to keep the prints in the best condition possible for the long run almost all use the paper bands too.

Steve

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"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 08-05-2001 01:35 PM

Very nicely put Steve. I think a lot of projectionists don't think of the mess that masking tape makes and how it crusts after it has been applied for a couple of weeks. Even Artist's tape does that given a bit of time in storage. Also, using the paper reel bands keeps dirt not only off of that first wrap of leader, but as the sprockets line up with themselves over the first few rounds on the roll, it keeps the dirt out of the neighboring layers too.

Now if only more projectionists would wrap each reel of film into a small trash liner when they break down prints, they would truly stay clean in those dirty cans. Or at least until they get back to the depot and they remove them to put make way for their "integrity inspected" stickers.

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 08-05-2001 04:28 PM

Actually Brad,

I think my English was horrible in that earlier post! But thanks for the kind words.

Steve

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"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-05-2001 09:09 PM

If you are throwing away the reel bands after taking them off, PLEASE STOP. The reason: When the print gets back to TES, they will put on a new set of reel bands...but they WON'T write the film title on the bands.

If they would bring back the old style bands, which were made with thick string instead of the "thread" type line that TES uses, I'd be all in favor of bands. The TES bands are crap.

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