The idea is to get a 16mm or preferably 35mm projector, sound equip, speakers & screen. I will then travel to villages and small towns and set up in auditoriums or gyms.

I know that 16mm would be easier to haul, but would 35mm be worth it? Is there portable stuff out there for this type of set up. Preferable a quick setup/breakdown would be best.

Let me know what you guys think. I have already done market research and this is something that would make money.

As far as indoor use, I'm sure you can put just about anything on casters and in road cases using quick disconnects. The trick would be getting 3-phase for a nice bright lamphouse, depending on the size of the venue. I know of many gyms that are bigger than many multiplex auditoriums.

Not necessary if you have a Strong switching power supply or a 220V single phase supply. Strong also makes a 110v switcher that will handle a 2000 watt bulb.

The idea of "Cinema on Wheels" is very challenging. I have worked many new car and trade ahows where there was a complete 35mm booth temporarily installed for the show.

The availability of product for your showings will determine the film type you will use. There are only a few films which are not available in 16mm for the "non theatrical" consumer.

When setting up in a bad acoustical setting I have found that the ball park method works pretty good. You place the projector at home plate and the screen at second base with the walls of the room defining the diamond. Depending on the location of the entrances, this method reduces the wall slap and sound bounce greatly.

"Break a Leg!" with your new venture and keep us informed of your progress.

From asia
Towkiwa
Shinko

The FP20 used to be available as a bolt on the top of a tripod version(fp23 ?)

The folks I know did exactly the same thing. They set up in school houses, lodge halls, peoples' yards, any place they could get permission. One even took a popcorn machine and sold concessions!

Most seemed to have a circuit of towns they played, usually small towns without any kind of movie house. Also, from what I've read on the subject, a lot of the travelling exhibitors also worked with local merchants in the small towns to sell on-screen or some other type of advertising that would be displayed each time the "travelling picture show" would come to town.

Most of the people I know used 16mm equipment but a friend who does projection tech work visited a vintage theatre a few years ago that had some 35mm Simplex SP portables in storage that the original owner had used as a travelling exhibitor. The Simplex's have since been sold but it proves that 35mm was taken on the road in the early days.

The projectors, lenses, spare lamps/parts, and board could probably be had for well under $5k used, maybe less if you can wait for a deal. I don't know how fast it would pay for itself, but I'd be more interested in just being able to get a really nice portable 16mm setup for home use and defray the cost somewhat by renting it.

I don't know if 35mm would be worthwhile, though; there's definitely a market somewhere between the high-end ($1000+/day for top-quality 16mm equipment rentals) and the low end ($20/day to rent a classroom projector) for nontheatrical presentations, and I can imagine many conventions, theatres (either 35mm-only or without any film capability), and events that would happy rent a semi-decent 16mm setup with operator for $100/show or something like that. Except maybe for dailies for film shoots, the people who can afford to rent 35mm equipment probably want to rent the best equipment anyway, and there are plenty of companies that do this very well on a full-time basis and it probably isn't time- or cost-effective to try to compete with them on a part-time basis.

You might want to think about getting some other semi-pro AV equipment as well, if no one else in your area rents it already. I'd think that it would be good to at least have a pair of xenon slide projectors with dissolve unit and possibly some limited stage lighting and/or PA equipment (unless the market for this stuff is saturated in your area, as it seems to be around here).

16 and 35 are for amateurs.

Go for 70mm on-the-road. See what we do here in tiny Denmark here

Realistically, I think Scott is on the right track with 16mm.
35mm means:
-Heavy equipment (even if it's "portable") and a truck to move it.
-At least two techs to set it up
-A lot of noise that would necessitate a makeshift booth
-many other factors

Basically all of that boils down to a lot of cost, and I can't imagine too many small towns and schools that would or could afford the cost, but I certainly don't know the markets you are considering or the exact application. Obviously, 35mm would look the best, but 16mm might make a bit more sense from a financial perspective.

I would recommend a pair of the 550w xenon Eiki projectors, a fast-fold screen, and a small pa system for sound. In a pinch, all of the equipment could travel in a car and be set up by a single projectionist.

I knew two folks who did this years ago as I maintained their equipment. RCA 16mm carbon arcs. One machine does it as the intermission between reels sells the pop and candy. (Folks usually brought their own popcorn)

Foldup screens and EV 'Musicaster' speakers. The projector was in a pickup with a hightop on the back.

quote:

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-What kind of films do you forsee showing? and for what kind of events?
-What kind of budget would you have for putting a package together?

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I plan on playing second run films. As soon as they become available. These would be for local villages that don't have access to theatre except by plane. We have several villages here in Alaska that have between 2000-4000 people. I am currently (on different business) in Kotzebue, Alaska (above the arctic circle). The conversations began to revolve around theatres because I used to be the GM of a 16 screen. I have had the experience of installing projectors and equipment. The largest cost will be transportation, but I am working on that aspect.

I would like to get the cost as cheap as possible with out sacrificing quality. I will not get in to the mind set of "they don't have any where else to go."

I am also going to work out a deal with the school district here which covers most villages. A bulk rate or something.

The one thing I am not familar with is running changeovers. I have always run on platters. (Most of my experience in multiplexes.) I would ask for tips and tricks, but I think most of that I am going to need to learn first hand with an experienced change over projectionist.

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-Joshua S. Lott
President & Owner
Consulting, Supply & Design

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I do have 16mm zenon and carbon arc setups, but I have more call from customers, and greater availability of film in 35mm. The weekly outdoor series I run has been in 35mm with only one or two exceptions. Traveling to odd locations, the available electrical service is often limiting. Unless you're in an industrial type location, or a live theater veune, you won't likely find 3-phase or even very high amp single phase service. Unless you go into the same places every time, and know what exists in them, it will be important that you don't have any single piece of equipment that can't run on a single phase 20-amp circuit. In some venues, your entire package may have only 30 or 40 amps available. When I'm limited to one machine, I use a full-size (non-portable model) Tokiwa TSR. I take a platter when possible (meaning there is enough room and proper environment to accomodate it). I've run platters outdoors under a small tent I carry, but it's not my favorite thing to do. If the platter can't be accomodated, or the feature length is shorter, the Tokiwa can run 8000' reels. Keep in mind that you may have to take makeup tables and/or rewind benches capable of handing the large reels, if you have to make up and break down any of these shows on-site.

When there is sufficient electrical service for two machines and two smaller (usually 750-1k) lamps, I prefer running changeovers. I've used full-size simplexes, but am now having really good results with a pair of rebuilt DeVry XD's, equipped with zippers and lamp tables that will hold any of several lamps I have. My usual configuration is the two DeVry's, two ORC model 1000 lamps with integrated rectifiers, an outboard exhaust fan that connects to the tops of the lamps, and a small (short) rack of sound gear enclosed in an anvil case. When availble, I patch into the house PA, otherwise I carry a medium sized PA system.

All this, plus a Goldberg booth rewind mounted on a small bench, plus hand rewinds, splicer, an assortment of lenses, etc. fit very comfortably into a standard cargo van, and can be unloaded and set up very quickly by two people.

Guess I've rambled on a little long. Feel free to email me privately if there's anything I can help you with. I'm excited to hear how this goes for you. I hope you'll keep us updated.