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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Author
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Topic: F.A.C.T. piracy overkill in UK
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Stephen Furley
Film God
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Posts: 3059
From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England
Registered: May 2002
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posted 12-23-2003 06:42 AM
I ran it a couple of weeks ago, it was part of the 'Pearl & Dean' (adverts). I think it's just an advert, like any other, and I very much doubt that you could just remove any advert because you didn't feel like showing it. The companies who use cinema advertising pay to have their adverts shown; they wouldn't be too happy if they were left out. Of course, any cinema can choose not to show advertising, and accept the loss of revenue, but they can't pick and choose.
I think the only circumstances where you can remove an advert is if the reel as supplied contains materialnot allowed for the age rating of the film. There used to be a warning notice from P+D to remove tobacco adverts for example, when these were still show in cinemas, if younger rated films were being shown.
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Stephen Furley
Film God
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Posts: 3059
From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England
Registered: May 2002
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posted 12-23-2003 10:32 AM
Yesterday I received a newsletter from the National Film Theatre. Included in it was the following:
Recording Equipment.
With the increase in the variety of equipment available for capturing still and moving images, and given the sensitivity of the film companies that we deal with towards piracy, we are having to be more strict regarding the taking of recording equipment into the auditoria. Members need to be aware that anyone seen or caught taking such equipment into the auditoria will not be allowed to attend the screening or event. Unfortunately, we do not have the facilities to be able to look after such equipment for you and I would ask, therefore, that Members leave audio recorders, still and moving image cameras at home.
You should also be aware that, at the request of the film companies, you may be subject to a bag search.
I often carry a camera with me, and this restriction would also seem to cover some mobile 'phones, PDAs and other, similar devices people may well have every reason to carry with them. Saying leave them at home is just not good enough, somebody may travel up to London to do various things during the day, for which it may well be perfectly reasonable, or even necessary, for them to carry a camera or other, now proscribed equipment, which has never been a problem in the past, if carried in a pocket or bag, and not used in the auditoria. Are they seriously suggesting that under these circumstances, the person should take the item home, which may well be an hour or two's journey away, and then come out again to see the film?
My membership expires shortly; since this will make it difficult for me to attend screenings, I will probably not renew, and will explain the reasons why, and ask them to pass this information on to the film companies.
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Stephen Furley
Film God
![](http://www.film-tech.com/ubbmembers/1277b.jpg)
Posts: 3059
From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England
Registered: May 2002
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posted 12-24-2003 10:02 AM
Leo wrote:
quote: You can if it clashes with the feature certificate. ... ...On the P & D or Carlton chitty we would place an asterisk by the appropriate entries and write at the bottom 'Not shown - higher certificate than feature.
That's basically what I said:
quote: I think the only circumstances where you can remove an advert is if the reel as supplied contains material not allowed for the age rating of the film. There used to be a warning notice from P+D to remove tobacco adverts for example, when these were still show in cinemas, if younger rated films were being shown.
As to the NFT thing, I have no intention of pirating any film, and if I did I would find a better way of doing it than pointing a camera at a cinema screen. Des anybody really do this? The couple of pirate copies I've seen were of rather good quality, and obviously not done this way. They were also proper pressed DVDs, which suggests a large scale operaton. These things are openly on sale at computer fairs, car boot sales etc., yet they seem to do nothing about this; do they really want to stop piracy, if so, why don't they do something about this?
I'm getting rather fed up with places which won't let you take various things in. Now if it was something large that would be understandable; if I turned up at the NFT carrying a roll of carpet, I would expect them to turn me away, but a small still camera in a coat pocket or bag, are they serious? I recently had to go to a certain large computer shop; they wouldn't let me in because I was carrying a bag of shopping from another shop. They told me to leave the bag in my car - I don't have one. The store security person declined to look after my bag for me whie I was in the store, so I took my custom elsewhere. Am I really expected to take each bag of shopping home before going to the next shop? Maybe we should be expected to remove all our clothing before entering a shop, in case we slip something into a pocket.
I was running a film once at a modern place, with the entrance to the projection box indoors, just outside the auditorium. Before the show there was a knock on the projection room door, and a young woman was standing there. She reached into her bag, produced a VHS tape, and asked if I would mind running off a copy of the film during the show for her friend, who wasn't able to come. Right, I thought, I'll just go and find a Cintel Mk.3 telecine from somewhere, and loop the film out through that before it reaches the take-up spool! She was actually being serious, she really thought it was technically possible, and here would be nothing wrong with doing it.
Any more 70mm shows cming up at York, I still haven't managed to get to one.
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Leo Enticknap
Film God
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Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 12-24-2003 05:29 PM
quote: Des anybody really do this? The couple of pirate copies I've seen were of rather good quality, and obviously not done this way. They were also proper pressed DVDs, which suggests a large scale operaton. These things are openly on sale at computer fairs, car boot sales etc., yet they seem to do nothing about this; do they really want to stop piracy, if so, why don't they do something about this?
Agreed entirely: the real problem are organised gangs (which, AFAIK, are based mainly in the Far East) which do have Ranks and Spirits. How they get their hands on the film prints I don't know: I guess that the CAP code is there because Hollywood would dearly love to find out. Of course there are instances of people trying to video things in cinemas for subsequent small-scale distribution, but I can't see anyone trying it at an arthouse venue such as the NFT. As far as that notice is concerned I can think of two possible explanations: (i) that the management want to be seen to be taking the issue seriously, and (ii) because what they're really worried about is the possibility of people videoing special events such as Guardian lectures and introductions to screenings by well-known personalities. In any case I suspect the letter is a case of going through the motions: unless you turn up with a camcorder slung round your neck, I really can't see them searching you, somehow.
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