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Author Topic: 70mm interlock: Has it ever been done? Christopher Seo Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 530 From: Los Angeles, CA Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-26-2004 06:59 PM                     Basically, what the question says. Has a 70mm print ever been interlocked between two (or more) auditoriums in a multiplex situation? I don't see why it would be any more difficult than a 35mm interlock, except that perhaps the twists and turns would have to be a little more gentle. A few reasons I can think of why this would not have been done: most multiplexes would not have more than one 70mm-capable screen; screens likely to be equipped with 70mm would all be very large, such that interlocking them would create too many seats for a given show; and possible restrictions by paranoid distributors to protect an enormously more expensive print (i.e., mag-striped).  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 05-26-2004 07:02 PM                     I did it one time to move Titanic from Cinema I to Cinema II at Northpark in Dallas.  |  IP: Logged Christopher Seo Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 530 From: Los Angeles, CA Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-26-2004 07:05 PM                     Was it an actual show, or just to move the print? Did you actually run the print through the projectors or just from one platter to the other?  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 05-26-2004 07:41 PM                     Yes the show was ran, but not to a paying audience. Cinema I was being presented "one last time" for the staff who had been busting their humps for the last several months and Cinema II was being presented to tune the sound as best as could be achieved for that film. A number of people were bouncing back and forth to hear the difference between the two auditoriums. Needless to say, Cinema I got the phenomenal two thumbs up vote from everyone. Nobody was impressed with the sound in Cinema II when comparing it to Cinema I, although I thought that it was the best that room had ever sounded, given the equipment.  |  IP: Logged Bill Gabel Film God Posts: 3873 From: Technicolor / Postworks NY, USA Registered: Jan 2002 posted 05-26-2004 07:56 PM                     The cost of the print is the major restriction. Theatre chains would have to pay for the print if your damage it. Back when the movie "Adventures in Babysitting" came out. The Cineplex Theatre at Universal Studios in Universal City, CA, opened the movie in 70MM and within the first few days the Local 150 operator scratched the entire print, by misthreading. Cineplex had to pay for the whole print ($40,000). Pacific Theatres would have an extra projectionist on duty when 70MM was booked into their houses.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-26-2004 09:07 PM                     The Famous Players Yorkdale ran Stakeout in 70mm on an interlock that was 100' around 2 corners for about 3 weeks with no problems  |  IP: Logged Mike Babb Master Film Handler Posts: 250 From: Norwich UK Registered: Jul 2002 posted 05-26-2004 09:15 PM                        We were interlocking Rocky IV and Top Gun back when they were released. Two houses, Christie platters, JJs and Showman 2 automation.  |  IP: Logged John Walsh Film God Posts: 2490 From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way Registered: Oct 1999 posted 05-26-2004 09:20 PM                     I live pretty close to New York, but never heard it being done. Because of the cost, most people are not that brave! It's a sad comment on the studios to think there was a time when a film like Adventures in Babysitting would be released in 70mm, but today, nothing is, not even the Star Wars, LOTRs, etc.  |  IP: Logged Brian D. Whitish Expert Film Handler Posts: 103 From: Seattle, WA, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 05-26-2004 09:26 PM                     At the lovely(har)Rose Moyer in Portland our company ran Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in 70mm interlocked. The run was at least 75 feet. Ran on the Orange ORC platters. I think the projectors were Simplex 35/70 but it might have been Century JJs. Its been awhile.  |  IP: Logged Peter Kerchinsky Master Film Handler Posts: 326 From: Seattle, WA, USA Registered: Jan 2002 posted 05-27-2004 04:02 AM                     The projectionist I work with ran 70MM interlock at the Crest Cinemas in Seattle. They ran Close Encounters and Raiders of the Lost Ark. I worked that theatre some years later and believe me I cannot fiqure out to this day how the hell they got the film to run around corners. The two booths were quite a distance from each other, but apparently it worked.  |  IP: Logged Bob Koch Expert Film Handler Posts: 183 From: williams ca Registered: Nov 2001 posted 05-28-2004 08:57 PM                     Looking at this question: I`m certainly glad I`m as old as I am.  |  IP: Logged

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