|
|
Author
|
Topic: Automation Feature Start Beep
|
Andrew Shingleton
Film Handler
Posts: 63
From: Richmond, Victoria, Australia
Registered: Feb 2004
|
posted 06-06-2004 04:27 AM
Hi guys,
We're currently using Panalogic CA2000 MK2 in all of our houses. At a previous cinema I worked at we had Pennywise CA100's, and there was an interesting modification made to them which caused them to emit a short sharp beep every 5 seconds after the show had gone to feature. The automation would continue to beep until the operator manually pressed a button on the automation unit. The purpose of this was to force the operator to be at each cinema at least some time after the main show started, rather than running the whole thing autopilot (ie: it was a "bad habit breaking" tool). If a manager was to walk through the projection room and heard one of the unit's beeping on a show which was more than a few minutes into feature, there'd be hell to pay.
My question is whether there is a way of customising the Panalogic automation to do the same thing - either through a hardware modification (which I believe is how the CA100 was modified), or through clever programming of the segments and events. A logging mechanism would make the system even better - a report of how long it took the operator to check feature starts would be a great tool as it's effective even when managers aren't around.
And as a point of discussion, what do people think of the merits and problems with an idea such as this. Obviously this sort of thing should technically not be needed in a perfect world, but as everyone is no doubt aware it's next to impossible to totally guarantee everyone will do their job properly absolutly all the time. I'd be very interested in opinions from you guys, especially if anyone's ever used or been involved in setting up a similar system.
Thanks!
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Michael Barry
Jedi Master Film Handler
![](http://www.film-tech.com/ubbmembers/237b.jpg)
Posts: 584
From: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 06-06-2004 05:52 AM
I worked for a certain company at one point that used CA21's with that same exact feature, and it drove me insane. This same company spoke to me about posting on Film-Tech, presumably because I might actually have learned something about 'film done right'.
I brought it up during a meeting, but they wanted the feature kept on. Of course, it could be heard in the auditorium, and the last thing you need while trying to get a feature on the screen is another screen beeping at you to check it. You don't want to be interrupted at a potentially crucial moment just to 'check' a machine (which you won't have time to check properly anyway until you are done with the present machine!).
I said that I should be checking my work because I'm a professional projectionist, NOT because some stupid beeping machine tells me to...it's called self-discipline, not something out of Fritz Lang's 'Metropolis'. I also pointed out that other cinemas I've worked at had no such and we managed just fine without it.
As Brad said, maybe it's called for when you have school kids and/or braindead staff, but you have to ask yourself if such a device is deemed necessary, have you selected the best staff to begin with?
I should add that the beeping not only started at the beginning of the feature(s), but also at the start of the film ads AND the start of the trailers! Can you imagine the pandemonium at a 12-screen at the start of each session?
But again, as Brad said: Ray Derrick is your man.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
Michael Barry
Jedi Master Film Handler
![](http://www.film-tech.com/ubbmembers/237b.jpg)
Posts: 584
From: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 06-06-2004 11:30 AM
Ray Derrick is the president of Panalogic, makers of the excellent Panalogic automation that you already own and the superlative Panastereo cinema sound processors. They are also the Australian distributors and support centre for DTS theatre equipment and the Australian distributors for FilmGuard.
Mr. Derrick has posted on these forums before, so if you do a search for his posts, you can find him easily.
As an aside, in my earlier post I forgot to mention that whenever sessions would be going in at 'that' cinema, I would always yell out, 'Fries are up!' whenever the automations started beeping. Not that working there was anything like working for McDonalds. Of course not.
Do talk to the moneymen about this stuff by all means, but do try and sell them on the idea of FilmGuard. Your film presentations will be better than ever...just ask Ray! Just my opinion - skip the beeping automations and spend the money on FilmGuard instead. OK, I've said my piece!
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All times are Central (GMT -6:00)
|
|
Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classicTM
6.3.1.2
The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion
and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.
|