my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » Possible Film Codename (Page 1)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Author Topic: Possible Film Codename Steve Pike Film Handler Posts: 8 From: UK Registered: Feb 2005 posted 07-25-2006 10:53 AM                       Is there somewhere where we can find out the codenames of films? We have a film called Barnet that has arrived - we don't know what it is. Is there a website which can help. Thanks.  |  IP: Logged Tommie Evans Expert Film Handler Posts: 116 From: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK Registered: Sep 2004 posted 07-25-2006 11:21 AM                     It stars Tom Hanks, Audrey Tatou and Ian McKellen. It's also based loosely on a famous Dan Browm novel  |  IP: Logged Bill Gabel Film God Posts: 3873 From: Technicolor / Postworks NY, USA Registered: Jan 2002 posted 07-25-2006 12:56 PM                     Codenames are used for security during pre-release transit of prints. So the studios really do not want to have those codenames put on the internet. The depots have been stupid sometimes to just put a label with the codename next to the real title.  |  IP: Logged William Phillips Expert Film Handler Posts: 117 From: Cardigan, Wales, UK Registered: Feb 2002 posted 07-25-2006 01:09 PM                        It was also a long and boring film  |  IP: Logged Leo Enticknap Film God Posts: 7474 From: Loma Linda, CA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 07-25-2006 03:29 PM                        quote: Bill Gabel So the studios really do not want to have those codenames put on the internet. If they bothered to inform theatres in advance that a codenamed print was being delivered, no-one would need to. During my time in the booth I ended up sending a film back unopened thanks to this stupidity, and by the time a replacement arrived we'd lost two shows on the Friday afternoon.  |  IP: Logged Tommie Evans Expert Film Handler Posts: 116 From: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK Registered: Sep 2004 posted 07-25-2006 04:45 PM                     Its not security, its to confuse the projectionist and stop them pirating the movie. Cos by the time the cinema gets it theres sure to be a crystal clear copy on some file sharing site somewhere  |  IP: Logged Alexander Smith Expert Film Handler Posts: 128 From: Walney Island, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. Registered: Jun 2003 posted 07-26-2006 09:51 AM                     This practice of sending out films under a pseudonym has been going on for a while. The first time I became aware of it was finding our print of "Star Wars Episode 1" being labelled as "Perfect Timing". I agree with those who feel it important that the cinema receiving the print, is advised of the codename in advance of receipt. Perhaps because my cinema is a very long way away from Perivale, myself and the other projectionists have taken to opening the box of a film whose name they don't recognise, and looking at the head of reel 1. We can't afford to make the mistake of sending a film back just in case it is under pseudonym. Perhaps the situation is turning around now, one of my managers was able to inform me some weeks before "Superman Returns" of the pseudonym it would be shipped under. Alex.  |  IP: Logged Bill Gabel Film God Posts: 3873 From: Technicolor / Postworks NY, USA Registered: Jan 2002 posted 07-26-2006 04:53 PM                     quote: Leo Enticknap If they bothered to inform theatres in advance that a codenamed print was being delivered That's what the studios and depots have to get their acts together on.  |  IP: Logged Leo Enticknap Film God Posts: 7474 From: Loma Linda, CA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 07-26-2006 05:00 PM                        It was 'Perfect Timing' aka Star Bores which I packed off back to Perivale ... wish it had stayed there!  |  IP: Logged Ian Woloschin Film Handler Posts: 54 From: Worcester, MA, USA Registered: Mar 2006 posted 07-26-2006 08:28 PM                        The problem is even worse at non theatrical locations. There's absolutely no warning we get from Swank about funny film names, so there's been times where we've thought we didn't have a film until the day before we were setup to show it (and then it's a mad rush to find someone with the time to build it quickly).  |  IP: Logged Bill Gabel Film God Posts: 3873 From: Technicolor / Postworks NY, USA Registered: Jan 2002 posted 07-26-2006 08:35 PM                     So was the box or cans that was delivered with the funny title. Ever opened to see what was inside of the box/cans? Or was it just left to sit there?  |  IP: Logged Ian Woloschin Film Handler Posts: 54 From: Worcester, MA, USA Registered: Mar 2006 posted 07-27-2006 06:59 AM                        Problem for me is my bookers (two students from the social committee on my campus) are responsible for obtaining 35mm prints, and bringing them to the projection booth. I'm only responsible for 35mm prints while they're in the projection booth. For one of our movies, the film wasn't turning up, so I found the cans, saw a funny title, and opened it myself, and realized what had happened. Unfortunately, the bookers are both non technical people, they don't care how it works, they just care that we show a good movie. Granted, it's sort of a unique problem, but why can't the just put the right name on the can, especially when the movie is going to be released on DVD the same week?  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 07-27-2006 08:23 AM                        It only takes a few minutes to examine Reel 1 on a rewind bench to look at the opening title. In most cases, the real title should also be printed on the head leader.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-27-2006 02:08 PM                        ....unless you're looking at a James Bond or Pink Panther movie, in which case the title will be 1000 feet in, or possibly in reel 2... or if you're looking at "The Passion of the Christ," you'll look through the whole print trying to find that title. Code names are dopey. Just put the title on the damn film.  |  IP: Logged Kris Brunton Expert Film Handler Posts: 108 From: Napanee, Ontario, Canada Registered: Apr 2000 posted 07-27-2006 03:06 PM                     The Star Wars I seen was called SWEPI.. but that is when I first started to see the code names as well.. I am not fond of the code names either...  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

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.