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Author Topic: Filmack headers treated with Scotchguard Steven J Hart Master Film Handler Posts: 282 From: WALES, ND, USA Registered: Mar 2004 posted 05-28-2010 07:29 AM                        I recently bought some Pike productions headers from Filmack and on the invoice it said the film was treated with Scotchguard and they charged for the treatment by the foot. I've never heard of Scotchguard being used on film - I routinely use Film Guard, any chance of an adverse reaction? The printing of the headers seem to be pretty good quality except for "sparkles" at the end of one of them. I assume this is caused by negative dust?  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 05-28-2010 08:54 AM                     Scotchgard has been a Filmack "feature" for a long-long time. It improves the durability of snipes by placing a layer of plastic over the emulsion/base and thereby reduces the likelihood of scratches. IMAX too has been a user of Scotchgard. The downside is that Film Guard will not work well with it. The Film Guard will merely sit on the surface because it can't penetrate. Think of it like Rain-X and water except with Film Guard, you don't want it to just sit on the surface in a steaky bubbly form. Brad may have some suggestions here. Steve  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-28-2010 09:17 AM                     It also makes the film smell like burning rubber as it goes through the gate and gets heated by the lamp. It is very bothersome the first time you smell it. Then, after you get used to the smell, it just pisses you off every time you run a show.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 05-28-2010 09:39 AM                        Yeh. but scratches almost stop. Louis  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 05-29-2010 11:09 AM                        And dirt doesn't stick either. Neither does the cheap splicing tape very well, although that's a good test to see how good your splicing tape really is. You have to be sure to rub the tape quite well to make sure there's a good bond. Never had any splice let loose because of it. But then again, we don't run platters so I don't know if that makes any difference. And we don't have extended runs either; any weakness probably wouldn't show up on four or five passes max and thru the short reel-to-reel path. If I remember correctly, Brad is not fond of it, but I can tell you that for snipes which come directly out the theatre's pocket and at a pretty penny, the extended life which ScotchGuard (or PhotoGuard*) adds to those snipes is really a welcome money-saving plus. We've been specifically going to Filmack for our custom snipes partly because they offer the process on all their film. For pieces of film that get used over and over, this is a very desirable application; it makes that piece of film super tough. And from what I've read, the inventor of the process says that even though it does "coat" the film -- sounds like a thing that would promote VS -- once the polymer is cured by passing thru ultraviolet light, it becomes porous and the film can still "breath." Or so he and 3M claim. Not that it is a definitive test, my experience is that not a single ScotchGuarded snipe that we've gotten from Filmack over the years has ever turned vinegar on us and we have dozens from as far back as the early 80s. *Not sure which is the current trade name that they are using for the process now -- both have been used by 3M at various times.  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 05-29-2010 02:02 PM                        Why only over the emulsion layer? Scratching the base side just doesn't happen? If they charge by the foot, can you refuse to pay and get an un-Scotchguarded version? If not, why do they even add it to the invoice? Why not charge for perforations, too? Or the emulsion itself? I have never heard of Filmmack and not sure why I'd want to use anything they produce, especially if it prevents me from running Filmguard on the rest of the print.  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-29-2010 02:11 PM                     It doesn't prevent you from running FG. I have been using Filmack snipes for years. I have never had a splice let loose on the stuff whether I used Neumade tape or Jack Roe tape. Never had any problem with FG being "incompatible" with ScotchGuard in any way. It just makes the projection booth smell like burned rubber for about a minute every time you run it. But, after a while, the smell goes away almost completely. Then you won't notice a difference at all.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-29-2010 02:54 PM                        quote: Joe Redifer I have never heard of Filmmack and not sure why I'd want to use anything they produce Joe, Filmack was bought out by somebody (Pike Productions, I think) but if their "product line" is still available, I can guarantee you would never want to use any of their stuff. More "dated" products you have never seen. Only a theatre shooting for a corny old skool look would use it. Their PSAs (don't drive drunk, stay in school) are particularly awful in their attempts to be "hip."  |  IP: Logged Jack Theakston Master Film Handler Posts: 411 From: New York, USA Registered: Sep 2007 posted 05-29-2010 03:25 PM                     On the other hand, they've got some terrific nostalgic stuff in their library worth having ("Let's All Go To the Lobby" is their crown jewel). Nothing wrong with being "old school" if that's what your demographic is.  |  IP: Logged Hillary Charles Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 748 From: York, PA, USA Registered: Feb 2001 posted 05-29-2010 03:34 PM                     And then there is this classic intermission film.  |  IP: Logged Mike Croaro Master Film Handler Posts: 394 From: Millbrae, CA Registered: Apr 2005 posted 05-29-2010 03:52 PM                     Folks: I purchased "Now Playing in another Auditorium" snipes in 1993. The graphics and sountrack wre completely absurd. I sent them back for refund. Mike  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 05-29-2010 03:55 PM                        quote: Jack Theakston "Let's All Go To the Lobby" is their crown jewel Do they have a "Let's all go to the satellite concession stand"? Or maybe a "Let's all go to the Bulk Candy machine?"  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 05-29-2010 04:02 PM                        The first theatre I ever worked at used pike productions stuff including the "Now playing in another auditorium" "Gift Certificates Available At The Box Office" A Custom "Patriot Cinemas" Imaging snipe and my personal favorite the "Welcome To The Theatre" policy trailer complete with flying trash can, popcorn tub, and soda cup and "Welcome" in a bunch of different languages! I can still hear the music to them in my head  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 05-29-2010 08:34 PM                        Mike, I think you are being too hard on them -- yes, they have very retro stuff in their library which as Jack rightly points out, depending on your demographics and the style of your theatre, retro can be very sheik -- in fact, Drive-Ins were always begging for new copies of that old stuff (I think Filmack got it wrong however in that particular trailer when they had the hotdog saying "Nay" to the bun's bold advance -- usually it's the other way around, no?). But aside from all the retro library, Filmac also produced custom snipes which were very first class and quite stylish; that's what we used them mostly for as well as stock daters and their famous "Traileretts." The traileretts were just stills and graphics from the film shot on an Oxbery. For a retrospective house where no trailer was available for an old title, it was a godsend to be able to at least put the title up there on the screen so the audience knew you were going to play it. I would also say that the personnel and customer service was first rate. Their staff was always personable and friendly -- you just got a sence that you were dealing with good folks from the heartland. Doing business with them was always a pleasure. They were fast, always on time and I give them kudos for helping the art house crowd when the studios were giving us nothing. quote: Joe Redifer Why only over the emulsion layer? Scratching the base side just doesn't happen? I am almost certain ScotchGuard was applied to both sides of the film. I can double check it when I get to the theatre. Also, perhaps when Pike bought them out, they changed their policy, but I don't remember them ever itemizing for the ScotchGuard treatment. It was their marketing hook -- all their output had the protectant applied to it --you didn't get to choose. So how could they use it as a marketing tool if they itemized it and charged you for it? If they are doing it now, it's a big mistake.  |  IP: Logged Ian Parfrey Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1049 From: Imbil Australia 26 deg 27' 42.66" S 152 deg 42' 23.40" E Registered: Feb 2009 posted 05-29-2010 08:48 PM                     I was under the impression that Filmack bought out Pike Productions. I may be wrong here but that's how I remember it.  |  IP: Logged

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