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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Topic: The care and feeding of semi-retired 35mm equipment
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Leo Enticknap
Film God
![](http://www.film-tech.com/ubbmembers/534a.jpg)
Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 03-19-2011 10:11 AM
As film disappears from mainstream theatres it'll become the territory of arthouse venues and places that show mainly archival prints. I suspect that they'll want to show film of all varieties (16, 35 and 70) for many years yet, and looked-after machines 'for spares or repair', to use that infamous Ebay phrase, will become sought after. The same thing has happened among vinyl (and shellac) record geeks. I recently sold a turntable I bought on Ebay on 2004 on Ebay once again, for three times what I paid for it! My guess is that this is because (a) I looked after it and repaired several defects, and (b) less of them survive now than did then, becuase many will have been dumpstered in the intervening six years or so. I think what I'm trying to say is that after an initial slump, good 35mm projector mechanisms of designs that are recognised as being well suited to running older prints will appreciate in value. Even if you never intend to use yours again, if you have the space, then mothballing them carefully and storing for a decade or two and then selling might turn out to be a worthwhile option.
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Aaron Mehocic
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 804
From: New Castle, PA, USA
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 03-19-2011 02:50 PM
quote: Bill Enos The further out you get from the last use the less likely you are to ever use it again.
I disagree. In fact, over the past three months I have doubled digital features along side other title film prints over a period of at least three weeks. Once more, notice its plural - meaning its not just the same stale movie being bled white week after week. Aggressive bookers will use all options available to them and I suspect this will be fairly normal given who we are contracted with.
When not in use I take care of the 35mm just like it is still part of the flock. I have heard horror stories from other - more poorly ran multiplexes - about cannibalizing the retired (but still functional) 35mm only to find out the following week it will be required for service. If I had my way I think I would fire those employees for sabotage if this prevented a show.
However, for those other machines that have been entirely removed, we are still devising an official company policy regarding mothballing. For the most part, all machines are thoroughly cleaned and repaired before going into storage. Moreover, all of the fluids are properly drained and the gear side of the machine also cleaned and maintained. If indeed a better part is on these machines that might be swapped elsewhere, then I suppose it would be alright. I have mentioned to some in our company about keeping a log as to what has been swapped out so we at least know the source of the used part and can replace it down the road. The last thing I want sitting around in my booth are piles of junk that were once great machines having the misfortune of falling into the hands of lazy, incompetent people.
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Leo Enticknap
Film God
![](http://www.film-tech.com/ubbmembers/534a.jpg)
Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 03-20-2011 10:15 AM
There are some arthouse venues, and especially cinematheques that are attached to, or have a close relationship with archives (e.g. the Dryden Theater in Rochester, NFT in London etc.), which will want to continue showing film for ideological reasons. Also, there are a great many more obscure archival titles that haven't been digitised. Sure, DCPs of the usual classics - Citizen Kane, Gone With the Wind and about 67 different restorations of Metropolis - will very quickly become readily available. But for a lot of titles that might get a screening once every 10-15 years, showing the 35mm print might still be the cheaper and more efficient option for the foreseeable future. The cost of producing a DCP from preservation elements is coming down, but it's still significant. I agree that we're talking about a tiny minority of overall venues, but my gut feeling is that they will still exist.
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