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Topic: Drive-ins thats show films with subtitles

Peter Berrett
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 602
From: Victoria, Australia
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 07-28-2002 08:19 AM

Hi all

Are there any drive-in in the world that regularly show foreign or other films that have english subtitles? Or subtitles in a foreign language?

I am intrigued about how well subtitles would show up on a Drive-in screen. Has anyone here ever tried? Did it work? Could you read them? Was there enough luminosity?

It seems to me that in some countries ie the French bit of Canada, subtitled English films would be fairly usual and one would not be surprised to find such films at Drive-ins.

Any information or thoughts on this subject? I am a keen Drive-in enthusiast as well as a person who enjoys French cinema. I can think of nothing better than seeing a good French comedy (eg The Dinner Game)up on the big screen with English subtitles at my local Drive-in. I'd really like to see a local Drive-in organise a "French Night" where a couple of English subtitled French films are shown and French fare eg Croissants, are served in the snack bar.

cheers Peter

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German Marin
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 227
From: Verbania (VB), Italy
Registered: Jul 2001

posted 07-28-2002 11:38 AM

In my country the most of release prints has subtitles. Few years ago did exist two drive-in cinemas in Caracas. I've never seen a movie in a drive-in but I know the subtitles was read clear. In the 80's there was a boom about drive-ins and everybody did wants to go there. One year ago was closed the last drive-in of Caracas because a new multiplex will be built there.

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Dave Bird
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 777
From: Perth, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 07-28-2002 09:35 PM

All the major films are generally dubbed and given french names for release in Quebec (the french bit of Canada). Of course, english versions are also shown. There are probably laws there dictating the ratios of french to english showings, but I don't know them. I've thought that the best solution would be to offer an alternate track on prints and pump out french to one FM frequency, english to another.

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Peter Berrett
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 602
From: Victoria, Australia
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 07-29-2002 03:43 AM

Dave

Are there prints available that have multiple language soundtracks? Seems like a good idea to get extra customers at the drive-in, particularly in a multicultural country like Australia.

cheers Peter.

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 08-07-2002 03:54 PM

How often are various language DTS disks available? Would just need one player for each language, and use the same print for all.

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
e-mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
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Dave Bird
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 777
From: Perth, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 08-08-2002 07:52 AM

Peter, no one I've talked to has heard of it done. I seem to recall something about the tax laws in Quebec being such that a theatre could actually be charged double (as if there were two prints) if a film played in french and english. This is probably meant for a print which shows each language at different screenings. For this reason, I believe they usually just get two different prints. That or my memory fails and I'm delusional. Seems like you could do it with DTS discs as John says, would be simple to do...

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Peter Berrett
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 602
From: Victoria, Australia
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 08-09-2002 02:10 AM

Thanks Dave

I had not realised that one could not run a film with several stereo audio tracks carrying several different languages at once using traditional 35mm.

I have seen the digital light.

Only DIGITAL can do this.

I can't wait now for Drive-ins to convert to Digital so that they can run several languages through different FM channels at once. One will eb able to watch 'Grease' in Slovakian!. I'll be even able to see those horizontal lines running through the image when you get close to the screen. Who knows maybe they'll even start showing commercials in the middle of the film?

Roll on Digital

cheers Peter

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