"Club Penton" - Ask questions to Hollywood insider "Penton-Man"

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

No comment on the coyote on the train?

Sorry , I was rushing to meet up with friends for a group ride.
The pic of the coyote on the train was GREAT!!!!!!!!!
That was one Wiley Coyote.

Thanks for the image.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

And, yeah Penton, I put that up against Shania any day. Besides, I worry you like her for her, uh, "assets", more than her "singing"

[Bobby Henderson]

Originally Posted by cjamescook

I thought all theatres still used carbon arcs, like we did in engineering school in the late 1970s/early 1980s. Pure, brilliant light. The rods burn down as you use them, giving you no choice about replacement.

When/why did this change?

Cost.

Xenon-based lamps last much longer than carbon arc units. A carbon-arc lit projector arguably produces better image quality. However, the lamp house must be continually adjusted and maintained. That's too much to ask for most commercial movie theaters in operation today.

The "projectionist" in a modern movie theater is usually a manager, assistant manager or even a popcorn jockey. Not many of those folks possess the knowledge how to deliver film done right on a greatly simplified setup much less do so using an older projector equipped with carbon arc illumination. The general lack of skill in the projection booth is one factor driving movie theater chains to convert over to digital projection. The D-cinema systems can be automated and even operated remotely off site. Just have the tech guy show up every once in awhile to change lamps and adjust a few other things.

I don't know if there's any safety issues present with the carbon arc method that Xenon lamps somehow solve.

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by cjamescook

Huh? Lamps? I thought all theatres still used carbon arcs, like we did in engineering school in the late 1970s/early 1980s. Pure, brilliant light. The rods burn down as you use them, giving you no choice about replacement.

When/why did this change?

When I started in the exhibition business a couple of decades ago all the projectors had the modern Xenon lamps, like BH says (Xenon gas gives a light that's close to daylight color temperature around D60), and it was just a matter of turning them on with a flick of a switch (a several kilovolts switch but a switch ) and that was all. There were a few carbon arc projectors resting in peace in the warehouse and I'm still amazed at those old guard projectionists that used them. Kind of a job that combined welder, film technician, audio engineer, presenter and trafic air controller, changing projectors every 15-20 minutes while mantaining the carbon arc, focus, sound, framing, shutter ghosting and reel changes while a 120 minute movie ran smoothly on the screen to the unsuspecting patrons below.

[Stacey Spears]

What lens package did you eventually purchase for your Red?

I ended up with the RED Pro Primes, a Tokina 11-16mm converted to PL by Duclos, and a Century S2000 150-600mm. Of course the 150-600 makes the RED look small.



I am heading to Ren-Mar to see the Epic and Scarlet prototypes.

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Stacey Spears

I ended up with the RED Pro Primes, a Tokina 11-16mm converted to PL by Duclos, and a Century S2000 150-600mm. Of course the 150-600 makes the RED look small.



I am heading to Ren-Mar to see the Epic and Scarlet prototypes.

Compensating for anything?

I kid...

Stacey, other than your calibration disc (fab), I'm unaware of whatelse you shoot as part of a day job... What are you shooting that needs such a long lens? Wildlife? Sporting events? Neighbours?

[Stacey Spears]

What are you shooting that needs such a long lens?

I drove up the Oregon coast over the summer, and around Washington, shooting lighthouses. A few of them were at least a mile away. I used this lens and a 2x to get as close as I could.

Tillamook Rock is 1.2 miles out at sea. It was a 1.5 mile hike up a steep hill just to get to the viewing point, and I thought I was in shape at the time! That hike was easy compared to the 11-mile hike across a beach to get to another lighthouse. You can only go during low tide, which gave me short window of time for a roundtrip. I could barely walk for the next couple of days. I started to worry I would even make it back to my car.

[DenonCI]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Denon, I meant to tell you that a few weeks ago for the first time I saw The Legend of Bagger Vance (on cable).
I had never seen the movie before.
I truly enjoyed it.

It's been years since I've seen that film, but I remember liking it a lot. Another good golf film is "The Greatest Game Ever Played."

If you want a great read, check out "Flatbellies" by Alan B. Hollingsworth http://www.amazon.com/Flatbellies-Alan-B-Hollingsworth/dp/0393324206, it's one of the best books I've read in years. It would translate into an excellent film, IMHO.

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Stacey Spears

I drove up the Oregon coast over the summer, and around Washington, shooting lighthouses. A few of them were at least a mile away. I used this lens and a 2x to get as close as I could.

Tillamook Rock is 1.2 miles out at sea. It was a 1.5 mile hike up a steep hill just to get to the viewing point, and I thought I was in shape at the time! That hike was easy compared to the 11-mile hike across a beach to get to another lighthouse. You can only go during low tide, which gave me short window of time for a roundtrip. I could barely walk for the next couple of days. I started to worry I would even make it back to my car.

fun...and what happens with the footage? Did you make it to the East coast of Canada? Some lovely examples there...

Penton knows I'm a diver, frankly the only lighthouse I'd really go out of my way to visit would be pharos at Alexandria: http://everything-everywhere.com/200...of-alexandria/

[cjamescook]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

...I don't know if there's any safety issues present with the carbon arc method that Xenon lamps somehow solve.

Well, yeah, carbon arc produces carbon monoxide, so it must be vented via a chimney through the roof, but my feeling was, so what? Obviously, I am an engineer, not a business major.

Massachusetts felt audience safety to be such a concern that carbon arc projectionists were licensed by the state (I don't know if this is still true). We had fun inscribing "licensed projectionist" on one friend's bumper.

[DenonCI]

Congrats to the Saints. That was another exciting Super Bowl...now it's time for the World Cup (Although the Winter Olympics won't be half-bad either)

[Bobby Henderson]

Originally Posted by Me, Again

I'm probably going to buy a Sony KDL40V5100 model HDTV set tomorrow at Sears to take advantage of the Super Bowl weekend prices. The 40" 120Hz TV set regularly costs between $1100-$1200. Right now it's $879 and qualifies for no interest and no payments for 12 months.

I actually ended up buying a Samsung 630 series 40" HDTV model for the same amount of money. The store was down to their last Sony unit -a display model on the shelf. I'm not buying that thing without a really serious discount on top of the $879 sale price.

Unfortunately I'm going to have to return the TV to the store because there's a damned dead bright green pixel showing in the middle of the display. I'm not putting up with that. Not even for a sale price of $879. The TV ought to work perfect right out of the box.

Man this is annoying.

[JimSD]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

I actually ended up buying a Samsung 630 series 40" HDTV model for the same amount of money. The store was down to their last Sony unit -a display model on the shelf. I'm not buying that thing without a really serious discount on top of the $879 sale price.

Unfortunately I'm going to have to return the TV to the store because there's a damned dead bright green pixel showing in the middle of the display. I'm not putting up with that. Not even for a sale price of $879. The TV ought to work perfect right out of the box.

Man this is annoying.

Check out Costco (or costco.com) for a 46" Sony V-series for $849.99. That should tide you over for a while better than a 40". Regardless, sorry to hear about your loss.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Oliver K

My intention was not to defend screenshots but to explain why Robert might have thought that screenshots would be helpful in the case of GoNY...

Does he (http://www.hometheaterforum.com/foru...est-in-blu-ray)

think that they would be helpful in the case of North by Northwest?
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...php?p=17626444

If so, ask him to e-mail the screenshot link with the above comments to Ned so that AVS home theater enthusiasts can get a *non-DNR’ed* Blu-ray edition this or next year and they (the screenshot scientists) can all proudly proclaim “we got what the Blu-ray should have looked like when released in 2009”.

My problem is that by RAH publicly endorsing these online idiots, in the long run, he does far, FAR greater harm than good to home theater enthusiasts.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

I actually ended up buying a Samsung 630 series 40" HDTV model for the same amount of money. The store was down to their last Sony unit -a display model on the shelf. I'm not buying that thing without a really serious discount on top of the $879 sale price.

Unfortunately I'm going to have to return the TV to the store because there's a damned dead bright green pixel showing in the middle of the display. I'm not putting up with that. Not even for a sale price of $879. The TV ought to work perfect right out of the box.

Man this is annoying.

Bobby, if that’s your price range, for a little more, you can get the Mits WD-60735 60-Inch 1080p DLP HDTV, which apparently is 3D-ready for under $1100. thru Amazon which I think offers free shipping on the deal.

I hope they didn’t steal your Canon camera (and lenses) or any personal items that are essentially irreplaceable……like family heirlooms and such.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Stacey Spears

I ended up with the RED Pro Primes, a Tokina 11-16mm converted to PL by Duclos, and a Century S2000 150-600mm. Of course the 150-600 makes the RED look small.



I am heading to Ren-Mar to see the Epic and Scarlet prototypes.

Stacey, I hope you have a good home security system.

You can get 4 Sony Day and Night Color High Resolution Infrared Waterproof Cameras and hook them up to a 4 Ch standalone digital recorder with a 250 G hard drive probably for under $1500.

Even if you never catch any robbers on tape...if you live in the appropriate locale, you can record a coyote and her offspring coming around at 5 or 6 a.m. to say ‘Hello’.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Stacey Spears

I ended up with the RED Pro Primes.....

Have you tried, or felt the need to use an IR-ND filter for high contrast situations while shooting with your RedOne?

http://www.tiffen.com/userimages/HD%...Chart%20ss.pdf

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Stacey Spears

I drove up the Oregon coast over the summer, and around Washington, shooting lighthouses. A few of them were at least a mile away. I used this lens and a 2x to get as close as I could.

Tillamook Rock is 1.2 miles out at sea. It was a 1.5 mile hike up a steep hill just to get to the viewing point, and I thought I was in shape at the time! That hike was easy compared to the 11-mile hike across a beach to get to another lighthouse. You can only go during low tide, which gave me short window of time for a roundtrip. I could barely walk for the next couple of days. I started to worry I would even make it back to my car.

I liiiiiiiiiiiike it.
Good story.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Sorry , I was rushing to meet up with friends for a group ride.

b.t.w., to Jim SD, the group ride was with mountain bikers which turned more into a long hike-a-bike due to the mud from our recent rainstorms out here.

Brought back memories of La Ruta.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

The "projectionist" in a modern movie theater is usually a manager, assistant manager or even a popcorn jockey....

Usually …………but in rare cases, like at special showings, just to avoid any unforeseen snafus- (http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2...-sony-studios/

the person who offered his ‘projectionist’ services for that ^ past event is a highly respected film archivist, preservationist and historian who is currently employed by Sony Pictures Entertainment in Asset Management and film restoration, also teaches at U.C.L.A. in the Moving Image Archive Studies Program and who has been involved in some of the most prestigious film restorations ever undertaken, such as Rashomon…………and is the former Director of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences film archive.