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

[ArneBjarne]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

How many former/current projectionists are on this forum, anyway?
I think I just placed myself in the crosshairs of some members.

+1. Work parttime at the same place as Agent Cooper, and like him I still prefer good 35mm to 2K

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Blasphemer!

I would never have thought to see this from you Penton!

Several years ago at ETC’s DCL there was a demonstration attended by a bunch of industry folks…………ASC projection sub-committee members, DP’s, CTO’s, tech-geeks, outside consultants, etc. where they showed the StEM movie in a side by side test with the film’s answer print shown on one side of the screen and the digital format simultaneously presently via a 2K projector on the other side of the screen.
(this test was later repeated in film vs. simulated 4K digital face-off, which was even more revealing for the 2K vs 4K aspect of digital projection).

Anyway, the general consensus among audience members was that the 2K was slightly sharper (and I’ll emphasize the word “slightly”) and showed better dynamic range than the 35mm print. Color (including blacks) was considered similar with both.

Then I remember in the Spring of 2005, at the same venue, there was a screening of Steven Soderberg's Oceans 12, with alternating 35mm and 2K digital reels. As above, the film print was considered of “answer quality” and not some release print that had been stepped on hundreds of times already. Likewise, the projectors were state-of-art for that time and likely in far better maintenance than your typical film projector in your local movie theater. Anyway, the result was the same as above with the StEM material demonstration, i.e. everyone preferred the 2K reels over the 35mm. reels (slightly). It should be noted that a few attendees couldn’t discern any difference at all between the two.

I think it’s now more accessible for hobbyists out there to form their own conclusions.
For instance, one of my neighbors goes to a local Cineplex that has one of those Barco 2K projectors and he always mentions to me that he prefers features utilizing that projector rather than the film projectors used in their other auditoriums……no matter what the title.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

theLion

And speaking of Lions, I’ll be attending a wedding during the spring in Chicago, where I’ve got relatives.
Does anyone know if the lions from The Ghost and the Darkness are still on exhibit in some museum there? Is that in downtown Chicago or where?
I’ve always wanted to see how big they really were.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

Penton can you please to me how the hell Dreamworks is this retarded.

Seems like mentally challenged people have figured out easier ways to make money than the rest of us working blokes.

[WickyWoo]

Especially in theaters, the digital looks better than virtually any print they get by far.

[scragham]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Seems like mentally challenged people have figured out easier ways to make money than the rest of us working blokes.

haw. which unfortunately, means that they're actually smarter than the rest of us.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

care to tell us who you voted for.

I already told "horseflesh" that I voted for Daniel Day-Lewis; otherwise I’d prefer to keep the other choices private.

I will tell you what I thought was the most difficult choice/category…….that being "Achievement in cinematography" and picking between Robert Elswit and Roger Deakins. If you recall, Roger was nominated for two films by the Academy and actually one of the first films that inspired him was presented last night at UCLA……….
http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/calendar/..._type=2&id=257

Here's the next one in the series for those that live in the L.A. area and would be interested in this type of thing…………..
http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/calendar/..._type=2&id=270

[Josh]

Abused Film + Teenage Projectionist + Old Bulb + Worn-down Projectors + Sticky Floors + Expensive Tickets + Even More Expensive Food = Stay at home and watch Blu-rays!

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

was there any bias against films made by paramout/dreamworks and universal for you?

Of course not.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by OokieSpookie

So that is what the Uncle Joey guy does for a living these days...

It’s funny because if you watch the Grammy Awards broadcast for the last couple of years, there is one dude (a seat warmer, I would say in the 30 – 40 yr. old age range) that you’ll see seated in the front row, and then 15 or 20 min. later, you’ll notice he’s seated several places over in the first row or back in the second or third row, etc. This goes on all evening as the celebrities in attendance are running to the restrooms, and this guy plays musical chairs in their absence.

He has quite the reputation among the seat warmers subculture.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Shadowself

Maybe I'm just hyper sensitive, but I still prefer E&S's 8K system.

4K seems to be the sweet spot for human vision.
There’s a limit to what a human being can see, and 4K is at the high end of that limit.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by TheLion

Dont you worry, we are fine

After Ruzowitzky and "therefor Austria" took the Oscar home this year it takes a whole lot more to get me upset right now (Ironically Die Fälscher is not on my personal list of top movies 2007 (or 2006 for that matter) - not even close)

I must say that it was a moving moment for me also, after recently learning the original nationality of the mother’s side of my family tree.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

My ex-gf was a projectionist for a while back when I was in school, lots of fun in that cramped, hot projection room...

Sounds hot!

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by edgebsl

I can see taking digital over BAD 35mm. You know, outdated uquipment, gate weave, print scratched to hell.

However, for a top notch 35mm presentation. A fresh print on a modern properly calibrated projector. I have not sen a digital presentation that can compare.

Never a projectionist, but shot a lot of 16mm, still use my 35mm slr.
I'm ok with digital taking over, it just needs to equal the warmth, color and beauty of film. We have a habit of replacing things with newer tech before it meets or exceeds the old one, for the sake of convienience.

Advantages of Digital:

Better looking esp. in real world applications, copying, changing, controlling, delivering.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by David Forbes

I was a projectionist but this was back in the stone age of the early 80s (1984-86, part of the time I was in college). I must admit I prefer digital because while "pristine" film can look great, I almost never see a pristine print.

Tests examined by SMPTE have demonstrated that an average commercial film will project on screen around 1k in resolution. This is due to the generational loss that occurs when the film is duped and film instability when projected will blur fine details.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Josh

Abused Film + Teenage Projectionist + Old Bulb + Worn-down Projectors + Sticky Floors + Expensive Tickets + Even More Expensive Food = Stay at home and watch Blu-rays!

See my post above, esp. if your local cinema only has film projectors.

[Penton-Man]

Later folks.

[Agent Cooper]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

And speaking of Lions, I’ll be attending a wedding during the spring in Chicago, where I’ve got relatives.
Does anyone know if the lions from The Ghost and the Darkness are still on exhibit in some museum there? Is that in downtown Chicago or where?
I’ve always wanted to see how big they really were.

I think this might be what you are looking for:

TheTsavoLions

140 railroad workers dead - just unbelivable.

Field Museum, Chicago.

I kind of liked The Ghost And The Darkness, but I haven't seen it for ages...

[aaronND2000]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Does anyone know if the lions from The Ghost and the Darkness are still on exhibit in some museum there? Is that in downtown Chicago or where?
I’ve always wanted to see how big they really were.

Penton, the lions are on display in the Field Museum in Chicago. They are actually not very big, but part of that has to do with what happened to the skins before they were mounted. They do a good job with the display.

[kurtlingle]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

It’s funny because if you watch the Grammy Awards broadcast for the last couple of years, there is one dude (a seat warmer, I would say in the 30 – 40 yr. old age range) that you’ll see seated in the front row, and then 15 or 20 min. later, you’ll notice he’s seated several places over in the first row or back in the second or third row, etc. This goes on all evening as the celebrities in attendance are running to the restrooms, and this guy plays musical chairs in their absence.

He has quite the reputation among the seat warmers subculture.

That reminds me of an episode of Seinfeld where Cramer was a seat warmer. Thanks for letting us know that really happens (though Cramer was very funny as a seat warmer and even went onstage to get the award).