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

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

If this can be confirmed to be other than an anomalous situation(s), then perhaps an in-service or How To Do video is in order.

They're ignoring the 3D adaptor set-up and you think they're not going to ignore a video?!

Penton, as I'm sure you're aware, this is just commercial exhibitor lazy move #4,327. You basically do have to make it as simple as a big 'go' button with many of these clowns or you're going to get house lights that stay on for the entire feature, blown speakers that stay on the walls for years, bulbs that remain in projectors for decades (!!), mechanically-actuated scrims that are never moved, flat matte boxes left on for 'Scope prints, etc.

When I saw the Star Wars Special Edition in the (then) biggest commercial house in the western states, there was a big cardboard box on the floor underneath the screen. This contained the new screen the theatre had purchased for the film's premiere.

I don't mean to dig too hard at Sony, but the company certainly should know by now that any opportunity their product design gives exhibitors to not do something that it's necessary to do will be fully exploited by a sickeningly large proportion of their customers.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

What was the ‘first’?

Just talking about the negative press about Sony lately in general. The PSN disaster (and the latest hack, this time in Greece) makes people think it's amateur hour over at Sony HQ, or at the very least their IT department.

If this can be confirmed to be other than an anomalous situation(s), then perhaps an in-service or How To Do video is in order.
There will always be challenges presented to projectionists and their supervisors, unless I guess everything becomes 100% automated with a flick of a switch.

Well, remember "user friendliness" is a key item with any product, particularly with the lowest common denominator help many theater chains employ these days. When you have to log in to something to change a lens...

From the article:

So why aren’t theater personnel simply removing the 3-D lenses? The answer is that it takes time, it costs money, and it requires technical know-how above the level of the average multiplex employee. James Bond, a Chicago-based projection guru who serves as technical expert for Roger Ebert’s Ebertfest, said issues with the Sonys are more than mechanical. Opening the projector alone involves security clearances and Internet passwords, “and if you don’t do it right, the machine will shut down on you.’’ The result, in his view, is that often the lens change isn’t made and “audiences are getting shortchanged.’’

As long as this continues, theater chains will go with the competition to avoid the headaches, even if the solution has less overall quality.

[Anthony P]

As long as this continues, theater chains will go with the competition to avoid the headaches, even if the solution has less overall quality.

Peter I agree that can happen but I disagree that this is Sony's fault

requires technical know-how above the level of the average multiplex employee.

to me this means (and my issue with many cinemas) that people are not properly trained for their job. I have never seen this projector and never installed/removed a lens but we are not talking rocket science and if we are then why not hire a rocket scientist?

Opening the projector alone involves security clearances and Internet passwords, “and if you don’t do it right, the machine will shut down on you.

I still don't see anything wrong with this. I am guessing opening up means turning it on (and not physically taking it apart) but wouldn’t' you want the proper people with proper clearance to play around with expensive equipment. If the big technical issue is knowing the username and PW to log in, doesn’t that sound scarily simple to be a technical problem?

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

I still don't see anything wrong with this. I am guessing opening up means turning it on (and not physically taking it apart) but wouldn’t' you want the proper people with proper clearance to play around with expensive equipment. If the big technical issue is knowing the username and PW to log in, doesn’t that sound scarily simple to be a technical problem?

From what I read the 3D adapter itself is a kludge, it's not like attaching another lens like in the old days. The Sony 4K was never designed for 3D but Sony had to come up with a solution in a hurry to retrofit all these expensive new digital installations when 3D became a huge moneymaker.

It's true many skilled projectionists can probably tear down a projector and rebuild it with ease, however these new generation 4K projectors are a completely new animal. Not to mention even the most skilled often forget their password. Working IT I see many people at the top of their game when it comes to their own (non-computer related) work but the simple chore of logging on the network and checking e-mail is an agonizing process.

[sharkshark]

On a more positive note:

http://3dflic.ca/eblast/

For those in the Toronto area interested in 3D

[Kris Deering]

I've been to several digital presentations in my area that use the Sony 4K PJs and they haven't removed the 3D lens system for a 2D presentation. It seems to be the case more times than not. This was a pretty sore subject with some friends of mine when we traveled nearly 2 hours to see Inception at a theater sporting the very latest 4K PJ in a new auditorium only to be completely let down by the image (very dark, soft). We talked to the theater manager afterward and found out the 3D lens system was still in place as they had a 3D film running in that theater for the week before.

Honestly, the industry is giving me more and more reasons not to like 3D and less and less reasons to make me like it. But on a positive note I just bought 2 new pairs of 2D glasses for the summer! Now I can go see the latest Hollywood hits without having to worry about dealing with the 3D fatigue!!

http://www.2d-glasses.com/

[Penton-Man]

Jim SD,
After watching 60 minutes on Sunday evening, I’m heartbroken.
Looks like you were right all along –http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...s-lance-191044

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Kris Deering

Honestly, the industry is giving me more and more reasons not to like 3D and less and less reasons to make me like it.

Some of my friskier European friends would disagree with you -
http://www.tgdaily.com/games-and-ent...d-porn-channel

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Kris Deering

But on a positive note I just bought 2 new pairs of 2D glasses for the summer! Now I can go see the latest Hollywood hits without having to worry about dealing with the 3D fatigue!!

http://www.2d-glasses.com/

I guess that’s an acceptable but rather roundabout solution for some, until the technology progresses….
See program for Session 34 here….http://65.38.182.180/FocusOn/3D.aspx
and search for/find -

“34.5 - Late News Paper: Glasses-Free 2D/ 3D Switchable Display Using a Unique Light Guide (4:50 PM - 5:00 PM)
Masaru Minami, Kanji Yokomizo, Yoshihide Shimpuku
Sony Corporation, Tokyo, Japan"

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

On a more positive note:

http://3dflic.ca/eblast/

For those in the Toronto area interested in 3D

Do not miss Wim Wenders on PINA

See paragraph 2, here –https://forum.blu-ray.com/insider-di...ml#post4533175

[JimSD]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Jim SD,
After watching 60 minutes on Sunday evening, I’m heartbroken.
Looks like you were right all along –http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...s-lance-191044

I was late to the party too. I wanted to believe him for a long time. Still, it was probably a pretty level playing field from what we've heard. I think they ought to just move forward and keep cleaning it up for the future. Stripping titles makes no sense when out of 7 years all but about 3 guys who finished 2nd thru 4th behind him have at a minimum been implicated in doping. I really feel the guys they should be going after are the doctors and team managers that encouraged the PEDs.

Pretty good article over at ESPN by Tim Keown about the situation:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/comme...ory?id=6583566

Feel good that Chris Horner scored a zero (no suspicion) on the UCI's suspicious riders list for last year's Tour that was leaked.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

From what I read the 3D adapter itself is a kludge, it's not like attaching another lens like in the old days. The Sony 4K was never designed for 3D but Sony had to come up with a solution in a hurry to retrofit all these expensive new digital installations when 3D became a huge moneymaker.

It's true many skilled projectionists can probably tear down a projector and rebuild it with ease, however these new generation 4K projectors are a completely new animal.

I am guessing, since it works with the lens on, that there would need to be some changes to the settings on the server (i.e. switch to 1 image 4k instead of what is now which works with [img]http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/6560/sony2x2k3d2.jpg[img]).

But the lens is external, no matter how complicated it is, in essence it is adding something external to the projector, so how complicated can it get?

Not to mention even the most skilled often forget their password. Working IT I see many people at the top of their game when it comes to their own (non-computer related) work but the simple chore of logging on the network and checking e-mail is an agonizing process.

true, but then isn't that a choice? if this is a machine PW and the theatre owner does not care who turns it on /uses it/ goes into the room .... Then they can always just stick a piece of paper with the PW on it and use something simple for the PW.

[PeterTHX]

HA!!!!

http://www.wired.com/playbook/2011/0...irborne-germs/

You soccer hooligans will have to find some other way to annoy the public.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by JimSD

Feel good that Chris Horner scored a zero (no suspicion) on the UCI's suspicious riders list for last year's Tour that was leaked.

I tried to get up to Mt. Baldy (a popular climb for hardcore LA local riders) to watch him and the Radio Shack Team race the defining stage last Saturday but alas, I had to work.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

HA!!!!

http://www.wired.com/playbook/2011/0...irborne-germs/

You soccer hooligans will have to find some other way to annoy the public.

I always stand up-wind.

But really “soccer hooligans” are a whole different matter, that’s more on the level of what the two LA Dodger fans did to that poor San Francisco Giants fan at the baseball game.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

....It's true many skilled projectionists can probably tear down a projector and rebuild it with ease, however these new generation 4K projectors are a completely new animal. Not to mention even the most skilled often forget their password. Working IT I see many people at the top of their game when it comes to their own (non-computer related) work but the simple chore of logging on the network and checking e-mail is an agonizing process.

Perhaps ’10 minutes change time’ (see video) was a bit optimistic for some folks. Maybe it should be changed to 15 minutes to include all possible human variables –

http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/mkt-dig...cinema3d.shtml

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

But really “soccer hooligans” are a whole different matter, that’s more on the level of what the two LA Dodger fans did to that poor San Francisco Giants fan at the baseball game.

Hard to call them "fans". When people (and I use the term loosely for these thugs) who do that sort of thing it's not about the game, it's sheer brutality. It makes us who are true fans of the team/game feel disgusted to be linked to them in any way.

Even though I don't like the Giants I would never advocate any kind of physical violence over a sport. It's heartbreaking to know that Giants fan is still comatose in the hospital, I hope for a recovery of some kind. At the least they caught one of the suspects this past weekend, although his 2 accomplices are still at large.

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Perhaps ’10 minutes change time’ (see video) was a bit optimistic for some folks. Maybe it should be changed to 15 minutes to include all possible human variables –

http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/mkt-dig...cinema3d.shtml

Maybe going back to hailing and exchanging several 70mm reels for each different showing, which takes only a minute or two to do , would make it easier for them.

[Kris Deering]

The projector issue is more than brightness though. By leaving the 3D lens on they are lower the overall resolution to less than half of what the projector could produce with the right lens. It isn't even as high as a typical 2K DLP D-Cinema projector. So you get a dim image that is also considerably softer than what it should be.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by PaulGo

In the many year you have been posting here and previously on AVS your posts have always been honest and accurate. I have never found you to twist or alter the facts. Sometime the way you present facts are a bit unique but that's what makes reading your posts fun!

Surrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrvey says…

http://www.multichannel.com/article/...ence_Study.php