More of "whatever it takes to save film"....Quentin Tarantino Explains Why 70MM Film

[Richard S. (rich815)]

Quentin Tarantino Explains Why 70MM Film Is Better Than Digital

http://digg.com/video/hateful-eight-70mm-tarantino

 

[Prest_400]

Would love to see a 70mm screening of the movie, sadly I have no theater of the road show within range. It'll have to be ordinary screening at the local theater sadly, who don't screen 35mm anymore I think.
I think I saw a list of the theaters screening it around, and now I cannot for the life of me find it again.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Thanks!

 

[wiltw]

Sad, we have to watch digital projection and see pixels on the screen if we sit closer than 1/3 back from the screen, only because it is far cheaper for distribution to send harddrive in the mail than reels of film. So the cinemas have to install digital projectors and cannot project film any longer.

Assuming the typical regular (not iMax) screen is 42' wide with 4096 pixels on 4K cinema, each pixel is 3.13mm wide, and if we sit closer than 20' the human eye can resolve the individual pixels sufficiently well.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

Sad, we have to watch digital projection and see pixels on the screen if we sit closer than 1/3 back from the screen, only because it is far cheaper for distribution to send harddrive in the mail than reels of film. So the cinemas have to install digital projectors and cannot project film any longer.

Assuming the typical regular (not iMax) screen is 42' wide with 4096 pixels on 4K cinema, each pixel is 3.13mm wide, and if we sit closer than 20' the human eye can resolve the individual pixels sufficiently well.

Send hard drives? No way, the theaters are downloading it over the Internet from the distributor.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

Would love to see a 70mm screening of the movie, sadly...

I had not been out to see a real motion picture in a theater since the industry killed projected film. What was the point, I reasoned? I could see digital pixels in my basement for far less money, and with a private bathroom. And digital storylines are excruciatingly boring to me.

But when the chance came to see Interstellar in true 70mm projected film, I leaped at the opportunity. We immediately booked advanced reservations at the Boeing IMAX theater at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, Washington (walking distance from the iconic Space Needle).

The evening of the screening we arrived early. I used the time to visit the projection room viewing area. It's a large glassed-in window through which the public can watch the 600+ pound reels of film being loaded, threaded, prepped and projected. It was mesmerizing to watch the computerized process. Some of that similar equipment is also briefly shown in this video.

The show itself was a magnificant experience to behold. The word immersive does not begin to do it justice. Exquisite color, sound, detail, and an intriguing plot (gravitational time dilation portrayed as just another fact of life truly rocks*), combined with a highly respectful audience (no coughs, snorts, talking, or cellphones) made for a wonderfully memorable evening.

If this new production also becomes available at the Boeing IMAX, it's a no-brainer. I'll pay whatever they ask. But if the only place I can see it is on a local pixel screen, then sadly I'm not interested at any price.

Ken

* A motion picture storyline not for the faint of heart: Interstellar Timeline

 

[Trail Images]

Thanks for sharing this update, Richard. Something to really look forward to.......

 

[Prest_400]

I had not been out to see a real motion picture in a theater since the industry killed projected film. What was the point, I reasoned? I could see digital pixels in my basement for far less money, and with a private bathroom. And digital storylines are excruciatingly boring to me.

But when the chance came to see Interstellar in true 70mm projected film, I leaped at the opportunity. We immediately booked advanced reservations at the Boeing IMAX theater at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, Washington (walking distance from the iconic Space Needle).

The evening of the screening we arrived early. I used the time to visit the projection room viewing area. It's a large glassed-in window through which the public can watch the 600+ pound reels of film being loaded, threaded, prepped and projected. It was mesmerizing to watch the computerized process. Some of that similar equipment is also briefly shown in this video.

The show itself was a magnificant experience to behold. The word immersive does not begin to do it justice. Exquisite color, sound, detail, and an intriguing plot (gravitational time dilation portrayed as just another fact of life truly rocks*), combined with a highly respectful audience (no coughs, snorts, talking, or cellphones) made for a wonderfully memorable evening.

If this new production also becomes available at the Boeing IMAX, it's a no-brainer. I'll pay whatever they ask. But if the only place I can see it is on a local pixel screen, then sadly I'm not interested at any price.

Ken

* A motion picture storyline not for the faint of heart: Interstellar Timeline

Certainly agree with that. The cinema experience is not that much nowadays, I do go with some friends for watcing whatever xmovie floats the boat for the day. However, I get that sensation of a glorified YouTube... Especially with the kind of ads that my local theater puts.

While I may not be able to attend any of the original roadshow theaters (I should take a plane for it seemingly) I've discovered thanks to an actor friend that there is a theater (of those catering to cinephiles et al) which occasionally screens 70mm prints. Infact, today a few hours from now, there is a Screening of Interstellar in 70mm.
Timing is not with me to go for a 70mm Screening, but I am confident that somewhere in the near future I'll be able to thankfully.

 

[Alan Klein]

Watching a digital projection of a movie originally taken on film and converted to digital is different than if the original was taken with a digital camera. My understanding is that the digital projection follows the film nuances. I also understand that in many ways it's better than projecting the film as all dust, clicks, shakes and other elements you often see with film are eliminated. It's a like a purer version of film.

 

[CropDusterMan]

Years ago, I got to work on a photoshoot with Tarantino when I was Martin Schoellers assistant. Quentin was such
a cool guy, showed up on time and drove himself to the studio...driving "The Pussy Wagon" from the Kill Bill
movie! It was a great day of collaboration and he is such a down to earth guy, yet, a total visionary.

Can't wait to see the film.

 

[Trail Images]

Years ago, I got to work on a photoshoot with Tarantino when I was Martin Schoellers assistant. Quentin was such
a cool guy, showed up on time and drove himself to the studio...driving "The Pussy Wagon" from the Kill Bill
movie! It was a great day of collaboration and he is such a down to earth guy, yet, a total visionary.

Can't wait to see the film.

The set for part of Kill Bill was shot directly behind our offices at that time. While on break we could watch QT and his crew taking a coffee break too and listen to the exchanges. I will concur he seemed very down to earth and you could tell he enjoyed being around his crew even at break time.

 

[Sal Santamaura]

...the 600+ pound reels of film being loaded, threaded, prepped and projected. It was mesmerizing to watch the computerized process. Some of that similar equipment is also briefly shown in that video...

Irrespective of what's shown in the video, a print of "The Hateful Eight" (all on one reel, including the intermission) is only 220 pounds. Shipping weight, including the custom-built container, is 350 pounds. That and lots more interesting information here:

http://www.in70mm.com/news/2016/hateful_8/index.htm​

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

Irrespective of what's shown in the video...

Interstellar Was So Big It Almost Broke IMAX
— Julia Greenberg, Wired online, 11/20/2014

"Interstellar is the longest IMAX presentation ever. To screen it, all that film is wound up and placed on a 72-inch-diameter platter; fully loaded it weighs 600 pounds and takes a forklift to move."

As we handed our tickets to the ticket girl we were gently warned not to be late to our seats, and once seated not to leave the theater for any reason. This warning was repeated to the assembling crowd by an usher inside the theater, who offered the following explanation...

It seems the maximum length of an IMAX motion picture is determined by the maximum size of the horizontal projector platter that holds the film. And for this picture Mr. Nolan required an extra-long runtime to tell the whole story. This extended runtime was enabled by the use of special film retaining clips designed to hold the film on the reel right to the maximum outer edge of that platter.

Even with this arrangement, the full cut of Interstellar was long enough that there was no more room on the reel to include the standard upcoming movie preview clips, or any other commercial messages, before the main event. So at the point the projector was started, Interstellar started. The doors would then be closed with no late seating to interrupt the presentation. And there would be no exceptions. Or intermission.

As he finished the explanation, I realized this was going to be something special.



Ken

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

Just checked, and this is the closest 70mm venue to me for this release:

The Hollywood Theater, Portland, Oregon

The Hateful Eight in 70MM, Roadshow Version

I would drive round trip from the Seattle area (~400 miles, ~6½ hours) to see this in 70mm projected film. But I wouldn't drive 15 minutes locally to town to see it in digital.

It's a personal lifestyle choice...



Ken

 

[hoffy]

While people like us care, most people don't.

I work at an IT company with a bunch of IT nerds. With big movie releases, the general consensus is to get what ever version of any blockbuster movie (or TV show) they can get their hands on first and watch it as soon as they can. They really don't care whether it's in its highest resolution or whether its been compressed to crap (or recorded with a handy cam). They think it weird that I would actually wait and go to the Cinema to watch it.

This is the crap that QT and others in the industry who also care have to deal with.

I saw Spectre on the weekend. I read with interest that it was filmed on film and that there is indeed Film distribution available. The cinema that I watched it in was not displaying a film cut......and yes, I could tell the difference. There was something missing - that sharp feel that a film print will give was missing.

Sigh, if I ever had Millions to burn, I would set up a cinema that only ever shows film prints......and I'd go bust in a hurry

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

While people like us care, most people don't.

But I'm not most people. And I don't allow inhabitants of the middle of the bell curve to dictate my choices. That's what makes being us so much fun.

Sigh, if I ever had Millions to burn, I would set up a cinema that only ever shows film prints......and I'd go bust in a hurry

I dunno'... Read a little further into the backstory of The Hollywood Theater and you'll find that the resurrection of 70mm projection capability was funded as a labor of love in part by customer donations, along with other corporate donations.

There really is no compelling reason to simply roll over and accept the Tyranny of the Bell Curve. It's not inevitable. Those IT nerds are not the designated evolvers of culture. They do not dictate taste. Except perhaps their own bad taste.

Maybe they are just nothing more than a bunch of tasteless maroons. And maybe it's no more complicated than that. I've been in software development and engineering for almost 30 years, and I don't think or act as you described they do. As described, they sound like clueless buffoons to me.

Quality in life is something which must be sought out, precisely because it cannot be conveniently found at the top of that big central hump in the curve. Living life further down the right-hand slope is unquestionably more difficult, but infinitely more rewarding.



Ken

 

[hoffy]

But I'm not most people. And I don't allow inhabitants of the middle of the bell curve to dictate my choices. That's what makes being us so much fun.



I dunno'... Read a little further into the backstory of The Hollywood Theater and you'll find that the resurrection of 70mm projection capability was funded as a labor of love in part by customer donations, along with other corporate donations.

There really is no compelling reason to simply roll over and accept the Tyranny of the Bell Curve. It's not inevitable. Those IT nerds are not the designated evolvers of culture. They do not dictate taste. Except perhaps their own bad taste.

Maybe they are just nothing more than a bunch of tasteless maroons. And maybe it's no more complicated than that. I've been in software development and engineering for almost 30 years, and I don't think or act as you described they do. As described, they sound like clueless buffoons to me.

Quality in life is something which must be sought out, precisely because it cannot be conveniently found at the top of that big central hump in the curve. Living life further down the right-hand slope is unquestionably more difficult, but infinitely more rewarding.



Ken

Surely, being someone who has worked in the Industry as long as you would have seen these kinds of individuals? Or maybe its an Australian thing.

I work with a bunch of people who pirate content non stop. Its like a badge of honour to download and watch something before anyone else, regardless of how bad the playback quality is! They are torrenting data constantly and quite often downloading content that they will not even watch.

Don't worry, though, I am with you. Over the last half a century at least, there has been so much content produced and recorded onto quality medium that it needs to be preserved in that way and even played back in that fashion. Could you imagine seeing the glorious films of the late 60's recorded on Panavision that need to be seen projected as intended. As I like motorsport, I'd love to see Grand Prix in all its wide screen glory.

 

[Slixtiesix]

Thanks for sharing. It´s nice to see so that 70mm still has support in Hollywood. I will never forget the first and unfortunately only time so far I´ve watched an IMAX movie (The Dark Knight). The quality of the projection was amazing. The same cinema was converted to digital projection later and I have watched some other movies thereafter, but the quality, that means sharpness and resolution, is no match for 70mm.

 

[KidA]

Although 70mm film converted to digital is still way better than something shot on digital, the improvement in viewing a true film projection is out of this world. Last year, they had a Stanley Kubrick exhibition at TIFF (Toronto) and 2001: A Space Odyssey was INCREDIBLE. Sadly, the only other movies shown on film were Spartacus and Eyes Wide Shut. The latter of the two was in very bad shape (intense dust/scratch marks), but man was is still incredible to truly feel the film's tones. Barry Lyndon, a movie that just screams to be projected from film, IMO suffered the most as a a digital projection.

The more recent 70mm films are so processed, it's quite sad. The coloring still makes it feel digital. I'm not huge into movies, but why do you guys think these companies are still pumping in millions of dollars for film when 99% of viewers would see absolutely no difference? I bet many more people would be able to tell the difference of film projection to 100% digital tho...

 

[Sal Santamaura]

...why do you guys think these companies are still pumping in millions of dollars for film when 99% of viewers would see absolutely no difference?...

Because a handful of influential directors, Tarantino being most vocal among them, twisted the studios' arms into doing so. And for no other reason.

 

[Nodda Duma]

Surely, being someone who has worked in the Industry as long as you would have seen these kinds of individuals? Or maybe its an Australian thing.

I work with a bunch of people who pirate content non stop. Its like a badge of honour to download and watch something before anyone else, regardless of how bad the playback quality is! They are torrenting data constantly and quite often downloading content that they will not even watch.

Sounds like an unethical place to work. Not really in line with any profession's code of ethics. I would find work elsewhere before you sink to their level.

Ethics and morals might not seem important, but trust me they are

 

[hoffy]

Sounds like an unethical place to work. Not really in line with any profession's code of ethics. I would find work elsewhere before you sink to their level.

Ethics and morals might not seem important, but trust me they are

That's why I'm not a lawyer......

I've been with the same employer for 12 years. I'm pretty sure I can look after myself, but thank you for your concern.

 

[falotico]

Digital is a different medium than silver halide film. Its principal advantage is cost, but to compare its image quality to film is like comparing a violin which you find in a high school band room to a Stradivarius. To me digital has always been imitation chocolate. It is so new that most audiences don't notice its limitations: it is an additive process; it has only about two F stops of exposure latitude; it does not have a very large gamma; high frame rate looks like lousy video, blah, blah, blah. Have you noticed that they don't pan much in digital movies? The scan process makes a complete muddle of the image when the camera pans. The resolution isn't very good. In some documentaries Super 8 Kodachrome has been transferred to digital and the image is as detailed as that taken with a digital camera. Think of the difference between a photograph printed on photographic paper and one reproduced in a magazine.

 

[removed account4]

was talking to a local projectionist yesterday about the roadshow, and one of the local mega=plex cinemas is being retrofitted to
present this movie. he seemed very excited ...

not sure if i buy the whole if you sit too far back all you see is pixies for modern-stuff. i haven't experienced this at all.

 

[Steve Smith]

Are we talking abut two formats here? If I remember coirrectly, I-Max runs the film through the projector horizontally. Is there a 70mm format with the film running vertically?


Steve.