Total changeout on Oscar Eve weekend (Feb 17, 2009)
Posted by Reel Mountain Theater on Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Last week I related the inside story on how we select films, and continue to answer the question: "How does it all work?"
This week: Exhibition logistics
Once the booking is finalized, the week is very structured and moves quickly. Every item must be handled as early as possible to ensure timely delivery of advertising and the actual films before they start on Friday. Mon/Tues: Within minutes of confirming our booking, we'll update the website- it's always the earliest place to get info. Then we schedule show times and our staff, prepare the EP News ad, screen promotions, lobby signage and assemble this newsletter. Wed/Thurs: Pick up and drop off films in Denver at the film depot. Each film weighs 60-80 pounds, wound on 5-10 16" film reels in metal cases. We also pick up small orders of concessions that ensure fresh product every week, as well as ever changing variety. The 'Denver Run' can start at 6am when we drop off a van full of recycling in Lyons, and then make 3-7 stops in a whirlwind tour of the metro area. Upon return to Estes we can start to 'build' the new films, which consists of assembling the trailers (previews) and splicing together each of the film reels for each feature film. There are lots of opportunities for errors when building films! This process usually takes 60-90 minutes per title including checking other theater splices and errant cue tape insertions. We use a small foil cue to tell the projector when to raise or lower lights as well as shut down- and the placement for each theater is different. A cue in the wrong place could stop our show for 'no' reason. Thursday night can go very late, as some films must be shipped out immediately once they finish showing and are broken down- or cut apart and put back into shipping containers (30-45 mins per film) to be sent across the state or country by courier- we have left the theater as late as 2:30 on a full change out of films... Thursday can also include late night trips to other theaters to pick up their prints when they come off- at midnight or 1 am.... Friday: Finish building any films- including those that came off another theater late Thursday. We also may screen a film on Thurs night or Friday morning before the public sees it, to ensure that the splices are all good, as well as adjust volume levels for the best performance possible on Friday afternoon.
Now, the film has made it to the screen- and that was just the 'behind the scenes' work to get to Friday- the first day of our week... As you know, throughout the play week, our staff presses hard to keep it a clean, friendly experience that you can count on every time you visit. Upstairs, we're watching the atomic clock to start on time, cleaning the film as it runs to extend it's life and enhance the picture. Downstairs, we're smiling when you come in because the excitement of bringing Hollywood to our community keeps our staff happy. It is VERY interesting to hear from you as you leave about what you thought of a film. In the span of 20 people leaving the theater, we'll hear that it was 'the best film of the year'- to an 'embarrassment' for the director... No one sees a film the same way. Stand by the exit when you come in again- when the show lets out and listen to the variety of opinions...
This week: Exhibition logistics
Once the booking is finalized, the week is very structured and moves quickly. Every item must be handled as early as possible to ensure timely delivery of advertising and the actual films before they start on Friday. Mon/Tues: Within minutes of confirming our booking, we'll update the website- it's always the earliest place to get info. Then we schedule show times and our staff, prepare the EP News ad, screen promotions, lobby signage and assemble this newsletter. Wed/Thurs: Pick up and drop off films in Denver at the film depot. Each film weighs 60-80 pounds, wound on 5-10 16" film reels in metal cases. We also pick up small orders of concessions that ensure fresh product every week, as well as ever changing variety. The 'Denver Run' can start at 6am when we drop off a van full of recycling in Lyons, and then make 3-7 stops in a whirlwind tour of the metro area. Upon return to Estes we can start to 'build' the new films, which consists of assembling the trailers (previews) and splicing together each of the film reels for each feature film. There are lots of opportunities for errors when building films! This process usually takes 60-90 minutes per title including checking other theater splices and errant cue tape insertions. We use a small foil cue to tell the projector when to raise or lower lights as well as shut down- and the placement for each theater is different. A cue in the wrong place could stop our show for 'no' reason. Thursday night can go very late, as some films must be shipped out immediately once they finish showing and are broken down- or cut apart and put back into shipping containers (30-45 mins per film) to be sent across the state or country by courier- we have left the theater as late as 2:30 on a full change out of films... Thursday can also include late night trips to other theaters to pick up their prints when they come off- at midnight or 1 am.... Friday: Finish building any films- including those that came off another theater late Thursday. We also may screen a film on Thurs night or Friday morning before the public sees it, to ensure that the splices are all good, as well as adjust volume levels for the best performance possible on Friday afternoon.
Now, the film has made it to the screen- and that was just the 'behind the scenes' work to get to Friday- the first day of our week... As you know, throughout the play week, our staff presses hard to keep it a clean, friendly experience that you can count on every time you visit. Upstairs, we're watching the atomic clock to start on time, cleaning the film as it runs to extend it's life and enhance the picture. Downstairs, we're smiling when you come in because the excitement of bringing Hollywood to our community keeps our staff happy. It is VERY interesting to hear from you as you leave about what you thought of a film. In the span of 20 people leaving the theater, we'll hear that it was 'the best film of the year'- to an 'embarrassment' for the director... No one sees a film the same way. Stand by the exit when you come in again- when the show lets out and listen to the variety of opinions...
