IMAX Projection Booth / behind the scenes with the Projectionist .. at the Royal BC Museum

[@andrewbarnum5040]

Good to see a theater that can show both film and digital. I wish more theaters would adopt this versatility so they can show movies as the director intends.

[@jasonwhytemedia]

This video was actually shot several years ago. This location has since removed its' 15/70 equipment and is 4k laser only.

[@andrewbarnum5040]

​@@jasonwhytemedia Thanks for the depressing update for this theater 😞

[@SiljCBcnr]

Sure, put this in every little theatre in Smalltown Village, not that it is any kind of major investment :D

[@andrewbarnum5040]

@@SiljCBcnr I is a large investment and would not make much sense to put it in small towns for villages. But in Cities and large Markets and especially in older movie theaters that had a film projector at one. It would be a good investment to add a single film projector to the theater for directors who prefer actual film over digital such as Christopher Nolan.

[@andrewbarnum5040]

@Max Pell Well said, but digital projection is only one of many nails in modern theaters coffin. Assigned seating and absolutely insane food prices are not helping anything. No one wants to pay $15 for a bucket of popcorn when they can get a whole bag for a few bucks, sit on their sofa and even pause the movie if needed. For theaters film provides a classic and unique experience and hopefully the ticket sales to the film showing of Oppenheimer are enough to turn some heads and see there is money in showing actual film. In my opinion and I am pretty knowledgeable in these things, there is no reason theaters who use to have film projectors can't have one screen with a film projector and use it to show classic movies and also new releases. As you said, digital will eventually be the demise of theaters as we know them unless the wake up and back track, and I don't see that happening. They still think digital is the way forward and no one can tell the difference.

[@Designsbyg]

so glad to see IMAX kept the film going. I hope one day I get to see a setup in person

[@adamw1944]

One of the best presentations of IMAX 70mm film and modern Digital Projectors. Bravo. IMAX is the top of cinema projectionist profesion.

[@HughDenbigh]

Wow, thanks!

[@AshesFade]

What a crazy process, i loved watching this

[@akupegu1622]

These theatres and the old IMAX film projection system really need to be preserved. And the new generation should really be educated about what the real giant square IMAX is and how the new age digital LieMAX is just a sham.

[@bobbymelbourne4502]

A few things I found really interesting was how methodical the checking of everything was, once, twice and again, the use of old Palm Pilots to control the equipment. I wonder what kind of inventories of spares IMAX keeps of all this equipment to keep the older 1570's and mag equipment operational.

[@HughDenbigh]

Hi, thanks for your question! Good observation on the methodical checking. I’m retired now but spent 45 years in a career of operating and repairing electro / mechanical equipment. The most common failure in this environment is human error. Most mechanical and analog equipment will tell you of pending problems. The most consistent reliable equipment in this projection booth is the 35mm reel to reel sound track and the 1570 projector. Maintaining a good service routine, familiar feel and sound familiarity is essential. As technology advances, the ability of operators to control consistent performance will diminish. At the time of this video we had comprehensive spare parts on hand, now the equipment in this video is ether gone or no longer used. This theatre is now 4K laser with very few parts on hand.

[@adamw1944]

@@HughDenbigh May I ask a technical question. I worked as a 35 and 70mm projectionist in Israel. I always laced the 35mm film that the upper reel rotated clockwise direction and the emulsion side (matt) was laced toward the gate. I'm retired for 12 years. Now I watch all videos on KZbin and see that all American projectionists lacing the film while the upper reel turning anticlockwise. Maybe you can explain to me why is that. Your video is the best one showing the threading film in the IMAX projector. Thank you.

[@jamesg8246]

@@HughDenbigh The old 1570 is more reliable than the new 4K laser unit?

[@djm5k]

It would be nice if some of this earlier IMAX projection equipment could be preserved and a complete setup put in a museum for all to see like a mock up of a projection booth with all equipment necessary (video and audio) where the projector is all threaded up for a movie. Maybe even have a live demonstration of a projectionist giving a demonstration on threading up the projector.

[@rohnkd4hct260]

I worked as Chief Projectionist at a drive inn movie theater when I was in High school. Pay was ok, hours were terrible but, best job I ever had. Wish I could go back. Never been to an IMAX THEATRE, love to see one.

[@freshgino]

awesome thanks for sharing a day-in-the-life.. was cool to see

[@elcinedeantes2302]

70 mm film is so beautiful...

[@Muswell]

This video was absolutely wonderful. When I was young, to be a projectionist was my passion, but my parents wanted me to get "a proper job". . I love this ! Thank you. The nearest I got was running the Film Society at my Uni, showing films every Sunday, Monday & Tuesday every week for 5 years - operating two Elf 16mm projectors.

[@Patrick94GSR]

What a fascinating video! I still remember going to the OMNIMAX theater at the Huntsville Space and Rocket center around 30 years ago. They had the 70mm film reels in a separate room on ground level below the projection room, on display as you came into the theater. The experience of the bowl shaped screen was just magical.

[@counterfit5]

The Boston Museum of Science has a similar setup.

[@slashmaster2]

So those are 3" particle transfer rollers at 13:37 ? Are different colored softer or harder ones ever used?

[@HughDenbigh]

These are the only PTRs used, the colour changes over time from a light green when new to a dark burgundy from absorbing the photo guard on the film.

[@clcheatw]

Those Palm Pilots brought back a little nostalgia for me. Don't change things out that are still working...

[@seaningram3285]

I'm glad there is a walker-stacker to lift the film reels. Good Idea. I used one of those at a Walmart store back in the mid to late 1990s to lift pallets of merch onto the steel racks in the back.

[@sybergoosejr]

i like dual system imax! best of both worlds!

[@gauthamumamageshwaran2312]

Really have to appreciate this gentleman for his hard work and skill

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Very nicely put together video and very entertaining as well. Thanks for posting this.

[@RetroJack]

5:03 Interesting to see the old Palm Pilots as part of the setup! 🤣

[@m3snusteve]

Oh wow this is so cool. My friend who was a projectionist for a cinema in my local town would love this. My friend used to run 35mm films and he used to love his job he said they were the best years of his career. Great video thanks very much for sharing.

[@HughDenbigh]

Thank you for having a look and I’m happy you liked it!

[@scottstrang1583]

Content like this is why KZbin beats sat tv, cable, streaming, etc.

[@gabe001zekesnout]

12:53 Enjoy the rest of the afternoon

[@m3snusteve]

Quick question is the imax film held steady in the film gate of the projector by suction to stop the image from juddering?

[@HughDenbigh]

Yes to a degree, along with a flat glass called a film flattener in the optic path before the projection lens. This glass is also used to remove any debris in the picture buy a quick vertical movement, up or down, controlled by the operator (opposite than film horizontal direction)

[@akshayaram1862]

What will be cost of IMAX 70mm theatres in India or atleast tell me how much cost requires for setting up IMAX 70 mm theatres in India ?

[@iandharris6605]

I'm impressed of the work they do it's what i can say a hard working people!

[@JBOpie13]

I'm very impressed at your skills. You did exactly everything I did at the theatre I worked at (as far as threading) except we had a Sonics Windows-based DTAC and only our QTRU had a palm pilot hook-up which just confirmed if the unit was ready. Sadly, our chief projectionist never showed me the ropes of the insides of the GT so while he was out vacationing, I had to guess replace the left-eye vacuum (which didn't fix the problem of the loop going out mid-show) and the poor support guy I talked to on the phone had to fly out and fix the busted cam pin assembly that evening as the pins weren't clearing the print and would catch and tear through the perfs on a bad splice.

[@lizagarnet7529]

I hope this isn’t a stupid question, but do you need some kind of studies or degree to handle something like this? It looks like a lot of technical knowledge.

[@scottstrang1583]

What was that 35mm mag film for? Is that the audio?

[@HughDenbigh]

It is called a dubber, originally used for recording audio using 35mm magnetic coated film stock. By changing the head to playback, we used it for 48 min feature (documentary) sound tracks and trailer sound tracks.

[@kirkygirl]

I've seen a lot of the threading of the IMAX, but i have never seen what happens at the end of a show. I'm delighted you were able to show how that worked when it was still in use. I'm also delighted that you were able to use it right up until retirement! I have questions though. What are the lights that we see flashing as the brain is on screen on the platter, too fast and too slow? How hard was it to switch between the digital projection back to the film projection? How heavy were those suckers anyways, they must have damn near broken the service elevator, lol! Do you know if the museum plans to put any kind of educational materials on the glass covering the outside of the booth? Last time I saw it, it was a boring glass square. Thank you for the fun times and amazing experiences in that theatre!

[@HughDenbigh]

Hi, The brain lights or take off unit lights are indicators to the operator that the sensors mounted in the film gap of the take off unit are working. As you say red is indicating the drivers are slowing the patter and the green indicates a speed up, all very sensitive and quickly controlling the demand of film feed to the projector.

[@thomthumbe]

Going on about 35156 years ago 🤪, I used to do carbon arc projectors. It seems it was about 20 minutes per roll. The Sound of Music was probably the most reels for one show, that I ever did.

[@HughDenbigh]

That’s going back!👍

[@Muswell]

Help ! Apart from the 70mm film, what was on the smaller spools on that separate machine? The soundtrack ? I thought the soundtrack was down the side of the film ?

[@HughDenbigh]

Hi, 1570 film doesn’t contain any sound information. The 35 mm film is soundtrack played on what is called a dubber that has been largely phased out. In this video it is primarily being used as soundtrack for previews. All sound for IMAX 1570 is synced through frame count passed to and synced to sound equipment.

[@EddieSLX]

Is it night and day difference with the new dual 4k laser projectors in regards to brightness, dynamic range, resolution etc? Also how are they cooled?

[@KingdaToro]

It's a massive downgrade in resolution. IMAX film is roughly 12K-16K, you're going from that to 4K.

[@terencemcculloch3294]

Digital projection is coming very close to film. Cooling for 1570 is water for the lamps including air for the housing, Digital projectors tend to use heat exchangers.

[@stewartross1233]

Interesting video, thank you. Looks a maintenance nightmare with all those wheels and tensioners! I don't know why but I expected the projectionist would be wearing white gloves when touching the film etc?

[@JoshCarterWeb]

I aggree, but film countdown leaders arent really so important.

[@johnkaplun9619]

Is the audio reel optical or magnetic?

[@FeRnAnRC]

Magnetic

[@miselabram3711]

I wish all IMAX theatres carried the digital and film option. Would be a dream to watch The Hateful 8 in 70mm on an IMAX screen.

[@counterfit5]

You'd have a lot of unused space for that. Ultra Panavision 70 is really wide at 2.76:1, while IMAX is usually around 1.3:1 (close to 4:3). Plus you'd either need a new print to fit the horizontal projector IMAX uses, or get a vertical 70mm projector in there with the appropriate lens.

[@DrWowFL]

@@counterfit5 what does 70mm imax means? Are imax films projectedbin a film projector instead of a digital projector?

[@KingdaToro]

@@DrWowFL IMAX is a film format, so it uses film projectors. It is not anything else, and certainly not digital, at least not until digital can match its resolution. The difference between "standard" 70mm and 70mm IMAX is the frame size and orientation. "standard" 70mm runs the film vertically, and has frames five perforations tall. It's basically scaled up 35mm. IMAX uses the same film, but runs it horizontally, with each frame being fifteen perforations wide. One IMAX frame is the size of three "standard" 70mm frames. That means there needs to be three times as much film for the same length movie, and it has to run three times as fast.

[@swampusmaximus]

Absolutely loved this video, I always wondered how the modern box was compared to my day as a projectionist from the early 80's in my Odeon Watford UK and their Vic 8's, Thanks so much for sharing :)

[@Agnes.Nutter]

How do the audio and film tracks get synced up?

[@jackthenarrator4735]

The red beam that reads the analog audio track is below the aperture window for the picture, so the audio portion runs about 24 frames ahead of the actual image it accompanies. However the readers that decode the digital audio info are located on the top of the projector before the film image passes through the aperture window.

[@HughDenbigh]

There is no sound information on a 1570 print, picture only. The sound is synced by following frame count. The film is loaded with the start frame sitting at the picture gate. Every frame of the film is counted, from start frame to projector stop. This count is interfaced to both the sound source and the projector control system by a mechanical spinning optical wheel housed in the projector. This mechanically tied wheel converts the count to a pulse. The sound source follows this electrical pulse creating a time code.

[@Agnes.Nutter]

@@HughDenbigh Ahh, that makes sense! Thanks for explaining :)

[@KingdaToro]

@@jackthenarrator4735 That's the case for 35mm and standard (vertical 5-perf) 70mm. Not IMAX. There is no sound on IMAX film, in order to use the maximum possible film area for the image. The sound is run externally, and synced to the projector via frame count.

[@jesset061084]

What the difference in the projectors what’s the white one and the one at they end of the video

[@rkolsen]

As you turned on the digital projectors I saw they weren’t keystone corrected. Is that something that they automatically fix?

[@kids123123123]

This reminds me of those "How to start a steam locomotive" videos, where you have to start 12 hours in advance...

[@alessio_tasco]

Wonder how video is synced to audio

[@carlosfrederick5446]

And the film on screen, where are????

[@lox_5017]

I don't understand digital film. Can someone please explain that to me. How does digital film work versus regular film.

[@Balleatomique]

15/70….when IMAX really means something 😮

[@davidperezfernandez537]

Fascinating

[@Lowkey_nxthxn]

Dammm son gotta put in all that work just to start or play a movie. Will at home all we gotta do is get up. And put the disk in. Just mind blowing how the theatres do it

[@josephbennett3482]

These days with home entertainment going digital all people have to do now is type in the name of the movie that they want to watch then push play on their remote.

[@adlerweb]

"Disk"? That' some round thingy us old people used back in the day, right? ;)

[@Lowkey_nxthxn]

@@josephbennett3482 😂😂 yeah now it’s streaming movies.

[@SJR_Media_Group]

It's still hard for me to comprehend the 1570 film format. I've used both medium and large format films in photography; from 2 1/4 square, 2 1/4 x 2 3/4, all the way up to 4 x 5. I didn't have to deal with 1,000's feet of movie film. With everything going digital, upgrading is both needed and expensive. You have succeeded on both.

[@jonesgang]

So how do you feel about the new digital systems? You have skills that the digital age is doing away with. Yes they will still need operators, but they will only have to know how to press buttons and not load and spool films and tapes. But you not only run the machines but fix them as well. While some might consider you a dinosaur, you truly are indispensable. Thanks for sharing!!

[@daphix]

i sure hope the new Laser projectors were able to fit on the original screen

[@HughDenbigh]

The dual 4K Laser projectors are a near duplicate in terms of image fit to the 1570 GT ... The smaller image of the digital 2K was a temporary solution to provide 3D until the 4K Laser was ready.

[@KayoMichiels]

@@HughDenbigh Lemme guess: the Digital projectors are BARCO's?

[@starlite528]

I've always wanted to be able to work as a projectionist, but I never really got the opportunity, and I suppose now it's too late. :(

[@lovitz69]

I've been in that booth once. Really nice setup, probably the nicest IMAX theatre I've been to. I believe the 15/70 has been fully decommissioned now and it's straight up Laser IMAX.

[@jasonwhytemedia]

Yes, it's true. 4k laser IMAX only. The projector and some film prints are still there but mostly for display purposes from the outer window for museum guests.

[@rickchapman9232]

How is the 70mm rewound?

[@HughDenbigh]

If you look at 07:00 to 07:20 you will see I’m winding the film on the take up platter. Once the film is finished, it is ready to play again as the leader is in the centre of the platter where the film plays out.

[@NNAAWWTT]

I can't imagine how heavy those films are..

[@suamme1]

It was so weird for me to hear the IMAX Digital (Series 2?) fan noise while looking at the inside of a QTRU.

[@ReinKayomi]

Hell, it's cool that they repurposed old HP PDAs for setting some stuff before projecting the film

[@counterfit5]

Those were Palms

[@ReinKayomi]

@@counterfit5 Ahh, right

[@stuartsinclair6269]

IMAX most of the cinemas in the Uk are NOT IMAX, I don’t go to the cinema no more because the grainy IMAX visuals are not sharp enough, to get the clarity of the IMAX experience why are cinema screens so so big, reduce the size of the screens and the clarity of the picture is sharper and pin point Excellent nowadays it’s all grainy,

[@phonghai87]

Wish you could return to project Oppenheimer cause some projectionist don't know how to handle 70mm and just broke it

[@wadessirenvideos6750]

Probably the best LIEMAX experience ever to exist. The 15/70 IMAX film format is going away mainly because of the cost, and most workers in the modern day projection booth don't care about film anyway. Most younger generation workers don't deserve to run expensive film, and probably don't belong in the field anyway.

[@trendmassacre8423]

Facts! Prepare yourself for the typical generic "okay Boomer" response from a younger person, because they know what you said is true 😅

[@pkal244]

​@@trendmassacre8423 yea FCK the younger generations who have no say in whether or not movies are shown in film or not

[@akshayaram1862]

What will be the cost of IMAX 70mm formats theatres in India or atleast can you give me few answers about setup of IMAX formats theatres in which ways is good

[@rty1955]

As someone who worked im broadcast video since its birth we would always say "one day film is go in by way of the dodo bird" it is hugely costly compared to video and now you can edit a feature length movie on your laptop and project it on a laser projector. Film still has its charm, but I bet most can't tell me why. Video cameras have reached the quality of film as far as dynamic range and resolution but its not that...

[@zestrongjohn2361]

monumental....

[@TheBudgie29]

I have been told that You can record the film In high quality, directly from the film as It plays. On to a Flashstick. I can't understand why any Cinema would want this facility, In the Projection Room. Anybody know, Thanks.

[@qasimmir7117]

Because it’s better resolution and colour when printed onto 15/70 film.

[@kataack8481]

I don’t think this is true

[@225savage0]

That’s just too much work to get a movie started. Thank god for new technology.

[@KingdaToro]

New technology can't even come close to the approximately 12K-16K resolution of IMAX film.

[@jamesburke2759]

Its such a shame there is nothing like this in my state. All the projectors in cinemas are digital now. i feel like i was born to be a projectionist as i love doing it at home as a hobby.

[@DeltaT45]

Oh it’s Liemax!

[@BoHolbo]

9:41 Did he really say “pager?” 😆 If the video description hadn’t mentioned Digital IMAX, (LieMAX and the slightly better 4K Digital IMAX) I would have assumed that this was recorded in the mid 90’s, if not for the high image quality! 😂

[@РСФСР-т8с]

У нас бы сказали - Он настоящий профессионал своего дела! Отличный киномеханик!!

[@jimsvideos7201]

Neat!

[@dilipmacbookssaparamadu3522]

very complex .. job

[@DJRobbie54]

I wonder what happens if the Film Breaks. What a mess that would be...

[@starlite528]

The platter will stop spooling it out, lol

[@ericmoeller3634]

they have to use a fork lift to pick up the film thats a insane amount of film

[@АндрейЧернышев-х7х]

Да уж, технологии и здесь шагнули далеко вперёд. Вспоминая как я работал на МЕО-5, сегодня это кажется каменным веком. А здесь, столько разной техники, работающей слаженно. Как во всём этом один спец разбирается!? Уму не постяжимо

[@janbaukespoelstra6839]

Wow still using a big tapedeck 😅

[@reyjulio]

film is real cinema,digital is only a big hdtv for home.

[@GeraldTN06]

Question: those digital imax, are they christies? They used to be christies but i HEARD they are now Barco

[@mosi24]

wow

[@kelownatechkid]

I absolutely love IMAX. It is such a pity that few true 15/70 systems exist anymore, such as this one which is now laser.

[@Huda88754]

Lucky to have both still in my city

[@akshayaram1862]

How to setup a IMAX 70mm theatres in India ? Do you know anything about this I mean basics information

[@youjustfoundthishandle]

How my mom's looks the phone update

[@MrML4L]

I feel like a UI upgrade is needed over those ancient palm pilots lol

[@HughDenbigh]

Palm pilots are long gone, this was filmed 7 years ago.. at that time they were filling in for dysfunctional interface.

[@sergenis7721]

mon fils me dit que le le nouveau ciné n'est pas comme l'ancien ....je dis le contraire c 'est un métier de haute technicité que d'aucuns ne serais faire je rends hommage à son grand pére et à mon fils.

[@tripjet999]

Cotton gloves should be worn while handling film.

[@HughDenbigh]

Yes, if your time is occupied only as a film editor. But in the world of operating a 1570 projection booth, no. The luxury of putting gloves on and off as you juggle tasks is quickly realized, futile. After 18 years of running 12 to 13 shows per day, 364 days a year with a constant changing film lineup, managing time safely and productively becomes paramount. The shipping and receiving of the film library is constant and arrives as new, needing of assembly, adding, removing trailers or repair. These tasks are often required to be done while running shows or even repairing equipment. The inside of a 1570 projection booth is not a quiet serene environment, a projectionist needs to be juggling and thinking of a hundred things at ounce and ready to jump. Remember, 1570 film runs past the projector gate at approximately 5.5 feet per second. What is important is that the splice and or repair of film damage is done correctly in terms of strength and maintaining sync. In all my years I have never and would never hear a complaint regarding a finger print or smudge on screen. The films are shown hundreds of times before scrapped, during that time a particular print could have gone through many repairs including black slugs inserted with virtually no notice on screen. At the speed of 1570, most imperfections are missed by most viewers. This is the real world of running a high volume Imax film theatre.

[@akshayaram1862]

What will be cost of IMAX 70mm theatres to setup in india or normally how much it cost sir ?

[@akshayaram1862]

Love it great information sir Please sir But give me few information how to step by step information to setup a 70mm IMAX theatre in country

[@KingdaToro]

Not in projection. The actual movie film has a lot of blank film called leader spliced on to both ends of it. This is what's handled by the projectionist during threading. The actual movie film is never touched from the time the print is built up until it is broken down at the end of the run, aside from any necessary repairs or maintenance.

[@BartlettTFD]

Entirely TOO labor intensive ‼️

[@meisse1]

This old make a lot of 24Hz noise as a new one and to much work

[@Platinumdose420]

why do you need film that big? and why is it even on film like that? throw a usb with the sound and video??

[@adlerweb]

Well, technically that's what the digital projector at the end does, even tho it's a bit more complicated as digital movies are encrypted and use DRM to limit when and how often the movie can be played. Still: Most digital footage is only what? 2k? 4k? Maybe 8k? While it is hard to compare analog media with digital ones you could say the old 70mm format is somewhat equivalent to between 16k and 40k and can be played as long and often as you want - with a technology over a hundred years old. (OK, not quite as often as you want as the film material wears down, but there is no artificial limit imposed by the creator/distributor)

[@jackthenarrator4735]

The bigger the film frame, the better the image resolution will be. The bigger the screen is, the more image resolution is needed to keep the image sharp and clear.

[@Redbeard_1]

I’ve seen IMAX theaters 2 to 3 times bigger than this but I still think digital is way better it going to some out of a job all that hard work and learning for film and digital it just touch screen sit back and chill

[@qasimmir7117]

Yeah but it’s not as good as 15/70mm IMAX so it’s not ‘way better’ at all.

[@KingdaToro]

Digital has reached the point where it's about as good as 35mm. But it's nowhere near as good as IMAX, digital still only goes up to 4K while IMAX film is about 12K-16K.

[@Toast0808]

They REMOVED the 15/70 Projector? So now, instead of real genuine IMAX on 70mm film, it’s nothing but digital LIEMAX 👎👎👎👎👎

[@aandwdabest]

They have 4K Duel Laser projector - they’re one of the first IMAXes in the world to get it. The projection quality is quite good and the sound is 12 channel surround sound which is better.

[@markissboi3583]

All this Huge equipment to play a movie i bet it sent a few theaters Broke who couldn't pay off the tech bills . If you have about £300,000 ($400K) to spare,(NOT) IMAX's Private Theatre division will now build an IMAX cinema setup in your own home OR you could just buy a louder stereo that will wake up the neighbors who live 1/2 a mile away when you hit that IMAX sound xd

[@adlerweb]

For waking neighbors THX should be a way better fit, don't you think? :D

[@negumanezer]

IMAX is dying! no need for big film projectors. People are buying digital virtual headsets, and media is 3D spatial sound.

[@christopherrippel2463]

Spatial sound is for headphones only. It mimics the Atmos room only.

[@harimotosan7496]

why cant use 4k projector