Being a Projectionist for Oppenheimer 70mm Film

What it takes to setup and run the 70mm film version of Oppenheimer.
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[@captainkirk3000]

Man this video is going to blow up, there's not many good 70mm projectionist videos on youtube

[@RadioactiveDrew]

It is a very lacking subject on KZbin that’s for sure.

[@ZiggyBonham]

​@repentandbelieveinJesusChrist2that's cool and all but nobody asked

[@DrGumskratch]

​@repentandbelieveinJesusChrist2who asked?

[@PhilonPrim]

Can you please make more. Probably the last generation to see film until it’s extinct

[@n0ah.s_]

blow up was a good choice of words

[@bacountess]

As someone that ran 35 mm and 70 mm I applaud you, sir. I worked in the theater business for more than 17 years. I appreciate all you do and your videos.

[@schwag]

No one calls anyone “sir” except indians. Are u indian? I doubt u are qualified

[@Pioneers_Of_Cinema]

33 years for me in front of a projector. I ran a two Cinemeccanica Vic 8 35/70 operation with change-overs. We got a Barco 4K when they first came out but film was always being shown where I worked. Great to see film still keeping its special presence.

[@cobuspotgieter]

This was so fun to watch. Thanks for documenting this, Drew!

[@RadioactiveDrew]

No problem. Thanks for watching.

[@HayADrummer]

Woooah! I didn’t know Cobus was a Nolan fan. Just when I thought Cob appreciating Atom Willard was the max height of his “relatable “cool factor””, I come across this comment.

[@CORVETTE_DUDE_CHANNEL]

A professional would be using white gloves to touch the components and film not greasy fingers like this guy.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

People editing film commonly wear white scratch free gloves because they are dealing with picture which is going to be seen on the screen. I’m handling threading leader, which gets way more abuse getting threaded into the projector over and over again. I know how to handle film as I’ve been doing it for over 20 years.

[@Grabthembypussycat]

@@CORVETTE_DUDE_CHANNELyeah professional let him know

[@ocot742]

My best friend who sadly passed away years ago, was a projectionist back in the late 90's early 2000's and took me up into the booth a few times. This video brought back a lot of good memories and was fascinating. Thank you for that.

[@chadm8682]

Dude! My whole family went to your 70mm showing at Bridgeport! Thanks for your commitment to making this the best it can be.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

That's so awesome. Thanks for coming to see the show.

[@Poopchute]

I drove 5 hours to Indianapolis a couple weeks ago (not my fav Nolan but still a special once in a lifetime experience) and plan on making another trip this weekend to see this in 15 70mm. I also plan on stopping by Chicago on the return home to see it in 70mm as well! Thank you for your work as projectionist and for enriching people’s lives and hopefully generations to come. Also please let IMAX know I am willing to sell my soul to see a screening of Interstellar!

[@kanjakan]

@@Poopchute A few years ago, I didn't actually know or care who Christopher Nolan was but saw all the hype around Interstellar, so I decided to go watch it in 70mm for the heck of it (Esquire in Sacramento, if you're curious). Lifelong fan ever since that day. Just an unbelievable experience. Hans Zimmer's score destroyed my ears in the best possible way.

[@levihoff7923]

Ditto. I saw the closed caption on this video say Tigard Oregon and I just had to watch. We attended the show at Bridgeport as well. Thank you for showing behind the projection. I very much enjoyed this video.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

@levihoff7923 glad you enjoyed the video and the 70mm film show.

[@Palthura]

Didn’t expect to see my local theater on this!! Saw Oppenheimer at the Tigard theater opening night in 70mm!! So proud to get the chance to personally thank you! 😁 the film wouldn’t have looked as amazing as it did if not for you!!

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Thanks. I'm glad you got to witness my handy work firsthand.

[@rolux4853]

I’m so jealous, I wish I could see the 70mm version somewhere..

[@harlequeenchannel]

I also live closeby!! Now I want to see it in 70mm more

[@EllieReagan]

I don’t understand…nothing shows the movie being 70mm at the Tigard theater’s website

[@Palthura]

@@EllieReagan just checked the regal app. It’s still available on there!

[@ericmendoza1614]

Christopher Nolan would be so proud of your care for his film and the work that gets put in to watch it how he meant for us to watch it. Thank you good sir!

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Funny story…I would run film for Christopher Nolan when I use to work at Warner Bros. I stopped working there in 2015.

[@erikbakshi]

@@RadioactiveDrewthis video showed up on my feed and I see this comment, what a coincidence you worked at WB! I’m a projectionist over there right now. Really enjoyed your video Drew!

[@MyNameIsKayser]

Thank you for documenting such an important and pivotal art of film history, it fascinates me all your process and seeing how fewer and fewer movies are being filmed in 70mm heartbreaks me. Hopefully the talk over Oppenheimer and the 70mm will ensure that this art and profession has a place in the future.

[@wranglerboi]

MyNameIsKayser - Sadly, it's not just 70 mm that is vanishing but ANY actual film projection. DVDs and Blu-rays are nice and it's a miracle how they can get an entire movie onto s 5-inch disk like that. But nothing beats being in a theater hearing the clackety-clack of the film gate as the film slips through at 24 frames per second and seeing the ever-so-slight flicker of the light on the screen as each frame is pushed through the film gate. It was only until I got my own 16mm projector that I finally realized the screen is actually dark longer than it's lit due to the film shutter that "blanks" the image for each frame while the film gate pushes the next frame into position.

[@asdfoifhvjbkaos]

@@wranglerboiwhy would you miss that? digital is literally higher quality

[@ilovelasagna5632]

@@asdfoifhvjbkaos I love when people confidently spew out shit that is completely wrong

[@strawberryboba970]

@@asdfoifhvjbkaos70mm film is among the most premium film formats out there. It outperforms 4k to the point where it isn’t even funny. 70mm film is THE gold standard in modern cinema. Because the film is expressed in pixels, the picture quality is 12K AT THE VERY LEAST (18K at the highest). The aspect ratio in a 70mm format is wider than a digital one as well. That’s literally more picture. So, yeah. YOU’RE WRONG.

[@paviaaPS3]

@@strawberryboba970interesting, I will look this up now, never have I heard this before, thank you for the information 😊

[@mt-qc2qh]

Many years ago, I was a projectionist (35mm) for a Drive-in theater in Angola, NY and in an indoor house during the winter months. I enjoyed watching your story immensely. Thank you. Just as a bit of background we used old Century heads with carbon arc lamps. Pretty cool old stuff... I remember "watching" MASH 45 times, Love Story over 40 times, Woodstock over 40 times and Gone with the Wind more than I care to admit LOL....

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Being a projectionist can be a very cool job...when everything is working as it should. Can be a nightmare when it goes bad. But there are plenty of amazing moments. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@kevculmstock1]

I was a projectionist at the imax theater in Spokane WA for a few years. The theater sadly shut down at riverfront park about a decade ago. Lots of good memories in the booth! My friends and I would go in after hours and watch concert dvds and regular movies off of the smaller digital projector we used for advertising. Good times! I spent many long hours building prints like the matrix and Harry potter films.

[@thedevilhimself1728]

It's just crazy how much work actually goes on behind us a few feet up above while we get to relax and enjoy a film for 2-3 hours. Thanks for showcasing this Drew! Your efforts don't go unappreciated!

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Glad you appreciate the effort.

[@WBNomo]

Very well done all the way around! Camera placements, lighting, close ups of a clean looking projector. And not letting the leader touch the floor. Roger would be very proud.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Good old Roger. Was nice of him to pass on my card to the right people at WB.

[@jonathanpickens9500]

This is bringing back a lot of memories from one of my first jobs as a projectionist 15+ years ago. Seeing you feed the film through makes me think I can do it just the same with my eyes closed!

[@RadioactiveDrew]

It think most theater projectionists could still thread a film blindfolded upside down. It’s a weird muscle memory thing.

[@austinacl02]

Really appreciate you documenting this process. I attended a 35MM, a 70MM, and an IMAX 70MM screening to work on a big video myself about my experiences, and I think it's really important documenting how stuff like this works, especially today in the digital age.

[@Zu_Einfach]

I’m only 19 so film isn’t something I was around when I was growing up. But watching videos like this, watching videos about working with film and using film makes me hope that analogue formats like this never go away. Film, cassettes, vinyl records. All of that analogue stuff is so cool to me and this video just makes me love it even more.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Analog formats seem more real because you can hold them in your hands and directly interact with them. Hopefully film and other analog formats stick around for a while.

[@JS-df5vy]

You're on the right track! Avoid superlatives & enjoy character. This can be richly rewarding.

[@philcarter9738]

This was really beautifully filmed, the shots of the print running through the projection system were fantastic 🙂 It shows what a skill being a projectionist really is.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Thanks. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

[@SPC503]

As a Tigard native, hat tip to you for getting the pronunciation right! I watched Oppenheimer in 70mm at that exact theatre yesterday and I absolutely loved it.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Nice. I knew someone that use to live in this area. So that’s how I know how to say it correctly.

[@tortuga7160]

Thats not the 70mm 15 perf is it? Maybe its explained in the video but i missed it.

[@jtryland101]

@@tortuga7160 This is the regular 70mm print, not 15/70 used in IMAX

[@gregordiseth6651]

Standard 5/70 has the soundtrack on the film (Oppenheimer is in DTS) and runs vertically through the projector. 15/70 IMAX syncs to a data DVD for the soundtrack, and runs horizontally. I would watch either format any chance I got, both are gorgeous!

[@chilleliz]

As a kid the theatre was always such a magical place. I remember my dad taking me to see Lion King and Little Mermaid almost hundreds of times. I got to go up and see the projector and i just remember being fascinated that a strip of pictures made a film, and that i was watching drawings basically.

[@Nova-fh2et]

You went to Lion King and Little Mermaid over a hundred times?

[@chilleliz]

@Nova-fh2et tis an exaggeration, just another way of saying we went many times. I do know that one week, we went to the movie theater everyday. So could it be hundreds? Possibly lol.

[@craigbrown7929]

I had the Mt. Clemens drive in near by. Saw many movies there until it closed. The lion king, Down Periscope, Back to the Future parts 2&3, to name a few. They had a pair of carbon arc projectors, and the screen was one of the largest in Michigan I was told.

[@ToddFSnyder]

This is totally awesome. I worked as projectionist back in the early 1990s and everything you showed brought back countless memories. It funny to think splicing the trailers with the tap and everything is pretty much the same as it was 30 years ago. Watching the film as it run through the projector and back onto the platter made me think of the first time threading a film. Awesome stuff thanks for sharing.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Yeah, not much has changed on that end.

[@markdavenport8737]

Finally getting around to catching up on any/all of the 'I was there' KZbins from Oppenheimer. Great job! I was BL&S operator in STL [also for Dunkirk, H8]. My setup is same as yours, save for Strong console instead of Christie. One other twist; I was one of few lucky venues to get a print on 3 three shipping reels and a 'platter loading device' contraption to put the whole thing together. It did not go smoothly, but we got it done. Long story. MUCH prefer the single large split shipping reel. Your booth looks very modern and clean. We've had housekeeping issues at our location, with change of ownership between H8 and Dunkirk, the last of the regular projectionist[s] being kicked out, water main break in the ceiling in winter of '22, etc.. But we cleaned up our area as best we could and had a great 8 week run. Cheers, and great work again. // FWIW, I started my projectionists career back in .... 1978. Before H8, last worked in the booth in 2004. \\

[@aaroncrewse5746]

20 years ago a few of my friends from high school were working at a movie theater and I ended up hanging out at the movie theater a fair amount of time. I got the chance to go up to the projectionist booth a bunch of times, always thought it was a cool experience up there. Whoever was working would show me how all the machines work and all that. The theater has since been closed, remodeled and turned into a church.

[@ThisUsernameSystemF-ckingSucks]

Shame it turned into something thats useless.

[@eviladm1n]

Out of curiosity, what city?

[@sykode]

I had this same experience back in High School, the projection room was awesome, I think I saw part of the first Men in Black from the projector room.

[@JoseTheRover]

What an honor this must be.

[@PVTRICKYASAY]

Maybe the the spirits of the films still wanders around the church HAHAHA

[@kyleburnett1618]

Hardcore nostalgia watching this! I was a 35mm projectionist for about four years before our local second run theater shut down in 2016. Thanks for sharing!

[@RadioactiveDrew]

No problem. Thanks for watching. Seems like a lot of people that use to do projection are finding this video.

[@Hvitserk67]

We have a 70 mm cinema in our village (one of two in Denmark). It was my intention to watch the Oppenheimer movie in 70 mm, but unfortunately the owner/operator of the cinema, who is also a big 70 mm enthusiast, had health issues. The last 70 mm film I have watched in our cinema is therefore Nolan's Dunkirk. I must still say that the Oppenheimer movie shown in IMAX was a great experience. Thanks for a great video :)

[@JediKnight207]

Did you watch Oppenheimer in Imax?

[@Hvitserk67]

@@JediKnight207 A good question. There are so many different concepts and techniques associated with IMAX that I'm actually a bit unsure. The cinema in question is one of two IMAX venues in Denmark (so-called 2D Digital IMAX), but the Oppenheimer film is only partly recorded with IMAX 65 mm cameras. There are also several different aspect ratios associated with IMAX.

[@thijskennis8757]

@@Hvitserk67just for info, Imperial Bio in Vesterbro shows it in 70mm. Saw it there 3 days ago

[@casperengelmann4575]

​@@thijskennis8757 Supposedly 70mm non-IMAX. Only 30 cinemas across the world got 15 perf 70mm IMAX reels, which is equivalent to an 18K digital picture. 70mm in Gentofte Kino and Imperial should be 70mm, but due to it being non-IMAX the digital resolution equivalent is about 12K. A huge upgrade from digital 4K to be fair! I have yet to see the film myself, but I'm hoping to do it ASAP.

[@Huda88754]

Watching it in 15/70 imax tomorrow , one of the biggest screens in the world too

[@nxsmotorsports]

This was fascinating. The amount of effort, money, and time to provide the audience with such perfection is so much appreciated. This is like watching magic happen. Thanks for documenting this process and showing us how it's accomplished.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

No problem. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@joshua4625]

This was special. Thank you for sharing such a thorough behind the scenes walk through of a dying art.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

You’re welcome.

[@kitchensinkproductions1]

Drew this video and editing are a work of art. Your soundtrack just adds and it's amazing the work that's been put into a 20min video. Incredible, I came for the raidoligical stuff, this was unexpected!

[@RadioactiveDrew]

I’m glad you liked it even though it was a little outside of what I regularly do.

[@PixPete]

Thank you for your dedication to keeping film alive and running a great show for the audience. I have seen Oppenheimer 3 times now, once in 70mm and twice in IMAX and I really appreciate the work projectionists do.

[@67Dragonball]

Really loved the insight into how a film reel is delivered, set up and tested beforehand. I’d’ve just assumed everything was mostly digital after post-production, but seeing the mechanics of reel projection up close and learning how well maintained you keep it (especially the bulb change part) makes me appreciate the unspoken heroes that bring us our cinema experiences to us. Great video!

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Thanks. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Most theaters 100% digital. Running film like this is pretty rare.

[@MikeyFortune]

I used to own some independent cinemas and I was a film booker/buyer for a number of screens. I ran my own booths at my 35 mm twin screen. This was just the best seeing you working so professionally at your craft. I share your love of motion picture exhibition.

[@OfentseMwaseFilms]

You got a new fan from South Africa

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Glad to have you here.

[@eErudius]

MAN! This took me back to my time running projection at Regal/Edwards. Some of the best times of my life then. Got to tell my kids about how you could diagnose a film's flaws to know what happened to it... platter scratches/roller alignment scratches/gate scratches/pully tension scratches. Also reminisced about when DTS, DD and SDDS systems first started getting added. BTW ... Kudos to you not using the gloves when installing that Xenon... ballsey my guy. You talked about cleaning... I remember running "Shindler's List" when it came out and it shed an ASTRONOMICAL amount of film coating (whatever they put on it to keep the black and white from deteriorating too quickly). We had to have pressurized oxygen tanks brought in to clean the projectors between showings. Sooooo many memories. I loved projection. Thanks for putting this up! Side effect of being a projectionist however is knowing when you're seeing a sub-par showing. (I've had many a conversation with theater managers letting them know what was wrong with their presentation and what to check if they didn't know.) :D

[@rogerlavictoire]

The dedication to your tradecraft is one I can relate to and should always be applauded 👍🏼

[@F16_viper_pilot]

Wow, that was fascinating to watch. All those spools and sprockets and how you’re able to keep it all straight is quite impressive. Thanks for the behind-the-scenes look!👍🏻

[@RadioactiveDrew]

No problem, glad you enjoyed it.

[@pileofstuff]

Back in the '80s I ran a pair of Century model C projectors that are basically the 35mm version of what you're using. individual reels, back before platters made it to most theatres. And carbon arc lighthouses. It was the best job a young guy could have had. Glad to see there are still a few places running film these days. It's becoming a lost skill.

[@thomaspeacock7248]

I was an apprentice in 1971 and assigned to a journeyman projectionist at the now long extinct Monaco Drive In, in Denver, CO. The Monaco had Century Model C 35/70mm projectors that were old then but ran perfectly. They even had the 70mm parts that would replace the 35 mm like this video showed. I remember hearing that the Monaco had only one film engagement in 70mm in its 40 year history.

[@kevinkillsit]

This is so cool Drew! Never knew any of that about you. Huge respect for this profession, thank you for the behind the scenes look at everything that goes into it.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

No problem. Thanks for watching.

[@F16_viper_pilot]

Yeah, I agree; never knew he did this….very cool!

[@emonerd9795]

I read somewhere that because of the huge influx of people wanting to see this in 70mm that IMAX is going to expand film projection across its businesses. With there currently only being 19 70mm cinemas in the US, thank you so much for showing us this side of it!

[@Famijos]

Do the ones with dual rotors I think it’s called (it shows it in 3d)!!!

[@ericschmitz03]

I watched Oppenheimer in 70mm yesterday and it was the first time I saw a movie in 70mm, actually the first time I saw a movie on film at all. The image quality was just mind bending at easily the best picture I've ever seen.

[@jasonwhytemedia]

A really outstanding video, Drew! You perfectly captured what it is like to run and project 70mm film, a format that I think is superior to IMAX and is still the very best projection format that has ever existed. Truly great to see you take such great care of the print as well as care of the projector as well.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Thanks.

[@GamingExpert9990]

I’m going into film at IU and this is an eye opener on how projectors work, it’s fascinating yet hella complicated unless you know what you’re doing. I didn’t even know trailers had to be attached to the film reel. Such fascinating stuff

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Yeah, it’s good to learn the exhibition side of filmmaking.

[@BlackEpyon]

I figured they just ran a second 35mm or digital projector for playing the commercials.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Some locations were playing trailers on a digital projector and then switching over to the 70mm film. Thankfully I didn’t have to deal with all that switching and have only been running the film.

[@BarelyNoticeable]

I was just recommended and saw this KZbinr Patrick Tomasso’s video on why it’s breaking IMAX, and now this. KZbin is really perfecting is recommended algorithm, but I love that it’s with talented people. Lovely 😊

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Glad you enjoyed the video and that YT recommended it.

[@zerosk8r707]

Oh man, this is so cool. I’m a huge analog film nerd and I was actually cast as a background scientist in this movie so got to closely watch Nolan and Hoyte work together. Best MasterClass ever. It would be an absolute dream to have a 70mm film cell of me around the 1 hour 58 minute mark!

[@CastleBravo17]

WHOA! This is where I came to see it opening night! I’ve actually seen the movie 5 times now. Twice in 70mm and three times in IMAX. Funny enough, I actually work for a Cinemark in Portland, but we don’t have any film projectors so I came to Tigard. I’m so happy that this is still an option for cinema. What a wonderful skill you get to partake in

[@Douthwaite]

just want to express my gratitude for those out there such as yourself. I'm 26 and consider myself extremely lucky to live within an hour driving distance to have seen the hateful eight roadshow (still got my program) and Oppenheimer in 70mm here in the midwest. thank you for keeping the dream alive I appreciate you so much

[@calebday6988]

watched Oppenheimer yesterday at the san antonio 70mm location near the alamo. ive never seen an imax movie nonetheless 70mm, but it was INCREDIBLE. i wrote a paper on oppenheimer’s life my sophomore year of college so the movie was amazing, but the film!! ive never seen a screen that large be so clear and captivating. thanks for your work man

[@MatthewGhirardi]

I remember watching Oppenheimer on 70mm at AMC a few months ago, and the first time I saw it on 70mm, my jaw dropped of how beautiful it looks on 70mm, and ever since, I fell in love with the 70mm film format

[@RadioactiveDrew]

70mm does have a pretty cool look to it. Digital can look pretty good as well but it looks different.

[@ryen7512]

Very cool to see some of what goes into Oppenheimer from this perspective. Thanks for making this!

[@W.O.P.R]

Drew, first off, exceptional production of this video. as I learned from some of your previous videos, it’s really neat to see you going back to your roots and having the opportunity to run a machine like this especially since it is focused on the content of your channel. I have been waiting for this film for about a year now, and I have my tickets for the IMAX version on Thursday. Thank you for what you do 👊🏼

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Glad you enjoyed the video. It was nice to share something like this with my audience here on the channel.

[@gypsypunkparty]

I'm curious what differences there are in format and presentation between the IMAX experience and the one we saw here?

[@RadioactiveDrew]

There are a couple videos about IMAX film projection.

[@genedoc730]

Fantastic video! I loved both the behind-the-scenes looks at setting up the 70mm film, and your commentary on the movie itself. Having worked briefly at Oak Ridge (ORNL) about 40 years ago, I still have a deep appreciation for the challenges of radiation, and the effort that went into the Manhattan Project.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

I’m glad you liked it. I’ve had very positive reactions on my content from people that work in the nuclear industry.

[@mistermac56]

Hats off to you for showing your projectionist skills working with the "Oppenheimer" 70mm print and the 70mm projector. Love viewing 70mm movies. When I was in 7th grade in 1968, our entire class went to a premier screening of the 70mm Cinerama version of "2001: A Space Odyssey" at the now defunct Belle Meade Theater in Nashville Tennessee. Before the theater was closed in the 90's, they showed the 70mm re-release of "Lawrence of Arabia" and the 70mm special release of the original three "Star Wars" films. I live about 35 miles away from Nashville and I traveled there to watch the 70mm IMAX "Oppenheimer" film this past weekend at the Regal Opry Mills & IMAX Theatre. No trailers. Before the pandemic, I saw the IMAX version of the film "Apollo 11" at the same theater and it was jaw dropping amazing. People need to go to screenings of films presented in 70mm because, as you said, they are slowly going away.

[@fixman88]

One thing I found out that blew my mind? Back when Star Wars was originally released in 1977 they actually sold Super 8MM film versions of apparently varying edits. A full version was released in the late 1980s.

[@timrmeyers]

thank you for making this!! This was really cool to watch and important to see. Can’t believe there’s still such an antiquated, yet highly sophisticated process to this.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@levifig]

This is a phenomenal documentary! Thank you for doing this, and props on the quality of the shots, composition, editing, music choices, etc… That all enriches an already priceless look behind the scenes at such a fascinating role in the entertainment industry! 🙏

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Thanks, glad you enjoy it.

[@fernandooliveiralino]

Oh man, you're such a great projectionist. Appreciate all your hard work so much. God bless you! Long live Cinema!

[@bobpritham2660]

Thanks for going through explaining such complex machine. As a cinema nerd, I love these videos. Thank you man.

[@Fubeman]

This was so much fun to watch Drew. Thank you for documenting this. Watching your pulley system reminded me when I was a projectionist. I worked as a projectionist back in the early 80s when I was just 19. I worked for a family owned theater that had 6 theaters (that was a lot back then). We had ordered 2 copies of E.T. but then found out that we were only going to receive just 1 copy 3 days before the showing. We were all freaking out! By this time it was too late to change the listings of the showings as we had already sold out for the first 3 days and the ads already went out saying that we were going to be dedicating 2 theaters for E.T. So, in just 3 days, me and several other friends and co-workers constructed a quite elaborate pulley system taking the exit feed of the film from the first projector and feeding it into the entrance feed of the second projector. All of this while also creating a tension system to keep the film from being ripped up or dragging while in transit. Those were some fun times. Thanks for reminding me Drew and keep up the great work and videos!

[@RadioactiveDrew]

I’ve seen interlock systems like the one you are talking about. Some of those setups seemed crazy.

[@Fubeman]

@@RadioactiveDrew Yeah, I wished we took a picture of it back in the day. I've seen crazy setups like that now, but back then there was nothing like it (as far as we knew). If I remember correctly, we eventually ended up with about 40 some pulleys, 10 or dampeners and a bunch of springs as well as many home made L brackets, etc. Definitely a Rube Goldberg contraption. We were so proud of ourselves.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

It sounds like quite an undertaking to set that up and make it work.

[@mistadopeman]

Wow. Fantastic video man. Really awesome inside look at this. I’ve been WAITING for something like this for years.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

I’m glad you enjoyed it.

[@Blue-Pheonix455]

I used to work at Australia's largest drive in and we had the old 70mm projector still in the protection booth. Sadly it was out of commission but it was rather cool to see one in person. Now I get to see how one operates thankyou for sharing history with us

[@RobbieWebster]

I’m a huge cinema fan. I only recently discovered your channel. This is a surprise to me that you’re a projectionist. I think it’s really amazing that Christopher Nolan still fights so hard to both shoot and exhibit on film. Being from Rochester, NY (the birthplace of Kodak), I feel a sense of pride watching this. I loved the film by the way, excellent all the way around.

[@DavidFregoli]

Bad Tail Splice is one of my favourite movies

[@fixman88]

*snickers*

[@Swiftstyle]

Great video, especially loved seeing the maintenance and service on the projector. Thank you for sharing

[@RadioactiveDrew]

No problem.

[@Chris-ut6eq]

Thank for posting this. Projectionists have helped to entertain for what? over 100years now? The final care and prep at the presentation/theater is critical to a positive experience for all watching.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

So many people never realize this, mainly because you only notice projection when something goes wrong.

[@Chris-ut6eq]

@@RadioactiveDrew Your video made me want to learn the craft before it disappears forever. 70mm film is expensive so not sure how much longer it will be around.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

I hope as along as directors like Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson and Christopher Nolan exist there will be 70mm film to run.

[@loismiller2830]

When I was in elementary school, I was always the kid who set up the 16 mm reel to reel movie projector when the teacher was going to show us a movie. I was good at threading the film and getting the correct tension. But man, this is next level stuff. So very cool! Thanks for showing the process of setting this up.

[@wranglerboi]

@loismiller2830 - Me, too! Loved every opportunity to do it. I still have my own 16mm projector and several full-length films. Love the clackety-clack sound the projector makes. It sounds "Real".

[@noelht1]

I discovered your channel by accident, and I’m really glad I did. You have a new subscriber brother. This is really fascinating work and a dying art. Massive respect to you. Thank you for showing us this process

[@en2art2025]

Thanks!

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Thanks so much. Really appreciated it.

[@Covellion]

Hey Drew, thanks for coming out to our theater. I’ve seen you a few times up in the booth whenever I’m cleaning theater 8. One of my managers mentioned your channel, so I came here to check it out.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Hahaha…that’s pretty cool.

[@dgillies5420]

Wow this is such a surprise. As a child I saw the teacher set up the 16mm projector for our class so many time in the 1960's. Today with 70mm film it appears that the projectionist is actually INSIDE the projector which is amazing! The area where the film runs has to be so large because the film has been scaled so much! Also I really appreciated your interpretation of what was left out of the movie at the end - i knew about the demon core stories but not about other nuclear accidents at Los Alamos ...

[@RadioactiveDrew]

I remember those 16mm projectors in the classroom. Was kind of the cool thing about going to an old school. They didn’t have new equipment.

[@GlitchedPenguin]

As an applied media artist 12:35 is the beginning to the most beautiful montage of the film running at 24fps. My favorite part is how you can see what is playing on the film on the spools but the image is blurry and smudged only in front of the projector with the shutter can you see the clear picture.

[@weedmanwestvancouverbc9266]

I used to be friends with people who worked on these film cameras in Vancouver British Columbia. And being a Hasselblad user I also had a 70 mm magazine for both film and they used to give me their extra bits of leftover film they had no use for. It was quite a hoot to be shooting on a 250 ASA Kodachrome film stock

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Nice. I have a 6x7 Pentax camera that I have yet to put some film through.

[@weedmanwestvancouverbc9266]

@RadioactiveDrew the Pentax 6 X7 is a really fine camera with a lot of great stuff. It's a little easier to use than Hasselblad because it is a pentaprism camera, and that makes it a little less stable then one should use with a traditional waist-level finder. It's also heavy as Sin but there is some amazing glass available for it like I believe it 800 m m f 6.7 with Ed glass

[@RadioactiveDrew]

The Pentax 6x7 does have a mirror lockup to keep it from moving when a shot is taken.

[@MoviesAboutMovies]

Thank you for sharing! I saw the film in 70mm at Bridgeport Village. I saw Dunkirk there too in 70mm. Thank you for all of you hard work and helping to bring 70mm to Oregon.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Glad you enjoyed seeing both those 70mm shows and the video.

[@jjstarrprod]

Man ! These 20 minutes just flew by ! Just like the movie. What a fascinating deep dive into your laboratory (it does feel like a lab, and the part where you replace the lightbulb almost look like the scene when they're carefullly putting the bomb together in the movie). Thank you for inviting us in, it's true that projectionnists, let alone Imax and 70mm, is kindof a disappearing craft, nowadays, and it's certainly welcome to see people like you demystifying it.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

I’m glad you enjoyed a look behind the scenes into this process.

[@jjstarrprod]

@@RadioactiveDrew It reminded me of my early animation students years, as e were one of the only schools that were still "stuck" with film while all the other schools have gone through computerization, although it only lasted 2 years, before we also went the route of computers. But at least, I got 2 years to play with film, and while I was super impressed with just how eaiser and faster digital was, there is indeed a tactile magic to it that is lost in translation with digital.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

@jjstarrprod yeah, there is something about being able to physically work with a visual medium.

[@JoePlett]

Thanks for a fascinating look inside the booth. Large format film in intriguingly so old-school yet in other ways so cutting edge. Professionals make it look so effortless it's easy to overlook the countless details that go into that 'effortlessness'. The observations about the movie itself were also interesting. I'll have to check out Manhattan. The only other drama I've seen about the project was Fat Man and Little Boy. It had a slight TV movie feel to it, and they took liberties, but not HUGE liberties (afaik). Paul Newman as a svelte Lesley Groves & Dwight Schultz as JRO both did justice to the script and their characters.

[@inonehand]

As someone who used to work in a movie theatre (including Projectionist), and also worked for the DOE, this is a uniquely interesting video to me. I'm debating on taking my trinitrate with me to see Oppenheimer.

[@wranglerboi]

@inonehand - only someone who works with film will understand the trinitrate reference!

[@MidwestSirenProductions]

I'm so bummed I won't get to experience this film in 70mm; the closest theaters to where I'm at are too darn far. That being said, it was amazing to see the amount of care and effort that goes into classic movie magic. Thanks for sharing the journey!

[@RadioactiveDrew]

No problem. Glad you like watching it.

[@justlikeswimming5988]

Thanks for being a projectionist, and sharing your work. Hope you get to pass that knowledge on to others. Long live film!!!

[@RadioactiveDrew]

I hope I get to pass that knowledge on as well. People should learn this that want to.

[@LouisWaweru]

Amazing! I never really thought about the fact that the DTS track is also literally a track on the film. We’re gonna tell the next generation we came from the hybrid era. From cars to movvies 😂

[@RadioactiveDrew]

It’s almost like Morse code. Just a bunch of dots and dashes.

[@TEDodd]

It's not. DTS has always be separate audio, originally on a CD. What's on the film is a time code to keep the audio in sync. Dolby Digital is encoded on the film as is SDDS.

[@fixman88]

@@TEDodd I was looking at film stuff on Wikipedia a while back and it showed the soundtracks on the edge of 35 mm film from about 2006 or so. It had DTS synch, Dolby Digital, and if all else fails, the film still had the old 2 channel analog soundtrack!

[@TEDodd]

@@fixman88 assuming the projector still has a working reader for the analog audio and that it is hooked into the amplifiers.

[@GlenESton]

I worked at this same theater and built the Dark Knight in 70mm IMAX. It’s unfortunate that this location didn’t opt for 70mm IMAX. It was quite an experience seeing the Dark Knight on that massive screen. Film had its issues, but it looked so good. Damn, I miss my time working with film.

[@ErikCho]

I don't know too much about the history or the science, but the Paul Newman movie Fat Man and Little Boy back from the 80's was also a good one depicting the Manhattan Project. I'll always know Dwight Schultz as Murdoch from The A-Team, but I thought/think he was really good as Oppenheimer too haha.

[@jking7519]

Most KZbinrs would have teased your 17:50 reveal at the top of the video. Thanks for being different! What a curious collision between your vocation with your avocation.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

It is an interesting merging of different worlds in my life.

[@ZERO-CAPACITANCE]

Beyond excellent

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Thanks.

[@jumpinjason]

That’s absolutely an art form. Thank you for posting this; hopefully it will give more people an appreciation for how special attending a 70mm IMAX screening really is. I’m sure true lovers of the medium like Chris Nolan appreciate it as well! Any idea how much shipping a print like that costs a studio? What happens after the run of the movie? Who pays to ship it back?

[@UncleManuel]

This really is a lost art. Thanks for showing how it was done in the (not so long ago) old days... 😎✌️ Fun fact: the IMAX projectors are controlled with a PalmPilot PDA. Well, not really - they are controlled by an iPad running an emulated Pilot m130... 😁

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Hahaha…the old days. They certainly seem that way now. Funny that they control the IMAX that way.

[@UncleManuel]

@@RadioactiveDrew Citing from The Verge article about the PalmPilot of the IMAX projectors: "Its job is to keep the QTRU (quick turn reel unit) moving at a consistent speed and to help keep the film’s video in sync with its audio." ✌️

[@PurpleStormProductions]

Saw Oppenheimer in 70mm IMAX and standard 70mm, and I have to say, while IMAX gives the film a massive scope that works for the bomb and the scenes of dancing atoms and a world lighting on fire, the film is mostly a personal intimate film about Oppenheimer and the lives of people that he worked with and loved throughout his life, which was much better suited and presented in standard 70mm. Not to mention, the standard 70mm print is only one crop, that switching between IMAX shots and standard 70mm shots was sometimes distracting, because it was so inconsistent and felt unfocused. I wish Nolan would plan those shots better and have them last longer so the switch isn't so bizarre feeling. I wish I could see the standard 70mm print on an IMAX or Dolby sound system, THAT would be genuinely perfect.

[@Raritytuber]

I agree that the continuous fast switching between the formats was a bit too much.

[@MrDjambronk]

You mean the aspect ratio that keep changing?

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Yeah the switching between aspect ratios gets distracting. Would be better to have one for the whole film.

[@PurpleStormProductions]

@@RadioactiveDrew Yeah. I don’t even mind it changing, just as long as it wasn’t so frequent and disjointed. Dune is a great example of where it’s not disjointed at all

[@MrDjambronk]

That's weird I don't have that issue when i watched Oppenheimer twice at my local IMAX theater (non 70mm). The changing aspect ratio occurred when I watched TDKR and Dunkirk at my non imax theater and that bugging me.

[@uptn]

Had the pleasure of coming to see a showing of Oppenheimer on 70mm at this location. It was my first time seeing it and so much fun. My girlfriend is one of the managers there so I have been hearing a lot of the behind the scenes. Thanks for making the video, it was great and hilarious to see as I was just watching your Trinity site video before this was released.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Yeah that Trinity site video has been getting a lot of views since Oppenheimer came out. Then people started watching the 70mm video. It’s cool people are so interested in both subjects.

[@philbaxter487]

This was very interesting to watch. I have seen the oppenheimer movie twice now. Its really an incredible movie. The ending gives me chills.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Yeah the ending is a big realization. Pandora’s box was opened that for sure.

[@ZulquarNayeen0207]

Which camera do you use btw?

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Sony A7S3...great camera.

[@ZulquarNayeen0207]

​@@RadioactiveDrew thanks

[@THX0001]

Huge respect to Drew and other film projectionists out there around the world who’s doing the at most brilliant work behind the scenes and contributing to a beautiful and memorable experience. You are the last piece that completes the “filmmaking”puzzle! 🫡 📽️🎞️

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Projectionists are the final step in the filmmaking process. I think most filmmakers and especially producers see us as a necessary evil.

[@michaelcooney7687]

Watching from Australia, where the Sun theatre in Yarraville, an inner suburb west of Melbourne, Victoria, has a 70mm projector. We watched Oppenheimer last Monday and it was spectacular. I’m a huge fan of the Sun theatre, an old rundown edifice, loving restored with HUGE lounging leather couch type seats with leg room to brag about. When one enters, one is transferred back in time to how we loving witnessed newsreels and even black and white flickering early issue moving pictures. The 70mm is so visually impressive and stable with no movement blurring, very sharp and clear. Absolutely amazing clarity.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

The 70mm film can be pretty amazing if projected correctly. That sounds like an awesome theater.

[@cbasulto]

¡Gracias!

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Thanks for this. I really appreciate the support.

[@pseudonym3690]

I'm surprised to see the ridiculous lengths you have to go through to show a movie in decent quality. Makes me wonder about IMAX. Must be pretty similar. About time that the digital age arrives in cinemas as well. Then the movie could have shipped on a thumb drive

[@FredDavison]

This video really tugged at my heartstrings. In the 70's, I was a projectionist all through college and worked in numerous theaters around Ann Arbor with different types of 35mm equipment. Most projectors still had carbon arc lamps and 20 minute reels but one theater had seven auditoriums with Christie platter systems and Xenon lamps. I loved that job.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

There is something about being a projectionist. I’m very grateful that I’ve been able to do this job as long as I have.

[@craigbrown7929]

I live near Mt. Clemens not to far from where the Mt. Clemens drive in used to be. Spent many summer nights there and saw the Lion King, Down Periscope, and Back to the Future 2&3 to name a few. They had a pair of large carbon arc projectors and a really huge screen.

[@ArmanBaig]

such a great video drew, super high production quality. i loved all of the creative shots you recorded of the process. keep it up!

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Thanks.

[@CamoFFAArmy]

I've only seen a few movies on film, and recently got the privilege of seeing Oppenheimer in IMAX 70mm, and it was amazing! Loved in this video seeing how the magic is created right up in the booth, and seeing each individual frame get passed through the projector. Thank you for making such a well documented video on this whole process, and for keeping film alive!

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Your very welcome.

[@nomolosbor]

Spent 10 years projecting 35mm in the 2000s but never worked with 70mm. Seeing your left finger getting that bottom loop just right by feel felt very familiar. I could thread the whole projector with my eyes closed before I was done (though it may not have been in frame!) It is wild they shipped the whole print on one reel (but I would never in a million years want to repair a bad splice on a platter for a print that big). Gods and Generals was probably the biggest print I ever had to move, thankfully we had carts. Not surprised to see the OSRAM bulbs are still packed the exact same way. Changing Xenon bulbs was never my favorite activity, though never had one blow up. I learned how to say “no” when managers would ask me to change one hot. I knew another projectionist who said yes and had it explode in his hands (safety gear protected him). The GM had to take over projection and scratched all the prints. Thanks for documenting this! I always wanted to work with 70mm, and this really took me back to an underpaid, yet fulfilling time of my life. Seeing an anticipated movie like this the night before anyone else really could was always a thrill. “Make do, that’s what projection is all about.” That is TRUTH. So many experiences where we are scrambling upstairs and our reward was for nobody in the auditorium to be the wiser.

[@SimplyTakuma]

05:30 Here Drew, is the beginning of your wonderful journey, the begin of history, the begin of your intrest, the theme and all people that you watching your channel and on your tours.

[@fadedfilmsinc]

This video brought me to tears. I was a 35mm projectionist right up until the transition to digital, and watching you thread the projector head took me straight back to the booth. I miss it.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

The last time I ran 70mm was 6 years ago. It’s been nice running it again. I’m all ways surprised just how many projectionists have seen this video.

[@fadedfilmsinc]

I’m glad the YT algorithm sent it my way, it hit me in a way I didn’t expect it to. I ran film up until 2012 or so, when the studios were really pushing everyone to transition to digital, and I still feel like I could thread the platter and century heads with my eyes closed. And the bulb changing! My god, I remember that being like a high stakes game of operation. I totally wore all the protective gear every time like some kinda mad scientist. Haha dude thank you for the massive nostalgia hit. I subbed, can’t wait to deep dive into your content.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Well I’m glad you enjoyed it so much. I think anyone that spent any amount of time as a film projectionist can almost thread up blindfolded.

[@jeffcher10]

Your skill in preparing the film for presentation is superb, A very informative video - Thanks for your time and effort.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Thanks for watching. I’m glad people find it interesting.

[@mortis3270]

Ran across this video and had to watch. I was a part time 35mm projectionist on Fairchild AFB for about 5 years(2004-2009). One of my favorite jobs I ever did and I miss doing it. Even though 70mm is different than 35mm is still brought back good memories. Those bulbs are no joke. We only had to replace a bulb once and that was nerve racking. You didn’t mention how much those “hand grenades” cost. Not cheap. Thanks for the video and would love to see more videos on projecting.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Running 70mm is very similar to 35mm. Just feels like you are threading up toilet paper. I might do one or two more videos about this job before it’s over. But my main focus for this channel is radiation. Film projection is too few and far between to keep making videos about it.

[@DoraCole-z5j]

This was so fun to watch. Thanks for documenting this, Drew!. This was so fun to watch. Thanks for documenting this, Drew!.

[@Al-xj2oo]

Nice video. Brings back memories of when I was a projectionist for an AMC for 5 years. It was a very large cinema with 20 screens and an imax, and before they went full digital, I was running 20 screens all with 32mm film. Working till the last showing at night sometimes till 3-4am, and having to move the 32mm films between platters for the next day schedule. Then having to rebuild dropped 32mm films that new projectionists didnt clamp right while moving between platters, was a crazy puzzle that could take hours sometimes trying to wade through the jumbled film to match reel frames. The loud rumbling sound of 10 projectors running in unison. Loud as shit but like a loud AC white noise that i miss often. Films jamming and getting scorched by the xenon bulb, and having to remove off the burnt sections and splice the film back together mid midnight premier showing! Good times good times, thanks for the nostalgia mate. PS: That 70mm print size is insane. I can only imagine the final weight on that oppenheimer reel fully assembled is rediculous.

[@jancoyote52]

Unbelievably complicated operation Drew, thank you. The end result makes it all worthwhile.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

It truly does.

[@stenic2]

Well done, it is beautiful to see such workmanship and pride

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Thanks.

[@StewartGrinton]

This video was incredibly nostalgic seeing you thread the platters and projector. I was a projectionist in high school and college and spent many hours in the booth with the clack of 35mm machines. My co-worker dropped a 35mm print of Saving Private Ryan once and it took 3 days to untangle. Good thing you had help to move Oppenhiemer. I'd never seen a 70mm projector setup until your video. Thank you for documenting this. I'm going to show it to my kids.

[@RadioactiveDrew]

Man, dropping a print. I’ve seen that happen before. Must have been a pretty horrific drop for it to take so long to fix.