Recently it has become a common question among those in the movie industry and industry-saavy consumers whether or not movie theaters are doing their job. At the center of this question lies 3D movies, which require more time and money to project correctly in a theater. When Michael Bay wrote a letter to the heads of Movie Theater chains, everyone was taken aback. Is it that bad? It turns out, yes.
Projectionists claim letters like the one Michael Bay sent are commonplace and have started speaking out on the subject through Reddit. Several of them claim that most filmmakers go a lot further, resorting to actual bribes as a way of convincing them to do their job. In particular this theater employee claims Pixar goes the extra mile in this, saying:
“I was a projectionist during the release of UP and Walle, and both times PIXAR sent a letter directed at the projectionists. If I remember correctly, the letters were warm and somewhat personal, and showed a lot of pride in the directors work. I am desperately searching to find the letter from andrew stanton for Walle. Many directors plead for the projectionists to not cut up the film too badly, check the brightness on the digital houses, and turn the volume to the correct level. Pixar, unlike Michael Bay however, not only sent me a letter with each print, but also sent tshirts, hats, trading cards, and a sweet contest. For every major release, pixar’s perfect projection contest sends out secret techs to the theaters, and does a drawing out of the best theaters and gives the entire booth staff a trip to pixar studios.”
Backing up that claim, another post left by a different projectionist insists much the same, saying, “Every single Disney and/or Pixar movie has come with a letter, they will even send little trinkets and toys, even t-shirts. If I remember correctly, Bay sent out letters for the last two Transformers as well.”
The fact that studios like Pixar are going through so much trouble to try and convince projectionists to do their job suggests that in most cases they aren’t. The projectionists cannot be faulted for this. It is the job of the theater chain to provide the correct instruments and instruction to the projectionists. However, the apathy runs deep as shown by the mere fact that studios have to bribe individuals to do the job right, rather than their bosses who will do nothing.
It is distressing that the battle to establish 3D as a common entertainment medium might not be in the hands of executives or studios or directors, but in the hands of each individual projectionist. The thought baffles me. Especially when I begin to wonder why anyone wouldn’t try to get that tour of the Pixar Studio?! Talk about childhood dream come true.
Source: Cinema Blend
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