"Lens-Gate": Theaters Exhibit 2D Movies Through 3D Lenses

Hmmm... Apparently, theatre chains (AMC, National Amusements and Regal cinemas) aren't switching out the 3D lenses when exhibiting 2D movies. What does that mean? It means that when 3D movie are being screened, they're put through the digital projector which absords a reported 85% of light. Whoa! Well, that doesn't come as a surprise.

Theater chains are so ambivalent towards actually removing said lenses because they require technicians, specialist, system clearances... wait! What are projectionist supposed to do? Enter the FBI? Ty Burr at the Boston Globe is writing about this issue (A movie lover's plea: Let there be light) even though its has been relatively quiet in the media, but gaining traction on the web.. It's also been relatively unknown to the public, especially some movie patrons who were asked about the brightness of the screening and they barely noticed it all.

Deadline is calling it "Lens-Gate" and boiled it down to this specific issue:

Many exhibition chains are using 4K projectors from Sony to run their digital prints. These projectors require a special lens when showing 3D movies that frequently isn't removed by projectionists when a 2D print is shown, essentially resulting in a filter that one of Burr's sources says can take away as much as 85% of the light that reaches the screen.

That's very troubling. Not only that, but there's no policy in place requiring owners hire or train projectionists to even remove the lenses, that it costs money. I guess that's the bottom line nowadays. Maybe if this problem gains some traction across North America, things will change. We certainly don't need another reason to hate on the growing fad of 3D, James Cameron won't be able to stomach it for much longer.

Here's a very important excerpt from the article:

Though the issue is widespread, affecting screenings at AMC, National Amusements, and Regal cinemas, executives at all these major movie theater chains, and at the corporate offices of the projector’s manufacturer, have refused to directly acknowledge or comment on how and why it’s happening. Asked where his company stands on the matter, Dan Huerta, vice president of sight and sound for AMC, the second-biggest chain in the US, said only that “We don’t really have any official or unofficial policy to not change the lens.’’

...

After multiple requests, Sony declined through a spokesman to respond to questions about its digital projection equipment. Executives at the major theatrical chains are equally unwilling to discuss the matter. When contacted for this article, a spokesman for Regal, the nation’s largest multiplex operator, e-mailed the following statement: "Patron response has been overwhelmingly positive toward digital cinema and all of the associated entertainment options provided by this technology."

The problem now is to inform moviegoers of this current problem, to inform them on noticing the problem and trying to get them to be proactive about it to theater owners. This isn't just a plea from film buffs, movie critics and filmmakers, its so that everyone gets to see the image they were intended (and paid for) to see in theaters. Certainly with prices for movie tickets and concession stand continue to rise; disruptive theater go-ers on their cellphones; annoying chatterboxes and those who're more interested in sucking face than watching a movie, I think we've had enough. We want our movie experience back and that includes a properly displayed and projected image on the silver screen.

Source: Boston Globe, Deadline

Comments

[J.Bradley]

I'm REALLY glad this is getting attention - I noticed this EXACT problem when I saw the new "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie Saturday.

[fittingsale]

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[James]

I use to be a fan of AMC theaters but when Harkins started stepping up their game, I switched.

Great article.

Need more stuff like this.

[El Chubby Boricua]

I'm a projectionist (actually Projection Booth Manager) and the mmovie goers have no idea what's coming. In my area the tickets went up another $0.50, may not seem like much but it's the 3rd time the prices have gone up in the these since the 3D madness began. I hate 3D (unless it's a concert or animated) I think it's a waste of time and the price is not worth it.