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Interstellaring in London
The art of film projection is not dead yet |
Read more at in70mm.com The 70mm Newsletter
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Written by: Mark Lyndon, with images by Thomas Hauerslev |
Date:
27.11.2014 |
The
huge front of the Odeon Leicester Square cinema in London. Opened in 1938
and home to many premieres ever since.
Click the image to see an enlagement.
Oscar Deutsch, who founded the ODEON cinema empire back in 1928, has long
gone. His legacy lives on, however in the Odeon UCI Cinema Group.
Some find Odeon cinemas a little too corporate, if not downright clinical.
In one important respect, however, they reign supreme - image projection
quality. To this day, they remain committed to
70mm projection, which is
enjoying a renaissance thanks to Christopher Nolan's controversial
masterpiece "Interstellar".
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More in 70mm reading:
Go to the gallery
The art of film projection is not dead yet
"Interstellar" Now
Playing in 70MM
"Interstellar" Goes
IMAX 70MM and 5/70 MM
70mm Film
Presentations in London, England 1958 - 2014
70mm at the Odeon Leicester Sq,
London
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Michael
at the Odeon
And yet, 70mm projection cannot be taken for granted. Even as
"Interstellar" is smashing a box office records and Hollywood film
directors are committing to 70mm principal photography and prints; there are
cinema chains that are removing, yes removing 70mm projection from their
houses. Who advises them, the captain of the Titanic?
Luckily, the Odeon Leicester Square, flagship theatre of the British film
exhibition industry is fully equipped for 70mm and is likely to remain so.
As every well informed student of this, the greatest of the arts, knows, a
cinema performance is only as good as the mysterious person operating at the
back of the auditorium; known universally as the Projectionist.
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Cesar
at the BFI IMAX with a used 15.000 watts IMAX Xenon lamb - same size a
pineapple or a coconut with handles.
Odeon are very fortunate in their projection team at the Odeon Leicester
Square. Watching Michael at work in the projection suite high up in the
gods, was watching a master at work. The sheer skill and meticulousness with
which he handled the precious 70mm print of Interstellar was a joy to
behold.
As the old saying goes, I love work, I could watch it for hours. The same is
true of his colleague Caesar in the BFI IMAX. Both projectionists go to
enormous pains and trouble to ensure a flawless image emerges from what
Orson Welles called the "Ribbon of dreams". They were also wonderful hosts,
who welcomed us warmly into their domain. A world of wizardry, par
excellence.
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Mark
Lyndon and Michela at the BFI IMAX.
The BFI London IMAX is in very good hands. Michaela, the manager, proved
exceptionally capable in the face of a real crisis. The very powerful lamp
at the heart of the 15/70mm IMAX projector had exploded. She dealt with
skill and aplomb with some very awkward customers indeed, the kind who
always expect perfection. Needless to say, the lamp crisis was resolved and
the show went on.
Memo to Odeon, remember who was in charge when all box office records were
smashed at the big London IMAX.
Go to the gallery The art of film projection is
not dead yet
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28-07-24 |
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