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Anyone know where I can get a film mover for a decent price?

I'll ask: What are you referring to? If it is a platter system, I have an older Christie AW2 and Autowind in my garage I'll sell for $250. But shipping from Northern California would be costly.

Or do you mean a film clamp for moving prints?

Film Clamp for moving prints...sorry for the confusion. Occasionally we pick-up our prints from the other theatre across town. Rather thatn breaking it down and then back up, it'd be nice to just move it.

[This message has been edited by Mill (edited September 03, 2002).]

If we are the receiving theater we take two big one hour reels up to the sending theater in the afternon so they can run the film off the platter onto our reels. We pick up the cans on the same trip. Then the sending theater will call us to tell us whether the film ran for the last show and what time we can pick up the film. We then go and pick up. Since they don't have to break down the film and can easily run it onto the big reels from the platter it saves everyone time and trouble and the film is less likely to be damaged (unless it was damaged before shipping out). Seems to work well for us. If we are the sending theater it works in reverse.

Therefore we don't need clamps and we feel that the film is in better hands on the big reels.

[This message has been edited by BECKWITH1 (edited September 03, 2002).]

Goldberg "Show Shipper" or modular reel system?:
http://www.rsem.com/equipment-list.asp?manufac=Goldberg%20Brothers&page=5

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services
Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Telephone: 585-477-5325 Cell: 585-781-4036 Fax: 585-722-7243
E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Movie theater dealers sell print moving clamps. They sell for around $100 for a set of 3.

Don't laugh but I've never seen the clamps before or the "show Shipper" type before either...The kind that I've seen is a sheet of plexiglass (sort of in the shape of an "A") and then there a metal "A" sort of thing that goes over top and then is screwed down to hold the film in place...Does this sound familiar to anyone? Suggestions as to what is better for the cost? clamps or show shipper or other??

Some of these products are designed for use in the same booth rather than for transporting film in a vehicle. I would personally shudder to use clamps but that is a personal feeling.

You might want to consider how well you get along with the theater that is supplying you with the film. Some projectionists are particular about their equipment and may not want you too close to their equipment for fear that their platter may get scratched by your clamps etc. They may refuse to do it the way that you want it because they don't have to honor your request. Some may have a policy that all film will be shipped out in the cans regardless of who is picking it up. It can get complicated. I've been on both sides of the issue now and can see both points of view.

I agree. Transporting a print BETWEEN theatres has many more issues than simply moving it between screens within a theatre. The print should be protected from the elements (dirt, rain, snow...), and the vibration of the vehicle is likely to loosen the roll making it dish or cinch, unless it is fully restrained within a "reel like" device. If you KNEW for certain that you'd be charged by the distributor for print damage caused by moving a print carelessly, would you change the way you move it? "Film Done Right" is not an unprotected clamped print in the back of a van or pick-up truck.

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services
Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Telephone: 585-477-5325 Cell: 585-781-4036 Fax: 585-722-7243
E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

I'd make it up and break it down if it was an unusual event but if it was regular I'd use film clamps and build a special box or have a sheet metal shop make a special or on second thought: I like the 2 big reels best. Not all broke down but enough for safe and clear handling possibilities. You never want to drop one of those big clamped babies.

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I do not reccomend trying clamps between theatres. Try rebuilding late into the night and barely making it in time for the show the next day. (Not tomentions scraching the crap out of it) One time will cure you of that.

I have been using one of the modular Goldberg platter reels from R.S. Engineering (Modular Platter Reel
- RSEM part number: 5810001) for a few years. It works great. It takes two people to lift the print off the platter and to put it back on the platter. I can get it in and out of the bed of my enclosed pickup by myself--and reluctantly up and down the stairs to and from the booth.

Getting it in and out of the truck isn't too bad. I have two layers of cardboard in there. I place one layer inside and hanging a over the edge of the tailgate. I put the reel on the cardboard and then slide the cardboard holding the reel into the truck. That way those nice little rubber things don't get rolled off the reel.

I am buying a second one this week. I have used just half of it to transport film when I have two prints changing location at the same time. The AW3 platter ring will fit in some of the holes to provide some stability. But there is no cover.

I have never used clamps or seen them in use. Do they scratch up the platter? My concern with them is too much film edge is exposed during transport, possibly leading to a dirty print.

I will be doing a search today to see if I can find another one for a better price.

Hey Burney/ as soon as you are ready could you come work for me? You are a champ!

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Michael Hurley
Impresario

When I worked at the Tribeca Film festival, they had nice zippered covers with carrying straps for those reels. Very nice.