jay@umcp-cs.UUCP (03/30/84)
Trumbull is indeed sporting his a new high speed film process. He calls it SHOWSCAN. The first feature, New Magic is playing around the country at (get this) a chain of pizza parlors (Show Biz Pizza, to be exact). The film is about 20 minutes in length and unveils the possiblities of the new technology. This would have been a great way to have filmed Brainstorm. The film is shot at 60 frames per second and in true 70mm. It is not a 35mm scope print blown up like you get a your favorite movie theater. There are speakers everywhere and when they don't blast you away by turning the volume up to high, it is a wonderful audio/visual experience. The theater, btw, seats about 50 and there are no bad seats. The project is no more than 30 feet from the screen, 70mm at that distance would almost be good enough. For those of you who have experienced IMAX at the Smithsonian, the World's Fair, or some other illustrious site, this is at least as good, and probably better. Trumbull is supposedly going to come out with a film every few months (short ones, about 20 minutes each) and is now in the process of trying to convince theaters phase in this equipment. Whether or not he'll succeed is anybody's guess. -- Jay Elvove ..!seismo!umcp-cs!jay
dmmartindale@watcgl.UUCP (Dave Martindale) (04/01/84)
Does SHOWSCAN use 70mm film running vertically or horizontally? (IMAX is horizontal.) Is it wide-screen or close to normal 4:3 ratio? With 60 frames/sec, motion would be a lot smoother. Does it use a single- blade shutter in the projector? That would get rid of the double-image effects seen when something moves rapidly. I wanna see it!