Boxoffice-May.21.1979

Film Technologv on the nioue
For Incandescent Systems
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Ever wonder what's become of the pwlyester
base film stock
You may have had several opportunities
to test this remarkably strong film with the
1974 release of United Artists' "Bring Me
the Head of Alfredo Garcia" or UA's
"Brannigan."
The most recent test of polyester film
came with the 1977 release of Warner
Bros.' "Oh, God!" That film was part of a
test for the Eastman Kodak "Estar" film
stock. Some regions of the U.S. received
the complete film or portions of the film
printed on the Estar film. The test included
polyester/ acetate stock, polyester stock and
regular acetate stock.
Most exhibitors prefer the advantages of
polyester based film over acetate and are
currently using it as a long-lasting and dependable
leader film in their booths.
Changing Overnight
According to Tony Anthony Bruno of the
motion picture and audio-visual markets division
of Eastman Kodak, the Estar film
stock is readily available from Kodak but
the decision to use it rests in the hands of
production and distribution. Bruno notes
that the entire industry "can't be changed
overnight" to the improved film stock,
pointing out that there is "a premium" associated
with the use of the film.
"It is an awfully strong film but its application
really determines its advantages,"
he said. The cost increase of polyester based
film over conventional acetate film is
roughly 50 cents per 1,000 feet, a cost differential
described as "insignificant" by one
film lab technician.
Mike Palcher of Central Shipping and Inspection
Inc., Kansas City, recalls inspecting
"Brannigan" prints. "I remember that it
stood up very well compared to regular
stock. You could really tell the difference.
When it did scratch, it tended to scratch
deeper and harder, but there was no
sprocket damage. You could hold this film
in your hands and still not tear it."
Palcher also recalls rumors that United
Artists planned to release as much as 80
percent of its films on the durable stock
after apparently successful results on "Brannigan."
"Wunderfilm"
,
So why hasn't this "wunderfilm" caught
1
on
Aside from the relatively small cost increase
cited above, it could be that polyester
film is being held up by a lack ofi
tape splicers. Tape splicing is essential because
polyester base films cannot be spliced
with ordinary solvent-fusion methods. In
fact, some laboratories and other special
applications use sophisticated thermal weld
splicers for polyester based films.
Some concern has also been expressed
that the film is so strong that it may damage
projectors or film lab printing components
if they are not perfectly aligned. With ace-
the projector usually damages the film.
tate,
With polyester, the film can damage the
projector.
A check with Deluxe General and Technicolor
labs confirms that neither firm
knows of any current or near-future films
scheduled to use the unique stock. Aside
from using the polyester stock for a few
test reels on general releases, its primary
use remains in the making of 16mm films
for heavy use situations such as in-flight
motion pictures and repeating film cartridges
used in audio-visual markets. Some government
facilities, such as military bases, require
polyester prints for their own use.
Flexible
Glass
Regardless of if or when polyester film
comes into common usage, all film stock
may be further improved in the near future
Continued on page 6
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