Page 31 - CinemaRecord #85

But a special ‘recce’ suggested we could still
get a satisfactory image on the huge video
screen with some necessary adjustments. By
not completely lowering the screen, we could
close the stage curtains until we had an
Academy format with a picture width of (I’d
guess) a little more than five metres. Despite
not having xenon arc machines the picture
quality still seemed satisfactory.

The especially selected program on 16mm
prints drew on historical films of the
Healesville area, with the earliest from around
the early nineteen twenties. The National Film
and Sound Archive was the source of a number
of titles for which we had to purchase the
screening rights to show them to a public
audience. All in all, the program ran around
two hours with an interval. Our audience also
included school kids from several primary
schools in the Yarra Ranges Shire who
(fortunately) appeared to appreciate the show!
The original auditorium showing 35 mm biobox and small dress circle above
The digital set-up at Healesville is operated in
conjunction with the cinema at Warburton.
Programming of both venues is controlled
from Healesville. The 35 mm machines at
Warburton had earlier been declared worn out
and had been junked and replaced by video.
I was expecting critical comments from the
theatre’s crew who were used to screening a
huge image on a modern digital projector.
They had never seen 16 mm in operation
either, let alone under the more complex
screening conditions as now exist at the
Healesville Theatre. Fortunately, their reaction
was an emphatic ‘thumbs-up’ which was a
great relief to us. Who says film is dead now!
«

Below: Part of the audience before the show, on
the raked- seating structure, looking back
towards the video and lighting box.
Images on this page: Roger Seccombe
Above: In 2014, the 16 mm projection set-up at the front of the dress circle

CINEMARECORD # 85 31