The Procrastinator Pickle History and Background

1. The Procrastinator PickleHistory and Background A discussion about the current construction of the Procrastinator Theatre. 30 November 2007

2. A Twenty Year View • ASMSU Films – operating on campus since time immemorial • 1991 – “The Procrastinator Theatre” was born • Linfield 125

3. The Procrastinator as a Student Service 2001 - Present Services Services Operating Costs Operating Costs 1991 1997 2005 2007 2008 Over the last ten years, services have declines while costs have not.

4. Planning 2004 – SUB Renovation Project • 200 Seat Procrastinator Theatre key selling point • 35mm projector 2005 – Digital Projection • Projection Booth removed from blue-prints

5. Digital Switch • Decision was made assuming technology would be ready and available • Technology is ready • Not available – may never be available

6. Digital Cinema - Ready • Standardized in 2005 – specification issued by the Digital Cinema Initiatives group (DCI) • Top to bottom: print creation, distribution to theaters, exhibition • Anti-Piracy Specifications • Equipment Specifications • $100,000 per screen for equipment (vs. $30k allocated) • Over 4,000 domestic screens (including eight at Bozeman’s Carmike Campus Square 8)

7. Digital Cinema – Not Available (to us) • Industry Structure • Precludes The Procrastinator Theatre from getting digital prints Key Point #1 Without prints, having the equipment and location is moot.

8. Non-Theatrical Designation • Necessarily a non-theatrical venue • Located on a university campus • Paid for with student dollars • MSU cuts the checks • Distributors will not do business with non-theatrical venues • (Or, at least not directly) • Revenues too small • Volatility too high

9. Non-Theatrical Booking • 35mm Prints booked through one of two non-theatrical booking agents • Swank Motion Pictures & Criterion USA • A “middle man” • No direct Distributor-Venue interaction

10. Digital Distribution • The Digital Print itself • The Authorization Key • Controlled by each distributor • Neither non-theatrical booking agent can handle digital prints

11. The Pickle • As a non-theatrical venue, The Procrastinator cannot get prints directly from distributors • No alternatives for getting digital prints • When finished, The Procrastinator Theatre will not be able to book digital prints.

12. Alternatives to Digital Prints • Swank Digital Player – Swank’s “alternative” to Digital Cinema • Quality Inferior to DVDs • DVDs & HD-DVDs • Designed for 32” and 60” TV’s, respectively – not a 30’ screen • Lossy compression, limited video resolution

13. Net Result • Neither would provide a theater experience • Downgrade, rather than upgrade, from Linfield.

14. Conclusion Key Point #2 To be an operable and viable movie theater, the SUB Procrastinator Theatre must have a 35mm projector.

15. Discussion.

16. The Pickle, Part II • When the 35mm Projector was eliminated in 2005, so to was the projection booth

17. 2004

18. Current - 2007

19. Necessary Modifications • Expand Booth to accommodate Projector, platter, build table • Fire Suppression • HVAC • Electrical • Access hatch

20. Current, non-viable plans Proposed Revisions Hatch

21. Not so fast, there… • Seemingly painless – just push out a few walls and chop hole in the floor • Cost proposal to A&E • Response from A&E Projection Booth Ceiling Supported

22. Theoretical Future • A “guestimated” $30-50k to redesign floor • Plus any various “hardship” fines • Three to five weeks for structural engineers to redesign structure • Graduation Deadline

23. Where do we go from here? • Without remodel, the SUB Procrastinator will not be usable as a viable movie theater