Thank This Projectionist for The Odyssey’s 70-mm. Imax Run

Key Points:

• Imax revived its nearly obsolete 70-mm film projection format for Christopher Nolan’s 2023 film Oppenheimer, showcasing it in 30 theaters worldwide despite challenges like lost projector design files and a dwindling number of compatible venues.
• Projectionist Pat Caldwell, a veteran who started in the 1970s and has become a key figure in Imax 70-mm screenings, has been instrumental in training new operators and managing multiple screenings, including 12-hour night shifts to meet high demand.
• Imax 70-mm projectors differ significantly from standard film projectors, running film horizontally and requiring precise threading without room for error, which demands detailed training and experience from projectionists.
• The resurgence of Imax 70-mm film has led to a blend of retired and new projectionists being called upon for screenings, with Caldwell noting the importance of accuracy over speed and sharing anecdotes from his decades-long career in film projection.
• Despite some criticism over the limited number of theaters capable of showing films like Nolan’s The Odyssey in true Imax 70-mm format, Caldwell highlights the superior quality of the film stock used and acknowledges the industry's prior shift to digital projection contributed to the current scarcity of 70-mm venues.