70mm Film Breaks in Projector

Thomas and I were recording another (unreleased) video and wanted to run a preview reel with magnetic sound 70mm film. While we were running our Norelco DP70 (Todd AA II projector) in 70mm configuration (with our new Big Sky Industries Lamphouse) the film snapped! You can see what I believe is the only video on the internet of 70mm film snapping. The film immediately hit the film buckle switch and stopped the motor before we could. In the end only a few frames were lost in our already beat-up preview.
The snap was caused by a combination of 2 bad splices within 6 frames of each other, and the lower loop was lost when the projector started. We are looking into why the lower loop shrank so much from start to running.

[@slimjerkins5115]

Years ago I ran AAII’s like those at a 4-plex during the day (set up for 35mm) and a more “normal” projector (Simplex) at a drive-in during the night. Those AAII’s were so big and roomy. When I went to lace up the smaller projectors, it felt like I was wearing baseball gloves.

[@JaxenRossisback]

Although projection is quite an arduous task, it’s always fun seeing film bloopers like this in action.

[@rileyhanlan3160]

What happens when an accident like this happens on a feature film lent out by a studio? Is there insurance for these type of events?

[@KyleMiko]

Normally when film snaps while running you only lose a few frames. Studios inspect film when they are returned, to see if everything is (mostly) there. The bigger concern is if there is damage throughout the print such as the dreaded “lines” which don’t break the film but ruin the image. To be honest we have never come close to damaging a print besides the rare film breakage (this 70mm trailer is very old and played often for practice). There is probably insurance, but we have never had any.

[@SDGamer638]

Was the trailer that broke that of ET?

[@KyleMiko]

No. It was The Jetsons Movie

[@photomitch]

Splice came loose

[@KyleMiko]

Probably but the whole preview is just falling apart, the Acetate film is not holding up to the mag reader much

[@SeychellsCollections]

70mm film got eaten up by the projector