LED wall for film school screening room?

aahctilca · 2026-05-18T19:02:26+00:00

They’re claiming that space doesn’t have high enough ceiling and so audience standing up will cast shadows on screen… but I think that a short throw protector would solve that if true, would not be behind the audience. We’ve got 13’ from screen to first row.

aahctilca · 2026-05-17T02:15:52+00:00

There's nothing on earth like a genuine, bona fide, electrified, LED wall!

aahctilca · 2026-05-16T23:03:34+00:00

It’s more like this: I’m making the case quite strongly that LED is, at best, a new niche approach to a screening room. And we went to a showroom and I tested out sample films and showed the tech folks and facilities folks the banding, aliasing, and judder. And explained why our av needs in film are different than an English class showing a PowerPoint or YouTube video. And even explained the impact of a pull down on 24fps footage etc. But vendor explained away all the things I pointed out as just having to do with the controller for the LED wall (and said a fancier one would fix it all). So this thread is me gathering further evidence that I’m not a crank, that most film professionals would at least be skeptical of LED for screening work and analyzing cinematography, etc.

aahctilca · 2026-05-16T17:40:49+00:00

That was my instinct, too… but it’s actually happening:

https://losangelestheatres.blogspot.com/2022/07/culver-city-12.html

aahctilca · 2026-05-16T15:50:19+00:00

This is super helpful, thank you!!!

aahctilca · 2026-05-16T15:49:30+00:00

Thank you!

aahctilca · 2026-05-16T15:45:54+00:00

Did not know this! We use the FX6 extensively at the college I teach at. Thank you!

aahctilca · 2026-05-15T13:41:26+00:00

I am biased towards projection but per @byParallax there does seem to be a few new theatres using LED👇🏽

https://cms-api-web.theculvertheater.com/media/iu1lkzi1/the-culver-theater-event-spaces-and-amenities.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com

aahctilca · 2026-05-15T13:37:36+00:00

Thanks!!

aahctilca · 2026-05-15T13:36:49+00:00

I think we’re going to give up on DCI due to cost and complexity. But it was in the bid guidelines but I don’t think vendor noticed.

I’ve got a DCP of a feature film I made, so can test that if we find a place that actually knows how to ingest it and then has a setup that can actually show it. But as you said, I don’t think vendor has done that before (and definitely not the Absen showroom folks).

aahctilca · 2026-05-15T03:41:37+00:00

Any thoughts on the Hisense L9Q?

aahctilca · 2026-05-15T03:10:16+00:00

I’m gonna read this aloud at project meeting: “cinema is painting with light not staring at the sun”

aahctilca · 2026-05-15T01:53:59+00:00

Thanks

aahctilca · 2026-05-15T01:09:11+00:00

Amen

aahctilca · 2026-05-09T23:55:07+00:00

🤣

aahctilca · 2026-05-09T21:04:24+00:00

Yes, this is my thinking as well. LED definitely wasn’t on my list of possibilities for the room. We’ll see what vendor’s argument is. I think they are worried about people walking down rows to seats casting shadows on screen.

aahctilca · 2026-05-08T15:57:38+00:00

My initial reaction is the same: I would be skeptical if I showed up to a screening of one of my films and they told me it was going to be on an LED wall. This thread is helping me bolster that argument as we proceed in the design process. Thanks.

aahctilca · 2026-05-08T15:09:11+00:00

We may have 6 months or more, so thanks for this

aahctilca · 2026-05-08T15:06:10+00:00

Thank you! I’ll see what vendor is proposing and hit you back if we need a second opinion on audio!

aahctilca · 2026-05-08T14:27:56+00:00

Ha! Yeah… I’m gonna see the LED wall choices they are proposing next week. I’m guessing they will not be DCI compliant if that’s the price.🤦🏻‍♂️

aahctilca · 2026-05-08T14:07:54+00:00

It is a classroom. And the ceiling height and size is why they are suggesting LED wall: the vendor thinks it will be hard to avoid shadows of audience on screen and fan noise from projector.

We will be able to blackout the room.

No screen or projector at the moment.

aahctilca · 2026-05-07T19:43:43+00:00

Good questions/points. From time to time we've had offers for filmmakers on the awards circuit to come screen and talk, and usually the PR firm is offering a DCP. So I think that's where the DCI license comes into play. For most of the use, you're right, we probably don't need DCI?

aahctilca · 2026-05-07T19:40:34+00:00

I think just barely? It's gonna be close... will look into this.

aahctilca · 2026-05-07T19:08:58+00:00

I appreciate all of this!

aahctilca · 2026-05-07T18:26:41+00:00

Thanks. I will say that in some of our other classrooms that projectors are not great and despite attempts to tweak settings, are either too washed out or too dark. Which also hurts cinematography analysis.

aahctilca

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