International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1950)

LETTERS TO THE EDIT Release Print Riddles THE appended communications are self-explanatory; but they bear upon only a small fraction of the total number of weird happenings in the handling of motion picture prints, negative and release, extending from Hollywood down through the processing stage, into the exchanges and finally to the theater projection room — where, of course, Mr. Projectionist takes the beating effortwise and verbally from uninformed managerial personnel. IP would welcome many more reports from the field as to the condition of release prints along the following line: To the Editor of IP: Can you enlighten me upon the following? Should the words "Safety Film" be black letters on a clear background to conform to accepted practice? If these words are in white letters on a black background, does this mean that the negative from which the print was made was safety stock? Also, I have reason to believe that some prints now in circulation have had their leaders replaced with safety film. Cute? Recently we had trouble with a newsreel print, examination of which disclosed that it had incorrectly punched sprocket holes, like this: OOOoooOOOOoooo, etc. We had to eliminate 73 feet because of loss of continuity. Of course, the blame was directed at you know who. Sydney T. Clarke, Secretary, IA Local 223, Providence, R. I. The foregoing was referred by IP to an authoritative source, eliciting the following response: To the Editor of IP: In answer to the questions posed by your correspondent, we would say that the marking put on raw stock should read "Safety Film" in b'ack letters on a clear background. As we have discussed with you previously, however, this would not always be a sure thing, since on rare occasions the wording from an original can be carried through the duplicating process. It is certain, however, that if the letters are white, they have been printed through from an original. As to the question of safety leaders, we LOCAL NO. 488 I. A. T. S. E. Harrisburg, Penna. 38 have always held this to be a dubious practice because of the danger of someone replacing a leader with the wrong one. Anent the incorrect sprocket holes, it is difficult to understand how holes of the type described could occur. If your projectionist correspondent has a sample of this film, we would certainly appreciate having it for examination. Robert M. Corbin, Motion Picture Film Dept., Eastman Kodak Co. Carbon-Tet Poisoning? To the Editor of IP: I am very grateful for the exchange of views between us on the danger inherent in the use of carbon tetrachloride. Recalling the placidity with which most readers of IP accepted previous warnings anent carbon-tet, I think it would be a distinct service to the craft if you would reprint in full the medical report which you forwarded to me. Ed.'s Note: The report referred to is appended hereto in full: Poisoning With Carbon Tetrachloride: Diagnosis Often Overlooked. In view of the tendency to overlook poisoning with carbon tetrachloride in conditions diagnosed as uremia due to nephrosis or nephrosclerosis, the authors call attention to the increasing number of non-industrial cases of carbon tetrachloride poisoning being treated in hospitals. Of 12 cases of carbon tetrachloride nephrosis in 5,000 admissions during two years at the U. S. Marine Hospital, Staten Island, N. Y., five proved fatal. Only one case was industrial. Seven of the patients had used CCl^ to clean their clothes and did not become ill ("gastroenteritis") until 12 hours afterward. One patient cleaned upholstery in his car, one slept near a carbon tetrachloride fire extinguisher, and one used the fluid to thin paint. Treatment is aimed at keeping the patient alive until acute renal failure subsides. Fluid intake is limited to 800 cc. of salt-free fluid per day. If excretion does not start and blood nitrogen and creatinine levels rise, transperitoneal irrigation of the artificial kidney are used, with an irrigating fluid containing 0.6% of sodium chloride. — R. M. Farrier and R. H. Smith, /. Amer. Med. Assn., vol. 143, pages 965-967, July, 1950. Carbon tet is used in a great many projection rooms for general cleaning and BmBon a (gmttttga Projectionists Local No. 173 I. A. T. S. E. TORONTO, ONT. CANADA Ifoltoau, (Sr^ttttgs from tly* OFFICERS and MEMBERS of LOCAL NO. 257 Ottawa, Canada Jfcry (Efynstmas ano A ifapptj £faw ^mt PROJECTIONIST LOCAL NO. 314 Schenectady New York ~Ar ^hrcippu ^rrolidau to C^verubodu j-t rom PROJECTIONIST LOCAL 253 Rochester, N. Y. ^rroiidcLU K^ireetinaS PROJECTIONISTS LOCAL NO. 650 Westchester County New York INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST • December 1950