American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1942)

with a single hole punched through it, and back up the film several feet so that the projector will be up to speed and in sync when the next take begins. This punch-mark should be large enough so tor MlfflemU ahof — THE ORIGINAL Scheibe's Monotone Filter INDICATKS insianily how tver> color and li^hi value of 1 sctne or objtci will he rendered in the finished prim Mart takinj the picture. ■:• always readv GRADUATED FILTERS (%«hfM jrJ N>^tff»T>l FOG SCENIS, DIFFUSID FOCUS AND OTHll IFFICTS Gcorqo H. Scheibo ilNATOR OF EFFECT FILTERS ORIGINATOF^ O WEST 78' ST 8 '"tS'' 16 Red uced TO 8 Geo. W. Colburn Laboratory Special Motion Picture Printing 995 MERCHANDISE MART CHICAGO DON'T WASTE FILM! GET your picture — the first time and every time! Flash with a Kalart precision Speed Flash. New booklet gives interesting facts on hov/ to put life ^l^e^dayToMhi; FREE BOOKLET! THE KALART COMPANY, INC. Stannford Dept. Ill Connecticut MOVIOLA FILM EDITING EQUIPMENT Used in Every Major Studio Illustrated Literature on Request MOVIOLA CO. 1451 Gordon St. Hollywod, Calif. FAXON DEAN INC. CAMERAS FOR REXT Day, NOrinainlie 22184 Night, SUnset 2-1271 4516 Sunset Boulevard that it can be readily seen by the projectionist and others concerned with the recording as it will serve as a cue to start the succeeding take and will serve as a change-over mark in later playbacks. The recording of the second and succeeding units should be started the same as the first unit with the exception that the music or commentary takes its cue to start from the punch-mark on the screen, as the projector will be running first. In other words, the recorder will start, and as soon as the cutting is checked, the projector will start, and syncing must be established before the punch or change-over mark shows on the screen — for when this mark shows, the sounding will commence for this unit. Following the making of the recordings, a heavy mark should be made at the beginning of each record where the cutting stylus started to cut. This should be quite heavy so that the reproducing needle can be set in it easily in the dark during showings. A smart idea is to paint with luminous paint (which can be bought in any 5 and 10c store) a small "U" around the groove's beginning. The needle can be set in this in the dark and thus accurately engage the groove's beginning. Count with a stop-watch the number of seconds needed for the recording to run from this point to the first note of music. Then, by multiplying this by 16 7:! frames per second, (The speed of the projector when in perfect sync), the number of frames preceding the changeover mark to start the record can be learned. For instance, if it takes six seconds to run off the lead grooves of the disc, this multiplied by 16^.! would set the start mark of that disc exactly one hundred frames before the change-over mark. Here two small punch-marks should be made in the film so as to signal the projectionist to start the next record for the take or unit following. By the time the change-over mark shows up, the disc just released will be in sync with the film, and when the switch from one disc to the next is done there will be no break in either the commentary or music, and synchronization will be maintained throughout. To pi'event any possible miss of the start mark, a third mark might b^ put on the film, say five seconds preceding the start-mark, and thus a i)rojectionist unfamiliar with film would not be caught unprepared and thus lose synchronization when the change-over mark shows up. For persons with only one playback table, the above procedure can be followed out with only slight modifications. Time yourself to see how long it will take you to change records in the dark and find the opening groove of the next I'ecord. Allow this time to elapse at the end of each unit during recording and then stop the film. Make a temporarij mark on the film and then let the projector run for an additional tiix seconds before stopping the projector, a second time. Better yet, count off 100 frames in advance from the temporary mark and make your change-over mark here. Now back up your film to the temporary mark and start both the recorder and the projector at the same time. When the change-over mark flashes on the screen, start your sound for the second unit. After this unit has been finished (and this should also be done for each succeeding unit), count the number of seconds needed for the playback turntable to run in from the beginning of the opening groove to the first note of sound, and multiply this by 16^. The result should be about one hundred frames or back to the temporary start mark. However differences in pickup speed of the recorder and playback tables may alter this, so the final start mark should be made to correspond with the length of. time needed to "run in" the recording on the playback turntable. This will allow a silent period during the showing of the finished production equal to the length of time needed to change records phis the time needed to "run in" the new record to its sound, but will not necessitate stopping the show or interrupting it in any other way. During all of the above, and especially at the change-over periods, the strobe discs should be very carefully watched, as syncing may be affected by power fluctuations due to the starting and stopping of turntables which in turn may change the speed of lighter projectors Carefully followed, syncing of 78-rpm discs may be worked out close enough to permit lip-motion synchronization. However, this should not be tried until the operator and all concerned are thoroughly familiar with the routine. The method outlined above will enable persons with ordinary phonograph equipment to add sound to their films with a minimum of initial expense and a maximum of quality and satisfaction. Of course it will be realized that the success of any such procedure hinges directly upon the care taken and the RUBY CAMERA EXCHUNGE Rents . . . Sells . . . Exchanges Everything You Need for the PRODUCTION & PROJECTION of Motion Pictures Provided by a Veteran Organization of Specialists 35 nnm 16 mm. IN BUSINESS SINCE IflO 729 Seventh Ave.. New York City Cable Address: RUBYCAM 498 November, l'.»42 Amkrican Cinematographer