American cinematographer (Oct 1933)

October 1933 • American Cinematographer 249 greatest possible strength in the splices. With these precautions, practically no difficulty has been encountered from broken splices. It has been necessary to make re- prints occasionally when spliced stock has been used, because of fogged spots that have been unnoticed by the splicer. However, less than four per cent of the footage of the prints made on reclaimed spliced stock have to be reprinted for any reason. This percentage is being de- creased as various minor difficulties are remedied and eliminated. Economies Effected. —At RKO Studios, laboratory developing charges for sound film have been reduced somewhat more than fifty per cent as a result of process- ing only selected takes. About ten per cent of the total studio outlay for posi- tive raw stock is saved as a result of using salvaged spliced stock. Use of System on Predeveloped Cam- era Negative. —Warner Bros.-First Na- tional Studios have been breaking down predeveloped picture negative for several years. The system was adopted there, not primarily as an economy measure, but at a time when the laboratory facili- ties were not adequate to develop .all negative. The situation was met by developing only the good and usable takes. The procedure followed there, with certain exceptions, is similar to that of the RKO Studios on predeveloped sound negative. Exposure test strips are made each time photographic conditions are changed. While in the camera, the negative is notched at the end of each exposure strip and between takes. Reports are made listing the “selected,” the “hold” and the “NG” takes. “Selected” takes are those from which prints are to be made immediately. “Hold” takes are those that are deemed usable, but not ordered to be printed. The “NG” takes are those that probably will not be used. Camera takes are identified by pho- tographing a slate bearing the scene and take numbers instead of by punching these numbers on the film, as is done with sound negative. The photographed identification is invisible, of course, until i after the film has been developed. The person separating the undeveloped takes into their proper classes must work i in almost complete darkness. His only source of illumination is a small flash- light, which makes it posisble for him to i read the tickets classifying the various 1 takes. Knowing the number of takes and tests on a roll of film, the operator, by counting notches, can separate the : takes and the tests that go with them into their proper classes. The “selected” and “hold” takes are developed. The “NG” takes are put into cans and held until the picture has been edited and shipped. The hazards that are present while working with undeveloped sound track New Portable - Studio SOUND RECORDING HEAD Using a new glow lamp requiring only 200 volts, with a specially designed optical recording unit. By reducing the required glow lamp voltage, it has been possible to increase the weight of the recording head and still retain portability. Large recording sprockets are used, making the head readily adaptable for dubbing and re-recording. SOUND CONCENTRATOR A necessity for location work. A highly satisfactory and pro- perly designed Concentrator now available at nominal cost, with or without dolly. Details supplied upon request. CINEMA SOUND EQUIPMENT CO. 8572 Santa Monica Blvd. Hollywood, Calif. American Cinematographer Now $2.50 a Year EVERyTHING PHOTOGRAPHIC for Professional and Amateur New and used. Bought, sold, rented and repaired Camera Silencing. Send for Bargain Catalogue Hollywood Camera Exchange 1600 Cahue.nga Blvd.", Hollywood Tel: HO-3651 Cable Address: HOcamex Open Daily to 6 P. M. Saturday to 10 P. M. 1 JLi