Business Screen Magazine (1963-1964)

huhistnj inrr.vf.v millions of dollars in valnuhic color prints . . It should also take time, care to assure their perfect showing. A visual examination of film also Itikts place throughout cveni foot of film during, reuindinfi onto cores or reels. PROJECTING FOR PERFECTION Assuring Print Quality in the Lab and on the Road •* of c A Perfecp $150 print a S30.000 production, run it through a projector that has the wrong size bulb or hasn"t been cared for, and you'd be amazed at just how poor it can look." says Mel Stutsman, Inspection Supervisor. Calvin Productions. Inc.. Kansas City. Missouri. When it conies to putting film through projectors. Stutsman qualifies as an authority. In fact, the line-up of Kodak Pageant Sound Projectors ( AV 1 26 TR ) in his inspection department just iiiiitlii be the busiest to be found anywhere. Calvin produces millions of feet of film each month, with 10(1 per cent projector inspection of each small order. Long films get a generous projection sampling. See It .\s Customers Will "We feel that the only good way really to examine a motion picture film is to project it." Stutsman declared. "We use visual inspection during rewinding and high speed projection to inspect large quantity print orders. However, for answer prints and other similar types of orders, we use normal projection techniques. If we are to see and hear exactly what is on the film, as we must, we have to project it exactly as our customers will project their prints. At Calvin, where the projectors are in use 8 to 16 hours a day, five days a week, cleaning is an almost daily function. "Lack of cleanliness, generally, is the most common projector problem." Stutsman emphasized. "Dust, lint accumulate frequent Lack of cleanliness at film •j.at< is a most common problem. ly on the film gate, producing the all-too-familiar shaggy appearance around the edges of the image. This must be removed frequently. "Not so noticeable, but more disastrous for film life is the accumulation of emulsion gelatine on the film pressure shoe in the gate." Stutsman said. "A tiny speck can act like a knife and leave a continuous scratch in the film. "If a business or institution Insi>ection supervisor Mel Sfiilsman icitli three of Kodak AV 12fi TR Projectors u.scd to inspect films at Calvin plant. shows movies, some knowledge of film care and cleaning is desirable because it is the film that attracts the dirt. Static electricity resulting from winding or rewinding film attracts dust. lint, and foreign substances to the film. This material accumulates in the projector and can be a real problem unless removed frequently. What Film Users Overlook . . . "Most maintenance techniques are well-known, but projector users just don't get around to them as often as is necessary. Some of the things that should be done are frequently overlooked." "For example: how many people ever think to check whether or not the bulb in a projector is the right size for their own purposes? Each of the 16mm projectors we use came equipped with the usual 750-watt bulb. But. our projection rooms limit the throw to 10 or 15 feet with a screen image approximately 20 x .^0 inches wide in size. So, we put in 500 watt bulbs instead. On the other hand, had we been faced with a larger room and desired a larger screen image, we might have gone to 1000 watt bulbs. Three Tips for Good Showing Stutsman believes that the thing to keep in mind when one is working with motion picture film is that proper care of a projector is neither expensive nor time consuming. But. it would be reasonably frequent and particular attention should be paid to the following; 1. "Keep the film gate and aperture clean. Dirt removal is easiest with an ordinary pipe cleaner which is soft enough not to scratch, yet can be bent to reach around corners. For best results, do it after each print is projected. 2. Keep the film itself clean and lubricated. This is done by drawing the film slowly through a soft, lintless cloth moistened with film cleaner and lubricant. There are commercially prepared cloths especially for this purpose, or a good grade of Canton flannel, a shortor medium-pile rayon or nylon plush, or a soft cotton batiste is satisfactory. The cloth is folded and held against the two faces of the film as it comes from the feedoff reel. This gives the cleaner time to dry before the film goes onto the take-up reel. Rewinding equipment is handy for this, if available. If not. cleaning can be done on the projector by setting for the rewind cycle. 3. Determine in some wav that you have the proper size bulb for the intended projection use. Information on this is usually supplied with the projector, also common sense must be used. For larger screen images 750 or 1000 watt bulbs may be used. Once the proper brightness is determined, an incident light meter can be used to check the brightness for any screen size desired and the proper bulb used to attain the desired brightness," he concludes. • * * * Truckinfi as Teen-Age Career Goal Told in Goodrich Film i-T The fourth in a widely-shown series of career guidance and motivational motion pictures for teenage viewing has been released by the B. F. Goodrich Company. Tommy Looks at Careers — Trucking is the title of the new 25minute color film, produced by Atlas Film Corporation and distributed (as are the rest in this series) by Sterling Movies U.S.A. The picture develops the theme that young men and women can find countless opportunities for careers in science and engineering. sales and accounting, creative channels and a multitude of crafts within the trucking industry. It shows that this growing field offers both college-bound and graduated students their choices of specialties ranging from salesmen, accounts and instrument specialists to traffic and safety engineers, electricians, mechanics, painters and drivers. "All around us are industries we take for granted.'' notes P. W. Perdriau. president of the Goodrich Tire Division. "Yet they represent a great potential for worthwhile careers in a society which needs many skills." "Tommy" learns, in this film, that the trucking industry provides direct employment to more than eight million men and women. Scenes take the viewer into modern truck terminals and reveal the many skilled, highly-trained people, plus the advanced equipment, required for today's motor carriers. The series includes a film on tire manufacture, a picture on space exploration and a highway safety film ( Tommy Gets the Keys). These films are available on free loan to schools and other audience groups in full-length; shorter versions are also provided for public service TV showings. Regional offices of Sterling Movies U.S.A. have the prints. • BUSINESS SCREEN MAGAZINE