Canadian Film Digest (Dec 1976)

“wwe studied the three top lines, CVX, CDL and Datatron, and determined what the advantages and limitations were to each system. In the one Ampex designed for us we've tried to incorporate the best of all three systems. “With other equipment you usually have to edit and finish on the same system, but we can accept anyone’s off-line output and assemble it. It is also capable of frame-by-frame editing which | want to emphasize to film makers.” The editing process involves two stages. A smaller, less expensive Sony facility is contained in the rough-cut room. “Its purpose is to save time on the computer,” said MPVC editor Arden Rynew. ‘Your time in this room is used to make up the computer program which will then feed into the larger editing system.” The Sony equipment includes two machines — one for rushes and another “record’’ machine to accept the selected footage. There isa “SMPTE number on each frame and the equipment has halfframe capability. “Video editing used to depend highly on human reflexes,” said Rynew, “but now the edit decisions can be more precise.” ¢ They're Coming to Get You e Blood in the Streets ¢ The Booby Hatch ¢ Situation © The Boob Tube e Creature from Black Lake © Winner of 10 Academy Awards @ In Search of Dracula @ Behind The Shutters e Luscious Linda ¢ House of Psycotic Women ¢ Ondine ayy OTHERS! FRONTIER AMUSEMENTS (CANADA) LIMITED After the list of decisions has been compiled, the editor moves into the optical mixing, editing control room. Here the facilities include a black and white camera, electronic title generator, computerized production console, production audio console and tape machine. The Ampex BCC 2 video camera is available for rent. At a price tag of $1000-perday the package includes camera, recorder, colour monitor, audio mixer, microphone and someone to operate the whole thing. In the computer room the final edit takes place including optical addition like titles, dissolves and so on. All the information about each job is stored ona computer disc for instant recall and accurate repeatability. Allowances for such human errors as a seven-frame reflex lag on the punch-in can also be built in. Cost of the editing facility is $25 per hour with your own editor or $40 per hour with an editor supplied. MPVC isn’t officially open for business yet, but it is doing some ad hoc jobs to test the equipment. One of the most successful was the transfer job on the filmed A/frick Productions’ television special BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE. Plagued with low light and blurry image problems, the production was run through the flying spot scanner process and brought up to television standards with custom colouring and sharpening. MPVC will serve producers basically on three levels as described by Sher. “On the simplest level, we offer the producer the option of bringing his finished film product to us and we'll put it onto tape for tape distribution,”’ said Sher. ‘At another level, the producer can shoot and edit as normal on film, supply us with the workprint and negative and we'll finish it on tape — colour correcting, timing and adding special effects like dissolves, mattes, titles and supers. As another alternative, he can shoot on film, hand us the selected takes and we will totally post-produce and edit electronically on videotape.” Of course, the same post-production services will also be offered to videotape producers as well as film people and it is anticipated that a good deal of business will come from the U.S. te *The SMPTE code was devised by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. \t is a videotape measurement given in hours/minutes/seconds/frames. The following letter was mailed during November to overseas members by the Association of Cinematograph Television and allied Technicians: Date as postmark Dear Member, Our General Council has decided that as of now, no registered Overseas member can be allowed to work on a “British based production” as part of the minimum crew. This applies to all Overseas members even those that are paying full subscription rates. Our policy is that all British production take full quota of technicians from this country. Yours sincerely, 44 tan Ave. West ® Toronto ® Ontario MAR 1A1 @ Telephone (416) 484-1110 58 canadian film digest ALAN SAPPER General Secretary