Cinema Canada (Jan-Feb 1979)

the system being used is different than EVR. Other investigators in Japan have been testing an EVR player with linear array senors in an optical system, as reported during a national conference of the Institute of Television Engineers in Japan. In the EVR system the film is driven continuously by a capstan, giving much better wear resistance than conventional intermittent film driving methods. Improvements in EVR players include electronic anti-jitter and anti-weave circuits. Coded images printed on the film enable servo-control mechanisms in the player to reduce vertical jitter to a virtually imperceptible level. Weave caused by errors in film slitting and the player transport mechanism can be eliminated in a similar manner from an anti-weave code printed on the film. In the early days of television broadcasting, when all programs were in monochrome, millions of feet of blackand-white film were used to make kinescope recordings. In spite of the most strenuous efforts to improve the process, kinescope recording gave results that were far from satisfactory. But it was not until the invention of videotape that an alternative recording method became available. The improvement was so great that the playback of even the earliest videotape recordings could scarcely be distinguished from the original television camera pictures. Almost at once, kinescope recording was abandoned. But then there began to be a demand for copies on film of videotape recordings, and the old kinescope recording process was revived — but now updated to record the pictures on color film. Still the old problems that plagued the black-and-white process from the beginning had not been eliminated. John Lowry, who had worked at CBC in Toronto in various capacities, set out to develop a greatly improved film recording process known as Image Transform. The main purpose was to produce motion pictures of large screen theatrical quality from videotape recordings. The Image Transfer process has been highly successful for the purpose intended, but it is quite costly, and not readily adaptable for general use as a TEA’ NEWS storage medium for television programs. Over the years since television broadcasting started, some people in the industry have been insisting that it should be possible to develop a film recording process that ‘would give pictures and sound in playback equal to 2-in. quadruplex videotape recordings. A successful black-and-white film recording process on 8.75mm._ film would, at one stroke, release millions of feet of valuable videotape for re-use; provide a universally interchangeable recording medium, and make available a low cost, compact and permanent means for storing television programs. (John Lowry was awarded the AgfaGevaert gold medal at the recent SMPTE technical conference in Los Angeles for significant improvements at the interface between motion picture film and television imaging systems.) oO The Toronto Super Fight Film Festival An international celebration by and for all S8 filmmakers April 6,7,8, 1979. workshops screenings fatty lab tours cash APPOINTMENT prizes inn Labs icone Sound Film House ,: Murray Marshall We are pleased to announce the appointment of Murray Marshall as a Director of SCP Producer’s Services Ltd., operating as Film House, Mirro Box 7109 phonic Sound and Quinn Labs. Postal Station A He brings to his present position Toronto MSW1X8 25 years of expertise and a Ontario.C d dedication to quality which has iar lO. .aneaa helped build respect (416) 367-0590 internationally for a growing Canadian film industry. Entry Deadline March 21 February/37