The Educational screen (c1922-c1956])

Page 198 Educational Screen Each time a film is returned to the film library, it should be inspected on the rewind for damage; i.e., scratches, bad or torn sprocket holes, broken splices, and loss of leader. Replace leader with special leader stock. DEPARTMENTS of Visual Instruction are being organized and reorganized in school systems all over the country. Thousands of new films have been purchased for these libraries. What kind of care are these new films receiving? A director of a department of visual aids always can look back and say, "If only I had known more about the proper care of films, our library would be in much better condition today." There are a few points regarding this care and maintenance that should be passed on to those recently entrusted with the responsibility of a film library. "Care" begins with the receipt of the film from the producer or distributor. This new film should be inspected carefully on the rewind machine. Many films have been ruined on their initial run through the projector. All producers are anxious to replace defective film that happened to escape their inspection. However, no producer wants to be blamed for shipping faulty prints, when the film was damaged by the purchaser. Warped or wavy film should not be accepted. Following the inspection on the rewind, the film should be projected under normal conditions. At this point, your interest should be directed to the sound reproduction. Your question should be, "Is this sound of the same quality as I heard on the preview print?" It has been necessary in our experience to return a film because the print sent to us was pitched so low that it was impossible to understand much of the commentary. This fault occurs more often in the case of color film than with black and white. Another fault that occurs but rarely is to have the film jump out of frame at intervals — watch for this. At least ninety percent of all film damage occurs within the first several feet and at the end of the film. The Care and Maintenance of Motion Picture Films ALBERT J. DOBIE, Executive Assistant, Worcester (Mass.) Public Schools The damage can be eliminated to a large degree by attaching five feet of white cu.stomer's leader at the beginning of the film, and two feet at the end. This serves several purposes. It is stronger and heavier than film, and lends itself to easy and accurate threading which lessens damage. When the film has not been properly threaded through the projector, torn sprocket holes are the inevitable result. Ruined leader is no catastrophe, whereas, ruined film is not only an unneces.sary expense, but results also in temporary loss of the title or opening scenes of the film, until replacement can be obtained. When splicing on leader at the beginning and end of the film, it is good pr"ctice to match dull and shiny sides of the leader and film. The dull side makes a better surface on which to write in ink the title of the film, the word START, and the phrase, "This side out". On the tail strip, substitute the word END for the word START. Neat splicing lengthens the life of the film. Yet most splicing is very poorly done. This is forcefully shown by inspecting almost any old film. Warping, humping and an excess of cement can be found at most splices. When making a splice be sure that all emulsion is removed from the lower film end. Most splicers have a scraping device for removing the emulsion. To remove it more easily and completely, apply water at that section of the film from which the emulsion is to be removed. Be careful to moisten merely Reel and can, showing burn i d i f y i n g pad at the bottom. Eastman does not recommend continuous humidifying. l-:e:i & H. wol]