The Index of Training Films (1946)

A Glossary of Film Words ♦ A. C. Alternating current. Usually 60 cycles. AMPLIFIER The vacuum tube system (like radio) which magnifies the sound impulses. ANIMATION Cartoons or technical drawings which are made to move on the screen, APERTURE The frame size opening in the projector which permits the light to strike the film and project it thru the lens. BASE (safety) The cellulose acetate film ma- terial which supports the photographic image. BEAD Tiny glass particles on the surface of a "beaded screen" to increase the light reflecting power. BOOKING The reservation of films or equip- ment for a definite screening date. BLOOP The peculiar sound issuing from the loud speaker when a film splice passes thru the projector. BLOOPING The lacquering of a film splice to eliminate the sound of the "bloop." CEMENT The solvent material used to hold two strips of film together. Used in splicing. CONDENSER The immovable lenses in the projector between the lamp and the film. They condense diverging light beams into parallel rays. CUT The place where one scene in a film stops and another scene starts without any "tricks" (fades or wipes). D. C. Direct current. Most projectors operate on A.C. You may need a converter if current is D.C. DISSOLVE The place where one scene in a film dissolves into the following scene. EMULSION The gelatin with imbedded silver which forms the film image. EXCITER The lamp which shines thru the sound track to the photo-electric cell in the sound projector. FADE The place where one scene of a film gradually fades into or out of view. FRAME (noun) A single complete scene on the film. FRAME (verb) The centering of the scene on the screen. Done by turning a small knob or lever on the projector. FREQUENCY The value scale of sound tones such as high, low and medium. Measured in kilocycles. FUSE A small, low-melting-point wire in a projector which melts and stops the current flow if too much electricity enters the projector or if a short circuit develops. GATE The hinged retainer plate which holds the film firmly against the aperture in a pro- jector. GELATIN The gelatinous coating on the film base which holds the silver image. IMAGE A photographically-obtained likeness on a film emulsion. NARRATION See Voice Over. OSCILLOGRAPH A testing device to check the frequency of vibration and hence the capa- bility of an amplifier in handling various fre- quencies. POLARITY The direction in which electric current flows. D.C. projectors must receive cur- rent in the right direction. Wrong polarity can be corrected by withdrawing and reversing position of the plug. REEL (spool) A spool on which film is wound and capable of being put onto a projector. Can be for any film capacity whatever. REEL (of film) A unit of film length (400 ft. of 16mm film). 1, 2, 3, 4 or any fractional num- ber of reels can be wound on a reel (spool). RELEASE A generic term for films intended for general distribution or exhibition. REWIND (noun) A cranking device for wind- ing film on a reel (spool). REWIND (verb) To wind a film after it comes off the projector onto another reel so that the title is at the outside (loose end) and the film is ready for re-showing. SOUND TRACK The portion of the film (edge) on which the sound is recorded. It may be of varying degrees of density, or of varying area of clear stock with black borders. SPLICE (noun) The place where two strips of film overlap and are cemented together. SPLICE (verb) To make a splice of two strips of film. SPROCKET The toothed wheels on the pro- jector which engage the film and guide or pull it thru the machine. SPROCKET HOLES The holes along the edge of film that are engaged by the sprocket wheels of the projector. Silent films have them on each edge. Sound films on one edge only. STROBOSCOPE A Neon lamp and rotating disc testing device to check the speed of projec- tors. STOCK Film. Consists of the base and an emulsion of gelatin and silver. TRICK Any method used to end one scene and begin another. Also any method of having more than one scene in the frame at the same time. WIPE The place in a film where one scene moves out of the frame and another moves into it. VOICE OVER Any sound where the words are not synchronized with the lip movements of the actors in the film. VOICE SYNC Any sound where the words are synchronized with lip movements of the actors. 'Courtesy of Encyclopaedia Britannica Films 92 THE INDEX OF