International projectionist (Jan 1963-June 1965)

worst sin a projectionist can commit is to allow the indicator numerals and sound-synchronizing: diamonds to flash b\ on the screen. This seldom happens unless the projectionist habitually threads up on a high indicator number and "runs down'" to the correct starting number — and then forgets to run the film down after threading! Excessive Leader Length Tabu Strange as it ma) seem, replacement of damaged leader l>\ the exchanges sometimes results in the inclusion of more than 3 feet of black film between the "T" indicator frame and the first frame of the picture An excessively long leader is actual!) worse than a shortened one. for if the projectionist does not notice and remove the excess film before the reel is shown, both he and his audience will be treated to a brief blackout when the changeover is made. On the protection-leader footage of fairlv new prints the projectionist max find the words: "Do not patch this leader. Replace if torn." This notice is addressed to the operator of the film-printing machine, not to the projectionist. It refers to the negative from which the leader is printed, and i> intended to present the printing of defective leaders. Having been unwound upon the floor inaiiv times, the leaders of old prints ma\ he badl) soiled. The oil and dirt adhering to them should be removed 1>\ drawing them through a folded pad of soft cotton cloth moistened with film-cleaning fluid. Conserve Those Leaders! Most projectionists help save leaders by keeping them a (lean as possible and by treating them gentlv when threading the projectors. One simple rule is to make sure that the film is on the sprocket before closing the idler roller or the gate door. Carele»ness ma\ result in a film break and one more splice in a leader which may already have more than its fair share of patches! It i especially important to take up all slack film on both the upper and lower reels to avoid sudden tightening of loose lengths of film. Perforations are ripped out bv the teeth of the upper and lower sprockets when the film snaps tight. If the film does not break immediately, it will in the gate when a loop is lost. The takeup reel turns verv fast when not held back by the film, and is \er\ likelv to break the leader if a length of slack film is left between the lower sprocket and the takeup reel. This is probablv the chief cause of damage to leaders. A misthreaded leader ma) break if the film is "run down" to the correct indicator number by switching on the projector motor instead of using the handwheel. The best way to thread is to bring down a sufficient length of leader from the upper reel so that the correct indicator number can be placed just above the aperture in the gate. The threading can then be checked by running down a few frames with the handwheel. Very serious damage can be inflicted upon the projector by snitching the motor on and off rapidly to check the threading.' In the first place, the motor-switch contacts may be badly burned when the projector motor is turned off before it has attained full running speed. The starting w hiding of a motor consumes a very strong current and produces a hot spark when the circuit is broken. In the second place, the starting winding of a motor has a powerful "torque," or force of rotation. If the motor i -witched on again before it has had a chance to stop turning, the powerful starting torque is added to the momentum of the revolving rotor and the projector International Projectionist February, 1964 FIG. 3 — Here is what happens to the sprocket holes when film is violendy "yanked" on a sprocket — the perforations in each margin are simply ripped out! If this happens on the upper sprocket, a loop may be lost when the torn perforations come to the intermittent sprocket. The result: a film break and possibly a "burn-out" when the film stops in the gate. -ear and flv wheels. This results in an almost in stantaneous acceleration which may strip the teeth from the main drive gear and the shutter spiral gears. It i> a matter of great convenience to have equal starting times for both projectors of the installation in order that the same indicator-frame number be used in threading anv projector. The time required for a projector to reach normal operating speed may be regulated with the starting-winding rheostat on most split-phase induction motors. Film Cues Also Standardized Because the motor-start and changeover cues at the end of a reel are 11 feet apart (7.333 seconds), it is obvious that the speed-up time of a projector must be less than 7 seconds. Actually, a speed-up time between 2 and 3 seconds seems to be best, and requires the projector to be threaded up on "6," "7," or "8." Naturally, the two sets of cues, each consisting of four consecutive frames having a white-outlined black dot in the upper right-hand corner of the picture, must be the correct distance apart (11 feet between the first (iied frames of the two sets) in order that the standard leader be used with confidence. There should also be 22 frames of film between the first frame of the changeover-cue set and the first frame of the black "run-out trailer" to allow a fraction of a second for the changeover device to function. Splices in the film between the motor and changeover cues make it advisable to check the length of film between the two sets of cues when inspecting the print, i This is easily done by noting the footage numbers printed in the perforation margin of the film.) If more than 4 or 5 frames are missing, a new set of motorstart cues must be marked on the film 11 feet ahead of the changeover cues. A cue-marking die is an absolute necessity for scoring a neat, inconspicuous set of cues on film. Crude lines and X's scratched over the frames are an unnecessary form of film mutilation, as is also the punching of holes in film. Many projectionists use china-marking crayons on the base side of the film for temporary curtain cues which can be wiped off with a clean cloth before the film is returned to the exchange. Red chinamarking crayon cues show up the best, but the red dye seems to streak over the film to form an indelible smear. The black crayons are safest. iP