International projectionist (Oct 1931-Sept 1933)

October 1931 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST 17 PRACTICAL PROBLEMS BASIS FOR ACADEMY PROGRAM Lester Cowan EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, ACADEMY OF M. P. ARTS AND SCIENCES PRACTICAL studio problems and correlation between studio and theatre practices have formed the basis of the Academy technical program during the summer months. In addition to the projects delegated to sub-committees by the Producers-Technicians Committee a number of conferences of studio and theatre technicians have been held on problems which may be approached through a cooperative effort by the various units of the industry during the winter months. A summary of the more important work of the individual committees and the Academy Technical Bureau since the last Bulletin includes a wide range of activities : Standard Apertures Specifications for standard camera and projector apertures in three by four proportions are now being worked out from data supplied by the studios, laboratories, and equipment manufacturers. Specifications are to be presented to the studios within the next week, for study and decision. The proposal is a second step in the standardization of apertures begun by the Academy in 1929. It is made possible now by the decrease in the use of sound-on-disc and the increasing number of theatres restoring the 3x4 proportions from movietone pictures by a reduced proportional aperture and shorter focal-length lens. Conferences of studios representatives have been held at which it was agreed that if other considerations in the industry will permit the establishment of a new standard, considerable savings can be effected in the studios. Estimates indicate that standardizing of apertures would save from a half -hour to an hour a day production time on every set now being spent in setting up cameras, lights and microphones to allow for the dead picture area on the film. Lights and microphones could be dropped from three to five feet lower, and as much as six feet can be cut off the top of large sets. Sets could also be reduced in width. Specifications allowing the necessary tolerances for the various processes in photography, printing and projection are being worked out by a sub-committee consisting of Virgil Miller, Joe Dubray and George Mitchell. A conference of executives of nine studio sound departments has determined on sound track re quirements. Other data is being secured from laboratories and manufacturers of projection equipment. Standard Release Print Results of the national survey of representative projectionists has been completed, strongly supporting the Standard. To date 650 questionnaires have been returned from 46 states and Canada including replies by 120 local union secretaries, so that the survey covers about a thousand theatres of all classes. Meetings of the sub-committee and of groups of projectionists have been held and the survey questionnaires have been thoroughly studied. The committee also secured special engineering surveys by E.R.P.I. and RCA Photophone. From this data only a few minor changes have been shown to be desirable. As projectionists should now be accustomed to finding the changeover signals, the sub-committee is planning to recommend a slight reduction in the size of the cues. Other minor revisions of the specifications are under consideration and will be announced in the near future. S.M.P.E. Approves S.R.P. The following resolution has been received from the Projection Practice Committee of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers. This committee is chairmaned by Harry Rubin, who has been active in the work of the Projection Advisory Council supporting the Standard. WHEREAS, the Standard Release Print has been in widespread use during the past several months and has resulted in the reduction of film mutilation and the elimination of punch-marking of film for change-over purposes, AND WHEREAS, the Standard Release Print has contributed to improved change-overs and smoother performances ; THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Projection Practice Committee go on record as endorsing the said Standard Release Print as a practical step in the improvement of projection. Film Processing The Film Processing Committee chairmaned by M. C. Levee is working toward determination of desirable standards in processing and quality. Replies have been received from nearly all the studios to an exhaustive questionnaire covering all phases of film pro cessing methods and standards. These replies have been tabulated and studied by a sub-committee consisting of W. C. Harcus, Wesley C. Miller and C. Roy Hunter. A comparison of the gamma and density scales in use at different laboratories is now being carried out for the sub-committee by Dr. John C. Frayne of Electrical Research Products, Inc. Camera Silencing The Producers-Technicians Committee several months ago authorized that measures be taken to stimulate camera manufacturers toward developments to make the present clumsy and expensive camera blimps unnecessary. Cameramen are uniformly opposed to blimps and blame them for slowing their work. A sufficiently silent camera would make possible great savings in time on the set. A series of surveys, manufacturers conferences and sub-committee meetings have been conducted on this project. Through these the main difficulties in the way of a silent camera have been brought out and information supplied the manufacturers as to requirements common to all studios. REASONABLE CARE PROLONGS LIFE OF VACUUM TUBE THE life of a vacuum tube is greatly reduced if the filament current is too high. The reason for this is that an overheated filament throws off electrons at an excessive rate, and the oxide coating, which supplies most of the electrons, therefore becomes rapidly exhausted. When a filament is near the end of its life, a weak spot usually develops which glows more brightly than the remainder. Whenever a tube begins to show this symptom it should be replaced by a new tube from the spare stock. If the filament current is too low the tube will not be harmed, but the system will not deliver proper volume and the quality may be impaired, therefore, always carefully regulate the filament current to the value specified by the maker. In some amplifiers, two or more vacuum tubes are operated with their filaments in series; if one of the tube filaments burns out the others will also be extinguished. It is advisable for every projectionist to study the schematic of each amplifier, so that he will be familiar with every possible condition when trouble is encountered. "KELDUR" DISTRIBUTION "Keldur," anti-vibration material which is finding wide application in the motion picture industry, is now being distributed in the East by Steinmetz & Co., with offices in New York and Philadelphia. The New York office, at 30 Church Street, is under the direction of R. G. Hess.