International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1952)

FIG. 6. Showing how unevenly wound film may be damaged either during shipment or through being forced into a "dished" case such as is shown in Figure 7. should be made to restore them to a reasonably usable condition. Notching Is Harmful It is common practice to notch the edges of the film when small side nicks or breaks do not warrant immediate splicing. On the subsequent examination however, these notches frequently develop into long tears when caught by the glove or cloth, often resulting in a noticeable break in continuity. Film breaks during projection may also occur in some cases as a result of edge notching. This practice of edge notching is definitely and seriously harmful. Leaders and Trailers Protective leader and trailer strips should be kept at full length. Motor winding speeds are frequently so high as to cause the end of the film to whip around (on the projector take-up as well as on a motor-driven rewind) a number of times before the roll is stopped. This can be responsible for considerable loss in footage if the protective leaders or trailers are allowed to become too short. New Print Mounting It is important to note that the emulsion surface of newly processed film is more susceptible to abrasion than film which has seen service. Therefore, in mounting new prints just received from the laboratory, care should be taken to avoid contact with the picture area even though cotton gloves or a cloth might be used. New film should not require cleaning but if it is found necessary to remove lint or dust particles such as might come from the tissue wrappings or cardboard separators, silk plush, slightly dampened with carbon tetrachloride or other film cleaning liquid, should be held very lightly against the film as it is wound. The plush pad surface should be changed frequently and the surface of the film should be checked often for any abrasions which might result from this "dusting" process. Winding should be carried. out very slowly to permit complete evaporation of the solvent, otherwise the latter may cause spotting of the film if it is wound into the roll. // carbon tetrachloride is used the precautions previously noted should be ob served in order to prevent toxic effects resulting from undue exposure to the fumes from this chemical. "Bicycling" Prints In locations where a shortage of prints exists it is often necessary to circuit them directly from one theater to another. In such cases, release prints frequently suffer considerable damage. There are recorded instances of some prints being exhibited by six or eight theaters before they are returned to the exchange for examination and repair. During this process the print does not have the benefit of exchange inspection and repair. It is quite possible that some types of damage which occurred during projection or handling by the first few theaters might have been arrested. Instead, further footage is affected. The total damage greatly increased. Circuiting also makes it impossible to identify the theater responsible for the damage in the event that compensation is sought by the exchange. Splicing Splicing, whether done in the film laboratories, film exchanges or theaters, has such a direct bearing on the life of film as to call for special and constant attention. Much film is ruined by poor splicing. Splices that are wide, stiff, buckled or out of line might cause the film to jump the sprockets so that torn perforations or breaks result. Perforations in the vicinity of a splice of this kind are always strained or broken. [TO BE CONTINUED] FIGURE 7 "Dished" or badly bent case. Such cases should be repaired or discarded to prevent damage to film. 20 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST May. 1952