International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1954)

VistaVision: Basis for a World-Wide Standard of Presentation By LOREN L. RYDER Head of Engineering and Recording Paramount Studios, Hollywood ^^NE can always measure a projection throw, but how far can one throw a projectionist? Let a small framing error exist, allow a few frames to run out of focus, or miss a changeover — and the projectionist is a bum. Yet, have a complete run-through with everything in perfect balance and the projectionist hardly gets a nod. So it is behind the scenes. Actually, projection room operation is so important that no motion picture performance could be completely successful without the talent and experience of today's projectionist. Beset as some of them have been with a multiplicity of new methods, and having been confronted with problems like 3-D, stereophonic sound, various aspect ratios and the like, it is a wonder that they keep their sanity. World-Wide Theatre Survey Underway But projectionists almost everywhere take particular pride in their work, their equipment and its performance. This came especially to my notice during a recent tour of theatres in Europe and Canada where, as in the United States, they take equal pride. In theatre areas in Germany as well as Italy and, to some extent, in Belgium where there has been much rebuilding since the war, projection rooms are most modern and provide fine operation facilities. The greater part of the equipment has been patterned after our own and it is well made by fine craftsmen. Paramount is now in the process of making a world The principle of VistaVision is illustrated here. The human eye, everyone agrees, is constructed in such a way that its sharpest resolving power can be focused only on a relatively small area of direct interest. The eye also sees with considerable clarity a surrounding area of comfortable viewing. Anything outside this area is in the realm of what we see when we say "seen out of the corner of the eye." wide survey of theatres, and in addition to my trip throughout Europe, my assistant at the studio, Louis H. Mesenkop, is in the Orient, while Frank La Grande of the New York office is checking the South American territory. In each case it is found that the majority of projectionists have great respect for their positions. This is gratifying and indicates a sincere effort to provide the best possible picture presentation. With the knowledge that we are part of a world-wide entertainment activity, and since a good percentage of revenue is derived from foreign showings, it is important that we understand and assist wherever we can to keep our product playing well, since this extra revenue makes it possible to continue making the high quality pictures exhibited in domestic theatres. In my travels in the United States, Canada and Europe, wherein I am working for large-screen presentation, I have oddly enough found many theatres in which we have more difficulty getting sufficient width than height. There are a great many narrow houses where proscenium width is sharply limited, while interior height is ample. This form accommodates the standard picture very well. It does present some problem however, in adapting for a wide-screen showing. Simplification, Standardization the Goal At Paramount we are putting a great deal of effort behind a program to simplify and standardize on a flexible basis the systems of picture making and picture presentation. To this end our VistaVision process is offered to meet the requirement of theatres large and small as well as those of limited width and limited height. The first VistaVision-produced picture will not be introduced until sometime in October, but meanwhile, as a point of information, I should like to leave a few impressions as to the benefits that may be expected by the exhibitor. Of singular importance, it represents no special problem for the projectionist. Any standard equipment that is normal for usual runnings can handle VistaVision prints since regular 35-mm release film with standard optical soundtrack will be supplied. Where a large screen has been installed it will be necessary to secure a different focal length lens. Otherwise, if sufficient light output is available, any theatre can present a clear, sharp image with such exceptional depth of field that any seat in the house will be acceptable. For general use, that about sums it up. It might bear repeating, however, that the source of the VistaVision picture in this new form is from exposing I. A. CONVENTION EDITION • July 1954 23