International projectionist (Jan 1961-Dec 1962)

Problem •••••••••••••• How to project a bright, sharp picture on a huge outdoor screen 400 or 500 feet away from the projection booth? Answer 70mm and Norelco Universal 70/35mm Projectors Features of 89th SMPTE Convention: Super Technirama 70 Process, Czech Motion Pictures There's a big difference between 35mm and 70mm projection. This difference is especially apparent at a drivein theatre where it is vital to get the maximum amount of light on the screen. The larger aperture of the Norelco 70/35 allows 3 or 4 times as much light to pass through. And the picture is far sharper, too, because the larger film image is blown up only a fraction as much. Projectionists are reporting runs as high as 2000 per 70mm print; and that complete conversion from 70mm to 35mm takes less than 4 minutes. No wonder the Norelco Universal 70/ 35mm projector is the most widely used, most thoroughly proven 70mm projector in the world. See your favorite theatre supply dealer today. Write for new descriptive brochure Ic oreico UNIVERSAL 70/35mm PROJECTORS NORTH AMERICAN PHILIPS CO., INC. Motion Picture Equipment Division 100 E. 42 St., New York 17 • OX 7-3600 NEW YORK, N. Y. — A session on cinematography, which will feature a demonstration of the Super Technirama 70 Process, will open the 89th Convention of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, according to Rodger J. Ross of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Ross is program chairman of the five-day convention scheduled for May 7-12 at the King Edward Sheraton Hotel in Toronto, Canada. Donald Nicholson of the Technicolor Corporation, Hollywood, will lead off this first technical session of the convention at 9:30 a.m. on May 8th, with a description and illustration of the Super Technirama 70 Process. This session will be held at the Tivoli Theatre in Toronto. According to Mr. Nicholson, the combination of a large-area negative and large-area positive produces a screen result of outstanding quality. In addition, excellent prints may be made in a variety of aspect ratios on 35mm and 16mm print films. The flexibility, he says, is designed to meet today's exhibition requirements. John R. Gregory, Boeing Airplane Co., Vashon, Washington, will discuss "Some Psychological Aspects of Motion-Picture Montage," in this session. According to Gregory, a psychological theory which explains how an edited motion-picture film or a TV program communicates, would be of value to the communications theorist and possibly to the practicing communicator. A model of the process may be based on the grammar of modern English; psychological theory may be found which underlies both English grammar and visual editing. Research with specially structured film-clips yielded »:est data relating to the theory. "Effect Techniques as an Aid to Low-Budget Production," will be discussed by Wally Gentleman of the National Film Board of Canada, Montreal. Gentleman's paper will describe the application of various feature film techniques, such as process projection, traveling mattes, painted mattes, model and miniature and optical printing procedures, to low-budget production under the organization of the National Film Board of Canada. The planning and development of the various processes from conception to completion will be dealth with. The integration of varied skills and crafts will be considered and explained by the author. Two papers in this session will deal with the motion picture industry in Czechoslovakia. Frantisek Pilat of the Czechoslovak Film Corporation in p-g;e will discuss "Novel Technical Means of Expression in the MotionPicture Art." Recently developed technologies in Czechslovakia according to Mr. Pilat, include (1) Polyecran, a system for simultaneous projection on three or more screens, to a maximum of seven screens; disposed ii space in various ways. Sections of motion pictures or diapositives are projected onto the screens. The sound accompaniment is directional and stereophonic. The operation is automatized. (2) Laterna Magica is a combination of projected films and diapositives, as well as sound reproduction with the performance of live actors. To this end special systems of technical equipment have been developed. "Characteristic Features of Czechoslovak Motion Picture Techniques," will be the subject of a paper by Vilem Tarah, who is also associated with the CFC. Traha will point out that the particular results achieved in Czechoslovakia in motion picture production, laboratory processing projection are related to characteristic features of some new technologies and the newly developed technical film equipment. He will indicate the importance of international standards. A discussion of "Simulated Night Photography Using Color Reversal Films," will close this first convention session. George T. Keene of the Color Technology Division, Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., will review critically the current methods of obtaining night effects in daylight photography and explore possible improvements. An original given two stops overexposure and printed using a printing master will be shown to give a desirable reduction of tone scale, less color saturation, and a more realistic night effect. The required compromise between realism and tone effect ivill be explained by the author. Night scenes photographed using artificial lights and moonlight will be discussed briefly. iP International Projectionist April 1961