International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1935)

May 1935 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST 13 TELEVISION, COLOR FILM FEATURE S. M. P. E. COAST MEETING MOST successful in every respect — papers program, attendance, locale and sustained interest on the part of the delegates — was the recently-concluded Convention of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers, held in Hollywood, Calif., May 20-24. Delegates from many foreign countries helped to swell the attendance to well over the 350 mark. The papers program was the most varied and interesting one that has been presented by the Society in several years. Production problems received considerable attention, as was natural considering the convention city, and all agreed that the gathering augured well for a continuation and extension of the friendly relations existing between the Society and the Academy of M. P. Arts & Sciences. So successful was this first West Coast meeting of the general Society, in fact, that it was voted to award the Society Convention to Hollywood every other year hereafter, beginning with the Spring meeting in 1937. Unquestionably the outstanding paper of popular appeal was the contribution of Dr. A. N. Goldsmith entitled "Television and Motion Pictures," which is a highly successful attempt to analyze Print Footage Publication out correctly, always provided, of course, that the projector motors run at the correct speed of 90 feet per minute. Cecil Fernandez St. Petersburg, Fla. On the basis of comment received to date. I. P. is of the opinion that the publication of footage figures in these columns, while possibly of occasional help, would fail to meet the exigencies of the situation and would not justify the space devoted thereto. It must be admitted that no figures at all are eminently preferable to incorrect figures, the bulk of craft opinion being that all published footage figures vary considerably. 'Cooperation' Improbable While the state-wide idea cited by Mr. Fernandez has distinct favorable possibilities, the plan as a whole is another one of those "cooperative" measures that can not be said to have met with much success in the past. Data relative to the situation will be presented by I. P. to the next meeting of the Exchange Practice Committee of the S. M. P. E. in the hope that, with the aid already promised by the Hays organization, some practicable plan can be worked out. the relation of this new art to, and its ultimate general effect upon, motion picture theatres of today. This paper appears elsewhere in this issue. Another convention occurrence of particular interest to I. P. readers was an address by International President George E. Browne of the Alliance to the get-together luncheon which opened the convention. President Browne being detained in New York on urgent organization business, his address was read to the Society by Thad C. Barrows, president of I. A. Local 182, Boston, a delegate to the meeting. /. A. Pres. Browne's Address President Browne's address, published in full elsewhere in these columns, stressed the importance of a closer tie between the studio and theatre workers and the engineers, considered existing relations in the light of past experiences, urged a mutual respect by each group for the rights of the other, cited the theatre as the domain of the craftsman and the laboratory as the province of the engineer, and pledged every aid in his official capacity as Alliance leader to the cause of better craftsmanship. Also of particular interest to the craft on the papers program, a partial list of which is appended hereto, was the report of the Projection Practice Committee, which consisted of a complete revision of plans for an ideal projection room layout. This report is of great significance and importance to the craft since it embodies recommendations of construction details for which the craft generally has been campaigning for years in the interest of health and safety, in addition to permitting production of a better show. Among the sectional headings of this report, attesting to its great value, are the following: Floor, Ceiling, Walls, Ports, Noise Muffler, Painting, Lighting, Ventilation, Spacing, Master Signal System, Fire Shutters, and Exhaust Fan. The Society will endeavor to obtain the widest possible circulation of this report, which sustains this particular Committee's reputation for splendid contributions to the literature. The Projection Screen Brightness Committee, which has been considering improvement of screen lighting, will enlist the aid of various colleges in determining the most generally satisfactory level of screen brightness for an auditorium of given dimensions. Representatives of the 16 mm. projector manufacturers urged the Society to give close attention to the possibilities of substituting 16 mm. projection equipment in many theatres of small and medium size as a means of reducing expenses without sacrificing quality. The small-film advocates cited several alleged advantages of 16 mm. equipment, included among which was the fact that non-inflammable film may be used. The contributions on color film proved disappointing to many delegates in that they were more concerned with the artistic phase of the subject than with the details of technique and expenses, the latter rating first importance in many quarters of the industry. The forthcoming Radio Pictures release, "Becky Sharp," was held to be the forerunner of a sudden splurge in color production, although no reference was made to the fact that the negative costs alone thereon mounted to $1,200,000. Announcement was made that S. M. P. E. 16 mm. standards, providing for, among other things, one row of sprocket holes and the positioning of the sound track on the other side of the film (viewed from the emulsion side), where the second row of sprocket holes ordinarily be, have been accepted by the American Standards Association. Serious differences of opinion on this standard exist between American and European manufacturers. 'Hard' vs. 'Soft' Lighting National Carbon Co. marshalled an imposing array of data in support ol its contention of long standing that "hard," or carbon, lighting is the only means for properly lighting a motion picture set. With the advent of color, insists National, the superiority of carbon arcs will be definitely established. RCA technicians discussed and demonstrated the new RCA High Fidelity system of sound-on-film recording which, confirming the opinion of this writer after a private preview in New York, elicited outspoken admiration among convention delegates. This process is discussed in detail in this issue. Helping considerably to round out the Convention program was an unusually interesting exhibit of apparatus, a varied social program which included group trips to the various studios, and (intimidated by the Southern California Chamber of Commerce as we are) the gorgeous setting for all activities. Among the papers of especial interest to projectionists were the following: "Television and Motion Pictures", Dr. A. X. Goldsmith. "Some Background Considerations of Sound System Service", J. S. Ward, Erpi. "Modern Methods of Servicing Sound Motion Picture Equipment", C. C. Aiken, RCA Manufacturing Co. "The Technicolor Process". J. A. Ball. Report of the Projection Practice Committee, J. O. Baker, Chairman. Report of the Projection Screen Brightness Committee. C. Tuttle. Chairman. "The Relation between Projector Illumination (Continued on next page, Col. 1)