International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1935)

Academy Submits 2000-Foot Reel as Industry Standard Sets January 1 next as effective date for introduction of longer reel length on an all-industry basis. Failure of S. M. P. E. to act may cause delay in adoption as standard. THE Research Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences is recommending to the producing and distributing companies that a new reel standard be adopted and that beginning January 1, 1936, all features be released on a 2000-foot reel. Academy recommendations for technique in each department of production, distribution and exhibition, including a summary of the changes necessary in each as a result of the adoption of the longer reel stand are appended hereto. There also accompanies this article a drawing which contains detailed dimensional specifications for the new 2000-foot reel. It was pointed out in informed quarters that the Academy's proposed reel is merely a recommendation for a standard, since standards in the motion picture industry are in the hands of the S. M. P. E., which in turn is the only standardmaking body recognized by the Ameri the reaction to the new reel length among can Standards Association. Naturally projectionists is expected to be distinctly the approval of both these organizations favorable, particularly in view of the would be necessary before the Academy many one-man projection shifts now proposal became an official standard. working. Local Union organizations in It was foreseen that this question of jurisdiction over standards might give rise to a little difficulty, particularly if the S. M. P. E. should desire to change the Academy specifications. No authoritative member of the S. M. P. E. could be reached for comment on this situation prior to press time for this publication. International Projectionist was able to unearth much unofficial opinion in this connection, however, a majority of which was frankly critical of the Society for its failure to act on a new reel standard despite the fact that the matter has had its attention over a long period of time. Without attempting to detract in the least from the splendid accomplishment of the Academy in formulating this standard, many persons close to the situation pointed out that the Projection Practice Committee of the Society considered the longer reel standard as far back as 1933, and then in 1934 at the Spring Convention in Atlantic City submitted a detailed re certain large cities — notably in New York, Chicago and Boston — have never approved of 2000-foot reel lengths and, in fact, have passed Union laws which prohibit their use. Sentiment in these territories is hard to forecast at this writing. International Projectionist invites comment from projectionists everywhere anent the Academy reel proposal, details of which are appended hereto: Theatre There will be no actual change in operation in the theatre. A very complete survey shows that all theatres in the United States, with a few isolated exceptions, are equipped to project 2000' reels without any change or alteration of equipment. Investigation made recently indicates that a great majority of the theatres, not only in the United States but throughout the world, "double" their prints. Doubling may be described as the practice of cutting the tail end leader from reel 1 and the head end leader from port that strongly urged favorable action reel 2, splicing the two together and on the longer reel length. mounting them on 2000' reels kept at *or more than a year now the Society the theatre for the purpose. In a similar has had the matter under consideration, manner, reels 3 and 4 reels 5 and 6 but has done nothing about it. Academy etc, are spliced together and projected length at this time was "doubled." Upon the completion of the taken as just another indication that when anybody fails to do a given job within a reasonable time period there will always be found somebody else to do it. Reel length has been considered from every angle in these columns over a picture's run, the reels are cut apart, remounted on the 1000' reels and sent back to the exchange. The evil of this practice arises from the fact that with each "doubling" operation, 2 frames of film are cut away from^ each reel, eventually resulting in a period of several years. By and large considerable jump in the picture on the [16] screen and necessitating replacement of the reel end by the exchange. The elimination of the practice of doubling will not only result in an economy, but will greatly improve the technical excellence of the show in the theatre. Distribution An extensive survey of film distribution regulations, laws, rules, etc, revealed that there are no regulations in the United States which will interfere with the shipment or exhibition of film on 2000' reels. It is indicated also that the 2000' reel will be acceptable for use in all of the foreign countries in which the companies release pictures with the exception of the Argentine, Spain and Puerto Rico. Projection machines in some theatres in the Argentine will not accommodate the larger reel, which may necessitate the splitting of prints released there into two 1000' sections. Postal and shipping laws in Spain and Puerto Rico forbid the shipment of more than 1000' of film in any container, which will necessitate the shipment of film in 1000' lengths in these two countries. Exchange The adoption of the 2000' reel will necessitate the setting up of one additional operation in the exchange, i.e., the splicing of the two 1000' (or thereabouts) rolls of print and mounting of the spliced longer roll on a 2000' reel. It is recommended that the laboratory process release prints as at present in 1000' rolls, and ship the 1000' rolls to the exchange in cans but not mounted on reels, and that the exchanges thereupon splice the appropriate 1000' rolls together and mount the print on 2000' reels for shipment to the theatres. From this point, the print will pass through all of the normal operations of inspection, shipment, projection, etc, in the 2000' length. Certain items of exchange equipment must necessarily be altered in order to accommodate the 2000' reel: 1. Vaults. Most exchange vaults are built up on angle iron frames, bolted together. This type of storage vault may be altered very easily and with a minimum expense (which has been estimated at approximately $10.00 per vault, the actual cost depending of course upon local conditions). A number of exchanges are equipped with storage vaults of welded angle iron frames, which will be somewhat more expensive to alter, but in no event will the cost of revising the vaults be a major item of expense. 2. Rewinds. An extensive series of tests by the Subcommittee indicates that a rewind having a gear ratio of 2% to 1