The motion picture almanac (1931)

96 The MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC 1931 starting, due to some abnormal condition in its circuit. RUNOUT. That part of the print from the last frame of the picture to the end. RUSHES. Same as Dailies. RUSTLE, VALVE. See Valve Rustle. s SAFETY I'ILM has a base of acetate which is slow-burning, and so is less inflammable than ordinary nitrate film. SANDWICH FILM. Either positive or negative film having two sensitive emulsions on one side of its transparent base, the two emulsions being separated by a sub-stratum of a transparent, or dyed, gelatin. Used in Multicolor printing. SATURATION OF COLOR. Ratio of white to Monochromatic Light in a mixture which appears identical with the color in question. SCALE. Portion of the density axis which corresponds to the straight portion of the H and D curve. A measure of the range of densities for which the constant value of gamma is valid. SCOOP. Hanging or suspended Broad. SCORING. Preparation of a sound record (usually musical) separately from the picture which is to accompany it. See Post-Scoring, Pre-Scoring. SCRATCH. Optical or Shadow. See Optical Scratch. SCRATCH FILTER. A choke coil and condenser used to filter out very high frequency sounds or ground noises — usually the needle scratch in wax reproduction. SCRATCH THE MIKE. See Mike, Scratch T#E. SCREEN GRID TUBE. A modified type of vacuum tube with high amplification. A fourth electrode — the screen grid — is used to reduce the electrostatic effect between grid and plate. SCREW, DRUNKEN. , Irregular tongue or groove, on the cam of the intermittent camera movement, which forces the claws in and out of the perforations in the film, to draw the film past the gate. SENSATIONAL LEVEL. Refers to loudness of sound, in decibels, compared to the intensity of sound of the same pitch which would be just barely audible in quiet surroundings. SENSATIONAL UNIT. Same as Decibel. SENSIBILITY. Ability to detect small differences in energy. SENSITIVITY. Ability to detect small amounts of energy. SENSITOMETRY. Measurement of response of light-sensitive substances (photographic emulsions, the eye, etc.) to radiation. SHADOW SCRATCH. Same as Optical Scratch. SHOULDER. Over-exposure region of the characteristic curve of a photographic emulsion. SHREDDED WHEAT. Film which has been badly cut due to having buckled and run off the sprockets. SHUTTER. Generally means Shutter, Flicker. SHUTTER, AUTOMATIC. In a projector, a fire prevention device which falls into place between light source and film whenever the motor stops. SHUTTER, FLICKER. Moving (usually rotating) device, which intercepts the beam of light in a motion picture camera, printer, or projector, once during each picture cycle. A different device from Shutter, Automatic. SILK (noun). (1) Piece of soft silk placed over a light to soften it. (2) A Wind-Gag. SILK (verb). To put the silk in place. SIMPLE LENS. See Lens, Simple. SINE WAVE. Simplest natural shape of wave, as pictured on page — . SING. Undesirable high frequency oscillations in the recording circuit. SINK. Synchronization. SLICE THE MIKE. To place the microphone at an angle to the source of sound (instead of directly facing it). SLOW. Cf. Speed. SOAK. To soak batteries is to charge them heavily. SOFT. (1) Of a vacuum tube, containing a little residual gas. (2) Of a focus, see Focus, Soft. SOUND GATE. Gate, similar to that used in picture projectors, through which the sound track is pulled past the reproducing light beam in gate-type machines. SOUND HEAD. Compartment on the projector which contains sound-reproducing systems and mechanism for guiding and driving film. SOUND OVERSHOOTING. In variable area recording, this refers to the condition where the peaks in the sound track extend beyond the limits of the track and are therefore cut off during reproduction. In variable density recording, this refers to excessively dense areas on the track. In either case, the quality of reproduced sound is affected. SOUND PICK-UP. Device or system for reproducing sound. In disc reproduction, an electromagnetic device which transforms the waves in the grooves of the disc into variations of electric current. In film reproduction, an optical-electrical system contained in the sound head. SOUND TRACK. A narrow band, along a film (on the left side of the picture) which carries the sound record. SOUNDING BOARD. Board whose forced vibrations increase the intensity of sound from any vibrating body attached to the board. SOUP. Slang for Developer. SPARK GAP. Short break in an electric circuit, forming an air condenser. If the voltage across it becomes sufficiently high, a spark discharge will take place across it. SPEAKER. Contraction for Loudspeaker. SPECIFIC GRAVITY of a substance is the ratio of the weight of a given volume of that substance to the weight of an equal volume of water. SPECTROGRAM. Photographic representation of energy distribution along a spectrum. SPECTROPHOTOMETRY. Science of measuring the distribution of energy along the spectrum. SPECTROSCOPE. Instrument for analyzing light into its component colors. SPECTRUM. Any arrangement of waves in the order of their frequencies. For light waves, the order of the spectrum, beginning with the highest frequencies, is: ultra-violet, violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, red, infrared. If these were taken in the order of wave-lengths, beginning with the highest, the order would be reversed from that just given. SPECULAR DENSITY. The value of density obtained when transmission is measured for highly collimated (and therefore mostly parallel) light — as in optical printing or in projection. SPEED. (1) Of an emulsion: measure of the emulsion's sensibility to light. (See Sensibility. Inversely proportional to Inertia.) (2) Of a lens: measure of the amount of light the lens can collect. Proportional to the square of the Effective Aperture. SPIDER. Portable electric switch and contact. SPIRAL REEL. See Reel, Spiral. SPLICE. To join the ends of film by cementing. SPLICE BUMP. Same as Bloop. SPOOR-BERGGREN. In this Wide Film system the film width is 63.5 mm. SPOT. (1) Illuminated area on the cooling plate of a projector. (2) Contraction for Spotlight. SPOTLIGHT. Lighting unit which projects a concentrated spot of light. SPROCK. Slang for Sprocket Hum. SPROCKET. Toothed cylinder engaging the perforations in the film. SPROCKET HUM or SPROCKET NOISE. 96-cycle note produced when the film runs through the pickup mechanism out of line so that the exciting light beam for the sound track passes through one edge of the sprocket holes. STAMPER. Impression of Mother, obtained by electroplating. Used in a hydraulic press to stamp out the final playing records. STANDARD FILM has a width of 35 mm. STARTING BOX. Rheostat used to control current supplied to a motor during starting, to prevent damage to the motor winding. STATIONARY PERIOD. That portion of the picture cycle during which the film at the aperture is stationary, expressed in degrees of revolution of the controlling flywheel (360° = 1 cycle). STEP PRINTER. Machine which prints a positive, a frame at a time. STEP-DOWN and STEP-UP TRANSFORMERS. See Transformer. STEREOSCOPIC. Giving the illusion of looking into depth, as the two eyes perceive in actuality. STEW. Undesired sounds (usually produced by defective equipment) particularly those heard in reproduction. STILL. Ordinary photograph, as distinguished from a motion picture. STILL MAN. The photographer who makes the stills. STINEMANN (Stinemann). System (named after inventor) of developing motion picture film in portable laboratory apparatus. STOCK. Unexposed photographic film. STOP. Lens diaphragm opening. STOPPING CONDENSER. See Condenser, Stopping. STORAGE BATTERY. A battery which can be re-charged (i.e., have its electromotive force restored) by running a current through it in the direction opposite to its electromotive force. STRAIGHT-LINE PORTION. Refers to that of an H and D Curve. STRETCH. To introduce additional frames, during printing, in order to slow up the reproduction of the motions pictured. STRING. (1) Ribbon of a light-valve. (2) Suspension of a photophone galvanometer. STRING GALVANOMETER. See Galvanometer, String. STYLUS. Sharp cutting point. SU. See Decibel. SUBSTANDARD FILM has width less than the standard 35 mm. SUBTRACTIVE PROCESS. Color process in which various hues are obtained by the absorption, in varying degree, of one or more of the spectral colors comprising white light. In cinematography such a process utilizes colored prints. Compare Additive Process. SUN ARC. Type of Sun Lamp. An arc using high intensity elements. Generally made in mirror diameters of 24, 36 and 60 inches and consuming a current of about 150 amperes. SUN LAMPS. A large larmp (Sun Arc or Sun Spot) reflecting its light by means of a parabolic mirror. SUN SPOT. Incandescent type of Sun Lamp. Power sizes are 2,000. 5,000, and 10,000 watts: generally made in mirror diameters of 18, 24 and 36 inches. SYNCHRONIZE. To make synchronous; in particular, to add new sound effects or dialogue in synchronism with a picture which has previously been photographed with sound. SYNCHRONOUS. Simultaneous; corresponding in time. In particular refers to accompaniment of a picture of action by the proper sound corresponding to the action. SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR. Type of motor whose speed is governed by the standard frequency of the alternating current supplied to it. SYSTEM, "F." See "F" System. SYSTEM "U." See "U" System. SYSTEM, UNIFORM. See Uniform System. T TACHOMETER. Instrument for measuring speed of rotation, as of a motor. TACK. Slang for Tachometer. TAKE (verb). To photograph or record a scene. TAKE (noun). (1) Process of recording part of a motion picture, without pause. Refers to the period from the moment when the camera and sound recorder start operating to the moment when they stop. (2) The corresponding portion of film, or of sound record. TAKE-UP. Mechanism by means of which a film is wound upon a reel after passing the aperture (in photography, printing, or projection); also, to wind it thus. TAKE-UP REEL. Reel on which film is takenup. TANK. (1) Portable Camera Booth. (2) Large container in which films are developed. TANK SYSTEM. Development in a Tank (2) for a time calculated according to the temperature. TEASER. Same as Tormentor. TECHNICOLOR (Technicolor). A subtractive color process in which an optical system throws two or more separate images on two or more successive frames of the same film, these being photographed simultaneously through different color filters (as red and green). The alternating frames are printed separately; the prints are dyed, and then arc treated in such a manner that correctly colored images are transferred by Imbibition to another (single) positive print. TELEPHOTO LENS. Long-focus lens which