The motion picture projectionist (Oct 1927-Sept 1928)

30 The Motion Picture Projectionist October, 1927 Film Mutilation and HOW TO PREVENT IT* Prepared by the Eastman Kodak Company EVERY year the loss through needless film mutilation runs into staggering sums and of course someone has to pay the bill. There are several contributing causes to this waste, as will be pointed out in the pages that follow, and it is with the frank purpose of giving projectionists helpful facts with which they may not be familiar that this paper was prepared. Needless film mutilation may be caused by defective manufacture, faulty laboratory methods, poor inspection in the exchanges, careless handling in the projection room and worn or imperfectly adjusted projection machines, and, while it is difficult in many cases to fix the exact responsibility, each possible source of damage will be fully discussed. The Film The film can be blamed only when the manufacture is defective. The base or support of motion picture film, which is of standardized thickness, is made from cotton and with reasonable care will fulfill the requirements of commercial use, but due to the nature of its origin consideration should always be given to the fact that it has physical limitations. The Eastman Kodak Company with its years of experience in the manufacture of motion picture film (it was Eastman film that first made motion pictures possible) quite naturally observes every possible precaution to assure itself that the quality of its product is kept uniform. Samples from all coatings are thoroughly tested for their photographic and physical properties and must pass careful scrutiny of inspectors whose sole duty is to find flaws or imperfections. The matter of accurate perforating is of the utmost importance and is only accomplished by constant vigilance on the part of experts to keep the machines at the highest degree of precision. Recent changes in the perforation dimension of Eastman positive film was adopted only after exhaustive practical tests had proved its greater endurance and wearing properties. As a final check against photographic quality and physical characteristics, test lengths are run through regular commercial projectors, under exactly the same conditions as would be encountered in the theaters. The Laboratory Improvements in equipment and methods of manipulation in all the important laboratories have reduced the ■^Published by permission of the Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y. possibility of affecting the physical properties of the film during the printing, developing and finishing operations to an extent as to be almost negligible. The Exchange Investigation of the general procedure in the inspection and repair of prints indicates that a considerable proportion of the burden of print mutilation begins in the film exchanges. It is not so much that the exchange starts the damage as that it fails to stop it. Inspections are invariably too rapid to be thorough. Splicing is carelessly done with the result that the films are frequently sent to the theatres in such poor condition as to be unable to withstand ordinary projection, to say nothing of the super requirements, particularly with respect to high speed of projection and rapid rewinding, which are all too frequently the case. In rewinding, care should be taken to see that the "rewind" is properly lined up so that the film will feed from the one reel to th§ other without striking the edges of the reels. The use of defective reels causes untold damage in the rewinding operation. Cinching occurs when the person rewinding attempts to tighten the roll. This causes scratches on both sides of the film. Cupping the film to detect damaged edges, perforations, or loose splices is very apt to crack or split the film, more especially on subjects which have had repeated projection on projectors using high amperage. Careful inspection and repairs in the exchanges will result in better service to the exhibitor, eliminate breaks which are the frequent cause of film damage, reduce the amount of replacements due to break-down, and make the subjects available for constant service. Longer commercial life means increased earning capacity. The Exhibitor Good projection adds patronage and increased revenue to the theatre. Good projection is entirely dependent on the skill of the projectionist and the condition of the film and the projection machine. Through constant use projection machine parts become worn and out of adjustment. Projectors should never be permitted to get in this condition. Replacement parts are readily available and for the most part inexpensive, and any expenditure in this connection will improve projection and materially help in the reduction of unnecessary film loss. Careful study of the following pages will be helpful to all concerned with motion picture film.