The motion picture projectionist (Nov 1930-Oct 1931)

November, 1930 Motion Picture Projectionist 29 Review Our Review Department inaugurated with the last issue met with a fine reception on the part of our readers and elicited much correspondence suggesting matter for review. It is our intention to include a wide variety of topics in this department with sound pictures to receive its due share of attention but no more. Some readers were under the erroneous impression that this department would be devoted exclusively to sound picture data, but this month's department will serve to dispel such thoughts. Film mutilation is a pertinent topic just now, and because of the elementary nature of the information presented this month we feel that it will be very welcome. — The Editor. How to Prevent Film Mutilation By 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, 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 it 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 theatres. The Laboratory Improvements in equipment and methods of manipulation in all the important laboratories have reduced the 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 the other without striking the edges of the reels. The use of defective reels caused untold damage in the rewinding operation. Cinching occurs o a o a o a a o a □ □ a □ a o a o a o a o a Fig. 1. The full hole splice generally recommended 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 breakdown, and make the subjects available for constant service. Longer commercial life means increased earning capacity. The Exhibitor 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 will be helpful to all concerned with motion picture film. Splices Splicing, whether done in the film laboratories, film exchanges or projection rooms, has such direct bearing on the welfare of the film as to call for special and constant attention. Much film is ruined by poor splicing. Splices that are wide, stiff, buckled and out of line cause the film to jump the sprockets resulting in torn perforations or breaks. Perforations in the vicinity of a splice of this kind will always be found to be strained or broken out. Stiff and buckled splices are caused by excessive scraping of the film, or a too liberal application of cement or both. The use of a poor quality cement results in. splices pulling apart especially in the film gate or trap. This constitutes a hazard; therefore, all weak or otherwise bad splices should be remade before projection. Figure 1 shows the well-known full-hole splice which is the most widely used and if properly made gives the best allaround results. Pamphlets on splicing instructions may be had without any charge on application to the Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y. Whenever film is damaged on a projector, it is generally customary to lay the cause of the trouble to one or more of three different things: namely, sprockets, idlers, and tension exerted on the film by the springs in the gate or film trap. While it is true that in most cases the trouble can be traced to one or {Continued on page 39)