Motography (Jul-Dec 1913)

November 29, 1913 MOTOGRAPHY 395 Motion Picture Making and Exhibiting By John B. Rathbun CHAPTER VI. {Continued). AS the leader is not projected on the screen it can be made from any old piece of film that is in good condition in regard to the sprocket holes. Film suitable for leaders can be obtained at any film exchange and should be kept in stock for emergencies by the operator. A "tail piece," similar to the leader should be attached to the end of the film, and should be at least long enough to reach from the feed to the take-up reel so that the body of the film will be on the take-up before the tail piece ends on the feed reel. PATCHING THE FILM. A properly made patch or mend is of the greatest importance, for the continual parting and jumping caused by imperfect work is a source of annoyance to the audience and a cause of loss to the exhibitor. Properly made, a patch is nearly as strong as the film on which it is placed, and will run nearly as true. The first requirement is that the sprocket holes between the two ends of the film shall be spaced at the exact standard distance, so that the patch will pass over the sprockets without jumping. The edges of the two halves of the film must coincide exactly, and must be in the same straight line so that the film will run true through the gate and wind evenly on the reel. The cemented surfaces must be perfectly clean and in full contact with one another, a condition that depends on thorough scraping and heavy clamp pressure. Proper Way to Splice. Mending the film is a very simple operation, but it is usually done so hurriedly that the patch opens up sooner than if it was done right. The operator should have a pair of small scissors to cut the film, a sharp knife to scrape off the emulsion, and good film cement. Most film cement is put up in bottles having a small brush fitted into the cork. In this way the bottle is always kept tightly corked and the brush for applying the cement is always at hand and in condition to use. To patch the film so that no frame-up will be necessary when it passes through the machine cut off one picture on dividing line A-A, and the picture below at C-C one sprocket hole above the dividing line (Fig. 48). Moisten flap A-A, B-B, with water and scrape the emulsion off with the knife blade. Be sure to get it all off as the cement will not stick to the old emulsion. Now scrape off back of C-C, D-D, to remove the grease or dirt on it. Apply the film cement liberally on flap A-A, B-B, where it has been scraped, and lay part C-C, D-D on top, being careful to see that the sprocket holes come directly over each other. The best way is to match the holes on one side, holding it with the thumb and one finger; then match the other sprocket holes and press the whole joint together and rub firmly with the thumb and finger. All this must be done very quickly as the cement dries rapidly, and when once dry, and the film does not stick, it must be scraped off again and tried Fig. 49. Showing Proper (Left) and Improper (Right) Film Splices. over. If a larger flap than one sprocket hole is used the film at the patch becomes too stiff and in going over the round sprockets the patch will open up. After completing the patch cement the edges down by running the brush over them, as that is always the first part of the patch to open up. JUMPING AND SWAYING FILM. A very slight difference in the position of the successive pictures in regard to the aperture and the shutter makes a very considerable difference in their position on the screen owing to the magnification of the lens. Since the film picture is often magnified 240 times it is evident that a difference of 1/100 of an inch in the position of the pictures amounts to 240/100 = 2.40 inch on the screen, a displacement that is very apparent to the audience, and one that is very annoying. Pictures that are out of register may be caused by any or all of the following defects in the film : ( 1 ) Worn sprocket holes. (2) Dry film, whose shrinkage has caused the sprocket holes to come too close together or run out of alignment. ^3) Poorly made patches. (4) Curled film.