Radio annual and television yearbook (1949)

FILM — THE ET OF TELEVISION? By JOHN L. SINN, President, Ziv Television Programs, Inc. John L. Sinn IF we hear it once, we hear it a thousand times: "Film is to television what transcriptions are to radio." Repeated often enough, that statement augurs well to become a truism that will be accepted regardless of its accuracy. So right now, while television is young, let us examine that statement. Commercial radio started in 1922. The first electrical transcription arrived on the radio scene circa 1932. During those intervening 10 years, live and network radio made strides which transcriptions have been many years endeavoring to overtake. And frankly, during the first 10 years of transcribed radio, the transcriptions industry did not run a very good race. Why? It was simply a case of technological advancement. During those first 10 years, transcription quality left much to be desired. So, in fact, we find that live radio had a 20-year lead over transcriptions. Is that the situation in the case of film for television? Quite the contrary. It must be obvious to all that film is the farthest advanced. Film is the giant. Television is entering the race 20 years late. And it is probable that it will take "live" television many more years to develop the technical skills which are commonplace on film. Therefore, it is my opinion that film is not the transcription of television. Film is, indeed, the backbone of television. And that is as it should be, for film permits creative production such as live television will probably never overtake. The FCC Blue Book recites "Transcriptions offer to the writer, director, producer of programs the same technical advantages that the moving picture industry achieves through cutting room techniques." Those cutting room techniques are just one of the minor advantages that film offers over live television. There never was a "live" program that could not be improved by editing. And editing is a joy when you work with film. The fluffed line, the orchestra clinker, the flat top note are easily removed from the sound track on film. And anyone who has watched three, four and frequently five sound tracks being blended into one perfect sound track by expert sound men, realizes the new vistas of production achievement available to audio because of film. Even greater advantages are available on film as applied to the visual. Such customary optical techniques as wipes, flipovers, etc., are tricks made easy when your television program is produced on film. Retakes. There's a word that Hollywood has "sold" to the movie-going public. But what a joy it is to the television producer and performer to be able to retake and retake again until a perfect "take" is obtained. The movie-going public, having been spoiled by the camera perfection of Hollywood "A" pictures, is not going to be satisfied with live television obviously missing the perfection obtainable only from retakes. How about shows filmed off the kinescope? This is unquestionably a convenient device for delayed telecasts of live shows. But obviously film off the kinescope imposes on the program producer the very same restrictions that hamper him in the production of a live television show, and offers none of the advantages of genuine film production such as we know in theatrical movies. Film off the kinescope offers no retakes, practically no editing, none of the tricks like opticals, wipes, dissolves, etc. Errors that appeared in the live broadcast remain on the film off the kinescope. Listeners and viewers love a good show. The movies have made them completely sophisticated. They expect the perfection that they see only on capably-produced film. Therein lies the future of television. Stations love good shows at good times on their schedules. Television film guarantees a better show . . . and permits the station to schedule the show with greater flexibility which means better programming and greater audiences. Is film the transcription of television? I would say that programs on film are the epitome of television. 1125