Sound motion pictures : from the laboratory to their presentation (1929)

138 SOUND MOTION PICTURES numbers. With the numbering system described it is easy to ascertain whether or not a print has the proper number of frames by simply examining each splice and counting the footage numbers on each side. The two numbers should be consecutive, and there should be fifteen frames without numbers between them. In case of a break in a film make a patch by inserting black leader. Be sure that the number of frames of black leader inserted is exactly the same as the number of frames you take out of the film plus the frames used for the patches. After putting in the black leader be sure to check up and see that the numbers follow in sequence and that there are exactly fifteen frames without numbers between each pair of footage numbers. If any numbered frames are missing, or if the missing portion is more than one foot, you will have to check both sides of the break to the next number. After making the splice, see that you do not forget the intervening numbered frames. 5. Splicing film — film reproduction In case film carrying a sound track becomes broken, cut out as few frames as possible when making the splice. A break in the sound track is usually even more noticeable to the audience than a break in the picture. However, do not go to the extreme of saving weak film that will cause trouble later. A plain splice, no matter how carefully made, will cause a click to be heard from the sound projectors as it passes through the film-reproducing attachment, because the two edges and the overlap disturb the uniformity of the sound track and produce the same effect as though noises had actually been recorded on the track. In dealing with film of this type, therefore, first make a splice in the usual manner and then paint the splice black. The painted mark on the sound track should be, roughly, triangular in