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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Topic: Notes in film cans
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Scott Norwood
Film God
Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 04-06-2003 01:24 PM
On the topic of "where to put reel changes," I'd add that they should be at scene changes (not just cuts within the same scene) and that there should be no significant action or dialogue after the second cue mark or within the first few frames of each reel, in order to avoid problems with frame loss due to mis-timed changeovers or missing frames due to incompetent booth monkeys. Obviously, no music should carry across a reel change ("Dare Devil" is the most recent offender of this, although there are many other such films, both old and new).
I have no problem with reel changes at fadeouts/fadeins, as long as the cue marks are easily visible and as long as the framelines are marked on the the leaders, and this is common on older titles from the 1930s and 1940s, especially. I wouldn't recommend that editors do this now, though, due to the possibility of careless platter/large-reel makeup.
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Manny Knowles
"What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???"
Posts: 4247
From: Bloomington, IN, USA
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 04-06-2003 01:31 PM
I'm willing to bet that part of the problem is that more and more film editors today have little or no contact with the film anymore and, thus, have lost touch wtih the notion that the film will have to be broken down for shipping and then reconstituted in the theatre.
Hollywood folks surely seem to be out of touch with the reality that it's going to be a teenager who may or may not be passionate about the job -- and, even if s/he is, there's never a guarantee that the theatre s/he works for will nurture or inspire any passion.
I wonder if a note from another projectionist would get read. I hate to be all negative and stuff but my bet is that the note would get tossed along with all the other notes that come in from the studios.
There have been waves of "note mania" in the past and I remember a lot of those going straight into the trash. I haven't seen any "TAP" notices lately, but those used to be pages and pages. And then there were all those flyers that used to come in saying which trailer goes where. So many projectionists I knew just totally ignored those -- partially, because they were working for a chain that dictated where the trailers would go.
The last note that I personally saw was ridiculous -- it accompanied "The Scorpion King" and it said that The Rock (!) wanted me to do this and that to make sure that we gave the best presentation. I didn't know he cared! Right into the trash...
Oh, no! THAT wasn't the last note I saw...
The last note I saw was a reminder to return DTS discs with movies. Well it's really no wonder that those things never make it back into the canisters: after all, they don't ARRIVE with the movie. But that's a whole other issue.
My point is that if part of the movie is getting left behind, what chance does a note have?
...and, besides, a note from another projectionist is at risk of coming across as being a little preachy
Let's play a game! This one's called devil's advocate. I'll be playing the role of a 17 year old who thought it'd be cool to work in a movie theatre for free admission. This particular worker couldn't wait to get into the booth for two important reasons. First and foremost, he wouldn't have to suffer the humiliation of actually being seen (and heckled) by his friends when they come to see a movie. Second, he figures that projectionists have a pretty kick-back job. "It's all automatic."
So this is the guy who's most likely to get a well-intentioned note and here's how I imagine the episode will play out...
quote:
If you are the first user to build this print to a platter or big reels you may leave a single frame on with the leaders to assure correct reel identity in the future. But NEVER more than one. DO NOT cut off fades when you have difficulty finding the frame line. Take the trouble to find it so you can present the movie the director intended!
Oh? I may leave one frame? Since when do I need permission? And what's all this about NEVER more than one? We'll just see about that -- here go FOUR reference frames. The note suddenly becomes impotent and, in an odd twist, the inspiration to do a bad job out of pure spite.
And since when are we all buddy-buddy with the director? If he cared so much, he'd pay me well to run the movies and leave the theatre folks to sell the popcorn.
quote:
If this print has previously been built please open the existing splice and DO NOT MAKE A NEW CUT! Peel the old tape.
Use quality splicing tape that peels cleanly with no residue.
Clear splicing tape will give your audience the best possible presentation.
Hey, I only work here! But okay, since you insist, I will go into the supply cabinet and bust out that roll of quality splicing tape that I've been saving for just this occasion. This projectionist is stuck with what his management orders. He doesn't have the option to go get some good tape. Nor does he have the inclination. Especially if this is Cuba Gooding Jr's latest outing.
quote:
Never put any foreign matter on the film to mark splices. If you have problems finding the splice on breakdown consider marking the diameter of the film pack on the shipping reels before building your print so when you break down the print you can quickly wind the correct amount of film onto the reel before looking for the splice.
Adjust your makeup table rollers correctly so the film does rub on anything that will scratch it including the edge of the platter disk.
When breaking down the print reattach leaders with a one-sided splice using your splicer. The next person can open this splice with a quick twist. Resplicing leaders gives the best protection to the print. NEVER EVER HANG THE LEADERS BACK ON WITH PAPER TAPE! SPLICE THEM!
Here we go with the "N" word again. This segment starts with it and ends with it -- IN CAPS!!!
Here's a tip: never say never.
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If the print came with bands please use them! Don't cut the strings when opening a new print.
You're joking, right!?
quote:
Recheck your threading before starting to make sure the film passes over the various rollers correctly. While running periodically recheck to make sure film is not riding over some roller in a way that will scratch it.
Tweak your focus during the feature. Trailers and other pre-show elements may not focus the same as the feature and lenses may shift in focus as they warm up.
Do keep the print clean. If you have a film cleaner use it regularly.
Did I ever mention how much I despise lists that break things down into "Do's" and "Dont's"? But, since we're going there...here's one to add:
DON'T tell me how to do my job!
quote:
Don't take shortcuts that put the print at risk. It's not worth damaging the print to save a minute here or a few seconds there. Treat the print as though it was your personal copy of your favorite film.
I used to have a favorite film until I started working this crappy gig. Now I hate going to the movies. I got this job because I wanted free movies and now on my day off the last thing I want to do is see a movie.
quote:
Do read http://www.film-tech.com on the Internet to learn more about your craft.
Dude, this is my JOB. This is soooo NOT my craft!
That's honestly what I think would happen.
Don't get me wrong, I totally agree with all the practices that are outlined in the proposed note. That's not the issue I have. I'm more concerned about how a note like that would be interpreted. The tone would have to be pulled waaaay back. Somebody also suggested shortening it down to the most important points. I agree. A long note will either get ignored or become the object of passive-aggressive acts of revenge.
Maybe a simple flyer that says...
"Serious about film presentation? Visit www.film-tech.com "
...would have a greater impact.
Of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.
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Brad Miller
Administrator
Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99
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posted 04-06-2003 04:42 PM
Manny, you have managed to say what I was about to post. These kids either care of they don't. A note telling them how to do their jobs will only make them want to screw it up for their own humor. Also, anything more than about 2 sentences will not be read. Notes in cans are almost like spam emails. You only need to read the title to know if it is spam or not. When I see a note that says "ATTENTION PROJECTIONIST" at the top that is obviously formatted to regard trailers, it goes in the trash without wasting any more of my time. Nowadays though I find myself just leaving the notes in the bottom of the film cans, not even bothering to pull them out to check them. Judging from all of the papers in the bottom of film cans these days, I would suspect I am not the only one. This is why when I need to send a note to the next projectionist, I stick it in between the film roll and reel flange.
BTW, "The Rock" can shove it. When I saw that note it served as a reminder of the godawful sound mixes in the previous Mummy movies, and I went over and programmed the fader down a full notch. (Just like Manny said would happen, except in this case when I screened the movie I ended up turning it down much more because it was so offensive to the ears I knew we would still get complaints.)
Maybe someone like Bobby or Adam could design something we could put in a pdf file for download that could be printed and stuck in the cans?
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