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Topic: feedback on film-handling guide

Carl Martin
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1424
From: Oakland, CA, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 03-24-2007 06:10 PM

i was asked to compile a list of good film handling practices, which may or may not be used by my company. in any case, i may try to self-distribute it.

here's a draft version: A Guide to Best Practices in Film Handling. i just converted it automatically to html so the formatting's wonky, but i'd like feedback on content.

as the introduction says, its focus is what projectionists can do immediately to make things better, without getting much into technical areas (since i'm not a tech).

a lot of it is straight off the forums of film-tech, perhaps with emphasis on what i perceive to be the common problems.

if anything in it seems wrong, unclear, or incomplete, sound off. i'm sure i'll have to take some pictures to illustrate some things. further tips or omissions are welcome.

it's on its 12th page as is and i don't want it to ramble too much, but i do want it to be as comprehensive as possible within its scope.

ok, have at it!

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Jon Miller
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 973
From: San Diego, CA, USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 03-24-2007 08:50 PM

Looks very good, Carl. [thumbsup]

A couple things worth adding:

Handling prints shipped on cores or, worse yet, on no core or reel at all. While this is generally not an issue with domestic prints, if you run film festivals with prints from outside the States or short subjects then proper practices for cored prints are a must. My biggest peeve is prints which are wound on cores then the core pushed out prior to shipment. This is felony stupidity! I always make sure such prints leave on cores; it's a good idea to have a supply of cores on hand for this occasion.
In your print breakdown section, indicate that splices be peeled, not torn. With Neumade tape, peeling splices should take not much more time than tearing a splice in half.

Best of luck on your project!

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Carl Martin
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1424
From: Oakland, CA, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 03-25-2007 02:49 AM

thanks, jon. i think i'll address those issues in it.

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Mike Heenan
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1896
From: Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 03-25-2007 11:45 AM

Damn, you actually used caps for a change. Nice going! [Razz]

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Carl Martin
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1424
From: Oakland, CA, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 07-02-2007 04:04 AM

here is a link to the guide in its current state (this will always link to the most recent version). the illustrations look better when it's printed out. i'm still very open to suggestions for improvements.

a big thanks to jon above, and frank angel and j-hawk for their emailed contributions.

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Bill Enos
Film God

Posts: 2081
From: Richmond, Virginia, USA
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 07-02-2007 07:29 PM

Jon I agree with you on the core issue except that almost all of the Indian films I run come without most of the cores, I got tired of being the core supplier for the distributor of these films and stopped giving them away, if they don't give a shit why should I? It was requiring 8 to 12 cores for every film.

[ 07-02-2007, 08:41 PM: Message edited by: Bill Enos ]

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Leo Enticknap
Film God

Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 07-03-2007 07:33 AM

What I used to do in that situation was to ring up the distributor and ask if they'd like to send me some cores (or cans, or whatever part of the packaging was missing or damaged), explaining politely but firmly that if they didn't, I'd be sending the print on with loo roll stuffed in the middle of each reel. In that situation I'd also put a note in with the film explaining why the next person was getting it in that state, with the distributor's phone number and the name of the person I spoke to.

Bizarrely, most of the major distributors would send a box of cores (or whatever) straight away, but the smaller arthouse outfits wouldn't send anything - despite that the latter had smaller print inventories per title and could less afford to absorb the costs of print damage.

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Chris Slycord
Film God

Posts: 2986
From: 퍼항시, 경상푹도, South Korea
Registered: Mar 2007

posted 07-03-2007 03:50 PM

quote: Leo Enticknap
Bizarrely, most of the major distributors would send a box of cores (or whatever) straight away, but the smaller arthouse outfits wouldn't send anything - despite that the latter had smaller print inventories per title and could less afford to absorb the costs of print damage.

I don't think that's particularly bizarre. The major distributors, unlike the smaller ones, are more likely to have a budget for crap like that.

If they don't have the money to send you a core the first time, what makes you think they'll suddenly have it now?

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