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Topic: Ugh, ran across horrible splicing tape
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Jim Bedford
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 597
From: Telluride, CO, USA (733 mi. WNW of Rockwall, TX but it seems much, much longer)
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 12-15-2010 03:51 PM
You hear that no group of producers sat down in advance and said, "Let's make the worst movie we can," so I assume that no splicing tape manufacturer ever decided to make tape where the adhesive came off the tape and stuck to the film rather than the tape. Decisions are made, corners are cut, quality control and customer service aren't, so you get crummy tape.
When tape doesn't come off or if stickiness remains, that's when the naptha comes out. It dissolve the glue and softens the tape splice.
As a film collector, I have on occasion taken off what seems to be five to 10 old spices from each heads and tails of some older prints, some with two to four (I've seen six) ID frames, each one clipped and taped back on. Upon such activity, sounds of rage usually emanate from my booth. The best (and probably only) thing good about modern prints is that since they don't get repertory screenings, they don't get splices on splices on splices . . . (until they don't run through the projector anymore).
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David E. Nedrow
Master Film Handler
Posts: 368
From: Columbus, OH, USA
Registered: Oct 2008
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posted 12-16-2010 01:35 PM
quote: Chris S.
Of course, they don't say "We're gonna make the worst." But I definitely could see them saying "We're gonna make it cost less" which in the end result isn't all that different from them saying the other...
You're right, it's not as blatant as that. Every corporation has a fiduciary responsibility to its shareholders/partners/etc to MAXIMIZE shareholder value. Basically, the mantra is, "what is the least amount of quality we can assign to this widget, such that someone will still buy it." If they do anything else, they risk the wrath of shareholders and, potentially, regulators.
Now, at the low end, most of us (we're an S-Corp) are so small as to be considered closely held. This means that a business like mine can make decisions favoring quality over net revenue. Yes, there's some give and take, but for the most part we can go the quality route. We don't have a to implement something like "no phone call with a customer can last longer than 2.3 minutes, even if their problem isn't solved. They can call back multiple times for resolution, but our stats need to be maintained." (Actual, real-life thinking at a company I used to work for.)
Ah, well. That was a ramble I guess. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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Randy Stankey
Film God
Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 12-17-2010 12:23 PM
I did say, "90%."
Yes, if you get too happy with the FG it can make it harder for your splicing tape to hold but, in regular use, you are only supposed to use the minimum amount and, in an alternative use such as removing splicing tape, you have to make sure you wipe as much of it off as you can.
Yes, FG can dissolve the adhesive and make your splices let loose but that's user error, not the product's fault. That would be like shooting yourself in the foot then blaming the brand of bullets you bought.
I also keep a can of VM&P Naptha stashed away in the bottom of the cabinet just for use in those emergencies when I need it.
But, to be honest, I don't get to the point where I need it that often. If the splice is so crapped up that I need to use anything more than a dab of FG to clean it I'll probably just cut the film. If the guy before me was stupid enough to use such shitty tape and uncaring enough to leave it as-is that probably means I'll be better off remaking the splice. Why take the risk?
Just to be clear, this is a case-by-case judgment. Rare, archival or otherwise important films do not get the same treatment as run-of-the-mill release prints with respect to cutting and splicing the reel ends. I don't just cut film any old time but there are times when it's best for the long-term health of the print.
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