Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: You Owe Me Splice Tape

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Topic: You Owe Me Splice Tape

Steve Kraus
Film God

Posts: 4094
From: Chicago, IL, USA
Registered: May 2000

posted 09-08-2002 07:11 PM

I was placing an order for splicing tape the other day and I got to thinking that I really shouldn't have to. After all, I don't build up or tear down. Once in a while I might join a couple of commercials for a producer but that's about it. All that tape is going to splice or resplice leaders for those who don't resplice them or do so badly. So if you're one of those....you owe me!

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 09-08-2002 07:31 PM

Assuming your projector can run single sided splices, which most everyone agreed was the proper and professional way to break down a film, you are most certainly right!

I wonder if you sent in an invoice to TES or whatever depot you get a used print from for $0.25 every time you have to use tape to re-attach leaders what people would say.

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Daryl C. W. O'Shea
Film God

Posts: 3977
From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from)
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 09-08-2002 08:08 PM

Maybe one of those 'legal pyramid schemes' would solve the problem. You could send out notes in your film cans saying 'Send me a roll of Neumade tape and I'll email you info on how to properly ship out a print.'

I think it would have a higher probability of working than TES sending you money. (Although TES might send you even more broken reels after you invoice them.)

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Steve Kraus
Film God

Posts: 4094
From: Chicago, IL, USA
Registered: May 2000

posted 09-08-2002 10:03 PM

Before this operation became my own business I used to contemplate a rate card that would include a fee for repairing prints but realistically I'd be punishing the wrong people. I don't mind backsplicing heads (single side will go through fine but just for security) but attaching masking taped-on leaders or removing multiple single frames or other bad splices...well, a pox upon all their houses. I shouldn't even need a splicer!

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 09-10-2002 02:46 AM

Steve,
If you'd just make it to Showest(tax deductible for you of course) you could get enough free samples of splicing tape to last the year!
Mark @ Claco

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Steve Kraus
Film God

Posts: 4094
From: Chicago, IL, USA
Registered: May 2000

posted 09-10-2002 09:06 AM

Well then there is only the matter of labor!

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Steven Privett
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 208
From: Pasadena, TX, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 09-10-2002 02:25 PM

I notice there is no "Breaking Down 101" in the tips section. I guess the next guy with the film is just on his own. When breaking down films was part of my job, I was given a hard time by others for splicing the heads and tails back on the film. I was hourly and they thought I was just stretching it out. "Just get it in the can" was what I was told. It was the way I learned to do it, IMHO, it's the right way to do it and I would still splice them back on.
Steven

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Gracia L. Babbidge
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 709
From: Bowdoin, Maine
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 09-12-2002 02:31 AM

When I was shown how to break down films, I was shown the (seemingly) unpopular method of making taping heads & tails onto the reels.

I have been making a concerted effort to break myself of this habit. In fact when I was recently training one of my "minions" on how to break prints down - I instructed him to single-side splice the heads and tails back onto the reels.

~the Dungeon Dweller

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In some cultures, what I do is considered normal.

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William T. Parr
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 823
From: Cedar Park, TX
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 09-12-2002 12:23 PM

When I was taught how to break down film I was taught to splice the heads and tails back onto the film with splicing tape on both sides of the splice. I have trained all my booth people to do it this way.

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 09-12-2002 12:58 PM

Although well-made single side tape splices are much easier to peel off without frame loss when the next theatre makes up a platter show, they do run the risk of folding up or stretching in the gate if the next operator runs the print reel-to-reel without taping both sides, possibly causing a jam or film break.

Since most theatres now run off platters, and most skilled changeover operators would hopefully check the leader splices before running, do well-made single side splices seem to be an accepted option? Opinions?

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
e-mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

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Peter Kerchinsky
Master Film Handler

Posts: 326
From: Seattle, WA, USA
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 09-12-2002 01:25 PM

I agree John.
When shipping out a print we just make a single sided splice so all the next projectionist has to do is peel it off and re-splice on both sides for their run. I really hate getting a used print that has several cuts at the head of each reel. Unfortunately we cut those out. I never trust heads or tail splices when running reel to reel. Every inch of film is, as it should bve, fully inspected.

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Daryl C. W. O'Shea
Film God

Posts: 3977
From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from)
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 09-12-2002 01:55 PM

John, I'm pretty sure almost everyone is in agreement about single sided splices.
http://www.film-tech.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000263.html

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 09-12-2002 02:21 PM

Daryl: Thanks for remembering the previous thread.

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Craig Hanham
Film Handler

Posts: 79
From: Wellington, New Zealand
Registered: Oct 2001

posted 09-17-2002 08:06 PM

I am with you Steve.
I have no problem with putting a 2nd piece of tape on the leader. Its easier than doing an emergency stop if it peels on changover.
I only add tape to a tail if its dodgy.
The biggest problem I have is with those too tired to strip off old tape before putting the H&T back on. When I have to strip off as many as 3 layers to remake a splice it makes me a Little GRUMPY

Not to mention those paper dots used to mark the splices for easier breakdown......

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 09-17-2002 09:25 PM

As usual, I'll stand with the small crowd. I always tape both sides. The print should be returned in as good or better shape than received. I use good splicing tape that can be peeled off without glue being left behind. I will never adopt the single-sided splice.

Steve

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"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"

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