|  IP: Logged

 |  IP: Logged

 |  IP: Logged

Ideally, you should peel off the splices when you reattach the leaders, so there's no loss of continuity. But you are right, reality says that most prints see no more than a handful of theatres in their lifetime, so if each theatre cuts off a frame, you'll loose only a few tenths of a second of continuity even for the sub-, sub-, sub-run. If the act of peeling the splices damages the ends of the film or gets them dirty, as compared to making a simple cut on the splicer, I'd vote for loosing one frame. If you can find a tape that peels cleanly, but still produces reliable splices, peel the splice.

I like splices to be made end to end, not overlapped at all. If they're done properly, the splice won't move on screen as it goes through the gate and if, as it seems it is now going to happen more often, there are no cues on the prints, you won't notice a thing on screen. All my houses are digital so even if there is a slight (there isn't) gap, it don't matter to me.

Joe, contributed much to this forum you have. Learned some also, mmmm? But Jedi not yet are you.

 |  IP: Logged

In my ever-so-humble opinion, it is crucial to save a frame, every time. It's a nasty habit to cut yet another frame because the projectionist won't take the time to peel off the tape. (It's an equally nasty habit to just cut right through the splice, btw, without removing the tape.)

This has got a lot to do with taking pride in what I do. I like to be able to say, "no, I didn't contribute to anything that would help destroy a print today", that's important to me, just as it is important to me to check the focus regularly, maintain Dolby levels at the theatre, and time the curtains so that the show will be a real show instead of just the outlet of some kind of film factory.

As for using the white tape; we don't have it, and I'm glad we don't. Every time I get a print that contains splices made with that crap I get mad because it takes forever to save that frame (yes; I remove it and replace it with clear tape). It won't peel off at all, so the process is tedious and involves chemicals...

Whatever tape is used, it should meet the following criteria:

- It should peel off easily.
- It should be strong enough not to break.
- It should be invisible to the patrons.

I don't consider osing one frame off each end of a reel "contributing to its destruction." Considering that most prints end of being incinerated in the end, I don't think it really matters. I did try peeling tape today when I tore down Hurricane. The white of course wouldn't come off worth a damn, and the clear stuff we use (the film was half and half for some reason) doesn't peel all that well either.

About white tape: I really don't uderstand how it is such a big annoyance. It only causes a momentary (1/24 of a second to be exact) flash on the screen. Considering most (almost all) reel changes coincide with scene changes in the film, most people don't even notice. I was an avid movie goer before I worked at the this theater, and I must say I never did.

 |  IP: Logged

 |  IP: Logged