Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Scratched!! Arrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggghhhhhhh!!!!!!!

This is topic Scratched!! Arrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggghhhhhhh!!!!!!! in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=000685

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 02-24-2000, 10:26 PM:

My brand new (cue-less

) print of 'Talented Mr Ripley' came straight from the lab. I broke the plastic bags around each and every spool. I cut the leaders and tails for the first time. This thing was as new as they come.

But, alas, she be scratched.

I have no idea what they were doing in there but the base side of almost every spool has light to deep base scratches...sometimes up to 10 across! Looks particularly impressive in that very light scene where Ripley is fighting with Dickie on the boat.

The scratches extend into certain leaders and tails so I know it wasn't our film path.

Man...

I've come across this before but not so consistantly across most of the 8 spools.

Anyone else have these headaches?

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 02-25-2000, 01:55 AM:

Yup. Reels 1 and 2 of Boiler Room was like that. Looked like a cat got ahold of the thing and this was noticed as the film was being unspooled from the shipping reel. It went straight through the leaders all the way to the last sprocket too, so it was clearly a lab fault.

Speaking of which, why is it studio reps can't understand that this short of thing DOES happen from time to time? I just love getting the third degree when I call something in before I could've even possibly had a chance to screen the film once.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 02-25-2000, 06:54 AM:

In addition to careful inspection of the print during make-up, it's a good idea to have someone actually watch the entire print on the screen within the first few shows to catch problems like this. Even if the theatre doesn't want to have one of the paid staff watch the entire film, there are probably many technically astute "movie buffs" who would jump at the chance to see free movies in exchange for giving the theatre a detailed technical report (similar to the Lucasfilm TAP inspection form) on the condition of the picture and sound.

Finding scratches during print inspection is aided by having a bright, specular light source, such as a halogen desk lamp or spotlight at the rewind table. Even superficial scratches are easily seen by using this type of illumination reflected by the surface of the film. If you find serious lab scratches or other problems on a new print, document them in a print log, and contact the distributor immediately to ask for replacement reels.

It is very unusual to have lab scratches on all the reels of a feature, since the reels are usually printed and processed on different days, often on different printers and processing machines. Similar damage on ALL the reels of a feature usually means it was previously made up as a complete show, and was likely damaged during projection. But finding scratches on all the reels of a brand new print with no splices and extending into the unprojected leaders is unusual.

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Professional Motion Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com

Posted by Joseph Pandolfi (Member # 223) on 02-25-2000, 11:16 AM:

I was told that the first three reels of Hanging Up was replaced in our theater due to scratches.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 02-25-2000, 01:28 PM:

You're forgetting the possibility of changeover theaters, John. I got a print a long time ago that appeared to be brand new (no leaders cut) but every even numbered reel was horribly scratched. However, when you looked through the "entire" leader, you realized that the first 3-4 feet of the leader was clean and the scratch started near the start of the countdown!

Not trying to bash the changeover process, but when checking to see if a scratch extends into the leaders, it is always a good idea to verify it goes right up to the first frame on the head leader. If not, it's a changeover screening room's fault.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 02-25-2000, 04:59 PM:

It IS very unusual. It's not on every spool but as I said, almost. Ordinarily, I would check for scratches etc...but on a new print cut straight from the bags...

Assuming what you say about the different spools to be the case here also John, I should imagine the distributor has had more than one call from exhibitors regarding this feature.