Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Black Leader

This is topic Black Leader in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Andrew McCrea (Member # 674) on 03-23-2001, 09:48 PM:

Do they make black leader? If I had a theatre, I'd use this because, if it isn't lined right up when you start the show, the audience just sees black, which is normal, but if the lights dim and and the screen lights up with a blank white image, people will notice!

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Andrew McCrea

"I'm Not Bad, I'm Just Drawn That Way!" - Jessica Rabbit

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 03-23-2001, 10:00 PM:

Yes, Andrew. Black mylar leader is made.

Usually, it has frame lines so the projectionist can thread up in frame. I prefer the black mylar over the clear stuff.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 03-23-2001, 10:08 PM:

Kodak's subsidiary FPC carries various kinds of film leader:
FPC leader webpage
FPC Frameline Leader

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Posted by Brian Potts (Member # 429) on 03-23-2001, 11:09 PM:

We use black leader for lens changes. Usually about 2-3 feet. This keeps the next trailer from coming on before the lens change is complete.

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 03-24-2001, 12:21 AM:

I use black leader along with clear. I splice about a 8 foot section of black before the first trailer. Everyone is trained to thread on the clear so it is easier for them to frame.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-24-2001, 01:47 AM:

The black mylar that is on the market is crap in my opinion...all of it. Instead, get some magnetic fullcoat. It is impossible to scratch and if it is on polyester base, will last years and years without a need for replacement. Of course this does require someone with a few brain cells to use, as there are no frame lines.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 03-24-2001, 02:52 PM:

Becarefull when useing Mag Stock it can react in wierd fashions when it it gets hit with the blast of heat in the gate

Posted by Ben Wales (Member # 92) on 03-24-2001, 05:47 PM:

There is also on the market Black on white(white on one side) mylar spacing, it's very hard wearing over the usual black spacing.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 03-24-2001, 06:53 PM:

I dunno...NTAV has their solid black mylar...the frame lines are applied to solid leader so there isn't any place for the light to get through. They only have the lines on one side though (and a soundtrack representation).

Steve

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"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-24-2001, 11:43 PM:

Gordon, I've been using fullcoat for awhile now as black leader. Before I always used Neumade Fiesta leader, but that is on acetate stock and is extremely fragile. I haven't even seen a trace of embossing with xenons of 4500 watts that would have caused the generic NTAV-type of leader to be pretty much worn out. Joe has been using it longer than I have and I believe he was running the same stretches of black leader for 3 years straight without any noticeable wear.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 03-25-2001, 06:37 AM:

Kodak's subsidiary FPC also carries magnetic sound recording film:
FPC Listing of Magnetic Fullcoat Film
FPC Price List

I assume Brad and Joe are using the 5-mil (0.005-inch thick base) 35mm full-coat material. I haven't heard of it being used as opaque leader before, and it would not have framelines. Some people use it for the mild abrasive properties -- the oxide coating will burnish any surfaces it rubs against (e.g., polishing the metal surfaces of a projector gate).

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-25-2001, 12:35 PM:

That 5-mil guess is exactly correct and yes it is even the FPC brand fullcoat too.

Of course it is much cheaper to get "used/erased" fullcoat that has been ran a few times. Both of us use it at the end of each leader for a stretch of 10 feet before the first trailer and then 5 feet at the head of the policy and tail of the sound logo. This prevents extra splicing and handling since these two trailers never are taken apart and protects the "trailer pack" when left on a center ring after a breakdown. Lights and sound cues are also put on this fullcoat so they never display on screen and do not require replacement from show to show.

On the lack of frame lines, I would think the film handlers here are better than having to use that crutch. Put it through a frame counter, cut it once and then so long as the splices are torn apart by hand (don't use that splicer cutter blade or scissors), the ends will have a half a piece of splicing tape denoting that it is cut "in frame". Simply peel the tape off when it comes time to reuse it, or just chop 4 perforations off for those in a hurry. Either way, framelines are not necessary once the original cut is made.

Eat a big bucket of fried chicken when you handle the fullcoat. Use it as streamers on a newly married car so that the strips are dragged around the ground for about 100 miles. It just about doesn't matter how poorly this leader is treated. It will take one hell of a beating before it starts to show any wear whatsoever.