Movies for TV - Early Television Foundation

CHOOSINGFILMSFORTV 251
over television is poor sound. This is not usually the fault of the
station engineers. If the equipment is kept properly cleaned and
adjusted and clean films used the only reason for poor sound can
be the film, or sound track itself. Unfortunately this is often the
case. Generally 16 mm film does not reproduce the sound track
as well as 35 mm. One reason is the distortion and shrinkage
which accompanies the reduction from 35 mm to 16 mm. The
film base itself is more subject to shrinkage than acetate base and
as a result, there is a risk that it has already shrunk a little unless
the print is new. The process of reducing and reprinting usually
introduces a little high note loss; this, plus the presence of dirt on
the film during printing or projection, which also causes high-
frequency loss, is enough to reduce intelligibility considerably. It
is for this reason that many producers prefer to use direct-reversal
film if they are producing their own films for use only a few times
at the station. Since there is no printing involved, the actual
camera film being used in the projector after processing, two
places
where distortion or dirt can be introduced are eliminated.
Also cost is reduced.
But it is not often that the library films are direct-reversal
type; therefore, it will be necessary to examine the prints care-
fully.
It will be remembered that the film camera for television is
capable of using either a positive or a negative
film. This feature
can sometimes be used to advantage if only a negative is available
for any particular reason. But if it is, sound quality will be ex-
tremely poor unless the sound equipment has been modified, and
it is well to consider this if the occasion to use negative film in
the projector arises.
It is not usual for the film director to edit rented film since it
is presumed to be ready for use and he is prevented from cutting
it by the terms of the hiring contract. However, there may be cases
where the station has bought film or agreed to edit some. This
often gives the film director a heaven-sent chance to eliminate
some shots which detract from its over-all enjoyment due, perhaps,
to an overabundance of medium long shots or long shots. For a
half-hour airshow we use twenty-seven minutes of film. This may