Appendix 1

The Filmmaker’s Guide to Final Cut Pro Workfl ow
Double-perf fi lm is becoming somewhat rare, single-perf fi lm is often used even on standard 1.33
16 mm projects. However, some fi lmmakers still prefer double-perf. 16 mm double-perforated leader
should be used only if the entire negative is double perforated. If any of the original is single perforated,
use single-perf leader in the same wind as your original to warn the lab not to attempt to print
tail to head. While it is possible to mix single and double perf, this can be confusing for you and the
lab.
A and B Rolling
There are two systems for building print rolls. In the fi rst, you simply splice the negative into one
roll. The splice can be seen in full-screen 1.33, but on 35 mm at 1.85, it can’t be seen. With this
system, other than fades to white, all effects, including fades to black and dissolves, become expensive
opticals. Nevertheless, it is the system most often used on 1.85 35 mm projects.
The second system is called A-B rolling. With this system, two rolls of negative are cut. The fi rst
shot is cut into A, the second into B, the third into A, and so forth, as shown in Figure A8.1. The
spaces between are fi lled with black leader creating a sort of checkerboard layout. Fades and dissolves
are easy and there is no extra cost per effect.
Figure A8.1 A-B rolls and print
Each roll is printed onto the print stock separately. The splices don’t show using this system because
the black leader covers the overlapping fi lm. Because of the invisible splices, this is the only system
that can be used for 35 mm full-frame and 16 mm. A-B rolling costs a lot more: the negative cutters
charge more, the lab charges a lot more for printing, and the black leader is expensive. However,
opticals are also expensive. The cost-saving of avoiding A-B rolling soon disappears if you have a
lot of opticals. Count the number of effects and get prices.
On some fi lms, a C roll is made as well. The C roll is used for extended superimpositions, often
titles. As each roll is printed in a separate pass, many layers of image can be superimposed. Even a
D roll or an E roll may be used if there are complex superimpositions. This is also how fades to
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