1 The Director of Photography – an overview

Testing 149
viewfinder where the outer frame has an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, which
will represent the camera gate and, as this can be varied on most
35 mm cameras, is known as the ‘hard mask’. The next set of markings
are only different in being slightly shorter in height and represent an
aspect ratio of 1.85:1. This is the aspect ratio used in most European
cinemas. Finally, the much squarer rectangle shows the portion of the
frame that will be used for a transfer to tape for television.
The purpose of shooting a frame leader is to reassure both the completion
bond company and the camera operator that the aspect ratio
markings in the viewfinder correspond exactly to the negative aperture
of the camera gate. This is best done by viewing the negative.
Some operators will ask for a length of frame leader to be sent to the
laboratory in order that a short length is printed before each day’s
rushes or dailies.
The frame leader must be clearly marked with the production
name, the date and the camera identification. This way, there can be
no confusion as to which camera and viewfinder markings it refers to.
This is not just essential when there are several camera bodies on the
shoot, for it is surprising how often one laboratory will have several
tests going through the bath on any given night. This also applies to
hire houses who may have several productions testing at once.
This test is not ideally viewed on a projector, but with a lowpowered
microscope. As I have said, most projectors do not show the
full camera aperture unless they are at the laboratory or hire house,
where an oversize gate can often be found; even so, microscopic investigation
will often be more critical than projection.
There is a further use to which the frame leader can be put. If the
rushes are being transferred to tape, it is not uncommon for the rushed
telecine to slightly underscan the picture.This produces a tighter composition
than the operator originally framed for. If this is suspected,
then a length of frame leader can be sent through with the next batch
of rushes and all will be revealed. This needs doing disappointingly
often. Just as when rushes are to be provided as a film print, some
operators will ask for a length of frame leader to be sent to the transfer
house making the tape copies in order that a short length is transferred
before each day’s rushes. This usually overcomes the problem
of the telecine underscanning.
Scratch tests
Every camera magazine must be tested for scratching. This is done by
running 20 feet or so of film through the camera using each and every
magazine. This simultaneously scratch tests the camera bodies. The
film need not be sent to the laboratory – simply unwind the last three
or four feet of film from the take-up side of the magazine and inspect
both sides of the film through a strong magnifying glass.
A trick many loaders use is to ‘catch the light’ on the film when
looking for scratches. When this is done the surface of the film will
shine and any scratches will show up as black lines.
If the film shows short scratches identical on every frame, then as
likely as not either this has occurred in the camera gate or the loop of
film just before or just after the gate has been too big and has rubbed
on the camera body at the moment the loop has been at its largest.