CINEMA SECRETS

Evening Star, Issue 19197, 13 March 1926, Page 15

CINEMA SECRETS

HIGH SPEED WORK FOR OPERATORS WHEN THE FILM BREAKS STRINGENT SAFEGUARDS AGAINST EIRE. TBy A. Lines, Operator of the “Flying Cinema” at Croydon Aerodrome. L * England.] (Exclusive to the ‘Evening Star.’) No. VI. The cinematograph operator of to-day is a highly-trained (Ran, being first and foremost a skilled electrician. The days are past when a smattering of knowledge and the ability to turn a handle were considered enough in an operator —so much of thu. access of films depends upon the way in which they are shown or projected.

In all up-to-date cinemas the most stringent precautions are taken. The projection room has to be absolutely fire-proof, and, as an instance of the care taken, lias to be fitted witlDa selfclosing, close-fitting door. The traps through which the light from the projector lantern reaches the screen, and through which the operator watches, must be fitted with fire-proof flans. These are usually made so as to fall automatically as soon as the operator steps off a small platform on which he stands at the side of the projector. Thus, should a film catch fire, the operator automatically shuts himself in as soon as he makes any movement to extinguish the Haines. Again, films not in use must be stored in closed metal boxes. These are but samples of the many regulations enforced in cinematograph theatres. Much that concerns the projection room and the projector is of a highly technical character, and only of interest to those directly connected with the work; but there are several points that arc of genera! interest.. For instance, a great difficulty was experienced in the early days of cinematography in keeping the film cool, the heat from the light of the lantern tending to melt the films, and certainly doing so whenever the film jammed and became stationary.

Nowadays the machine is fitted with a revolving governor which raises a shutter between the light and the film only when the film has reached a certain speed past the lens. This speed, by the wav, is the same as in the case of the camera—namely, sixteen pictures a second. If the film jams the shutter immediately drops, and prevents the film melting-or catching lire. It is probablly realised that the movement of figures on the screen is purely optical illusion, lu reality one sees a succession of stationary pictures, the rapidity with which one is replaced by the next deceiving the comparatively slow eye. It is not generally realised, however, that each of these sixteen pictures per second has been brought in front of the lantern and held absolutely stationary for just sufficient time for the eye to take it in. The mechanism which makes this possible is the same as that on the camera already described; but in the case of the projector there has to be some means of cutting off the light during that infinitely small period of time when the one picture is being substituted for the next. If (here wore not, one would simply see a stream of pictures passing down the screen without any appearance of the figures moving and without any intclligibilily.

HOW “ FLICKER ” WAS ABOLISHED

Therefor© in the machine is ;i revolving shutter which completely nits off the light between each picture; in addition, this shutter also cuts off the light while the picture is .station,uy opposite the lens and being thrown in the screen. The reason for this is that this extra shutter, blotting out the picture for a fraction of time, has been found to soften the crudity of the alternate flashes of light and rink. Those who went to the cinema fifteen years ago will probably remember that the pictures “ flickered ” console,-a ily. With constant use films become thin and break, either at the perforations or sometimes right across. Ibis means more work for the operator, who must have moans ready in nand for effecting rapid repairs. Iheso repairs are carried out with tbs aid of a kind of frame called a “ film mender, which holds the him in position vh'le the join is being made with special preparations. In all up-to-date cinemas the films have probablv conic direct from the distributor, and are therefore new; but those who have been present jo small houses, the owners of which ran only afford to take a blm long alter the date of its first release, ha' e probably noticed sudden and unaccountable‘jerkiness in the movements ot tho players on the screen. Tins is caused hy the fn.**t- tunt tho film has been broken ami mended, with the consequent ojs <f a picture or two. Obviously, when a (dm inis boon inn through the projector from mm spool to another, the end of the him comes to the outside; it must ttmreive be rewound before it can bo exhibited again.

The task of doing this is generally delegated to tho assistant operator, who cranks a. “rewinder.” Some rewinders are run by an electric motor. In addition to having to keep his wits about him to sec that the light in the projector is right, that tho film is appearing on the .screen properly—“registering” as it is called-—and that ho is carrying out the many regulations laid down for the safety of the cinema-going public, the operator has also to control the switches of the auditorium lights, which h- must dim or increase at the right moment. In many modern cinemas there are velvet curtains covering the screen; these are drawn to and fro by an electric motor, the switch of which is under the control of the operator in the projection room. Of course,, in many parts of the world there arc projection rooms which are little bettor than boxes, and in which few precautions are taken. The strangest circumstances in which I ever operated n. cinema projector were in an aeroplane flying over Crovdon. The machine went all over London, and at the same time I was _ showing he ' Lost World ’ to a special audience. In the cabin of the aeroplane a. miniature screen had been fitted nn. and the projector had a, special “cold ; ght,” and non-inflammable film .was used. there was no risk of fire. Nevertheless. it was a strange experience, though I have nn doubt that the future''will see giant air-liners in which the cinema-theatre will he only one of the amusements provided for the ’■"isspneers.