i have to admit that my very limited mathematical/spatial skills have made it difficult for me to follow all the details about ways of influencing the aspect ratio of a movie. . . but i suddenly suspect that for years i've been operating under a serious misapprehension . . . so perhaps someone can set me straight by answering a simple question: does the "official" aspect ratio of a movie correspond to a similar ratio in the frames as printed on the strip of film itself . . . that is, does a de palma film with a ratio of 2.35/1 have a different size frame on the film than a film intended to be projected at 1.85/1? . . . or is the aspect ratio actually gotten in projection by a combination of lenses and masks that depend as much on the projectionist as on the strip of film as printed? . . . my own no doubt naive assumption was that the frame on the film strip already contained the proper aspect ratio, and all the proectionist had to do to achieve the director's or D.P.'s purpose is project it without messing around with it. . . . . but it appears that this is not the case at all mf ---- Online resources for film/TV studies may be found at ScreenSite http://www.tcf.ua.edu/ScreenSite