In a message dated 6/12/00 7:36:17 AM, [log in to unmask] writes: << My own approach in cases where the ratio is not indicated on the cans or head leaders and there is no 1:1.85 hard matte is to run a rehearsal screening in 1:1.66 with the racking set quite low and observe (i) how much dead space there is at the top of the frame, and (ii) whether any boom mikes are visible. From this information I then decide whether to show the film in 1:1.66, 1:1.75 or 1:1.85 on the basis of what appears to look like the most consistent framing. I know this sounds hit and miss but if the studios aren't willing to tell you what ratio they want their films shown in (as is the case in at least 80% of new releases), then the only option left is guesswork. >> Well, you're absolutely right on everything you say and the problems that are surrounding proper projection. We have the luxury of calling the director and asking him the proper aspect ratio (and then we put it in our press kit, our film catalogs and our website) so the projectionist hopefully will be told by the programmer. Unfortunately, we've tried labeling the leaders, the reel bands and the ICC cases, but then after a year of release with the theaters and nontheatrical venues (I won't blame projectionists since it's not always them) changing and replacing these elements at whim, it becomes more problematical to do this than not. (I have phone calls from projectionists asking why the leader of TABU says its cinemascope.) It would be nice if the DGA, MPAA or NATO or someone else would have a database that projectionists could click on to. Dennis Doros Milestone Film & Video PO Box 128 Harrington Park, NJ 07640-0128 Phone: (201) 767-3117 or (800) 603-1104 Fax: (201) 767-3035 Email: [log in to unmask] Website: http://www.milestonefilms.com ---- Online resources for film/TV studies may be found at ScreenSite http://www.tcf.ua.edu/ScreenSite