Dennis Doros writes: >Actually, what happens is one or more leaders are replaced with leaders from >other films (citing other aspect ratios) and even if this happens to only one >reel, confusion reigns. This explains the Tabu incident, by the way. Hmmm.... it would take a monumentally thick projectionist not to spot that a leader is printed on different stock from the picture footage, has different aperture markings, and possibly even has a different film title printed somewhere on it! If any Academy or SMPTE worthies read this list, then I'd like to make the following proposal. British standard 1492:1948 (the British standard for head leaders still adhered to by most labs over here) contains the following specification for 'part title': "Shall contain 24 frames (1) in 6 of which shall be plainly printed lengthwise with the film, in white letters on a black background, (a) reel number, (b) picture title; (2) in 18 of which shall be plainly printed in black letters on a white background (a) type of print [see note below] (b) reel number (Arabic numerals of not less than one quarter of the frame height), and (c) picture title. For 2 (a), the example given says 'Sound Print: Film and Disc' - gives you some idea of how long ago these standards were introduced, I guess! I would like to propose that 2(a), and its equivalent in other standards, be updated to read something like: 'Type of print, this information to include [i] aspect ratio in which the film is intended to be projected (either a speherical ratio in the format height:width, e.g. 1:1.85, or the word ANAMORPHIC, or the phrase SILENT - FULL GATE), [ii] all sound formats included on the print, and [iii] part number in the format 'X of Y' where Y is the total number of reels. The figures 6 and 9 are underlined wherever they appear.' A typical ID section of a head leader would thus contain 18 frames marked as follows: 1:1.66 SR//DTS/SDDS 4 OF 8 NIL BY MOUTH Or... ANAMORPHIC MONO 2 OF 4 BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK This would surely remove any possible ambiguity or potential for cock-ups. If, as this standard specifies, the title of the film is printed on the same frame as format information, then it shouldn't matter if one or two reels of a print lose their original leader during the course of their lifetime. L ------------------------------------ Leo Enticknap Technical Manager City Screen Cinemas (York) Ltd.. 13-17 Coney St., York YO1 9QL. United Kingdom Telephone: 01904 612940 (work); 01904 625823 (home); 07710 417383 (mobile) e-mail: [log in to unmask] ---- To sign off Screen-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF Screen-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]