Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/05/13

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Subject: [Leica] OT: movie question, with apologies
From: SonC at aol.com (SonC@aol.com)
Date: Fri May 13 03:17:16 2005

 
 
In a message dated 5/12/2005 10:51:39 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  
feli2@earthlink.net writes:

>  sorry, but i could not go to sleep without knowing this:
>
> to  those hollywood veterans out there; what is the industry term
> for that  countdown number in the middle of a circle, with a
> sort of second hand  sweeping around 360 degrees as the number counts
> down to zero and the  footage begins?
>
> -rei



The purpose is to know when to start the projector and open the  gate.  As 
you might remember,  films once had a white spot appear at  the end of each 
reel, usually in the lower right of the frame.  That was a  cue to the 
projectionist when to start the next reel.  If you saw any part  of the 
countdown, he 
messed up.  Of course in those boring geography  films
at school, the countdown was often the most interesting thing.  Pity  kids 
who have to watch DVD's!
Regards,  
Sonny
http://www.sonc.com
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Oldest continuous  settlement in La Louisiane
?galit?, libert?,  crawfish