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Instructions to Projectionists

MGM’s instructions to projectionists screening Ben Hur (CR56)
prompted two readers to offer other examples.
The Ten Commandments (1959)

Intermission Music: West Side Story (1961)
A disc has been provided- for use
during the intermission. It runs 4
minutes 40 seconds. It should be played
through the screen speaker with the
silvers closed. It has been found that
Les Tod supplied a folder of people return from the lobby when the
instructions from the office of Cecil B. intermission music is heard. It is
DeMille. The master showman is in fine suggested that this music be started
form. His covering letter to Managers and approximately 3 minutes before the
Projectionists ‘Your help in following the time established for the start of Part II
suggestions contained in this folder will of the picture.
ensure a standard of presentation worthy
Exit Music:
of the great subject of this motion
A disc, running approximately 5 Eric White supplied the instructions
picture’, is a request that every proud
minutes 15 seconds, has been provided, from producer/director Robert Wise.
filmmaker would no doubt like to make.
for use at the conclusion, and should be Polite, detailed yet brief, the emphasis
The recommendations (with is on the Overture. Extract:
run through the screen speaker, with
illustrations) were mainly to do with
silvers closed. A special design has been created
sound presentation. They include: for the beginning of the picture over
Framing:
Overture which the Overture is played.
It is of vital importance that the first
4 1/2 minutes of this design be
projected with the houselights lowered
by only 25%. For proper presentation,
please follow these directions:
1. From the start mark, the first 28 feet
of the reel is black. Over this, from
the surround horns only, comes the
Scenes were composed for sound of 3 separate whistles.
projecting in an aspect ratio of 1.85-to- The first whistle starts at 12 1/2
1, hence the projection aperture plates feet. At this point the curtains
should be in the same ratio, filed with should be opened slowly and the
A disc running 1 minute 42
allowance for keystone. house lights lowered by 25%. Since
seconds. It should be played through
A Framing Index will appear briefly the time required for opening
the screen speaker, with silvers (the
twice in the upper right corner of the curtains varies from theatre to
secondary curtains) closed. It is
screen at the start of each 2,000-foot theatre, it must be timed so that
suggested that the Overture Disc be
reel, to assist the Projectionist in framing these operations are completed by
started approximately 2-1/2 minutes
the picture accurately. When the the time the overture design fades in
before the time established for the start
horizontal line extending to the left is at at 298 feet.
of the picture. At the conclusion of the
the top screen masking, the picture will 2. At 414 feet from the start mark, when
Overture, the picture should begin as
be properly framed for 1.85-to-1 ratio. the red color dissolves to the blue, the
soon as projectors can be started.
The End Title carries a nine-word house lights should be dimmed
De Mille Introduction:
message, and the silvers should not be completely. This must be completed
A special introduction has been closed until this title has completely by the time the title West Side Story
photographed in color, in which Cecil faded out, otherwise the title could not starts to appear on the screen.
B. DeMille speaks briefly to the be easily read. After the silvers are Both examples are reminders of the lost
audience. The introduction runs 2 closed, wait 5 seconds before raising art of creating a total cinema
minutes 23 seconds. the house lights. experience. ★
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