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Topic: Spools or Reels?
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Rob Young.
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1633
From: Cheshire, U.K.
Registered: Dec 2003
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posted June 10, 2017 10:47 PM
No, with respect.
A spool is something which carries or holds film.
A reel is a length of film footage.
Wikapedia...
"It is traditional to discuss the length of theatrical motion pictures in terms of "reels". The standard length of a 35 mm film reel is 1,000 feet (305 m), which runs approximately 11 minutes for sound film (24 frames per second)[2] and about 15 minutes at silent film speed at the more-or-less standard speed of 16 frames per second (but that could be as high as 22 fps).[3] Most films have visible cues which mark the end of the reel. This allows projectionists running reel-to-reel to change over to the next reel on the other projector.
A so-called "two-reeler" would have run about 15–24 minutes since the actual short film shipped to a movie theater for exhibition may have had slightly less (but rarely more) than 1,000 ft (305 m) on it. Most modern projectionists use the term "reel" when referring to a 2,000-foot (610 m) "two-reeler", as modern films are rarely shipped by single 1,000-foot (305 m) reels. A standard Hollywood movie averages about five 2000-foot reels in length.
The "reel" was established as a standard measurement because of considerations in printing motion picture film at a film laboratory, for shipping (especially the film case sizes) and for the size of the physical film magazine attached to the motion picture projector. Had it not been standardized (at 1,000 ft or 305 m of 35 mm film) there would have been many difficulties in the manufacture of the related equipment. A 16 mm "reel" is 400 feet (122 m). It runs, at sound speed, approximately the same amount of time (11–12 minutes) as a 1,000-foot (305 m) 35 mm reel.
A "split reel" is a motion picture film reel in two halves that, when assembled, hold a specific length of motion picture film that has been wound on a plastic core. Using a split reel allows film to be shipped or handled in a lighter and smaller form than film would on a "fixed" reel. In silent film terminology, two films on one reel.
As digital cinema catches on, the physical reel is being replaced by a virtual format called Digital Cinema Package, which can be distributed using any storage media (such as hard drives) or data transfer medium (such as the Internet or satellite links) and projected using a digital projector instead of a conventional movie projector.
Actors may submit a demo reel of their work to prospective employers, often in physical reel format."
"Spool, a usually low-flanged or unflanged cylinder on which thread, wire, cable, paper, film, straps, or tape is wound for distribution or use."
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Rob Young.
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1633
From: Cheshire, U.K.
Registered: Dec 2003
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posted June 10, 2017 10:51 PM
Quote,
"A spool is for thread, a reel is for film.
No one calls them spools in the U.S."
Sorry, John, again, with respect, don't get you. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Generally, a super 8 reel is 200ft of film, which then is supplied on a spool, or whatever dispensing method you feel appropriate.
For example, an old school 3 x 400ft super 8 can be on 3 x 400ft SPOOLS.
But the footage can be 360 to 400ft of film, or REELS per SPOOL, then depending upon film stock.
So the footage is considerably variable per spool.
REEL = FILM LENGTH, NOT THE THING IT IS ON!
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Rob Young.
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1633
From: Cheshire, U.K.
Registered: Dec 2003
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posted June 11, 2017 05:11 AM
Doug, thank you for appropriately moving this conversation.
To quote Michael, "I don't see that it matters to be honest", and I agree, so lets keep it light hearted.
But, for example, a 6 reel version of a Marketing film is on 3, er, reels.
So it's not roughly 3 x 400ft, it's actually 3 x 200ft in length?
No, apparently not. It's on 3 plastic things with film on them...the length? Who knows?
Just kidding guys; this thread has proved interesting if nothing else. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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