8mm Forum: How much leader do you put on your films?

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Topic: How much leader do you put on your films?

Daniel D. Teoli Jr.
Film Handler

Posts: 55
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Aug 2017

posted August 25, 2017 01:31 PM

I generally go with about 2 feet on the front and end. Is there a sweet spot for the leader length?

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David Ollerearnshaw
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1373
From: Penistone Sheffield UK
Registered: Oct 2012

posted August 25, 2017 02:18 PM

I use more if you mean white leader 3 to 5 ft or enough to take the film onto the take up reel with some spare. I also put some onto the tail of the film too, only about a foot in this case.

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I love the smell of film in the morning.

http://www.thereelimage.co.uk/

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted August 25, 2017 02:39 PM

I do two feet of white leader to get from one reel to the other. I do maybe another foot or two of black leader and this is where I light the lamp.

I start with the white leader because this section is the most likely to get mangled and black acetate leader isn't easy to find these days. (I cement splice when I can...)

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All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

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Tom Photiou
Film God

Posts: 4837
From: Plymouth U.K
Registered: Dec 2003

posted August 25, 2017 04:31 PM

i am looking for a couple of 50 ft spools of white leader.
I like to have enough leader to get it up and around the take up spool with a nice bit left over, this give the start up a good run and stabilises everything. [Wink]

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Clinton Hunt
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 845
From: Waharoa,North Island,New Zealand
Registered: May 2010

posted August 25, 2017 06:26 PM

I also put a couple of feet of leader,but obviously some films already have a bit of a leader so I add maybe a foot.
Unless the films has been damaged at the start and the film starts without opening titles,then add even more leader so I can start it projecting and still see all off the start [Smile]

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Cheers from me in New Zealand :-)

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Will Trenfield
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 506
From: Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK
Registered: Mar 2016

posted August 25, 2017 06:32 PM

Eumig recommended at least 20" of leader at the front end. You can buy films for less than the prices being asked for 50' of white leader on eBay. It's cheaper to use blank film.

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012

posted August 25, 2017 06:46 PM

If Feature films come to me with original leads and tails in tact, I don't use any.

If anything, Derann used to place excess leader at both ends of a reel of film for even the projectors that need around 3 feet comfortably to get to reel.

For anything else, I use 3ft of clear Poly or white Acetate leader dependent on the type of film stock I am adding it to.
Only around 18 inches is sufficient for the tail.

I have been pleasantly surprised in recent times, at just how many features have arrived with me with all leads and tails uncut and with all original spools and boxes.
Only a few years back I struggled to find hardly any films in this condition.

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Joe Taffis
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1592
From: United States
Registered: Jun 2003

posted August 25, 2017 09:42 PM

Enough, but not too much [Big Grin]

is this a trick question? [Roll Eyes]

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Joe Taffis

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Bryan Chernick
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 654
From: Bothell, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2010

posted August 25, 2017 11:01 PM

I put at least 2 feet at the start, enough to get the film onto the take up spool before the leader leaves the gate. I also put a small amount on the end, enough to get a few wraps around the reel.

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Tom Photiou
Film God

Posts: 4837
From: Plymouth U.K
Registered: Dec 2003

posted August 26, 2017 12:27 AM

yes i will say i dont often need to add any at all as, like already said, most films do come with more than enough on. The less splices anywhere the better. [Wink]

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

posted August 26, 2017 07:59 AM

Tom
Here is a supply of white acetate leader in 50ft rolls for £8.99, plus postage.
http://www.gaugefilm.co.uk/store/p29/Super_8_White_Acetate_Film_Leader_50ft.html

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Maurice

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Tom Photiou
Film God

Posts: 4837
From: Plymouth U.K
Registered: Dec 2003

posted August 26, 2017 10:52 AM

Thanks maurice. [Wink]

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Daniel Macarone
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 224
From: Summit NJ, USA
Registered: Nov 2015

posted August 26, 2017 01:33 PM

I like to have a good amount left over after it's on the take-up, so it has plenty of time to run smoothly before picture. I imagine this is necessary for a long play unit, which I don't have the privilege of owning.
My preference is to have clear leader first, then the original leader. If a film doesn't have original leader, I like to give it black leader instead of a countdown. That allows me to turn the lamp on and then sit down and enjoy watching the show start from black. Again at the end, I like black leader, so I can stay seated and watch the very end of the movie without seeing leader appear on screen immediately after.

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Gregory Oliver
Junior
Posts: 28
From: Mansfield, TX, USA
Registered: Feb 2017

posted August 27, 2017 07:25 AM

The RetroScan unit 'pulls' the film, so I add two feet to both ends so that I capture every frame. Post processing, I can always crop it off.

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Joe Caruso
Film God

Posts: 4105
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted August 27, 2017 08:59 AM

24" is max, that will allow threading time and any accident with the claw - Poly is best, if not go with the alternate - Shorty

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012

posted August 27, 2017 09:09 AM

Two foot is probably enough leader length for 95% of all Super 8mm projectors out there but for long play projectors and long play units, you require at least another foot in length so that the joining splice does not go through the machine while it is still in the thread position as this can cause problems.

You always want that first splice entering the loops and gate a few seconds after placing the projector into normal run mode ideally for any auto threading machines, so that the top loop is fully open and the pressure plate is fully closed.

Any splice runs far smoother through a projector when doing so in these conditions rather than the opposite ones.

It goes without saying, that if you can do without a splice altogether at the beginning of any reel of Film, then better still.

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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