8mm Forum: Another rookie question

This is topic Another rookie question in forum 8mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by William Fleming (Member # 2632) on January 01, 2014, 01:14 PM:

I see the term flat quite a lot what does this mean? trying to learn everything i can this time around thanks.

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on January 01, 2014, 02:12 PM:

To me flat means not in cinemascope. Best Wishes.

Posted by William Fleming (Member # 2632) on January 01, 2014, 02:25 PM:

Ah thanks makes sense another thing learned.

Posted by Maurizio Di Cintio (Member # 144) on January 01, 2014, 06:04 PM:

I may be wrong on this but the term could also imply that a film which was originally shot in 'scope, has been printed "flat", that is a whole 1:33 SUper 8 frame is filled with a de-squeezed image: this way you don't need an "A" lens to screen that specific print, but you must be aware that almost as much as is in the frame, is lost outside: "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" is a good example: sometimes the printing features a panning movement inside the orginal 'scope frame to keep everything relevant in the picture which otherwise would be lost. There are even cuts not on the original, so that the image jumps from one area to the other without panning. Personally I think this is somewhat annoying to purists. Also there are scope films printed with letterbox, i.e. black bars top and bottom: again no need for an anamorphic attachment, no image loss, but the drawback in this case is a lot of the image area is wasted with the bars and in order to achieve as big a screen image as with a regular 'scope print, you need a bigger magnification resulting in coarser grain.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on January 01, 2014, 09:59 PM:

The term "flat" replaced the long time expression "wide screen", meaning any print that did not require an anamorphic lens to screen it.
Over time, the difference between 'scope and wide-screen became slightly confusing because most people thought they were the same thing.

Posted by William Fleming (Member # 2632) on January 02, 2014, 03:53 AM:

I really appreciate all your help and believe i now understand the term. Im sure there will be more i need to ask about and its good knowing people are willing to help explain things.

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