It's my understanding that "back in the day" silent speed was 16fps because this is what the projectors ran. I don't know why. But you always see "16fps" identified with avant-garde silents from the '60s—Warhol films, early Gehr films, TOM TOM... etc. Anyone able to make a comparison would be able to determine that there is a physiological difference between the two speeds, he slower being more "flickery" which is a reason (I've been told) that 16fps was preferred. The funny thing about this nominal difference in regards to the full-length SLEEP is that the cumulative difference of all these 2fps/second x the full length of the film is a 30 minute reduction in running time (5.5 hours vs. 6 hrs.). Easy math but quite a surprise when the screening of this film is "suddenly" over 30 minutes early.
The full-length SLEEP (even sped up at 18fps) is indeed a masterpiece, one of the most profound viewing experiences of my life. To be honest, I worry that the Satie would be a distraction but I wish you luck with the event...! Steve Polta --- On Sun, 2/12/12, David Tetzlaff <djte...@gmail.com> wrote: From: David Tetzlaff <djte...@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Frameworks] Andy Warhol's SLEEP / Providence, RI / Feb 18 / Magic Lantern + RK Projects To: "Experimental Film Discussion List" <frameworks@jonasmekasfilms.com> Date: Sunday, February 12, 2012, 11:10 AM > Never mind. It looks like they are projecting at 16fps. > excellent. Actually, they're projecting it at 18fps. They have an Eiki with a silent speed pulley, which runs at 18fps, and they're borrowing my Pageant 250S for the second projector, which also has a silent speed of 18fps. (I've checked the manuals for both of them. Graflex dual speed models also run at 18fps and 24fps.) Now, before actually CHECKING this stuff, I had always thought 16fps was the proper speed for 16mm silent, and that the silent speed on a Pageant was 16fps. So does anyone on the list know more about this? Were the old, old silent-speed-only 16mm projectors 16fps, and did they change it to 18 to make projectors that could switch speeds more practical, or something like that? Does it have anything to do with 18fps being set as the speed for Super-8? Were there ever dual speed projectors that ran at 16fps and 24fps? Or has it always been 18fps for silent, and somehow Myron and I have suffered from some collective 16fps illusion? just curious... _______________________________________________ FrameWorks mailing list FrameWorks@jonasmekasfilms.com https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
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