Part 6/8:
In threading a film reel through a projector—an elaborate and sometimes tricky process—all components must work in tandem. The film needs to flow smoothly through rollers and sprockets, and any slack must be managed to prevent jamming or damaging the film.
A well-thread film maintains a balance between moving casually and showing the intended images crisply. A fascinating feature is that the audio section of these films is often recorded slightly ahead of the visual frames to accommodate discrepancies in threading, a clever design choice to maintain synchronization during playback.