PANAVISION ground glasses are multipurpose. In the first place they delineate the image area and secondly, the lines are reflective to provide the illuminated reticle lines which make it easy to see the edges of the frame against a dark background.
Choice of Ground Glass Markings — the Options
Whether the prime format be for Anamorphic or Spherical release, Super 35 or 3–PERF, Roadshow 70mm blow–up or Jumbo Jet video, protecting the Action Area for all possible releases can be a nightmare. A decision has to be made at the outset of shooting and adhered to throughout the production. It is an amusing thought that the format most thought of, 35mm “Academy,” is the one least likely ever to be used for presentation purposes.
Basically the choice lies between the principal theatrical options — Anamorphic, 1.85 Widescreen, Super 35 for Anamorphic and Super 35 for Widescreen — with protection markings for TV.
Complications come in if protection for 1.66:1 is desired for overseas release and if the TV markings should be “TV Transmitted” or “TV Safe Action,” or both.
Yet another choice is for “Common Headroom” or “Symmetrical.” Common Headroom, together with one theatrical marking and one TV marking is often a good choice as it eliminates the need for many ceiling pieces in sets, making it easier and less expensive to light. puts most heads and faces in the top third of the screen irrespective of the presentation format and means that only the tracks and the floor need to be looked at vis–a–vis the Video and TV releases.
Hard Masks
When shooting for 1.85:1 Widescreen presentation PANAVISION can fit a hard mask or matte into the aperture plate to prevent any unprotected area being shown, either by inattention or on purpose because the lower part of the image may be more interesting than the top. A 1.66:1 hard mask is often a good choice as this allows the TV area to be scanned and eliminates all else.
A partial selection of PANAVISION’s available ground glasses.