Short end
Encyclopedia
A short end is a partial roll of unexposed film stock
which was left over during a motion picture production, and which is kept for use later.
Short ends most commonly occur either when the film left in the camera magazine
is shorter than the amount expected to be required for the next take or at the end of a shooting day when all of the day's exposed footage needs to be sent to the film lab. When this occurs, the clapper loader
will break the roll at the loop protruding from the magazine; the exposed footage is placed in a black bag inside a film can, sealed, and labeled for film processing, while the unused short end will be placed in another black bag in a film can which is then sealed and identified by length, type, which original roll it came from, and when it was unloaded.
The short end may either be used later in the production, or sold to a film dealer who will resell it to productions who are in a position to use it.
Identification is critical, as there will be no other way to know what exactly is inside the can. Short ends cans should also be sealed in either white or colored gaffer tape
, depending on what (if any) color scheme is being used to identify film types; in any case, black gaffer tape should not be used, as it is considered the standard tape color used to seal exposed cans. Alternatively, in the event that the footage will be needed very shortly, the short end may not leave the magazine in the first place, but rather be freshly threaded through the magazine as if it were a new roll.
If the entire roll has remained unshot and is to be unloaded back into a can, this is technically not considered a short end, but rather a re-can
. Additionally, if the unshot footage is going to be thrown away almost immediately, then this is considered waste footage. Short ends only exist if there is both enough unexposed film left in the magazine to warrant using it to start a new magazine load and also if there is either a magazine or a film can available to store it in the interim. Otherwise, the film may have to be wasted if there is nowhere it can be kept safely away from any light. Short ends may exist for a number of reasons, but usually they are either created at the end of a shooting day when the exposed film is unloaded to be sent with the day's rushes
or at the end of a film shoot when there is still film left in the magazine on the movie camera
. Additionally, particular film stock types might only have been used for a few scenes and thus have considerable short end lengths at the conclusion of their usage.
Short end minimum lengths vary depending on the needs of a production; professional productions usually will prefer to waste any quantities less than 100 to 200 feet rather than constantly interrupt shooting to reload so often, while lower budget or student productions may be eager to use any amounts greater than 20 or 30 feet. In any case, the minimum length needs to be substantial enough to allow for the magazine to be loaded, the camera to be laced, and something to be usably shot, which usually will require at least ten feet prior to the shot. The maximum length of a short end will be anything close the full length of a roll without counting as a re-can.
Short ends are considered distinct from fresh new rolls because they may have been subject to environmental conditions since leaving their originally sealed can and are no longer under factory warranty, and are generally identified distinctly to avoid any confusion in the matter. Assuming proper storage and fast turnaround time, they are considered perfectly usable. Older short ends or ones of uncertain provenance should be clip tested first to check their condition. Re-cans and short ends are often sold at discounts to lower budget productions by labs, larger production companies, or businesses which specialize in their sale.
Film stock
Film stock is photographic film on which filmmaking of motion pictures are shot and reproduced. The equivalent in television production is video tape.-1889–1899:...
which was left over during a motion picture production, and which is kept for use later.
Short ends most commonly occur either when the film left in the camera magazine
Camera magazine
A camera magazine is a light-tight chamber or pair of chambers designed to hold and move motion picture film stock before and after it has been exposed in the camera...
is shorter than the amount expected to be required for the next take or at the end of a shooting day when all of the day's exposed footage needs to be sent to the film lab. When this occurs, the clapper loader
Clapper loader
A clapper loader, or second assistant camera is part of a film crew, whose main functions are that of loading the raw film stock into camera magazines, operating the clapperboard at the beginning of each take, marking the actors as necessary, and maintaining all records and paperwork for the...
will break the roll at the loop protruding from the magazine; the exposed footage is placed in a black bag inside a film can, sealed, and labeled for film processing, while the unused short end will be placed in another black bag in a film can which is then sealed and identified by length, type, which original roll it came from, and when it was unloaded.
The short end may either be used later in the production, or sold to a film dealer who will resell it to productions who are in a position to use it.
Identification is critical, as there will be no other way to know what exactly is inside the can. Short ends cans should also be sealed in either white or colored gaffer tape
Gaffer tape
Gaffer tape, gaffer's tape, gaff tape or gaffa tape is a strong, tough, cotton cloth pressure sensitive tape with strong adhesive properties. It is used in theater, film and television productions as well as during live performances and any other kind of stage work...
, depending on what (if any) color scheme is being used to identify film types; in any case, black gaffer tape should not be used, as it is considered the standard tape color used to seal exposed cans. Alternatively, in the event that the footage will be needed very shortly, the short end may not leave the magazine in the first place, but rather be freshly threaded through the magazine as if it were a new roll.
If the entire roll has remained unshot and is to be unloaded back into a can, this is technically not considered a short end, but rather a re-can
Re-can
A re-can is a roll of film stock which was originally opened up from a factory-sealed can and loaded into a camera magazine by a clapper loader, but remained unshot and thus was unloaded back into a film can unused...
. Additionally, if the unshot footage is going to be thrown away almost immediately, then this is considered waste footage. Short ends only exist if there is both enough unexposed film left in the magazine to warrant using it to start a new magazine load and also if there is either a magazine or a film can available to store it in the interim. Otherwise, the film may have to be wasted if there is nowhere it can be kept safely away from any light. Short ends may exist for a number of reasons, but usually they are either created at the end of a shooting day when the exposed film is unloaded to be sent with the day's rushes
Dailies
Dailies, in filmmaking, are the raw, unedited footage shot during the making of a motion picture. They are so called because usually at the end of each day, that day's footage is developed, synched to sound, and printed on film in a batch for viewing the next day by the director and some members...
or at the end of a film shoot when there is still film left in the magazine on the movie camera
Movie camera
The movie camera is a type of photographic camera which takes a rapid sequence of photographs on strips of film which was very popular for private use in the last century until its successor, the video camera, replaced it...
. Additionally, particular film stock types might only have been used for a few scenes and thus have considerable short end lengths at the conclusion of their usage.
Short end minimum lengths vary depending on the needs of a production; professional productions usually will prefer to waste any quantities less than 100 to 200 feet rather than constantly interrupt shooting to reload so often, while lower budget or student productions may be eager to use any amounts greater than 20 or 30 feet. In any case, the minimum length needs to be substantial enough to allow for the magazine to be loaded, the camera to be laced, and something to be usably shot, which usually will require at least ten feet prior to the shot. The maximum length of a short end will be anything close the full length of a roll without counting as a re-can.
Short ends are considered distinct from fresh new rolls because they may have been subject to environmental conditions since leaving their originally sealed can and are no longer under factory warranty, and are generally identified distinctly to avoid any confusion in the matter. Assuming proper storage and fast turnaround time, they are considered perfectly usable. Older short ends or ones of uncertain provenance should be clip tested first to check their condition. Re-cans and short ends are often sold at discounts to lower budget productions by labs, larger production companies, or businesses which specialize in their sale.