Conforming film to video normally involves interlocking a film synchronizer and VTR, allowing frame accurate matching of 30 frames of video to corresponding
24 frames of film. This process is completed at the lab after your video cut is complete. There are certain guidelines that you should keep in mind in order to make the conforming process smooth and hassle free.
A film cut list is essential. It provides the beginning and ending Keykode numbers, camera roll number and footage frame count for each cut. Lack of a cut list would add considerable time to the conforming process. If you are not editing with a non linear editing system, this mus be created by hand.
Video on each reel should not be more than 10 minutes in length for 35MM or 30 minutes in length for 16MM.
All transfers must have continuous window burned non dropframe Time Code and Keykode.
Each reel must have SMPTE/Academy leader edited into video before first frame of picture.
A separate list must be provided indicating duration (length) of all effects such as fades and dissolves, beginning and ending Keykode numbers and footage/frame count. 16,24,32,48,64 and 96 film frames are standard lengths available for such effects.
Any title work or opticals must be accounted for on a separate list before beginning the conforming process.
Video EDL is not necessary but can be helpful, i.e., repetition of similar timecodes would indicate that a certain cut has been used twice, necessitating a duplicate film master.