Dan Hamilton

:D I just hate following rules

the marks on this workprint are called optical cues. they are used at the optical effects house to mark where an effect starts. these marks help the optical cameraman determine where on the original negative (in the days of cri's) or on the interpositive (to produce an optical dupe) to start shooting. besides an "x" mark, a number may be used, which references to an optical effect number or cut number. negative cutters use a simular method for identifing fades and dissolves. you may see sfo (start fade out) or sdo (start dissolve out). at the end of the effect you may see dfo (dissolve full out) or dfi (dissolve full in). these marks are still used and are scribed into the track area, exept in the case of super 35 elements, at which time a smnall mark may be scribed right by the frame line. optical cues are also used the help optical cameramen assemble a trailer, where many cuts have to be found out of thousands of feet of original negative.