How Nine checks a film
A film should not go out because it looked fine at a glance. Nine checks the finished picture, and tells you clearly what needs another look.
What the checks look for
The things people notice when a film feels unfinished: a line that does not line up, a title that is hard to read, an empty stretch, a picture that slips outside its frame, or a version that no longer matches what you asked for.
Three honest answers
A check can say the film is clean, that it found a problem, or that it could not decide. Not deciding is never read as a pass, and the difference stays visible to you.
A small example
One line may sit a little farther from the edge than the next, and the frame still feels almost right. A good check measures the finished picture and points at the difference before it reaches you. The point is not to make every frame the same. The point is that the important choices are made on purpose.
Checks help, people judge
Some things can be measured. Some things still need judgement. The crew keeps four questions in view on every film:
- Clarity. Can people read and follow it?
- Consistency. Do the colours, type and spacing hold together?
- Completeness. Is the whole film there, ready for where it will be shown?
- Honesty. Does it match what you asked for?
You choose how good a film must be. Why Nine is called Nine explains the score.
A tip for your notes
A note that points at something on screen is a note the next version can be checked against. “Move the title up” beats “make it pop”.
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Written 16 September 2026, brought up to date 1 October 2026.