What is a 2-pop? Also known as a "2-beep", it consists of a visual flash (1 frame in length, full screen white preferred) and matching audio beep, 1 frame length, on ALL audio tracks, placed exactly 2 seconds before the "first frame of action", FFOA, which is where your program begins. The FFOA is not necessarily the first visible image, since many films begin with a fade up from black. This is how we know where the film is! An acceptable alternative is included in a countdown sequence such as an "academy leader", where "the two" is placed exactly 2 seconds before first frame of picture. If you do not know what a "countdown sequence" is, you are not ready for me! The 2-pop is often placed at 59:58:00 with the first frame of action at 1:00:00:00, but this is by no means a standard. A similar device is often placed at the end of the film. While the term "2-pop" is meant to denote only the one at the beginning, I think it is okay to use the term for both of them. Click to return