To compensate for the disparity between 24 and 30 fps, the equipment involved in the film to video transfer displays the first frame of the film for 3/60 of a second, frame two for 2/60, frame three for 3/60 and frame four for 2/60, etc.
This means that every two frames is displayed for 5/60 or 1/12 of a second. All 24 frames are displayed in 12/12 of a second (i.e., one full second) or, put into video timing, 60/60 of a second (i.e., one full second.)
The result is a flicker-free transfer.
This does not rectify the problems caused by film that was exposed at frame rates slower than 24fps, however.
Last modified 6/15/06