if i want to deliver with the intent of projection as opposed to monitor
of any kind, what would be the preferred file type for 24fps? would
this be an mpeg-2 at 24fps? or would i use something with less
compression given the expectation of a larger viewing surface? what
filetype would that be if not mpeg-2?

thanks

You first need do to tell us what the distribution format is going to be. If it
is DVD then you only have one choice: MPEG-2.

MPEG-2 supports 24 fps (23.976) with some tricks. Any (good) DVD player
that supports progressive out coupled to a projector in the correct fashion
will then display full 24 fps progressive.

Personally I currently watch a lot of movies on an Infocus X2 DLP projector
connected to a computer (either through the VGA connector or DVI [digital VGA])
and it looks beautiful. No problems with framerates or anything.

So playback from say a laptop (what I'm using at the moment) can work as
well if the projector allows VGA or DVI in. The source can then be anything
(I mainly watch DVD's), including DVD or AVI for example.