Movie Makers (Jan-May 1928)

and on thc stage HERMIJ KING and his Qrtabw IbaniL wtih Oscar Gfatflor *f. And Janchort-Qftlarco'S lit* DANCE DEMONS" TITLE SUGGESTIONS YOU COULD MAKE YOURSELF. Lettered by the Author °\tV ILL1AM S HAINES A o ^° ■> OPJEUNC ^EVER' Ql Whirlpool Of CMirik, wlUxj, dOAN CR.AWFOR.D & CEORCE K ARTHUPo MAKING your own ART TITLES rr,HIS is the first of a series of ar■* tides containing a few suggestions from a professional standpoint which will make titling more interesting for the amateur. Copyright by Ross F. George. ANY ambitious amateur who has a movie camera, whether it be small or large, can get a lot of real enjoyment and a profitable education in the art of lettering by making his own titles. There are few hobbies that develop a sense of balance and proportion like the art of titling. The further you ride the more interesting this hobby gets. And for those fortunate enough to possess a camera with which double exposures can be made the possibilities in illustration and atmosphere are limited only by ability, time, or knowledge of the art. We grow by doing and this development is far more important than any immediate results achieved. The practice of lettercraft, involving as it does the fundamental principles of design, trains the eye and the hand into closer harmony and a finer sense of technique, grace and tone quality. No one will discount the importance of these elements in the production of motion picture titles. The value of working into the art titles some of the atmosphere of the Note — The pen styles referred to by the author of this article are various types of Speedball Pens, of ivhich he was the inventor. By Ross F. George picture is emphasized by the importance the big producers place on this side of the art. After a motion picture has been shot, the art staff is called in for its initial run. These title letterers and artists spend several hours in the projection room with the directors working out the art titles. These must radiate the proper feeling and "fit in" or become "^ZOU will find the Art Title Back■* ground on the facing page ideal for your marine films. The lettering is purely suggestive. a part of the picture itself, and nothing is left undone that will enhance their effectiveness. Personally, I get a lot of added enjoyment out of a movie when the titles are cleverly and artistically handled and I notice that the average theatre patron appreciates good titles. We mention this so that the amateur will not underrate the importance of the art side of titling when it is worthy of the same study and execution that the picture received. However, in the preparation of these articles we have tried to keep in mind the limitations and handicaps of the amateur movie producer both in time and in equipment, so we have used only the simplest mediums and methods. In this first article we shall try to confine ourselves to the preparation of the "main" or "lead" title, as it is called. The production of conversational or descriptive titles known as "sub-titles" will be discussed later. Perhaps the first question to get settled is the all important one of tools and materials. The best of these need not be expensive. Any fair-sized slant top desk will do, as this will permit of a free arm movement and result in more graceful lettering. If you do not possess a slant top desk, an old kitchen table will serve the purpose by resting the two back legs on a low box or against the baseboard. An adjustable lettering board can be quickly made by hinging two drawing boards together and using a can or a small box to regulate the slant. Do not tilt up the board too far as this will cause your ink to puddle at the base of the letters. A yard stick Twenty-one