Movie Makers (Jan-May 1928)

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The VIEWFINDER A Department for Our Guidance by Our Readers This Is Hot and Heavy! I AM prompted to write on receipt of the November number. To tell you the honest truth, I am getting darned tired of the magazine. Look at that cover. I never would buy at a news stand any magazine with such a nightmare of a cover. Next: I read one page and "Continued on page 64." That is about as far as I get with an article. Most of them not so far and many not past the title. I know this is a common fault with "common magazines." but I am growing increasingly disgusted with the practice, especially since a number of better periodicals have stopped the practice and read right through like a book. At least three of the periodicals — come to think of it, I can remember at least six — I take either never had or have discontinued the practice and are greatly improved for it. I like to read the ads but not when hunting for or reading the tail end of an article. Often I glance over the ads first and that would be more convenient if they were all together in the back pages. I think hobbyists all do about the same. "And that brings me to the next grouch. The ads are all catering to the beginner or at least to the 16 m.m. user. I know they are in the vast majority, but some of us have long outgrown 16 m.m. We may come back when 16 m.m. negatives and printing become well established and the cameras more versatile. Today I saw one of the new cameras and was almost tempted to buy one. Haven't time to use it though, just now. Then our magazine caters almost entirely to "Amateur Movie Makers" and not to KlNEMATOGRAPHERS. Well, I suppose that is what it was started for. But I don't care "what the cat brought in" for Amateur Fummadiddles. Looks as if I got into the wrong pew. "Lastly, we waste too much space tooting our own horn as a magazine and a society. If we can't have a normal healthy growth without such a racket, we'd better quit trying to grow and admit we are grown up already."— Paul Franklin Johnson, League member, Altadena, Calif.) We recognize that tastes in covers naturally vary. However, we find more enthusiastic comments in favor Seventy-jour Amateur Movie Makers is your magazine. We want it to intimately reflect your wishes, and to fulfill your thought of what the magazine of the world's cine amateurs should be. This department has been instituted to provide a clearing house for ideas, to guide us in fulfilling the needs of our readers, and to provide a stage for discussion between amateurs. It is our sincere hope that many constructive criticisms will be directed to this department. Address THE VIEWFINDER, Amateur Movie Makers, 105 W. 4Qth St.. New York, N. Y. H SCHOO C£s>-Lua<*y & . SUK t, A tt> L«f a_ /ho[j A xt\ /J at" /77tSlrLU*ii, WW ULO Art*. /jOU. Wsn\ . Wsndti 0(a*d A. "JUST A NOTE" But It Exemplifies the Interest of Young America, Whether Sixteen or Sixty, in This New International Sport of our covers than protests. There are several very practical reasons for carrying over articles, and this publishing practice is followed by the largest and most popular magazines. In answer to a considerable demand Amateur Movie Makers has begun to publish regularly a series of articles especially designed to interest the advanced amateur, which we hope will serve you experienced cinematographers, although the majority of our articles must continue to serve the average amateur who is in the vast majority. We have declared a moratorium on tooting our own horn as our particular New Year's resolution. Lastly, let us have more genuinely sincere letters like this from others of our members and readers. We want them and need them. The Other Side "T CAN only find one fault with the •*• magazine, and that is they are too small, because when I get them I do not let them go until I have read everything in them, even to the ads. I think your magazine is the very best thing that could be put out, and here is hoping it will last forever." — R. Hodgkins, Los Angeles, Cal. Thanks. From an Authority YOUR magazine occupies a prominent place in our library and is being read by a large number of our members. Incidentally, we want to congratulate you upon its makeup and upon its quality." — Karl A. Baumgaertel, President California Camera Club and Editor Camera Craft. From Abroad YOU will be interested to know that I have purchased about four hundred and sixty dollars worth of accessories and finished films from a number of concerns since I have been abroad for the past six months. Every dollar's worth was purchased because of their advertisements which appeared in Amateur Movie Makers, my only means of getting the latest news of the industry's progress." Leo E. Levy, Antibes, France. Requests HERE are a few items I'd like to see some dope on in the magazine: How to get moon light effects in movies, with exact data on stops, light conditions, etc., and actual photographs to illustrate the various types of moonlight effect pictures that can be made; how much makeup and what sort has been found advisable for amateur production casts; technical articles on color filters of various sorts, when and how to use them and how to figure stops to be used with them." — R. K. Winans, Springfield, Mass. Articles on night movies and color filters appeared in December Amateur Movie Makers shortly after your letter was written. The article on makeup is in type and will appear shortly. Glad our thought was in harmony with your needs.