International photographer (Feb-Dec 1929)

Twenty The INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER December, 1929 The Still Camera in ^ACotion Pictures -BY A motion picture salesman left his branch office. Under his arm was a small package, neatly tied. In his brief case were contracts to which he hoped to secure the signatures of exhibitors in favor of his great producing o r g a n i zation in Hollywood. A few h o u r s later he alighted f r o m a train in a fairsize city capable of supporting a number of talking picture theatres. He held his precious package tightly under his arm, as he made his way to the leading theatre. He entered the office of the manager to d i s cover that important individual in the sanctum of his inner office, an eight by eight affair with a small desk upon which were firmly planted his comfortably sized feet. The manager was deeply engrossed in a multi-p age trade publication b r i 1 liantly bedecked with brightly colored "ads" heralding the latest products of Holly wood's studios, stellar talent, direct o r i a 1 genius and story creations. They exchanged greetings and made casual r e m a r k s about the weather. The film salesman opened the small package that he carried ten d e r I y under his arm. One by one he showed the theatre man still pictures — not a few, but a hundred — still photographs of a great production, filmed and recorded by a great and resourceful company that was his own organization. He showed the manager great stars, stupendous sets, huge scenes, thrilling action, gorgeous effects. He showed him GEORGE BARR BROWN thousands of "extras" and completely illustrated a great talking motion picture with a splendid series of still pictures— beautifully photographed, artistic .//; artistit </ charming composite conceived and executed by Buddy Longworth. Marillyn Miller is the girl. ally composed, and intelligently staged. The exhibitor pondered. He fingered through the still pictures. He thought of the illustrated trade paper he had been reading when the salesman entered. He visioned the lobby displays. He thought of the town plastered with billboards, twenty-four sheets, six sheets, three sheets, and one sheets. He thought of the daily newspapers with attractive two column cuts. He visualized a series of pictures in any number of publications. A little later the salesman left the fair city, the package of stills under his arm carried more carefully than ever. In his brief case were the contracts, signed by the theatre manager. He had sold a motion picture with still pictures alone. Such is the importance of the still man and his eight by ten camera in the cinema industry! Far removed from the locality of the theatre mentioned, the still man plies his trade in Hollywood. No matter how huge the setting; how difficult the angle; how much he is handieppade he is there with his still camera as a vita! factor in the motion picture industry of today. He is far above the stage, catching a difficult shot of the director and technicians as well as the actors. Next he is on the set shooting intimate studies of Holly wood's greatest stars in lovely gowns of newest mode. I n addition t o photographing an entire motion picture in a series of still photographs, the still man illustrates the making of a motion picture. He shows interesting points during production; hazardous and humorous moments on location or at the studio are carefully pictured, (Continued on Paare 27)