International photographer (Jan-Dec 1934)

January, 1934 The INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER THE NEWSREEL WORLD By Ray Fernstrom As I sit here at the end of another year, I cannot keep from contemplating the newsreel of the future, especially the shooting of news through this medium during 1934. Is the old element of surprise going to return? Is newsreel material going to be more colorfully reproduced on the screen ? That seems to me to be the next logical step in newsreel progress. Sound came and slowed up the coverage of news from both the portability angle and novelty of coverage, with but one or two exceptions. The popularity of Fox Magic Carpets proves that more kinds of news could be shown with pleasant results. As to color in newsreels, look at the success of Walt Disney's Symphonic Shorts. Now that a practical threecolor process is here why not shoot "feature news" in this perfected manner? Think of the added beauty of such old stereotype stories as "Niagara in Winter Garb," "Bavarian Girls in Festivities of Spring," etc. Do not try to tell me it is impractical and pass it off ivith that. It is practical, even if more expensive. More money will have to be spent to pull newsreels out of the doldrums of stereotype. When such nationally read writers as Robert Benchley start to criticise the "down in the rut" run of newsreel coverage it is about time something came to pass. I have just talked to Mr. Ball, of Technicolor, and Ed Estabrook, two excellent authorities on color movies, and have found the following to be facts: 1. Color can be shot on a single system newsreel recording outfit just as at present. 2. Any newsreel cameraman can shoot three color pictures. / hree The "Three Musketeers" of the newsreels at the PanAmerican Railways. Left to right: )oe Gibson (Universal), Mrs. Gibson; James Pergola (Fox) and James "Buck" Buchanan of Paramount. Pergola and Buchanan are ready to take off for the firing lines of Cuba, while Gibson remains behind convalescing from his recent Havana experience. 3. No trouble of any kind will be experienced in splitting the beams of light. 4. Prints can be knocked out as fast as black and white. If that isn't food for thought? What is News? Look at your daily paper. It is a NEWS-paper, yet what do you find ? Articles on cooking, articles on care of children, advice to the lovelorn, travel articles, music news, etc. Doesn't that indicate that newsreels could spread out much more in coverage of interesting happenings throughout the world ? The fact that newspapers feature the personalities that "write up" the news indicates that people would be interested in the men that shoot the newsreels. Why not feature a trip made by Geiskop or Alexander or Oliver, on tour to various and out-of-the-way corners of the globe, letting each cameraman throw his personality into each story. Each will give his personal angle on coverage, manner of build-up and supply his own voice in many instances. Almost anywhere in the world laboratories are to be found. Let the boys shoot a wide range of subjects, finish them alone after their own ideas and let them mail in the finished film. I'll just bet you would see a world of excellent entertainment filled with the surprises always found OFF THE BEATEN PATH. Some day we will have a new kind of newsreel instead of five newsreels practically all alike. What would happen if news-stands sold newspapers and magazines all ALIKE in coverage, personalities and subjects? What are the differences in various newspapers published in your town ? Personalities, who write the news, I'll wager. Yes, there are a couple of personalities talking in the newsreels and these boys stand out and make those reels better. But no newspaper personality writes the entire paper ; why should one name talk an entire newsreel? Tt is granted, and an accepted fact that newsreels are a most popular feature of every movie program, but are the newsreels holding their fans as they should? No! The Silly Symphonies, the Magic Carpets are cutting into that popularity more each day. Shorts are getting better, but are the newsreels? Look at several issues of any newsreel made at various times during the last six years or more and I'll foretell that you will get a surprise as you look back. I tell you the newsreels have been standing still while other shorts have been going ahead rapidly adding novelty, surprise and applied elementary psychology. With but little effort our newsreels of tomorrow can be here today or at least 1934. A very prosperous New Year to you all. May you make the best of every opportunity and if none come knocking at your door, go out and get them. Then all your New Years will be happy. The Old Swede, RAY FERNSTROM. Please mention The International Photographer when corresponding with advertisers.