International photographer (Jan-Dec 1934)

January, 1934 The INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPH KR /■;.-, photographing the cartoon step by step continues until the set in a frame for door slams, a barrel swishing against end of the picture. taut canvass furnishes wind noises, an electric fan sounds In the meantime, another department is making the like an airplane, an egg beater like machinery. They have sound effects and music. This is done in a large sound cow moos, dog barks in all pitches, or chick conversation, stage. Here the musicians hover about a microphone. On Everything. TT Original background painting from Mickey's latest "Shanghaied." The cartoons of Mickey Mouse drawn on celluloid are laid over this for photographing. their heads are ear phones bringing to them the ticking sounds of the metronome. Contrary to popular belief, they do not watch the picture on the screen and make sounds accordingly. Instead they follow the cartoon manuscript which designates the sounds for each inch of film. For example, the eighth note of the 326th foot in the picture requires Mickey to say a certain word. The manuscript carries that information. And when the head phones tick off that portion of the film, the person who does Mickey's conversation starts his lines. He must be punctual, too, because if he did not start exactly on time, Mickey would open his mouth to say something and the words would not be heard. Walt, by the way, does the Mickey Mouse conversation. All the sounds that are heard in the cartoon are made in this manner. Usually the incidental sounds are made by devices constructed for the purpose. They have a door When the sounds are recorded, the film is "dubbed" on to the picture part of the cartoon. Now it is ready for a preview. These first showings are famous and are a part of the social life of Hollywood, but they are something more than fun. Here the picture receives close criticism and any part not up to Mickey Mouse's style is marked for the limbo of bad film. As I write this, December 18, information comes to me that Walt Disney is being presented with the medal of "The Parents Magazine" for the greatest contribution to youngsters during the year. The ceremony was a'ttended at the studio by so many that the walls seemed to bulge and one looked to see arms and legs pushed through the windows. Walt received the additional good news that Mrs. Disney had presented him with a baby daughter, "Diane Marie." Now she animates Walt; while he animates Mickey. Three progressive poses of Mickey that would be used to show him lowering his arm. On the right is a sketch which designates the action of the story as made by the cartoon director. EYEMOS GREAT Martin Johnson, noted African explorer, recently purchased a 48-speed Bell & Howell Eyemo camera for making animal movies from airplanes. This brings his Eyemo battery up to seven machines. From Nairobi, British East Africa. Mr. Johnson writes: "The new Eyemo has now arrived and I have already tried it out on the airplane trip from Mombasa to Nairobi with wonderful results. It happened that we passed over many herds of elephants, and I got some fine shots with the new camera." Among his other Eyemos, Mr. Johnson has one with motor and 400-foot magazine, which is also used in air WORK IN AFRICA plane work ; two with special triggers for photographing wild animals automatically ; and three more as accessories to his battery of Bell & Howell standard cameras. The special trigger Eyemos were first used for Mr. Johnson's gorilla shots in the film "Congorilla." The arrangement is such that an animal passing before the camera strikes a string which releases the trigger and starts the film in motion. At the same time a flare is ignited electrically. This permits pictures to be taken automatically at night or in the deepest jungles. Sometimes the camera is set up and left for a week or so before getting the desired pictures, but eventually something worth while is sure to be "shot." Please mention The International Photographer when corresponding with advertisers.