International photographer (Jan-Dec 1934)

Twelve Th INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER November, 1934 Glass, Miniature and Projection Combined By Paul R. Harmer Notre Dame — Daylight Notre Dame — Night NE of the finest process shots made in recent months was engineered by the R.K.O. Process department, headed by Vernon Walker. He was assisted by Don Jahraus, Billy Williams and Maurice Larringa, in a recent production entitled "Behold, We Live," starring Clive Brook and Irene Dunne. This process shot is outstanding for two reasons: first, because of the various combinations and mechanics ; second, because the job was excellently done. The script called for a long shot of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, a section of a bridge over the River Seine in the foreground and a light change from night to full daylight illumination, all in 100 feet of film. Offhand, one might say "just another trick shot, but if one will only stop and consider the intricacies of matching a glass, a miniature set and a projected background in addition to a light change, all in one shot with no cutaway, and all of this used again as a projected background for another shot, with people in the foreground, the real difficulties become apparent to the initiate. The roof of the cathedral was painted with translucent paint, which gave the slate shingles a sheen. The clouds in the background overlapped each other and were blended just enough to give them a natural roundness with perspective. A little back light on the water gave it the necessary life to make it sparkle. The automobiles traveling over the distant bridges were lighted with the small wires which pulled them along. In Fig. 1 and 2 we have the plan and elevation of the set-up. In Fig. 3 and 4 we have the lens view of the glass and miniature, showing distinctly the matte line. The background is projected clouds, so is not shown separately. Numeral 1 is a 35 mm. lens; 2 is an 8 by 10 foot optical plate glass in a rigid frame ; 3 is water ; 4 is the miniature set shown in Fig. 4 ; 5 is 36-inch carbon spotlights, spread to a wide angle and throwing their light on the back drop ; 6 is a transparent cellophane sheet fastened on a rigid wooden frame. This cellophane is painted with clouds. Number 7 is an electric motor geared to move the cellophane screen along horizontally at steady speed ; 8 is a transparent cellophane roller curtain, the paint fading from transparent to opaque. This dimmer curtain is geared to motor 9 ; the lights used for illum SPLICER FOR 8 MM. MOVIE FILMS, ALSO 16 MM. SOUND AND SILENT FILMS Bell & Howell announces a new splicer that handles all sub-standard motion picture film — 16 mm. silent, 16 mm. sound, and 8 mm. — with equally good results and no alteration of mechanism. This splicer, which is called the B Si H Triple-Purpose Splicer, is unusually easy to operate efficiently. It will certainly be a good friend of the home film editor, as well as being ideal for doctors, schools, industrial concerns and other large users of sub-standard films. A major feature is the arrangement for convenient application of the cement without the bother of lifting the non-scraped film end. Cement is applied merely to the upper film surface. Then a touch of the new automatic film shifter quickly flips the films to correct splicing position as the clamp is closed. The pilot pins are retractible, allowing instant and easy removal of the film without possibility of injury to the perforations. The splicer has an attractive metal base which maintains the pilot pins in especially accurate register, even under conditions of extremely hard usage or rough handling. The glass of the cement bottles is completely enclosed and protected. CATALOC OF FREE LOAN FILMS The Bell Si Howell Company has just compiled a very valuable catalog telling where 16 mm. silent films dealing with geography, travel, and natural resources can be secured on a free loan basis. The catalog consists of 40 mimeographed pages, %l/2 by 1 1 inches in size, and these pages are crowded with the names and descriptions of films of excellent interest value. Also listed are the names of firms and other organizations furnishing the films. Here are some of the subjects taken at random : Cairo to Capetown, Roving the Mediterranean, Through the Norway of America, Communing with the Heavens, Policing the Arctic, Seeing London Town, The Highlights of Scotland, Our Daily Bread, Girdling the Globe, Romantic Mexico, Sulphur, Oxygen the Wonder Worker, Wings of the Fleet. Owners of 16 mm. movie projectors will find this catalog of great service. Copies will be mailed on request by Bell Si Howell Company, 1801 Larchmont Avenue, Chicago. SHORTS NEEDED Jayant Desai, director of Ranjit Film Company, Bombay, India, is urging that shorter films are needed in India. At present, says Mr. Desai, the average footage for pictures in India is fourteen to sixteen reels and sometimes twenty to twenty-five songs are included in the working script. MITCHELL IN INDIA Cables from Bombay, India, announce that Mr. Charles H. Christie, vice-president of the Mitchell Camera Corporation, recently addressed a large audience of Indian producers on the subject, "Film Production in America and the Orient." The meeting was held under the auspices of the Motion Picture Society of India. The distinguished Mitchell representative created a most favorable impression upon the Indian producers. Please mention The International Photographer when corresponding with advertisers.