International photographer (Jan-Dec 1934)

Thtrty-iwo Th INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER November, 1934 8o-eigEii3 =Ost©LF&cu$ Earl Theisen Pinch-Hitting for Charles P. Boyle (Otto Phocus From the R. K. O. Studio comes the announcement that a mile of track has been laid in order to carry the camera for traveling shots. The "dolly" used on this track will follow the principals in filming "West of the Pecos." This is something of a record and may serve to introduce the use of the dramatic device wherein both the action of the story and the narrative dialogue progress simultaneously. Ordinarily the camera is limited to recording the action of the sets and to short traveling shots made by using a gigantic crane on which the camera is anchored. This of course limits the scope of the camera to the set in such scenes where dialogue must be illustrated by traveling action. The actor can not say he is going somewhere in a taxi. He must be shown in the taxi delivering the necessary dialogue. Until now it was possible to show traveling auto shots, airplane, train, or boat scenes by process shots, but when the actor had to walk in a park or through a castle, the camera has not been able to follow the action of the players in a long unbroken thought or screen impression. The producer-director combination of Jesse L. Lasky and James Cruze, famed a decade ago for such hits as "The Covered Wagon," "Old Ironsides," and other epics has been reunited for the production of another big film. It is "Helldorado," a story of a modern band of travelers marooned in an abandoned California Ghost Town. Frank Melton, who himself claims to be Studio Pest Number One, has a prominent part in will Rogers' "The County Chairman." It is Melton's boast that: "I've got these producers now so they write in roles for me without my having to pester 'em about it. This, (Melton tells anyone who will listen), is the first role I've ever got without having to stage an annoyance campaign." I asked Wally Clendenin about things connected with the industry. He told me, but I can't spell the words. Every time I see a bicycle zip past on the Paramount studio lot I know it is a writer on his way to a distant set to fix a dialogue. In the Hal Roach "Babes in Toyland" set 7,000 pounds of nails, 240,000 square feet of wall board, 192,000 pounds of plaster, 1,700 gallons of paint, etc., were used. It required 2,952,000 watts an hour to illuminate this elaborate Mother Goose setting. I wonder are the "interests" back of the recent cleanup of films satisfied? It is most certain the current films are as harmless as a pink tea party — and just about as entertaining. When the old stand-by theme was taboo the picture makers had to learn some new lessons. I do not refer to "Peck's Bad Boy." Have you noticed some of the recent Max Fleisher cartoons? Pretty good, eh! While the film industry has the jitters over the Fox sound patent situation, nothing much will come of it in the sense that the box office will be affected. As far as the box office is concerned only so many dollars can „,, . , . , T, .... , come and go. What is a stand-in r 1 he stand-in is the person who stands in the set while the technical arrangements are made for the filming of the scene. While the stand-in walks through the set the lights are arranged for proper balance, camera angles, and a few of the other thousand details are organized. This is to permit the star to rest, to study lines, and to generally prepare for the forthcoming shot. All stars must have a stand-in so as to be ready to "sparkle" for the lens. Many, many, persons would like a stand-in with the stand-ins because they are close to the things that be in Hollywood. Even Joe Penner's duck has a stand-in. Joe's duck, "Goo-Goo," went for the Hollywood atmosphere like a water pond, but the lights beating down on the set Hollywood is now generally considered the third gave him the quacks. So while he now wanders around most important news-center of the United States and between scenes on the Paramount Studio grass, a wooden one of the ten hottest news centers of the world. Only duck made by the prop department absorbs the heat of ten years ago Hollywood was covered by a handful of the lights on the sets. reporters — now more than 250 columnists cover the film Shirley Temple has a stand-in, too! She is Marilyn capital daily with dispatches that echo around the world. and is just about as cute as Shirley. Jake, my pedi greed Swiss Cheese hound, couldn't decide which of the One day recently a horse took a bite of Francis two he liked best. By the way, Jake looks down his Lederer's pectoral epidermis. It is claimed the horse nose at the other neighborhood dogs since "Shirley Dear," was trying to get a carrot which Lederer was trying to as she is known on the sets, gave him an ice-cream conceal. cone. Not only did she give him the cone, she also broke the cone apart so Jake could get the cream at the bot |t cosfs Qn| $] QQ fQ own a of Fred torn. In the meantime Dave Butler, who was filming ' T »...#**■.■» a »■■•nir n^/^i/ Shirley in "Bright Eyes," was patiently trying to get the Westerberg S CI NEMATOCRAPHER S BOOK filming done. Until Jake met Shirley he was a one OF TABLES. man dog, now he is a one-man and a girl dog. Please mention The International Photographer when corresponding with advertisers. The best comedies are the newsreel election interviews. Do we audiences have to pay for that? Let us form our own conclusions.