Motography (Apr-Dec 1911)

May, 1911. MOTOGRAPHY 69 Recording a Famous Lecture to the Deaf By Willard Howe Profe ■or Gallaudet Deliverin ure Before ONE of the essential characteristics o i the motion picture has always seemed to be its lack of words, its inability to talk. The salient difference between the photoplay and the regular drama is an absence of dialog. The "silent drama" has become a synonym for the motion picture play. Every art has its limitations, and the chief limitation of the motion picture is its inability to convey thought in the form of words o"r language to its spectators. That is, it has always seemed to. Now we find, however, that the motion picture is sought out by a certain class of people as the only means whereby their language can be recorded. This is the sign language, by means of which the deaf converse. What the phonograph is to those who can hear, the motograph is to the deaf — a permanent record of thought expression. The sign language has never had a means of permanent record, and consequently no fixed form. It varies with each individual, and in different sections of the country dialectic peculiarities have been unconsciously evolved, as in other languages. The need of overcoming this difficulty led to experimentation with the motion picture medium, as it was foreseen that a series of sign addresses and lectures thrown upon the screen successively in every section of the country before thousands of deaf-mutes and always in the same unvarying form, would serve to give a uniformity and stability to the language such as it had never enjoyed before. The first experiments in this direction received a demonstration at the Buffalo Exposition. It was attempted to reproduce in the sign language such pieces as the Lord's Prayer and "Nearer My God to Thee" by means of the cinematograph ; but the effort proved unsuccessful owing to the imperfect projection of those days. It was not until about two years ago that interest in the matter was revived, under the instigation of George W. Veditz, then editor of the Deaf American, who believed that perfected methods of motion picture operation evolved during the intervening years, would lead to more satisfactory results. The National Association of the deaf took up the movement and appointed a committee with representation in every state to raise a fund to take motion pictures of sermons, addresses and lectures in the sign language by the leading masters of the medium. This fund has already passed the $5,000 mark, and it is proposed to raise $15,000 more to set aside as an endowment fund for the use of the association. An interesting feature, indicating the wide enthusiasm stirred by the movement, is that all the contributions are in small sums ranging from a penny to five dollars. The films will serve a two-fold purpose. In the : ^Hjfl^^n 1? \ xPk^v^ . -~-S .— 1 t3I i . ,- g His "Lorna Doone the Deaf. Lect first place they will give uniformity to the language, as explained above. Secondly, the addresses themselves will serve an instructive and entertaining purpose ; for the deaf, shut off from all spoken discourse, will find in the lectures a pleasure that has long been denied them. The films will thus be educational in a double sense and also, entertaining. The enthusiasm already aroused gives grounds for predicting that in time the deaf-mute associations and clubs in every large city will each have their projecting outfit and give these sign language films at regular intervals. The first film resulting from the new movement is a "silent" lecture on Lorna Doone and the county of Devonshire wherein the famous novel has its setting. The lecturer is Prof. E. M. Gallaudet, of Washington, director of Kendall Green, the only college for the deaf and dumb in the world. He tells, in the language of signs, about his journey through the Lorna Doone country, describing the people, the customs and the buildings in a thoroughly interesting manner. At an exhibition of this film before the inmates of Kendall Green, an appreciative demonstration followed, leaving no doubt as to the educational and entertaining qualities of the film. True, the picture is limited to deaf and dumb institutions ; but it offers to our "silent friends" an exceptional opportunity of enjoying a lecture in a language they can understand. Before them stands Prof. Gallaudet, picturing his enjoyable trip in perfect sign words. Every school for the deaf and dumb should give its inmates the pleasure of viewing this lecture. The film is said to be a success from the photographic standpoint. The work was done by S. G. Boernstein of the Capitol Film Company, Washington, D. C. Knowing something of the signs of the deaf mutes himself, the photographer was able to calculate the speed at which to turn his machine. In order not to miss any of the small fingerings, and at the same time not blur the arm movements, Manager Boernstein called into play all the niceties of his skill. As a result, the film renders the lecturer's motions clearly and comprehensibly. Dr. Gallaudet is the only surviving son of the founder of Amercian deaf-mute education, and he is recognized as the greatest living, master of the sign language. Fifty years hence this film will be as priceless to the deaf of that day as would be a phonograph record today to the English-speaking race of Washington's farewell address or Webster's Plymouth oration, were we so fortunate as to possess them. There are a few films in existence specially prepared for the deaf, which antedate the Lorna Doone