Movie Makers (Jan-Dec 1930)

:B/»,wiu/».»eY asso Inside Stuff EXCELLENT soft effects, especially in closeups, may be secured by using the diffuser in conjunction with the interior lighting unit. Such an accessory usually takes the form of a disc or curtain of gauze, placed immediately in front of the reflector. A good diffuser may be made of tracing linen held in a frame. But, when using practically any type of diffuser, it must be remembered that a certain amount of light is absorbed or held back and the exposure should be increased accordingly. ^ The best way to judge the correct exposure for the scene illuminated by artificial light is to consult a dependable exposure meter, preferably of the visual type. In a closeup, take a reading from the shadow side of the subject; in a long shot, take the scene as a whole into consideration. When shooting the scene on panchromatic film, set the diaphragm directly according to the meter reading; when using ordinary o r orthochromatic film, open the diaphragm one full stop number over that indicated by the meter. This rule applies in all cases except when using the white flame carbon arc. ^ The arc lamp with "panchromatic carbons," used in conjunction with panchromatic film, gives an excellent black-and-white screen rendition of color values when used for brilliant indoor costumes and sets. THE CLINIC By Russell C. HoJslag ^ In lighting or "striking" the small home cinema arc lamp, be particularly careful not to hold the carbons in contact more than an instant. It is necessary only that they touch and be quickly separated in order to form the arc properly. ^ Do not try to illuminate too large a background area in any home lighting set. Rather, use the available light for the illumination of your subjects and their movements, since this, after all, is the important thing and is good cinema besides. ^ It is most preferable to draw current for your lighting units via the baseboard plug. These units consume a heavier current than does the ordinary household lamp or appliance and this current should not be passed through the lighter attachment wires sometimes provided for bridge or desk lamp connections. It is better to use only the extension cord which comes with the actual unit, with no additions. Connect the unit as close to the main house wiring supply as possible. ^ It is both unnecessary and undesir the lighting units — undesirable because the life of the high power lamp is shortened without serving any purpose. ^ In taking your interior lighting outfit to your friend's home for a motion picture set-up, it is always a good idea to take several spare fuses along, preferably rated at twenty or twenty-five amperes. Not that you will necessarily blow the fuses, but it will be found that sometimes the capacity of the fuses in an unknown locality will not be sufficient to carry the current load of the lamps. It is not advisable to "load" average house circuits with fuses of amperage higher than twenty-five or thirty. Color Film Enlargement A N enthusias "HELLO EVERYBODY!" This Young Man Is Smiling From An Enlargement Of A Frame Of Kodacolor Film How It Was Done Is Told At Right. able to burn the lamps of the lighting units during the preparation of the scene — unnecessary because lighting effects may be judged by placing ordinary low-power incandescent lamps near color, Jesse C. Dean, Jr., of Memphis, Tenn., has some excellent Kodacolor footage to exhibit as a proof of his ability as a color cinematographer. His work is done in a broad and simple style in order to make the most of the color composition rather than to introduce subject detail. In this way he gets some particularly happy effects, especially on closeups, and that he knows his medium is evidenced by a recent example of an interior shot of this nature. Mr. Dean did not hesitate to try new methods; instead of heeding the admonition that these pictures are best made out of doors in bright sunlight, he posed his subject by an open window 22