Movie Makers (Jan-Dec 1930)

itlO^m^IE Itl/«.M^EIC9 tions. The greatest care was taken in editing the film and the number of splices is said very nearly to equal that of the Russian films. The award for the best scenic was given to A. D. Hobson of Sheffield for his film, Italian Lake Vistas. Standfest, produced by Basil Wright of the Film Guild, took first prize in the travelogue section. Highland Games, by T. J. Wilson of the A.C.A., and Hunger Marchers, by H. J. Marshall of the Film Guild, tied for first place as the best news or topical films. Clarence Gladwell won the award for the best title backgrounds and the best production still submitted was by H. J. Marshall. The November and December programs of the A.C.A. in London included the projection of Another Touch, filmed by W. V. Brice, T. J. Wilson and F. Hartley; a half -hour talk for beginners: a discussion of incandescent lighting; group experiments in synchronizing music with fihns; an address. The Fundamentals of Cinematography, and the screening of members' films. The Association meets every ^^ ednesday. At its last meeting the Sheffield A. C. A. projected two films produced by the Bristol Amateur Film Society, A Trip Around Bristol and Queer Island. Her Suited Suitor, the latest Sheffield pro: duction. has recently been completed and screened. ADVENTURES IN FILMLAND (Continued from page 21) well. As for scenic pictures, don't be content to shoot a few disconnected lantern slides. The scenery must be somewhere: you have to arrive there and get home again. Show the start and return and include a few street or road signs to place the scenery. Speaking of titles, there is a place in nearly every film for them and possibility in each film for editing besides. When you can't think of anytliing else to take, why not suggest to your bridge club that a little amateur producing group be formed? There will be plenty of fun and the baby and the doa; will set a well earned rest. AIDS FOR THE AMATEUR {Continued from page 36) almost instantaneous success of this idea, !Mr. Gulph is now experimenting to obtain an elastic glass. A compression flange will be used to bulge the curvature into the widest angled lens possible, the degree of compression determining the angle. Another important contribution to the crying needs of the cinema is made by Quintius C. Citrus. It will be a boon to those camerists who, in the excitement of picture-making, fail to watch the film meter. Before insertion in the camera, the film is unwound in the dark-room and a perforation is made ten feet from the end of the reel. It is then rewound and placed in the camera, as usual. When the film is nearly exhausted the perforation engages a trigger which discharges a blank cartridge as a warning. If desired, a second perforation may be made on the last frame, which will discharge a ball cartridge. In an exhaustive series of tests, Mr. Citrus has demonstrated that even the most absent-minded operator does not require more than three bullets to remind him to watch his indicator. Something that will appeal to the lover of nature is the carrying case recently perfected by Pseudonym .T. Blatz, and which bears his name. Nothing is more delightful than a day in the country with a camera, but, with a dozen different pieces of impedimenta, it is almost impossible to get back home with the collection intact. Mr. Blatz lost three lenses, a tripod, seven lunch boxes and a pocket flask perfecting this carry-all case. It is considerably larger than the usual case but it has room not only for the camera and its tripod but is provided with a compartment for nine extra lenses, a thousand feet of film, a panoram top and a complete lunch kit containing a thermos bottle, a pocket flask, sandwich box, cigar humidor, cigarette case, patented lighter three each of knives, forks and spoons, cups and plates, a coffee pot, an alcohol stove and a first aid kit. One side of the case is padded, so that it may be used for a cushion at lunch time: the other side is marked with a checker board, a faro or roulette layout, according to preference. The purchaser is also given an option between a thermos bottle or a flask. While not strictly an aid to cinematography, no record would be complete without mention of Mrs. Birdie G. Zebulon's baby jumper. This consists of a baby chair suspended by stout steel ■(vires from a coiled spring. The upper end of the spring terminates in a plug \s"hicli just passes through the screwhole of a tripod top, being secured on the upper side by a wing nut. The device is to be attached to the tripod when not otherwise in use, and ]\lrs. Zebulon asserts that, if the spikes are properly sharpened, the device will not slip even on the most highly polished hardwood floors. It has proven so useful in the Zebulon nursery that !\Ir. Zebulon has had to buy another tripod for his own use. [iS'ote. The publishers desire to announce that the address of these inventors will not be supplied to inquirers, even jvhen a return envelope is enclosed.^ Good Pictures Are Steady Pictures One of the first lessons the amateur learns is that he must hold the camera steady to eliminate "body weave." It is no wonder the professionals make it an iron clad rule to always mount their camera on a tripod. Steady^ — the Thalhammer Way The Tripod is made especially for home cameras and projectors. It is light in weight but perfectly rigid. It may be set up easily and is beautiful in appearance. A twist of the wrist and the Pano-Tilt handle locks the camera at any angle. A flip of the thumb allows a full, smooth panorama swing. If your dealer is unable to supply you with a Pano-Tilt. have him write to JHE COF1.POB.ATION 123 South Fremont Avenue LOS ANGELES CALIF 63