Amateur Cine World (June 1934)

Dramatzin 2 NATURE A film with Nature as the leading player can be as exciting as any thriller. such a film that will hold the attention of your audience and play upon their Just how to do it is explained emotions, offers an interesting exercise in film technique. in this interesting article. NE of the most delicate and beautiful subjects to apply to the medium of the cinema is Nature. Such a film can be created by anyone truly inter ested in beauty and using a certain amount of thought. A scenario of some sort should be composed before starting work on the film. A completed version, however, is not imperative, or even always practical, to the amateur who has little time at his disposal. The scenario should be more in the form of a general theme, with notes of importance inserted where required. Demonstrating Force Cinematically. In a recent film I wanted to create the impression of the power of the sea during a storm. Realising that one of the best methods of demonstrating force in cinematic terms is by repetition, I inserted a number of similar shots of water crashing between two rocks, first from one position, then from another, in quick succession. The original scenario to which I worked contained the following note :—‘‘ Cut repetitive shots in quick succession of sea crashing between rocks.’’ Although this may be looked upon as only a rough note, it is in itself a miniature scenario. How to Plan and Film Scenics By PAUL BURNFORD Dramatic effect of some sort must be aimed at, as a mere sequence of shots in irregular order, no matter how good, do not make a film. This can only be achieved if you have a preconceived idea of what to photograph. So set down your ideas on paper first. The importance of making notes beforehand cannot be too _ strongly emphasized. It is most uhlikely that such an idea of repeating shots to emphasise force would occur to one at the time of taking the picture, but by recording the ideas first one can concentrate one’s efforts on the photographic side entirely. An Effective Method. An effective method of creating a film having Nature as the theme is to start with shorts illustrating complete calm and peace, progressing gradually to a storm and then subsiding to calm and quietness. The storm at its height should occur about two thirds through the film. The reaction of the audience is first to admire Nature in its calm serenity, gradually thrill as the storm works up to its climax, calming down gradually as the film draws toa close It is as well to remember that the most unassuming of objects can play a vital part in a dramatised scenic. Take, for example, a method I utilised to show the force of rain during a storm. Merely to photograph rain pouring down in torrents, no matter how impressive to the eye, will not convey the idea of force. But by inserting at intervals a number of close-ups of raindrops beating on a small pool of water in such a manner that they fill a large proportion of the screen, an impression of tremendous dramatic vigour is created. This can probably be accounted for by the fact that all real tangible Making This, and the two photographs on the next page, are actual stills, untouched, from the author’s prizewinning film ‘“* Symphony of Nature.” objects have three dimensions, whilst THE AUTHOR pictures of them won a joint first award in the recent ‘* Sunday Referee ’’ National Amateur Film Contest for his remarkable film “Symphony of Nature.”’ The first part of it was arranged to synchronise roughly with ‘‘ Morning’”’ from Grieg’s “ Peer Gynt’’ Suite. In this article he gives many valuable hints on filming scenics, based on his experience in making ‘‘ Symphony of Nature.” projected on a flat surface have only two. We have to compensate for this lack 120