American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1926)

August, 1926 AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER Twenty-three JXexo Photographic Process is Launched Two Negatives Filmed at Once But Record Embodied in Single Negative. <JNo Duplicates It Claim that Studio Shots May Be Incorporated with Any Background. ^ Shadows Shown D ETAILS of the system of cinematography, known as the "Handschiegl Process," were announced this month by Max Handschiegl, inventor, and Ray Smallwood, well known director, who has acquired production rights to the process. By means of the Handschiegl system, which is covered by a number of patents the first of which was filed in January, 1923, action taken in a studio in Hollywood can be made to appear naturally against a background photographed any place in the world. Results Shown In a series of preliminary tests illustrating the possibilities of the process, which is already being put to use in professional production, a shot of an actress in Hollywood is identically carried through a long range of backgrounds, running through forest fires, scenes in the South American mountain country, European village scenes, etc. Dissolves These various backgrounds follow each other in regular sequence as well as dissolving from one to the other. Stock Shots All of the backgrounds in question were ordinary "stock" shots and were not made with the particular use in view to which they were put. The process was also applied to still picture backgrounds, such stills being used as those from "Camille" with Nazimova and Valentino appearing therein. Production Cost Reduction The process is advocated by its sponsors as reducing production costs to a major degree. According to Handschiegl, stock shots may be utilized to the extent, for instance, of using formal ballroom scenes and, by introducing new and atmospheric action in the foreground or wherever needed, converting them into a carbaret sequence. It is also claimed that characters photographed by the process in Hollywood can be made, on the screen, to walk among the crowds at Fifth avenue and Broadway, New York City, or in a similarly difficult location. Shadows Shown "air-cushion" effect to their treading on the ground. This is due in a great degree, it is said, to the fact that natural shadows fall from the players no matter what is the background against which they are appearing. Ordinary Projection No special type of projection is required for the invention, ordinary projection methods sufficing. Technical Facts The technical description of the process is as follows : Mask Made The characters and action in question are shot on two negatives against a blue or a black background. A mask is made by the special development of one of the negatives. By employing suitable filters, the mask negative is made white and the other negative is made black. Single Negative When the mask has been made, an optical printing machine is brought in use; by this means the developed negative is placed in front of the other negative which, though undeveloped, has the same image; and the undeveloped picture is thereby masked with the developed negative. Whereupon any background may be photographed around the latent image — these backgrounds including stock shots, still pictures, oil paintings, miniatures, etc., thereby putting all the completed work on the original negative. In other words, no "dupe" film is used, but the entire record is embodied in the single negative. One Operation The camera which takes the two negatives is of Handschiegl's own device. The two negatives are both taken in perfect registration, and in the same operation. Handschiegl is a prominent inventor in motion picture circles. -lis creations include A feature of the process is the naturalness color methods, and various types of machinwith which the characters walk. There is no ery for motion picture use.