American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1926)

Ten AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER December, 1926 Amateur Cinematography A Simple Hints to Aid the Amateur Proper Cataloging Prevents By Hamilton Riddel Confusion and Assembles Sub WHEN buying a motion picture outfit by all means purchase a suitable screen. Few amateurs realize how important a screen is for the successful projection of their movies, and are satisfied to project their pictures on a curtain, wall, or what not; this means of showing films is very poor and most times unsatisfactory. A proper motion picture screen increases the brilliancy of a projected film, has no annoying mass of creases, and properly "frames" your projected pictures. Home-Made Screens Many amateurs attempt to make their own screens, and of course this is possible; but it is far better to buy a screen, for you have the assurance of a perfect reflecting surface which is an art to duplicate. There are many good screens on the market, and in various sizes so that it is easy to find the one that is most suited to your special use and size of projected picture. Count it a good investment, and buy a screen; you will be surprised and pleased with the results it will give you. Proper Mailing MAILING your exposed roll of film should have your proper attention. The writer has seen many rolls of film sent to the finishing laboratories packed most carelessly. It can not be too emphatically stated that the exposed roll of film must be encased within the metal container supplied with the film when purchased. Next, put the metal container in the little yellow carton, and print your name and address on it. Be s.ure that such notation is legible, as it's the one and only means for the laboratory to identify your film; naturally you should be as interested in this detail as the laboratory ; that is, if you care anything about seeing your film again. Utilizing Box The writer has found that the cardboard box, in which developed films are returned from the laboratory, may serve quite well as an additional container for sending your film to the laboratory to be developed. Place the yellow carton in the cardboard box after having removed the old address label and cancelled stamp; then paste a new label on the card jects under Kindred Heads board box, properly addressed to the nearest finishing laboratory, and securely tie the box with the string. Do not seal the box in any way as this is against postal regulations for parcel post packages. Only when sending your film by first class mail is it permissible to seal the package. By packing your film in the manner described above you can rest assured that it will reach the finishing laboratory in good condition. If you are sending many films to be developed, a rubber stamp with your name and address can be bought for a nominal sum; this stamp is very handy for marking the yellow carton which contains your films. It is quicker and guarantees that the laboratory will always be able to identify your films. Cataloging Personal Films AS YOU obtain your personal movies, you will no doubt have films of many varied and interesting subjects. When you have six or more 100-foot rolls of film, it is time to catalog them according to subject. Family Subjects You will have many pictures of the family that you may not always care to show to all your friends as they are not altogether interesting to others as yourself and family. So you can start with reel number one, and only include your family pictures on it. This reel will soon grow from one to many, as the years go by> and you will, by so cataloging them, have all your family pictures together. Pictures which you have taken while on a trip are always interesting to all your friends and are more suited to general showing; so it is well to include them under a separate projection reel. All the pictures you take of your friends can usually be so cataloged as to go on another separate projection reel. These are only suggestions, and the amateur can, and will, vary them in cataloging his films. Hence, when it's "Family Night" at your own show, you have all your personal family pictures to show, all together on their respective projection reels; or if it's "Friends' Night," you have your general pictures of your trips and movie experiences which they are bound to enjoy. at