American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1963)

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Considering proposed variants from today s system and assessing their technical importance as solutions to problems evident from data collected under the above. 3. Reporting the results of their work to the Society, including such recommendations to Engi¬ neering Commitees as they reach.” Dr. Louis Forsdale of Columbia Uni¬ versity, chairman of this committee, has asked for assistance in evaluating the present 8mm system in the field of business and industry. A questionnaire has been prepared for this purpose. ^ on can assist this commitee by com¬ pleting the questionnaire, copies of which may be obtained by writing to Rill Hedden, Calvin Productions, Inc., 1105 Truman Road. Kansas City 6, Mo. ■ LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN Continued from Page 221 Lookout Mountain’s qualified aerial cameramen (both civilian and mili¬ tary), for whom the term "‘daredevil is something of an understatement, fly a variety of air-to-air assignments, in¬ cluding such missions as recording the drop of an X-15 from its Mother plane, the flight of a U-2, the crack aerialacrobat Thunderbirds in action, as well as the performances of a wide range of supersonic aircraft in flight. Camera crews in the field are con¬ stantly encountering challenges which call for special photographic methods and equipment. In filming Operation Fullscope, a giant tactical weapons maneuver recently conducted in west¬ ern Florida, remote-controlled cameras were set up to record air-to-ground strikes on targets located in impene¬ trable areas of swampland. Photo¬ graphic equipment was flown in by helicopter, but the extremely difficult terrain precluded the stringing of con¬ ventional land-lines to start and stop the cameras. An “S.O.S.” to Lookout Mountain resulted in a highly sophisti¬ cated piece of equipment being rushed to the location to solve the problem. It consisted of a small, highly port¬ able, battery-operated radio transmit¬ ter console with four buttons, each of which, when pressed manually, gene¬ rated a separate and distinct tone sig¬ nal that was picked up by a tiny re¬ ceiver mounted on one of the remote cameras. Thus activated, the receiver closed the relav between the camera switch and the battery power supply, starting the camera mechanism. Thus, all four cameras could be turned on separately at different times, each res¬ ponding to the frequency of its individ¬ ual tone signal — or, by means of a simple plug-in adjustment, all could be rigged to respond to the same tone signal and start simultaneously. During the Fullscope operation the remote control console was operated from a helicopter hovering some dis¬ tance away where it could spot planes approaching the target area and start the cameras at exactly the right mo¬ ment. Many of the films made at Lookout Mountain feature actual air Force offi¬ cers or technical experts playing them¬ selves in front of the cameras. How¬ ever, because of its location in the film capital, the film unit is also able to draw from the ranks of Hollywood's screen talent to lend an extra touch of professional finish to their productions. Many of the top stars of the industry have volunteered their services for films of national or international signi¬ ficance. Jimmy Stewart starred in “The Air Force Mission.’ Glenn Ford ap¬ peared in “Taiwan, Isle of Freedom. ’ Boh Cummings and his son were fea¬ tured in a film on Air Force Academy activities. Other films produced at Lookout starred Tennessee Ernie Ford, the late Dick Powell, famed newscaster Walter Cronkite, and James Arness — Marshal Dillon of TV's “Gun Smoke ’ series. Lookout Mountain camera crews also document the annual Bob Hope Christmas tour, accompanying the fa¬ mous comedian and his troupe as they bring holiday cheer to American serv¬ icemen stationed throughout the world. Motion pictures produced at Look¬ out Mountain have received numerous awards from domestic organizations (such as the Industry Film Producers Association ) and from organizations in foreign countries. Last year, filming of a spectacular display of precision Hying by the United States Air Force Thunderbirds and the pilots of several far Easetrn nations produced on Acad¬ emy Award nominee called “Breaking the Language Barrier.” A series of “People-to-People” films designed to promote understanding and good will between Americans and the peoples of far-flung nations have been produced by crews on location assignment from Lookout. One of these was filmed on Taiwan, another in Korea. Working outdoors as well as on 240 AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER. APRIL, 1663