American cinematographer (Sept 1937)

September, 1937 • American Cinematographer 387 allow a steady beginning and ending of at least 8 seconds. Shots from a moving automobile should never be taken of a scenic view. A short shot including a portion of your car in motion will add con- tinuity to a title telling of travel to another place. The imagination of your audience, stimulated by this shot, will take a jump of hundreds of miles, and it will not appear out of the ordinary to them. And now for the story part—to be at least roughly worked out before you start on your trip. It is true that most of us who take pictures as a hobby take a vacation film as a means of preserving a record of a good time which we have had. To you, the person taking the vacation and the film, the resulting pictures when shown are only the highlights of a certain period of time. When projected your mind connects all the scenes together by innumerable incidents and events, which, while probably too unimportant to shoot, constitute the build-up to the scene on the screen. Build Anticipation As far as you are concerned your mind does the mental titling and creates continuity in the film. Not so your audience. It didn’t go with you on the trip. Between scenes minds are questioning what and why. Your job is so to plan your picture that all will get from it some of your feelings and knowledge. When your vacation is a hunting, fishing or camping trip it is rather simple. The hunter cleaning his guns and poring over maps or the fisher- man checking up on his reels and flies will build up anticipation in the minds of your audience which will carry on through the entire film. No footage can be counted as wasted if you can give to your audi- ence part of the anticipation and pleasure that you had. The later events which follow will be understood and accepted because they naturally follow from a deliberate build-up of expectation for them. Novel Titling Idea Most vacation films are scenic in character and have in addition some other motif, a successive or continued occurrence which acts as the backbone of your picture and around which the scenic shots are woven. This is best explained by an illustration. For example, a hiking trip briefly outlined during the film can be the reason for all the beautiful shots taken at any National Park. This is the continuity of your film and the means of exciting interest in and carrying it along to a successful ending. In my 1936 vacation film I used a rather unusual titling idea with (so I am told), very good results. Our trip was to British Columbia and re- turn. It was taken for no purpose except to see the country. Brevity in Titling About ninety different title shots were used, as follows: A rather long descriptive sentence was split up into a number of short titles. For instance, at Crater Lake a large number of beautiful views were explained quite fully and in few words as: Title, “From Crater Lake Lodge ,” followed by shots of the lodge and surroundings. Title, “We Drive Around the Rim ,” followed by the different scenic views taken from the rim of the crater. Title, “and see Wizard Island ,” then some shots of the island. Title, “and the Phantom Ship—-—,” R. P. S. Holds Exhibit An Exhibition of Cinematography, comprising films, stills and appara- tus, will be held at the galleries of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain at 35 Russell Square, London, W.C.l, from November 13 to November 27, 1937. The keynote of the exhibition will be “The Film as a Social Force.” During its course lectures and dem- onstrations of interest to both pro- fessionals and amateurs will be given. A competition embracing all types Knowledge Gained ... I want to tell you how much I have enjoyed reading your magazine and also of the knowledge I have gained through your Cinematographic Annual Volume I. HENRY LE CLAIR, JR. Denver, Colo. followed by long distance and close- up shots of the ship. Each part of the sentence was con- cluded by a dash to show that the end of the sentence had not been reached. In fact, it is a written explanation, instead of an oral one. As simple as the idea was, it effectively titled 400 feet of 8mm. film which was more difficult because of its length. There is no general plan which uni- versally will cover every vacation picture. Each plan or story depends on what particular type of vacation you intend to take. But one thing is sure, and that is there is at least one plan of taking which will answer your need. The first plan may not be so good, but subsequent ones are bound to be better. It is important. Give it a lot of thought. And believe it or not, any plan will do more for your picture than none at all. lection from the films receiving awards will be shown during the ex- hibition. Inquiries should be ad- dressed to the Joint Secretaries of the Cinematograph Section at the fore- going address. Sports Afield Contest Sports Afield, Minneapolis, is con- ducting a photographic contest which started May 15 and closes November 15 next. One of the four divisions is devoted to motion pictures, which must be exposed on 8mm. or 16mm. Prizes will be awarded in equipment valued at $286. The grand prize for all classifica- tions is a choice of seven pieces of equipment valued from $125 to $150. The subject must be of wild life or the outdoors. Entry blanks may be obtained from the contest editor of the magazine. There is no charge. of films has been arranged. A se-