Business Screen Magazine (1963-1964)

Man* iR'w film and recording techniqiu's :.A Miing "Qui'xt." Crcic ubtnt i n < II I nijilnii, d to "involve" the ■^IhHitiiiii outdoor beach scene. "QUEST" FOR THE UNUSUAL Many Visual and Sound Techniques Used to Make 70mm Eastman Chemical Film One of Fair's Best /~Vne of the Most unusual in^-' dustrial motion pictures at the World's Fair is Quest, produced by Filmex. Inc.. for Eastman Chemical Products. It is one of the first non-theatrical motion pictures to be shot in 70mm film with five-track stereo sound. The film, which graphically demonstrates the basic theory of cliemistry as well as its practical applications by Eastman Chemical, is shown in conjunction with dramatic displays that are integrated with the movie action. Images Surround the \'ie\ver The purpose is to surround and involve the audience with the film experience — an effect heightened by the fact that no screen is used: the image is projected directly on the circular wall of the Eastman Chemical building, part of the Kodak pavilion, and is 32 feet wide, or about 20 degrees of the round building. In addition, house light ing which changes to match the background color of the film imparts a three-dimensional effect to the filmed images. A great many film-making and sound recording techniques were used in the production of the picture, many for the first time in 70mm format; live action, on sound stage, location, in factory; animation (the most animation ever used in a 70mm production ) both art work and photographic; stop motion: original sequence and stock footage. .Another first was the use of zooms and pans or multiplane effects, never done before on 70mm. Sonietln'ng New in Film Music Highly unusual scoring and sound effects were employed. In addition to a symphony orchestra and a three-piece jazz combination, the film uses five unique instruments sculpted by Francois Surrounding film viewers in the Eastman Chemical Product's exhibit at the \. Y. Worltl's Fair were stereo sound, wide-screen sequences hke these. The Filmex' produetioti "Quest" was shot in VdHini coh^r. Bachet in glass and metal and on formal display in a special exhibition at the Louvre. Electronic music, composed via circuitry and tape recorders, forms part of the score. Part of the live action was photographed underwater, never before done on 70mm. A special watertight enclosure had to be built to house the 70mm camera to lens this important sequence. "One of the gratifying aspects of making the film was being asked to produce it." says Robert Bergmann. president of Filmex, Inc. "Because Eastman Kodak is closely associated with the finest in photography equipment and photographic technique, our very selection was an accolade of the highest order." • Technique for the Budget-Minded Fund Film Points Up Cost Advantages in Fotomation I A MONO THE Films being shown ^^ to World's Fair visitors on the 236-outlet RCA television receiver network is a seven-minute color motion picture about the New York Herald Tribune Fresh .■\ir Fund, Give Summer To A Child. It is sponsored as a contribution to the Fund by American Express Company. The film is seen regularly on the network which consists of monitor-receivers set up in lounges, executive suites and adjacent Fresh .\ir Fund film scenes tdiove and at right below are from publicittj art adapted by Animated Productions in Fotomation tecltniquc. to lines of people waiting to get into crowded exhibits. Animated Productions. Inc . using its Fotomation process, produced the film using many diverse pieces of material from the files of the Fresh Air Fund, including 16mm motion picture footage, 3.'>mm slides, small snapshots, mural-size photographs, posters, booklets and carttxins. The film tells about the acti\ ities of the Fresh Air Fund since its founding in 1877. It shows how the Fund has sent thousands of city children annually to summer vacations at camps and nearby friendly towns. ,\\ Stahl. producer of the film for Anmiated Productions, faced some unusual problems in putting all the various pieces of material together to make a good-looking film that hangs together smoothly. Because of a tight budget situation, it was necessary to do almost all the film-handling chores, effects and editing in the animation camera before going to the lab. For instance, the whole finished film was done on one piece of film, ready for printing without the use of A and B rolls. All the sound — music, effects and narration by CBS news commentator Ken Banghart — was completed first, and then the film was carefully planned and shot to' synchronize with the finished track. Ingeniously, pieces of existing I6nmi footage from another Fresh Air Fund motion picture were used as part of the new film, and spliced in during the middle of dissolves so splices would not show on the finished print. Other dissolves were made in the animation camera. Mr. Stahl estimates that this method of "emergency" production on a public service film for an outstanding charity organization saved over S600 of actual expense in addition to considerable production time. • KEEP. THEIR FOOTPRINTS GREEN BUSINESS SCREEN MAGAZINE