Home Movies (1943)

HOME MOVIES FOR JUNE PACE 187 A toy train transformer is used to furnish low voltage to operate the solenoids. Those who already have inst ailed a frame counter on their cameras, as described in the April issue, will find the electric counter unnecessary. The counter pictured here is operated by one of the solenoids and is made by Production Instrument Co., Chicago, 111. The light brackets are made from the "gooseneck" of a desk lamp. The camera stand is made from plywood with a suitable slot underneath to line up the drawings and allow them to slide easily from side to side. The only thing not pictured is the auxiliary lens. This is held in place over the regular lens by a filter holder. As may be seen in the photos, the series of title drawings were animated by mounting them on strips of cardboard and photographing them, one at a time. The opening in the title card holder is so marked that each drawing can be lined up or centered accurately thus assuring smooth animation free from "jumps" that often characterizes amateur animation of this kind. Of course, this outfit can be utilized for other types of animation and for straight titling. But it was the Home Movies series of drawings for animated titles that furnished incentive for building the apparatus. And because of it, I have discovered the pleasures of a hitherto untried field of movie making, a field that enables me to continue active with my hobby in spite of the wartime restrictions that now hinder outdoor movie making. Animated movies dc not require the amount of film, nor the use of gasoline and tires that my outdoor movie making did and, frankly, I'm beginning to like my indoor filming projects better. Slueprinting, photoplay, . . . • Continued from Page 177 The exposition includes introduction of characters and establishing premise of our story. Here the audience is given the means of recognizing the main characters in the play. Certain clues are laid before them and certain facts withheld to gi^'e the audience a command of the situation in the opening sequences. The time and place of the action is also established either in the story telling or by means of titles. In the development stage, the story progresses with the building of suspense. The reasons for the conflict that is taking place in the story is revealed as the plot progresses. Each incident, large or small, must contribute to the story as a whole, otherwise it should be excluded. The denouement is that part of the story which rises to the peak of suspense just preceding the climax and without revealing, entirely, outcome of the story. Thus, in "Mister X," a recent Movie of the Month, the man being followed is successfully masquerading in woman's clothes — the development. Suddenly, his identity is revealed and the detective confronts him — but it is not yet revealed why the detective wants him. "Is he wanted for murder, draft evasion, or what?" the audience asks at peak of the denouement. Then a climactic twist reveals the detective to be only a process server — serves Mr. X with a summons in a divorce action. The climax clears up the suspense that has been created by all the action that has gone before. It is the result of the struggle between the hero or heroine and the villain or against conflicting elements of the story. It is the point at which we reveal the main character overcoming all obstacles, leaving the audience satisfied that everything turned out for the best. In preparing an amateur screenplay, analyze the high dramatic points in the story, list them on a sheet of paper. The various stages of the story can be developed easily, more logical from this list. With the story analyzed and the plot outline roughly sketched on paper, the next step is to write it in continuity form in which each scene and title is described as completely as is necessary for the cast or director to follow. Most amateurs, of course, are familiar with the accepted continuity or scenario form in which each scene is described as to location, camera position, and the action that is to take place. All scenes should be numbered consecutively, beginning with 1 and all titles should be indicated in their proper position with relation to the scene they describe or quote. Given an intelligent story thus prepared in continuity form, the amateur film producer is more capable of turning out a successful photoplay. He does not have to carry the story in his mind. Every little action and mannerism, every attention-getting bit of business that was thought out during the patient writing of the continuity is described briefly but fully. He need but follow the description to insure the maximum in suspense and action. Without the continuity, much of the important business that evolved from careful planning of the play, might become lost in the hustle and bustle of production. HOW TO MAKE HOME MOVIE GADGETS HOME MOVIES MAGAZINE SERIES Do you get a lot of pleasure from building your own home movie gadgets? Then here is the very book you want. Chock full of ideas for gadgets for 8mm. and 1 6mm. cameras and projectors— things easy for any amateur to make. HOME MOVIE GADGETS and how to make them $*f 00 PER COPY postpaid Nearly 100 pages profusely illustrated with photos and sketches telling how to make gadgets and accessories for cameras; for making wipe-offs and fades; title making; editing and splicing; and a host of others. No theories — every gadget tested and proven by an advanced amateur. The plans and specifications alone of just one of the gadgets is easily worth price of the book. Limited printing on first edition. 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