Home Movies (1943)

HOME MOVIES FOR OCTOBER PACE 325 CUE WORKSHOP ,ttr trkh) & at various angles and locking same in place. The conventional tripod screw is inserted through the camera base, and small wooden blocks on the top act as guides for centering the camera. The whole gadget was made from materials found in my home workshop. — Herman Bartcl, New Rochelle, N. Y. Reflectors Movie amateurs who are now active making gadgets for their future filming activities would do well to include one or two sunlight reflectors in their plans. Reflectors, which are essential equipment with all professionals, are used to reflect sunlight into dark areas of exterior scenes or to lighten shadows in f^ces. They're simple to build. The reflector pictured here was made of two panels of wallboard 2o"x3o". If you can't get wallboard or plywood, buy an old packing box constructed of veneer or plywood and use the side panels. Hinge the panels together, using two hinges, to form a "book." Paint the inside surface of the panels with aluminum paint, chrome enamel, or flat white paint in case the first two are not available. The reflector pictured is surfaced with silver leaf and produces a strong reflected light — more brilliant than the painted type. A good plan is to make up three reflectors of various intensities: one surfaced with silver leaf or foil, one painted with aluminum, and the other painted flat white. — Ray Altsclnder, Detroit, Mich. II Ground Glass" Film Cinebugs in need of a strip of frosted film to be used as a ground glass in the camera aperture in critical focusing or testing, may produce their own as follows: Take a length of discarded film and immerse it in hot water. This will soften the emulsion and permit its easy, rapid removal, and produce a clear strip of film base. Next, rub one side of film with fine emery paper until the "frost" or ground glass effect has been evenly produced on surface of film. When inserted in the camera gate, the strip of film will permit close inspection of the scene focused upon, the scene being reflected on the strip of film. — S. Jepson, Bombay, India. Title Fader Here's a simple idea for producing fades when making titles that requires no gadgets or extra accessories. As shown in sketch, titler is placed on table or workbench, on top of which is nailed a wood strip of i"xi"x3o". This strip acts as a guide when moving camera forward or backward. Two photofloods in clamp-on reflectors are clamped to sides of opened drawer, as shown. By moving the titler forward, away from photofloods as title is being filmed, the light falling on title is di minished in intensity, producing a gradual fade. When titler is placed at edge of table, it is considered in position for normal title exposure. Moving title back to normal position produces a fade-in. — LaRne Oversmith, Buffalo, N. Y. Revere Cable Release You can fit a cable release to your Revere 8mm. camera to obtain more precise control of your camera, by following the accompanying diagrams which are explained as follows: A is the strap with the cable release mounted before the starting button. Shape of strap conforms with design of camera case. B is detail of strap which was made of sheet brass. C indicates where to cut notch so cable tip will not bend upwards when depressed to make contact with starting button. A No. 6 drill will make a hole that will conform with the average cable release tip, and this hole should be tapped to receive the cable release. The No. j hole shortcut £ contributed by Linebug* STANDARD asi£ RCLSASe WITH tocti S;.lT ALlOW/t'TO TOTAL lensth foR binds B * 5 DRILL * 6 DRILL CUT OUT THIS NOTCH REM Ovf CONTROL BUTTON AND INSERT THIS ASSEMBLY provides for a small screw, as shown, which must be a trifle longer than the small screw on front of camera. D is the regular camera release button which may be unscrewed from the camera and replaced by a small bolt, and the "S" shaped bracket shown at E. Total cost of this cable release gadget was 75 c, most of the materials being obtained from my personal workshop junk pile. — Willarcl Davis, Los Angeles, Calif. Titling Idea Almost any amateur can produce artistic titles of professional calibre simply by copying illustrations and lettering from books, newspapers and magazines. The title illustrated was produced by an amateur with no art train • Continued on Page 33 j