Home Movies (1944)

PACE 108 HOME MOVIES FOR MARCH THE EXPERIMENTAL Projection Aid Altering screen size of projected pictures may be accomplished without investment in an assortment of projection lenses of varying focal lengths. When a large picture is desired with a short projection throw, place an ordinary binocular before the projector lens so that the larger lens of the binocular is facing the projector. Where a small clear picture is desired at a longer than average throw, reverse position of binoculars before the projector, placing the small end before the lens. Sharp focus in both instances may be obtained by adjusting both projector and binocular lenses. — Kurt Wollner. Data Guide When not convenient to immediately edit and splice together rolls of film as they are received from the processor, pertinent data for editing purposes, such as date, location, names, etc., can be scratched on the emulsion of the leader or first few frames of the roll of film with pen knife or other sharp pointed tool. — Paul Kroll. * THIS MONTH we have reprinted a number of workshop suggestions which appeared in previous issues of Home Movies. Because they offer an answer to each of several problems on which the editors receive a great number of requests for information and help, solutions as worked out by practical cinebugs, are illustrated and described here for benefit of other amateur movie makers. Readers are invited to submit, to this department, new ideas and suggestions for shooting, titling, editing, projecting or processing home movies. For each idea published, the contributor will receive two projection reels. Where possible, please include a rough sketch or photograph of gadget or suggested idea; also, be sure to state whether your equipment is 8mm. or 16mm. Filming Reverse Action The following described gadget overcomes the troublesome results in making reverse action shots (with camera upside down), where right is changed to left, and vice versa. The gadget not only conveniently holds the camera in inverted position, but also provides a mirror set at the proper angle before the lens to pick up and reverse the image photographed. Instead of pointing camera at the object or scene, the mirror is focused upon the object. Construction requirements are a piece of }/ i6"xi1/4"xi i" strap iron, a small mirror, a wing bolt and nut, blocks of wood and a few screws — materials readily available around most garage workshops. Three Y4" holes are drilled in the strap iron as shown in Fig. r. One end hole is tapped to take a regular No. 20 tripod screw. A and B in Fig. i show construction of frame that holds the mirror. The two < 12" > (•> 0 ATTACH MIRROR. HE RE MIRROR FI6.3. pieces of wood are joined together with screws. A hole drilled in member B admits the wing bolt by which the mirror and frame is attached to the iron support (Fig. i). The small mirror may be cemented, as indicated, with rubber adhesive or taped at the edges with scotch or adhesive tape. The unit is then assembled with camera, as shown in Fig. 3, with mirror fixed at a 45 ° angle to the axis of camera lens. All reverse action shots made with this gadget will appear with "rights" and "lefts" in normal position. Signs, newsprint, etc., will read right. Such scenes may be spliced right into regularly filmed action shots without the usual reversing of the subject. Of course, if this is done, changing focus is necessary during projection. But this may be overcome, too, by having a dupe made of such shots. — Jack G. Strong. Title Background Effect A very interesting background effect may be given titles when photographed as shown in accompanying illustration. The object is to project on the title card the lacy shadows of foliage moving in a breeze. The titler may be set up out of doors where the shadows of an extended branch of a tree will project upon a portion or all of the title card; or, if more convenient, a small branch may be attached to a stake driven in the ground close to the camera as illustrated. If no breeze is stirring to move the leaves, the branch may be moved slowly by hand to impart the same effect. This idea is equally effective when shooting with positive film — black letters on white title card. The moving pattern of leaves will produce an interesting mottled background design. — Chuck Neuzil. For Ultra-Closeups For shooting closeups of insects and flowers, here is a simple gadget that insures accurate framing and focusing of the subject. With the lens focused for a distance of 5 inches with the aid of shims, the lens takes in an area of 1 V2X