Home Movies (1947)

HOME MOVIES FOR SEPTEMBER 571 If a narrow (5" or 6") width editor base is used, two fairly heavy outriggers made of V^" x 2" x 10" length flat mild steel should be used on the bottom of the base for ballast and to prevent tipping of the editor base. These two steel straps should be drilled and the holes countersunk from the bottom side for attachment to the base by use of flat head wood screws. Four 2" square pieces of sponge rubber can be cut from an old kneeling pad and one glued to each end of the steel outriggers on the bottom side to prevent marring or slipping on a smooth table top. — £. /. }AcCreery, Lansing, Michigan _F ground glass A\ \viewing port front view • Cross section view of title centerer. Title Aligner A simple gadget, based on the reflex focuser principle, that will aid in lining up camera with title cards or other closerange subjects, can easily be made by the amateur handy with tools and having access to supply of opaque plastics materials. As shown in diagram above, this alignment gadget slips over the camera lens, affording a reflected view of image lined up accurately with lens center. It consists of a length of plastic tube, A (diameter will depend upon diameter of your lens barrel) ; three plastic discs, B, C, and D; a first surface mirror E; and a small panel of frosted glass F. First step is to drill a hole in center of each of the discs C and D the same diameter will depend upon diameter of should provide a snug fit over the lens. TTien cement discs to inside of tube A in position shown. Distance between C and D will depend upon length of front of camera lens barrel. Disc C should be set so it just receives end of lens barrel when mounted on the camera. Cut square opening in disc B and cement in place. Next cut a 45 degree slot in the tube to receive the mirror. Cement mirror in place. Cut an opening in tube immediately above and insert a piece of frosted or opal glass. This forms the viewing port — the image focused upon is reflected in the mirror and thence toward the ground glass where it is observed by the eye. Purpose of this gadget is to center camera with title card or other small object; therefore is not intended to give the field of view area. To do this, it would be necessary to figure this mathematically and mask off or inscribe the area on the ground glass. — Robert Calvert, Pitman, N. J. Projection Screen You can make a good substitute for a glass beaded projection screen as follows: Purchase one window shade of the desired size; 2 tubes Artists Flake White oil paint; Yz pint turpentine; 1 roll black masking tape; and 6 push pins. Set up projector and project light on wall to determine area of screen desired. Then unroll the window shade and tack it to the wall over the projected light area, using the push pins. Trim off excess shade material, taking care to leave enough for border. Mix tubes of oil paint with turpentine to thick consistency and apply several coats with a brush until a texture is reached approaching that of an oil painting. After paint dries, apply strips of black masking tape around the borderResult is a high quality screen with surprising brilliance. — John W. Ciirriden, Erie, Penna. Ffl • picture area PATTY AT THE PARK 3 VENETIAN BLIND • Open blinds to fade out title. For Title Effects For novel transition effects between a series of titles, try Venetian blind dissolves. Here's how you do it. Place a panel of paper or cardboard, approximately the same color as the blind, behind the blind. Focus camera upon blind and determine the title area with relation to size of your title letters. These should be about l" or more in height. Close slats of blind and arrange letters to form the text, using rubber cement to hold letters in place, as shown in sketch above. Shoot title with a fadein by beginning with blind slats horizontal. Then as camera starts, slowly close blind, bringing slats to vertical position, revealing full text of title. Open blind again to fade out title and stop camera. At this point remove the title letters and form the words for the second title. Open blind again to fade out title and blind slowly to bring the second title into view. Continue shooting for the desired length of time, then fade out as before. Repeat this process for entire series of introductory, main and credit titles. jeo. W. Bolas, New York City, N.Y. Editing Aid If you use your projector to screen your pictures frequently in the editing process, here is an idea that will speed up the process of noting cuts and other editorial alterations with a minimum of fuss; it is especially applicable to making notes for deletions and cuts when screening your pictures before an audience. Cut down a few scratch pads so that the leaves measure about Y/' x 3". These will supply short slips on which to write quick notes and cutting suggestions. Have a supply of the pads at the projector and as your picture is screened m^ke notes and slip them into the takeup reel between turns of the film at the approximate position on the film which is to be altered, as shown in the first photo below. Later, as the film is rewound at the editing board, the re-editing steps may • Continued on Page 6oz • Slips of paper inserted during projection of picture aid in its subsequent editing.