Home Movies (1951)

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Distinctive TITLES f and Expert EDITING For the Amateur and Professional 1 16-8mm Black and White Kodachrome] Price List on Request = ISTAHL EDITING & TITLING SERVICE! ! 33 West 42nd St. New York 18, N.Y. J KODACHROME 8MM FILM STOCK UP NOW ON GLORIOUS KODACHROME film for all those wonderful holiday films. SPECIAL! 25' 8mm Kodachrome (Outdoor) Guaranteed good as gold, Sept. October 1951 dating, $2.95 roll (in lots of 2 or more). M K PHOTO 451 Continental, Detroit 14, Michigan angles or entertaining bits of action when I shoot off-the-cuff. A few notes remind me of new camera positions and often give me the idea for an entirely different approach. When I filmed a young boy putting together a model boat, my shooting outline listed close-ups of sawing the wood, gluing certain parts onto the deck, and painting the craft. These actions were also photographed in medium and long shots, of course, but they looked impressive in the short, dramatic closeups. My notes also mentioned a picture of a real clipper ship on the wall above the boy's workbench. The illustration was tacked up just before we began shooting, and I think it added a distinctive touch. The model boat hardly resembled the sleek craft in the old litograph, but we could see the source of the young worker's inspiration. If the children you photograph aren't older than 5 or 6, you should end a reel with a sequence of them in their pajamas. So, indoors or outdoors, children are always grand subjects for your movie camera. A little patience and courtesy on your part will pay handsome dividends in the form of priceless home movie reels. Think about it — make a few notes and shoot that indoor movie this week end. 3 SHOTS • Continued from Page 41 5 must be applied to the subject in such a way as to help the viewer understand completely what you are trying to say. Let's consider it from another angle. Let us say that we want to say something with our movie camera. First of all, there must be a subject. Say two little girls sitting together on a settee. The children are not passive and something seems to be happening. Obviously there is some argument about a doll which is in the possession of the younger child. Here is the conflict. Both want the doll and both are determined to have it. There is a tug of war. One gets the doll, the other loses it; then the winner loses the doll and this goes on apace. Finally, the whole conflict is resolved when one little girl grasps the doll and the loser gives up the fight. The final scene shows the winner triumphant, yet grimly determined never to give up that doll. Now that was simple enough, wasn't it? Just set up the camera, and shoot, you say. But there is a little more to it than that. Let's go back to the subject — the two little girls. How shall we shoot this sequence and what kind of shots shall be used? Where do we use the long shot, the close-up and the medium shot? THE LONG SHOT. This is an establishing shot. It shows the audience that the action is occurring in a certain spot, surrounded by certain objects, and under certain conditions. There can be no doubt in the minds of the audience that our two little girls are anywhere but in a living room on a settee. THE MEDIUM SHOT. This is the "get acquainted" shot. You move in on your subjects and film only that which is the main theme of your sequence. In this case, just the two little girls and their doll. THE CLOSE-UP. Here we come to the nub of the situation. Not only do we see two little girls with a doll — but we can tell very plainly that a terrific conflict is taking place. We see their faces and the obvious emotions at the time — this way, there is no doubt and we really know what is happening. To sum up, in three shots we have expressed the fact that the two little girls are battling for a doll, in a veryunladylike manner. Your job is done and you have established that statement by exposing your films from the three basic positions. The long shot stated your theme — two little girls in a room. The medium shot indicated the people involved — two little girls on a settee. The close-up told us that a battle was being joined and that the issue was in grave doubt. Later, the battle is won and the story ends. Simple isn't it? Why not try it? (Next month we shall continue the discussion on the finer details of shooting— for effect. Ed.) _|_ 10-|_ 10_|_ 10_j_ 10_|_ 10 _(_ 10 10_|_ THE PERFECT GIFT FOR YOUR FAVORITE HOME-MOVIE FAN * ★ The Tenplus Gloves Essential protection for film editing. Small (7-8) Medium (8%-9) Large (9%-10%) $1.98 per pair. Satisfaction guaranteed. * Gift Card enclosed if desired * THE TENPLUS COMPANY Dept. H, Warren, Penna. 4 IO4 10-)_ 10_|_ 10_|_ 10. 10. + + + 10+ Make a perfect dissolve every time with your Cine Special ! 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