Home Movies (1954)

Movie Idea Background for m\nm Essential difference between professional and amateur motion pictures is — quality, and technique. But amateurs can make excellent films if equipment is used wisely and a planned routine is followed with every shot. It might take a little more time, but the effort pays off in better pictures. Here's how. * * ♦ The Kodak Brownie, a good buy at $37.50 offers good basic equipment, simplified so that anyone can make fine movies with a minimum of effort. In the Beginning: BEFORE you unwrap that shiny new camera, take a gander at the instruction book. It's meant to be read and the manufacturer is very sincere when he asks you to read it. The dealer is sincere too because he has a stake in you. Reason for this is simply that the camera must continue to please the cameraman, otherwise no films are sold, no accessories and extra equipment move off the shelves — and no one has any fun. For this very good reason, most cameras are made so that a minimum of effort is required to operate them, and good pictures are easy to make by almost anyone who bothers to read the instruction book. Simplification has been applied to the newer 8mm cameras to such an extent that sharp, well exposed movies are almost automatic if the amateur will follow simple rules. Let's take the Kodak Brownie Movie Camera. This is anextension of the famous box camera, used for years by generations of beginners with satisfying results. And the movie version is just as simple to operate. The camera sells for $37.50 and handles 8mm color or black and white. Threading is simple, and operation fool-proof. An accompanying projec tor sells for $62 making the whole package worth about $100. What to Do — Loading After the facts of life are absorbed from the instruction book — load the camera. It must be loaded in subdued light, and this is not just a whim. Reason is simply that the light will fog the film and when the roll is returned light streaks will be clearly visible along the edges. And who wants that if it can be avoided with a little care — at first. But sunlight will not fog the film if the camera is loaded in the shade, inside the house away from direct rays of the sun, or even in an auto, away from the bright light. Checking After the film is threaded, and the footage counter set, you might take a tentative stab at the release button. Just press and release to see that the film is running properly — and do this before the camera is closed. If everything looks alright, replace the cover and you are ready to shoot — but let s hold on for a minute. Evaluating the Shot: Outside This can be anything in full sunlight, outside, in the shade, under hazy skies or under floodlights inside. But let us consider outside conditions first. Bright sunlight provides the ideal condition for color shooting, (we speak of color here because that is what the majority of people will use), now that color film is only $3.75 per roll of 8mm. • See "BEGINNERS" on Page 332 By HENRY PROVISOR It is not an easy matter to instill basic rules of conduct; it is even more difficult to do so with young children, but this can be done very subtly with the following movie idea. Puppets, animated drawings or even live actors can be employed to film this little fantasy on a short reel of 8mm or 16mm film. Try it. — H.P. * * * A Story for Hartley Once there lived an Owl. He was big and white and lived in a tree — but, he was a very stubborn Owl. Being stubborn is not bad in itself. But being stubborn and making other people suffer because one is stubborn, is a very bad thing. One night — and you know that Owls are up and around only in the night — our friend sat on a tree limb by himself and thought about all the things which owls think about. No one really knows. However, Charlie Chipmunk, who had been out late, came by, and said to Mr. Owl. "Good evening, Mr. Owl — are you happy tonight?" And the Owl answered, "Who?" And Charlie, who was a nice lad, repeated the question and said again, "How are you — are you happy?" And Mr. Owl answered again, "Who?" By this time Charlie Chipmunk was a little angry. After all, how would you feel if you asked a question, and all you got in reply was "Who-whowho". So, still angry and maybe a little hurt, Charlie repeated the same question again. This time Mr. Owl, who was no fool, said : "I feel fine, and I'm happy, but ever since you came by, I've been wondering whether I'm really happy. Now, come to think about it, I guess I'm not so happy. And it's your fault too. I was perfectly all right before you came around. I was satisfied and didn't worry. Now ... I just wonder whether I'm all right or not — and it's all your fault." Charlie Chipmunk, who was a harmless little fellow, as we all can see, wasnt' happy any more either, after he had heard what the Owl had said. So, without a word, he slunk away ■ — his evening ruined. Now we have two people who are unhappy through no fault of their own. So the moral of this story is — be as pleasant as possible, but if some people won't let you be pleasant, why just go away and try being nice to someone else. 311