Home Movies and Home Talkies (Jun 1932-May 1933)

HOME MOVIES & HOME TALKIES 29 CLUBS-AND CLUBS By HARRY ^VALDEN PEOPLE wibh an int^est in common will always foregather together. The photographers have done so from earliest days and the cin6 societies came with the popularising of the small cinematograph. The cin6 societies have, however, developed on different Hnes from the older fashioned societies for still photographers. Let's Make a Film! The moving picture is essentially narrative in form and lends itself to draniatic presentation. It can tell a story through the most vivid of our senses — eyesight. It is natural, therefore, that the earlier fihn societies should merely aim at the making of film stories. Moreover, the public was familiar with the film only as a means of entertainment. There is a glamour in the make-believe of the ordinarj' stage, but when the characters are not even real men and women, but just moving shadows on a wall, there is an added veil of mystery : which has made film stars what they are. Small wonder that when Bob acquired a mo^de camera Mabel suggested : "Let's make a film." With Bob as cameraman and all the rest as actors and directors they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. One degree removed from the pioneering efforts of Bob and Mabel and we come to one tj'pe of cine club. They will bless the man who can give thera a story and praise Heaven for an efficient cameraman. At the other end of the scale are the reaUy serious clubs, with studio accommodation and artificial light and technicians who know their jobs — and stick to them. They attempt, as far as possible, to foUow the lines of the professional producers and turn out some good stuff. It is a rather expensive game ; but they enjoy themselves. The Joy of Striving ^ Perhaps these clubs merely make one story film after another. Is it worth whUe, when the professionals can usually do the same job so much better ? Is it worth while doing any photography at aU when the professionals can usually do it so much better ? Is the striving after doing a job well, and then doing it better, worth while ? Much better, I think, to make a story film into which the ■wUls and strivings and hearts of a team have been spent than to pass idle hours watching for tit bits in the professional fiilms of other people. It is not everyone, however, who wishes to make story films or who can afford the time or hard cash necessary. Large numbers of people acquire cin6 cameras to provide personal records in movement in place of the usual "snaps." Baby kickmg her legs in the air : the little girl skipping or on a swing : the boy bowling at cricket, the big girl ser^dng at tennis, in slow motion so that she may see her faults : these are the films that will be taken. And so long as the pictures are "clear " they will satisfy. There are, however, many other owners of mo\'ie cameras who definitely desire to better their work, who would join a club if they thought that their films would be improved by so doing. The naturalists are a case in point. Photo\ [Wide World Prince Nicholas of Roumania and liis bride on their honeynnoon in Switzerland. The cine camera is recording an exciting ice hockey match. Domestic films also can be made well or badly and the same applies to travel films. Yet I know of no clubs for such people. The story film remains paramount, and the prestige of the club as a team takes precedence over showing individi^als how to make theu own films better. The tj'pe of society J have in mind is one not dissimilar from the ordinary photographic society, in which the unit of film making is from 30 to 100 feet, rather than from 400 feet to 1,000 feet. Members would meet for the purpose of mutual assistance and the slogan would be : "Make better films." A syllabus would be drawn up and discussions opened by members wovdd be sui^plemented at other times by assistance from visitors. It is surprismg how willingly help is given when it is found that j^eople are keen. The lai-ger manufacturers are also, as a rule, glad to provide a demonstration of theiT own particular hne. Members worldng alone, or in twos or threes, would vie with other members or groups in the making of the club's best films. A lot of time may be involved in making 100 feet of film, if it is to be made weU. The Still Photographer Some clubs of still photographers have a cine section. There is wisdom in this, for the still photographer of to-day is often the movie man of to-morrow, particularly among the younger people, and members will thus remain in the fold. This may be satisfactory if the cine people retain an interest in stiU photography. Many movie makers are, however, not primarily interested in photography. Their films are processed for them and such tilings as Oleobrom and retouching leave them cold. Moreover, the art of the still photographers is pictorialism, which has only a limited application to moving pictures. It seems likely that this may be a movie summer. The time has come, I think, when the type of club suggested should prove a success. BOOK REVIEWS "FILM PLAY PRODUCTION FOR AMATEURS" By G. H. SEWELL (Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, Ltd. 5s. net) ALTHOUGH a number of books, mostly American, have at» tempted to tell amateurs how to produce film plays, they have been written in the main either by professionals whose viewpoint is entirely different from that of the amateur, or else by writers whose sole equipment for the subject seems to have been a tjrpewriter and a bunch of makers' catalogues. This being so, it is refreshing to find that Mr. Sewell not only knows his subject well but can also express himself clearly. Every aspect of film play production is dealt with, with numerous hints and tips drawn from a lengthy practical experience. A word of praise, too, must be given to the excellent illxistrations which are aU very much to the point, whether it be examples of make-up, arrangement of scenery and properties or methods of lighting, etc. We can recommend this book not only to Amateur Societies and those directly interested in film play production, but to all who wish to make an intelligent use of their cine cameras.