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

HOME MOVIES & HOME TALKIES 435 CINE-SPORTS HOW TO GET RESULTS By ERNEST OAKLEY A SOURCE of trouble to some people is how to improve their tennis, tlieir goh", or whatever sport they happen to patronise. Thej' practise and practise to no avail, but their real fault is that they cannot see their own errors for themselves. Any amateur cinematographer can improve liis or her game tremendously by fihning himself in action. A friend of mine has greatly improved his golf by simply getting a friend to film him in action. The camera never lies.* Seeing Stars Xatiu'ally, amateur cinematographers who are lovers of outdoor sports often get the chance of seeing their favourite star locally, an opportimity which they may, perhaps, take but once. If they are keen enough, why not get a film record of the event — it will naturally live for ever. Take tennis, for instance. One should get a seat as near the front as possible, to avoid heads bobbing in front of the lens, half -facing the player, with the svui either on one side or the other. Therefore, when securing a seat from which to operate the camera, one reqtiires to know the direction in which the court is laid out and the time of the day the match is to be played. From these particulars it is easy to calculate wliich position around the court would be best for the purpose of filming. Ineidentalty, the umpire's perch is a good guide to follow. What to Take One should direct the camera so that a portion of the net is shown in the resulting pictures, and do not attempt to follow the player's every movement. Keep your eye to the finder and wait until the champion appears in the field of vision, then is the time to press the button. No one plaj-s his or her best form all the time, but the expert is so consistent that when he or she is on the top of form he or she will play a series of wonderful strokes, without a single bad one amongst them. That, naturally, is the time to * Well, hardly ever ! — Ed. [Photo : Sport and General Oldfield is a keen Cine user, use your film. If one scrutinises the flhn, when finished, very carefully one can in time greatly improve one's game. If your ambitions, in the way of cinematography, venture to the tennis mecca, Wimbledon, it is worth while mentioning that you are not allowed to film unless you are in possession of a special permit, which is obtainable from the secretary. Permissions Obviously one receives more consideration at small local tournaments if one asks permission to record the event with the movie camera. Often secretaries will go to considerable trouble to ensure yotir securing a good film. Other games, such as cricket — which, by the way, requires a long focus lens to really study the form — golf, polo, football, races, etc., all have their particular way of being photographed with the film camera. But if thought is used in choosing view-points, etc., there is no reason at all, provided one is able to use the camera properly, why your first film of sport should not be a great success. Miss Orcutc (left), one of tlie American challengers in the " Ladies' Open " last year, being filmed by a fellow competitor at Saunton. [Photo: Central Press. " THE DEATH PACK." Readers of HOME MOVIES who are also detective story enthusiasts will take a double interest in " The Death Pack " by Ray Sonin (The Eenland Press, 7s. 6d.). The author of this exciting tale is the Director of the film on which Ace Movies are at present engaged, " The Second Crime," and is one of the pioneer London Club Ciaematographers, haviug been a former Chairman af the .Jewish Amateur Film Society and of the Xorth London Cin6 Club.