International photographer (Jan-Dec 1934)

Four The INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER September, 1934 THE JUNIOR NEWSREEL IS HERE! (Thinking Back and Looking Ahead) By Ray Fernstrom [The International Photographer enthusiastically congratulates and the latter feels that our genial and brilliant Scandinavian friend the author, Mr. Fernstrom, upon the big idea offered in the con haf, "* upon an idea that will delight the entire movie world and will also make motion picture history. Mr. Fernstrom authorizes ception of this Junior Newsreel. For more rhar. a year Mr. Fern the Editor f(J announce tnat he has financed his proposition and strom has from time to time discussed this subject with the Editor, will quickly pre-empt the field by active operation. — Editor's Note.] UDGING by some of the unjust criticism of in pictures. Novelty, that element of surprise — that is fpjjjjfj newsreels, one would think that we who con so rare these days. The stuff our boss, E. Cohen, used tribute to them never have given a thought to to drum into our skulls back in the good old Paramount our work — past, present or future. So many News days. "Every scene should be a surprise to your people in other branches of picture making are con audience," he'd say, and we've been trying to do that stantly telling us how we should make our reels that, ever since. Of course, novelty is difficult to get, but I for one, am inclined to talk back and offer a few sug look to your newsreel for novelty and, sooner than you gestions in return. expect, you will rind it and perhaps it will give you Returning last week from a few months shooting in something that is "news" among picture ideas, if that Europe, I found the local picture makers trembling with is what you seek. If not, you might as well fold up fear at the coals heaped on the heads of producers who the tent and travel — which gives me an idea, make objectionable films, with the result that the future "Get the Children Back into the Movie Houses!" health of the industry looks aenemic indeed, unless fresh seems to be the hue and cry of picture people today, blood is transfused. This has already happened from Children have been rather neglected in the past as far time to time in the newsreel and, from now on, the life as drawing them into the theatres with pictures "turned of any picture program may be almost entirely in the out." As for getting them back, that calls for a cornhead of the show, the leader — the pace setter — the plete about-face, not just a collection of syrup shows. NEWSREEL. Kids are too smart today for sugar sweet stuff. These There should be one factor in the theatre, whether young people from five up are so much more intelligent it appears on the screen or on the boards, seen or heard, than we were at their ages that we have a job ahead color or black and white — and THAT is — as it always catching up with them. We cannot try to make stuff should have been — ENTERTAINMENT. that we would have enjoyed at that age for they do Everyone finds interesting details in whatever is go not like the same stuff now that we did then, ing on in the world about us and it is the function Kids want NOVELTY — SURPRISE — NEW — and of the newsreel to bring these DETAILS to the screen NEWS — ask them and see if I'm not correct in this in an entertaining manner. THIS the newsreels have conviction. And if you get the kids you draiv the always done and are doing so that each issue of a news grown-ups, for they too are trying to keep up with this reel will be better than its predecessors. With them it new generation. is an everlasting struggle for improvement, and they To understand these youngsters of today you have ARE improving, setting a precedent, a course, that to raise a few of your own and learn from them how others might follow to their own betterment and that they and their little playmates think, before you can of their product. make pictures for them. The infancy of the film industry has been passed, We may not be able to do it — it may not come beso far as the newsreels are concerned and I venture to fore a few of them have grown up and replaced us, a say, your newsreels of the immediate future will pack few who are of their generation and of their advanced more good movie than ANY feature, unless someone intellect. The only course ahead is for all of us to wakes up and catches up. work together, study our children arid try to find what The handwriting on the wall reads one word — — just what — will entertain them. We cannot go back COLOR — and, believe me, real natural color is HERE too much to the stories of the past, for even these will and here to stay, but do we hear of any features to be not hold this coming generation for long. These youngmade entirely in natural color? At least ONE news sters are looking ahead, while most of us oldsters are reel — with typical newsreel far-sightedness, is about to thinking back. be made entirely in color. With this in mind — is there One sterling example has been set so far that seems any question as to where we are heading? to hold the youngsters — the Silly Symphonies, by Walt Shorts, other than news, are also the vanguard of Disney, the guiding light of the industry. His pictures picture progress contracting the fever from newsreel en have novelty, surprise, color; is it any surprise they are thusiasm. More and more will soon be in natural color, NATURALS? the same beautiful photography seen in all Silly Sym If all of us knew modern child psychology as Dis phonies, Technicolor, brought out of the cartoon rooms ney and his staff do, there would be a real future for us into the great outdoors for the first time — stepping out and the kiddies would line up outside the picture houses toward the future with bold strides of cheerful optimism. with parallel lines of mothers and daddies. So far these shorts are being carried ahead by the novelty The Great American Family has too often been for of the lovely color, but the light ahead is getting brighter. gotten when pictures have been planned. NOVELTY — brings us to the one word that covers The idea referred to above pertains to the drawing almost everything in the show business. There is more power of novelty, and to children, and pictures for them. DRAW to novelty than to anything else one could put It keeps in mind the American Family, from mother to Flease mention The International Photographer when corresponding with advertisers.