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Making the "Secrets of Nature" Series
by Mr F. Percy Smith
Having been invited to place before you a record of my experiences in the production of films of scientific subjects, particularly those which have been publicly exhibited as « Secrets of Nature », I trust that no apology is needed for the personal character of the following remarks.
As you will doubtless soon judge for yourselves I am in no way qualified to make a definite statement as to what is the correct method of handling any particular type of subject : I can only offer you details of some of the devices evolved by an absolutely untrained enthusiast, in the hope that, here and there, some contrivance may suggest to the mechanical expert possibilities for development and improvement to the ultimate benefit of that much neglected phase of kinematography — the educational film.
The use of the word « machine » in this paper must be taken not in its usual engineering significance, but as implying any agglomeration of wheels, rods, Meccano, bits of string, American clocks, and so forth which collectively either work, or else refuse to work, according to circumstances.
When films were first presented to the public I occupied a very insignificant position in the Education Department. My leisure, which was considerable, and my spare funds, which were inconsiderable, I devoted to the study of insects and other small forms of animal life, frequently photographing the same for use as lantern slides.
Having attended a demonstration of Mr Martin Duncan's admirable nature films I formed a strong opinion concerning the future possibilities of the motion picture as an educational factor, and brought the matter to the notice of some of those in authority. My enthusiasm was not shared — ■ to say that my suggestions were declined with thanks would be rather sacrificing veracity to politeness. At any rate, I decided to take leave of the government and devote my whole time to nature films.
About two years later the mechanical virus entered my system. Taking a picture in my London garden (courtesy title) of a snail crawling upon Virginian Creeper — one of the few plants which could survive under the existing conditions — and turning at about half speed owing to the prevalent coffeecoloured atmosphere, I jokingly remarked to a friend « If I turn much more slowly you will see the creeper grow on the screen ». The following spring a potted hyacinth in a florist's window recalled my remark, and I decided that provided I could turn the handle at a sufficiently slow rate of speed the action of growth would of necessity be apparent upon the screen.