Movie Makers (Jan-Dec 1935)

MOVIE MAKERS 35 model. When the shellac dried, the surplus sand was brushed oS and a small piece of sponge was glued on here and there to represent shrubbery. Flashing the light was accomplished by means of a regular snap switch, since we found a flicker device gave too short a flash to register properly. To complete the miniature construction, we needed a ship, so we purchased an inexpensive toy ship Vit and built a fifteen inch fishing »chooner. We assumed it would be quite easy to make the ship scenes in a shallow pool, producing waves with an oar, fog with dry ice and rain with a hose. We built a special reflector boom so that we could hang a cluster of Photofloods out over the water and flash them on and off for lightning. With our camera, light boom, extension wires, models, black cloth background, a package of soap powder to make scum on the water, a bottle of blueing to conceal the bottom of the pool, garden hose for the rain and ten pounds of dry ice for the fog, we were ready to produce the big sequences. But we worked an entire evening without shooting a single foot of film. The black cloth got wet and cast reflections, the dry ice clung to the water, refusing to rise above the side level of the pool, which left the lower half of the lighthouse invisible for photographic purposes, while the upper half stood out above a flat level of mist. As soon as the spray was turned on, the air currents blew all the fog away. The pool was so wide that our waves turned into gentle rollers and the ship rolled gently instead of pitching. Finally, we solved the problem by shooting these scenes in a small tin tank and using one hose for rain and another to produce a fine misty spray, which gave the effect of fog. Our final boat scene was the result of a joke. One night we had finished our scheduled shooting and had five feet of film left in the camera. One light was shining on the wall of the room which was painted brown half way up and cream the rest of the way. Somebody suggested placing the ship so that it would cast a shadow and letting the brown part of the wall represent the water. This was done and as the boat tipped back and forth we finished the roll of film. When the roll came back from the processing laboratory, we had trouble in remembering when we had made the scene, for it was certainly genuine in its effect. In the long shots of the miniature lighthouse, we wanted to represent the keeper with a flare, standing near the lighthouse. Our attempt to make a small flare was a failure, so we located a certain patch of shrubbery in the reflex finder and marked the spot with an ink dot on the finder lens. We rewound the shot, took our character out on a golf course and had him walk away from the camera, holding a magnesium flare in his hand. When he was far enough away o o wa^sa m^ yjxdiof/ , a 1 ■ 11 K 1 ' W*& ' H^% • TTeston Universal Model Exposure Meter Not just another picture, but an exact record of nature's loveliness every time a Weston is used . . . the kind of pictures that command attention and make these eye-compelling winter scenes a joy forever. And there's double satisfaction in possessing the Weston. It not only solves the exposure problem this season, but will continue to serve with unfailing accuracy every season for years to come. Its dependability and long life have been proved by thousands of owners in every clime over a period of several years. It is truly a lifetime meter. Be sure of your exposure results this winter and every season ahead. ..by making sure with a Weston. See this proved exposure meter at your dealer's . . . Weston Electrical Instrument Corporation, 626 Frelinghuysen Avenue, Newark, N. J.