Movie Makers (Jan-Dec 1947)

36 Get our new Giant 50 page catalog Big discounts on over 3000 films and accessories • Large rental library 8-1 6mm Silent-Sound Write today Two 3e stamps REED AND REED DIST., INC. 7508 3rd Ave. Brooklyn 9, N. Y. EXCHANGES, ETC. We exchange 8mm., 16mm. and SOUND films. Shorts or features. Tell us what you have and what you want and we will write back immediately. We ALSO BUY YOUR FILMS FOR CASH Castle, Official, Hollywood, Pictoreels. Nu Art Films, Excel Films, all on hand WHEN YOU WANT THEM. FRANK LANE & CO., 5 Little Bldg., Boston, Mass. OLD TIME MOVIES Classics of the Silent Screen again available "The Covered Wagon" and Bill Hart Charles Ray, Chaplin, Mary Pickford, etc. Specify 16mm. Silenl Catalogue when writing 1145 No. Market St. ita 5, Kansas LEWIS Film Service, wlch &MJ&miiiL RALPH R. EN0 PIONEER OF AMERICA 1600 BROADWAY • NEW YORK Send your film for free criticism or estimate. SKIBO PRODUCTIONS 16mm. Sound on Film educational Musicals Comedies Write for Free Catalog SKIBO PRODUCTIONS, INC. 165 West 46th Street New York 19 N. Y. give us the feeling, without much being said about it, that one person made it all; or, if several collaborated to make it, that they agreed first upon a single intention to which they would all subordinate their work. The suggestion of this discussion, that the cinema art has its unities, is not intended to force on the movie maker any cramping conventions of style. It is intended rather to bring out the value to him of an effort to analyze that quality which impresses him whenever he makes a satisfying picture or sees one that some one else has made, whether it be a record of travel, or a representation of a natural process, or a description of animal or human behavior, or a drama in which personalities play upon one another. It is suggested that in part, at least, the superiority which distinguishes one movie from others is due to unity of theme, unity of character and unity of purpose. Scoring on the spot [Continued from page 27] An album of wedding music is almost a necessity. There are several available. Each set covers the traditional music for such an occasion, and parts of the several records will be found invaluable for film accompaniment. I am sparing in the use of sound effects. Properly used, they will accent either a dramatic effect or a comedy ''gag," but, like seasoning in food, too much will spoil the dish. Descriptive music will generally serve your purpose better. For instance, if you happen to be accompanying a film with polka music and would like to have a sound effect of a train for a railroad sequence, try Pony Express, V201, Victor International Series, recorded by the Glahe Musette Orchestra. This disc suggests the sounds of a train and, at the same time, carries on your musical score unbroken. Also, the reverse side, Puppet's Birthday, is a good, lively polka for general use. For circuses, fairs, boardwalk crowds, amusement parks, in fact, any gathering in gay and festive spirit, you will not go wrong with polkas. Two lively numbers are Hot Pretzels and the well known Beer Barrel Polka, to be found on the same record, V710, Victor International Series, also recorded by the Glahe Musette Orchestra. A good waltz record in the same musette style is Tatiana, V131. Victor International Series, recorded by Ostman-Stein Orchestra, which on the reverse side has O Mari — 0 Mari by the Colonial Orchestra. Some of the recordings by the Barabas de Geczy Orchestra, to be found in the Victor International Series, are excellent for accompaniment, particu JANUARY 1947 larly Windy City— Polka, X761. There are also a number of recordings by the Three Suns (Majestic Records), which are very good for many home comedies. Use the strictly instrumental ones (no vocal recordings), such as Busy Holiday and Floiver Dance, No. 7142. Also try some of the Milt Herth Trio recordings for Decca. which fall in the same category. Unfamiliar selections are far better than those too frequently in the public ear. Seeking out new and unfamiliar recordings for accompaniment is one of the joys of scoring. At the present time, a great number of new records and albums are being released each month. It is rather difficult to make your selection from printed lists issued by manufacturers and it is far better to spend the necessary time in listening to a great many discs, in order to select from them the few that fulfill the peculiar requirements of cinematic accompaniment. You may find it advisable to spend a few hours each week listening to new recordings. Any records, which seem to have possibilities but which you do not wish to purchase at once, may be listed for future reference in a ''Mood Book," a notebook in which listings are classified as to mood and musical characteristics, together with serial number, manufacturer's name, price and other pertinent information. Many radio programs feature recordings, and some stations publish a weekly or monthly program for subscribers. This type of broadcast is a fertile source of material for your mood book. Whenever you or your fellow club members hear a record which appears to be suitable, list it in your mood book with any additional remarks that may help you later, when you are choosing additions to your club or personal scoring library. You may never produce the completely satisfactory accompaniment in scoring club films, especially those that are given you unscored on the meeting night, but, as your experience grows, you will find your knowledge of suitable music growing too, which will be a compensation in itself. Scoring is a challenge. It's fun. It contributes to the pleasure of your fellow club members and is a fine trimming which adds entertainment value to your own and other movie makers' films. The clinic [Continued from page 20] the objectives spotless and checking them before each use of the projector. "Whiskers" at the picture's edges may come from unclean projector gates. These apertures should be freed from dust as often as possible.