Movie Makers (Jun-Dec 1928)

"A FEW WRINKLES AND BULGES WILL GIVE A DiafTINCTLY NOVEL TWIST TO YOUR PROJECTION" HELPFUL HINTS for HOME SHOWS By Epes W. Sargent ALWAYS remember that the true test of a performance is attendance. No real manager feels that a show is a success unless he plays to standing room. When you give a home show ask everyone you know. Never mind whether you have chairs enough. Look at the long lines in the foyers of the big movie palaces! They'll appreciate your show the more if they have to 9tand up. Pack them in until it hurts (them) and they'll go out and talk about your show for weeks. Be careful of your seating arrangements. Put the tall men and women in the front rows and the short ones in back. If they can't see over they can stand up, can't they? In setting up, arrange to throw across the short side of the room. This will not only give your projector a shorter throw, but you can place more persons where they have to view the screen at an angle. They'll enjoy seeing people ten feet tall and six inches wide. That's something they don't get at the movie theatres. Patent screens are not necessary. That may be all right for the man whose pictures are so dim that he needs every help he can get, but yours are different. A sheet will be plenty good enough. The regular theatres may spend big money for patent screens. What do you care? Just sneak a sheet out of the linen closet. Don't bother to stretch it taut. A few wrinkles and bulges will give a distinctly novel twist to your projection. Never mind overhauling the projector. It was all right the last time you used it, wasn't it? What makes you think anything could have happened to it? And that goes for the extra lamp. What's the use of having a lot of extra lamps kicking around? If a lamp burns out, or the filament breaks, you can take up the rugs and turn on the phonograph. Examining the reels you intend running is a waste of time. So is arranging them in the order in which you intend to run them. Just pile them in a heap on a stand near the projector. When you change reels you can turn on the lights and pick the one you want. If a couple roll off onto the floor it won't hurt them any. Put the reels out before your crowd comes. People are curious and will be glad to look them over. There are plenty of places where you can remove finger marks after the show, and probably the scratches won't show — much. Be sure to have a couple of reels that have not been rewound. Starting off with the tailpiece is always good for a laugh and adds a touch of informality to the proceedings. It will emphasize the fact that this is a jolly little party and not a formal show. Keep the splicer upstairs. Then you can run up if the film breaks, and give the spectators a little rest. If you need new titles, don't be in a hurry about them. Put in a rush order, and if they don't come you can talk the title and cuss out the title maker. Never be in a hurry to start your show. They came to see the pictures and they'll have to wait for you. If you want to show a brother fan a new piece of equipment, let the others wait. They'll find something to talk about. It may be you. Music really isn't necessary, but you can turn on the phonograph or the radio. If you have the radio and someone juggles the controls and brings in a prize fight, that will be another laugh. If you are shy on comedy this will help a lot. Sound effects will help. You can get a small boy to work them for you. If he works the lion roar when you're showing a sleeping baby the crowd will enjoy it. If you have a production in three or more reels it will help considerably to run the third reel second. It's a good test of the intelligence of the spectators — and your own. Run your best films first, while the audience is fresh and better able to enjoy them. Tail off to the finish and they won't ask you for more. Keep up a running fire of talk. Tell them all about the picture you're going to show next, and the trouble you had in getting it. If you have a rural scene, tell them it was made up at Aunt Mary's. Tell about Aunt Mary and her farm; tell all about it. Work in all the amateur movie jokes you read. Drag them in somehow. You may not be as good as a professional monologist, but you'll improve in time. It's always helpful to have a couple of imperfect reels. You can kill time threading up and it gives you a chance to tell all about how much they cost and how easily they break. Work in that old one about it not being the cost but the upkeep. They know when to laugh at that one. Use a short connector cord to the outlet; one that can be accidentally pulled out at the most interesting scenes. With a little practice you can pull the cord every time. If anything happens, tell them you'll have another show next Wednesday, and express the hope they'll all be sure to come. Probably they won't, but it sounds hospitable. 381