Movie Makers (Jun-Dec 1928)

MAKING YOUR OWN HOME MOVIES TALK (Continued from page 378) After you have gone to all the trouble to have your subject learn the song you are going to use, be sure that his lips will appear clearly on the film. He should be quite close to the camera, which should be carefully focused by measuring with a tape the exact distance from it to the subject. Pictures showing 'close-ups" are most effective. It is not necessary to take a full-length picture; from the waist up is plenty, and the head alone is very effective. Now all that remains to be done is to start the camera, then start the record at the predetermined point, and let the subject do the rest. Promptly at the end of the verse the phonograph is stopped and the subject permitted to make a bow before the camera is stopped. You must allow plenty of leeway between the camera and the phonograph so that he will not have to rush to make the final bow. Bear in mind at all times that you are taking a movie and that your subject should show more signs of life than simply by moving his lips. The final step is the projection. Here is where the fun begins. You will have to do a little experimenting to get the projector and the phonograph to run in absolute synchronism. As each has a speed adjustment you should have little difficulty in regulating them once you start them together. The whole trick is to start them together. A little practice will enable you to do this. You will soon detect the proper instant to start the phonograph so that the first words will be heard exactly when the lips first begin to move. The phonograph should be concealed directly behind the screen, ready for instant operation. Experiment with both a loud and soft needle and decide which you prefer. The talking scene should be carefully spliced into the middle of an appropriate reel and should come as a complete surprise to your audience. Just before the talking scene is about to appear on the screen you should stand at the phonograph and carefully watch the picture. When the proper point is reached, set the phonograph in motion and your picture will talk! Once you have mastered the technic of the home-made-talking-movie you can attempt more elaborate scenes. Considerable comedy can be injected into your pictures by having non-musical persons play musical instruments. Records are available of nearly every sort of solo, from banjo Look/ ...the NEW " WATCH -THIN" BELL & HOWELL 15 i^OW, after three years of intensive development comes the new Filmo 75, affording the finest personal movies and costing one-third less than the Filmo 70! It is "watch-thin" compared with other movie cameras. Beautifully embossed, wear-proof metallic finish. Weighs only three pounds — fits into the coat pocket. Winds like a watch, the permanently-attached key folding flat against side of camera. Retains the familiar spy-glass view-finder concealed within the frame. Held and operated easily in one hand. Regularly equipped with Taylor Hobson-Cooke /-3.5 anastigmat lens, quickly interchangeable with Telephotos and speed lenses for special use. Spy-glass view-finder has automatic field area adjustment for use with all optional lenses. FAIR ALLOWANCE MADE on your old STILL CAMERA— MOVIE CAMERA — PROJECTOR in trade for the NEW BELL & HOWELL 75 Full Line of — LENSES — ACCESSORIES — FILMS — — LIBRARY RELEASES — Free developing service on 16 mm Films. Expert repair department at your service. N. Y. CAMERA EXCHANGE 109 Fulton Street, New York City BEEKMAN 2387 FOTOLITE -.. Dark Days ?•■ MOST LIGHT y l»ER AMPIEB ASK YOUR DEALER FOR A DEMONSTRATION TESTRITE INSTRUMENT CO. NEW YORK 417