Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1927)

January 29, 1927 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 381 Production Tips , Kinks and Wrinkles ■could be introduced, depending on the length of time allowed for the presentation and the talent available. THE SETTING (The key letters correspond in figures 1 and 2). A plain or cloud sky drop A, against •which is placed the ocean row B, carrying the ship C. The beach row D may be profile or painted on the ocean row. A number of set rocks or boulders F, are placed upstage right. Palm trees E right and left. The tree trunks are cut from wall board, battened and raised on lines fastened to fly batten. The foliage is cut borders of muslin or paper. Sky borders mask in between the tree tops. The rocks may be profile. Set rocks are, however, much more realistic and are easily constructed. (See Dec. 25 issue of Moving Picture World.) Sand sprinkled around the rocks and at the foot of the palm trees, a few star fish and sea shell, will add much to the realism of the scene. CONSTRUCTION The ocean may be a perpendicular ground row, or it may be slanting as in figure 3. Here the frame-work, B, is faced with muslin or paper; the upper edge of wall board to fit against the sky drop A. The peninsula is also cut in outline from wall board but placed perpendicular. The ship C is hung on a pivot bolt D and kept in upright position by means of a counter-balance E. A gentle pull on a string attached to the counter-balance sets the ship in a rocking motion. (Care should be taken not to overdo the motion.) The beach row is shaped from wall board F, nailed to frame work. Muslin, G, the upper edge pasted to the wall board strip, is left rather loose, few feet, padded with crumpled paper to imitate sand dunes, laid as a ground cloth. The ship may be cut entirely from wall board, the masts, sails and rigging painted on. Or, the ships hulk cut from wall board, the masts and spars made from wood with unbleached muslin for sails and a rigging of twine. Riding at anchor the ships sails should in reality be furled. Even this effect can be easily accomplished by means of silk threads tied to the lower edge of the sails, gliding over the spars to be manipulated from below the ship. The treasure chest. An old-fashioned round-top trunk can be converted into an ideal treasure chest. If a trunk is not available a dry goods box, with a top built as shown in figure 3, makes an excellent substitute. The two end pieces I are cut to a circular shape from board or veneer, fastened to the frame H (this is of the same dimensions as to the top of the box) and a brace J, of the same length as the frame, placed between, and flush with, the top of ■the end pieces. Cover with wall board and hinge the top to the box. The straps, lock and other trimmings are cut from wall board and nailed onto the box with round-headed upholstery nails. PAINTING Sky drop semi-transparent blue (Dye.) Do peninsula in purple, dark green and blue, with purple predominating. Water in vivid blue with a tinge of green and with black wave suggestions. Beach row in warm grey, cream and lavender. Rocks in warm stone with touches of bright colors; yellow, orange, olive green, brown and blue. Tree trunks medium brown, high-lighted in orange and shaded in blue-black. Foliage dark green, brilliant green and blue in solid flat tones. The chest gets a coat of plastic (Textone) stippled to imitate hammered metal. Coat the surface with aluminum bronze; the trim in gold bronze. When dry apply a thin coating of medium bluegray and wipe off high spots to leave a metallic effect. A touch of green, as seen in tarnished brass, will heighten the effect. Bear in mind that colors used on stage settings should be very much stronger and in greater contrast than the same colors as used in interior decorating and painting in creating the same effect. COSTUMES AND PROPS Everyone is familiar with the accepted and approved style in pirate wear. Stills from any one of the many pirate pictures recently released will offer suggestions. The girls costumes are extremely simple and inexpensive to make, consisting of a white shirt or blouse with either short or no sleeves, a bright red sash, short loose trunks in pea green. The entire costume is in satin or, more economically yet very effective, in sateen. The large tops on boots are made from black oilcloth Hats from the same material over a cardboard or wire frame, with skull and cross bones appliqued in white or painted on. Do not overlook the comedy angle in the make-up of male characters; black eyepatch, big black drooping mustache and heavy eyebrows, wooden leg, parrot, cutlasses and pitols. Also consider the possibilities of this presentation with young people and children in the parts. ILLUMINATING STARS ON SKY DROP We are planning a fantastic presentation requiring illuminated stars showing on the sky. We want the stars to appear gradually to full brightness and then pale out. As only a relatively small number of big stars, two or three inches in diameter, are to be used we considered blocking these in on the back of our sky drop. This will spoil the drop for future effects and we are wondering if there is not a simpler way to do this. B. X. Procure a number of empty cigar boxes, shoe boxes, or any carton of similar nature. Cut out the size star desired on one of the large sides of the box. Bore a hole, large enough to take light cord, in the top of the box. Run light cord through hole, attach socket to cord in such a manner that the box will hang on the socket, like a lamp shade. Put cover on box and hang on back of sky drop with star facing the drop. The star will show through the sky drop, it being understood that the drop is semi-transparent (dye). Make as many boxes as the number of stars required. The stars can be made to twinkle by using “Winker” buttons. By using different length cords equipped with a plug all the stars may be plugged in on a border circuit and worked on dimmer to come on slowly and dim out. Ten watt lights will be found large enough for illumination. The lights being contained in covered boxes prevent spill light. How To File Ideas Why not file the material -offered weekly in The Moving Picture so that it may be easily referred to when occasion arises. Nothing so provoking as knowing that you have read about a certain thing, knowing that you have it “tucked away” somewhere, yet unable to find it when you want it the most. The idea behind the presentation of fered today will be found just as appropriate next month, or next year for that matter. The details may embody a change of songs and perhaps some dance numbers. Many of the presentations suggest songs and dances of years gone by, numbers that will be as appropriate years to come as they are today; the classics of the music and dance world. And you may have much of this wealth of material at your finger tips by devoting five or ten minutes a week to filing and indexing. AND HERE IS HOW Secure a few sheets of five or six ply manila card board or tough check; measure and cut each sheet as shown in the diagram. Crease the flaps along the dotted lines, making two creases about of an inch apart, on each flap. This thickness of the folder will care for a year’s filing. A file cover, such as used in filing letters, may be used for filing separately presentations of similar nature such as Novelty Orchestra, Dance Routine, Children’s Features, etc. On the inside of folder flaps is listed the name and nature of the presentations with the number of the cover in which it is filed and the date of issue in which it was printed. In another index are listed the production tips, kinks and wrinkles. Many of these tips are worked in mith the building of a presentation set.