Personal Movies (1933)

OCTOBER, 1933 243 he Technical Corner by Augustus Wolfman "TITLES" The making of titles is a phase of amateur cinematography which enables the filmer to obtain as much joy as is derived in the usual filming of scenes. Titles are a necessary' component of amateur movies. They serve to connect and explain scenes. Cleverly worded they can inject humor or other moods into the picture. We will not concern ourselves with the methods of wording titles but rather with the technique of making them. The amateur can letter his titles upon large cards which are then photographed, care being taken that the card is properly placed, and sharply focused upon. The market, however, offers many simple and handy devices. Title boards can be obtained in which there are grooves into which celluloid letters are slipped. It is a simple matter to change from one title to another Letters with prongs are obtainable. These are simply tacked on to the title board. Still another apparatus employs magnetism to keep the letters adhered to the board. Block letters can be had with which unique titles can be made. They are obtainable in colors for the production of Kodacolor titles. More convenient devices are offered in the title stands. These compact accessories provide for a fixed position for the camera, and a frame into which the title cards are placed. Small cards can be employed with the assurance that they are correctly aligned. Such devices are the Bell 6? Howell Character Title Writer, the Cine-Kodak Titler, the Simplo Title Maker, etc. The Bell and Howell Character Title Writer is capable of being placed at various angles from a horizontal position to a vertical one. In the accompanying illustration the titler is placed so that the hand writing the title can be photographed. It carries its own lighting equipment consisting of two lamps mounted upon arms which are swiveled and jointed, enabling the lamps to be placed at various positions. The latter are silvered on one side dispensing with the use of reflectors. The equipmnet is also provided with an offset-compensating prism. This device permits the viewfinder of the camera to be used to align the title card properly. It must be remembered that at close distances, such as are encountered here, the viewfinder does not present the actual field covered by the lens, due to the different positions they both occupy upon the camera. The Cine-Kodak Titler is provided with a special lens mounted in a hinged frame, which when raised in front of the Cine Kodak lens brings the latter into sharp focus upon a title card only eight inches distant. This enables ordinary small letters such as typewriter tpye to make suitable titles. A portable stand is offered in the Victor Pocket Titler. When folded The Cine-Kodak Tiller this device easily slips into the pocket. Titles can be made as we go along filming. Willoughbys" offer the Simplo Title Maker. This titler can be used with the Simplex Pockette Camera and all models of Cine-Kodaks including the "eight." It is equipped with a roller enabling "creeper" titles to be made. This titler can also be fastened to an upright device to photograph coins, jewels, etc. Now let us consider the making of title cards. The general plan upon which they should be based is light lettering upon a dark background. Due to the characteristics of human vision light lettering upon dark colored backgrounds is more easily viewed than dark letters against a light background. If you are going to employ decorative titles use the same motif in all the titles used for a single motion picture. Harmony must be preserved. The design can be drawn upon celluloid and placed over each card, or it can be made as a cut-out and placed over the card when it is being photographed. If you desire so, elaborate designs may be employed in the main title. The other titles, however, should carry a similar simple design. Ornate decoration detracts from the wording of the titles. In lettering the title many methods can be resorted to. Some cinematographers prefer to use their own handwriting in making titles. Others who have had some art training and are deft at lettering produce titles which are designed to harmonize with the action of the motion picture. Many amateurs employ small printing presses to produce clean cut lettering. Such presses are obtainable at a relatively low cost. Amateurs who wish to letter their own titles will find that very helpful textbooks on lettering are available at all book shops. If you intend using a brush do not purchase this tool at a 5 and 10 cent store. Procure a red sable show-card brush at an artists supply store. This type is especially designed to produce clean cut letters. If you are clumsy at handling the brush a simpler but less efficient tool will be found in the speedball pen. It is provided with a flat point which is supplied in various widths according to the thickness of the letters desired. This pen is obtainable at all large stationery stores. After the card has been made we now proceed to photograph it. With title stands the correct alignment of the card does not present a problem. The attached frame serves as a guide. Similarly focusing is also provided for. When employing other means of making titles precaution must be taken to correctly place the card. Its center The Simplo Title Maker must be directly opposite the center of the lens, and the four corners of the card must be at equal distances from the objective. This is necessary to prevent distortion. Obtain accurate focus. A unique device which can be employed is a fo