Personal Movies (1933)

OCTOBER, 1933 genuity of each filmer usually gives birth to a number of novel effects. I shall just introduce to you the various manners of producing trick titles. Thereafter different effects will suggest themselves. We will be interested to hear from cine enthusiasts who have produced trick title effects. I am sure the readers of this column will be interested in the results obtained by other amateurs. The simplest effect to employ is fading-in and fading-out. To fade-in the diaphragm of the lens is closed down completely and the hand placed over the lens. Start the camera and slowly open the diaphragm to the point previously determined as the correct exposure. Fading-out is an opposite procedure. In this case towards the end of the title the diaphragm is slowly closed down as far as it will go and The Victor Titter the hand is then placed over the lens. The latter procedure is necessary because the diaphragms of most lenses do not close down completely. A second effect to utilize is reverse action. Cameras such as the English Super-Kinecan, the Cine-Kodak Special, and the new Professional Filmo, are constructed so that the film can be run backwards, simplifying matters in the production of reverse action. The film is exposed upon the title while the former is wound backwards instead of the usual forward manner. The possessor of the usual type of camera will have to "shoot" the title with the camera held upside down in order to produce reverse action effects. As an example of the effect produced in this manner — set up a block letter title upon a large sheet of paper. Photograph it with the film running backwards or with the camera held upside down. Towards the end of the title move the sheet of paper so that the block letters will fall down one or two at a time. When the title is returned from the laboratory and The Boll & Howell Black Letter Titler spliced into the roll of film end for end, on the screen it will appear as if the block letters spring up from a lying down position to form the title. Then again we have animation. In this case one or two frames are exposed at a time, the components of the title being moved after each exposure The Victor Titler folds up to a very compact size Many cameras are provided with a device whereby one frame of film can be exposed at a time. Should your camera not be so equipped, by switching it to half speed and barely touching the release one or two frames will be exposed at a time. A title which appears to write itself can be made in this fashion. A little is added to each letter at a time, one or two frames being exposed after each addition. Animation combined with reverse action produces unusual effects. As an example, a title card is set up and photographed with film run backwards or the camera held upside down for a sufficient time to be easily read upon the screen. The camera is stopped and adjusted to expose one or two frames of film at a time. The Kelsey Press and Complete Outfit for Printing Titles A small piece is torn off the card, one or two frames are exposed. Another piece is torn off the card and again one or two frames are exposed. This is continued until the card is completely demolished. When the title is returned from the laboratory and correctly spliced into the roll of film it will appear upon the screen as if small bits of paper fly together to form the complete title. I have exceeded my alloted space 245 and will end our discussion of titles at this point. I will explain some further methods of producing unusual titles next month. Amateurs who have devised means of producing unusual titles are invited to send an explanation of the manner in which they produce such titles. Photographs of special equipment constructed by the amateur to effect such titles will also be welcome. I am sure our readers will be interested in what other filmers are accomplishing. Famous VICTOR Projectors Brand NEW Factory guaranteed 500 Watt models — at less than Yl Price — Write for details. We sell and BROKER the following Equipment: BEI.L & HOWELL — EASTMAN VICTOR — SIMPLEX — AMPRO STEWART-WARNER Cameras, Projectors and Accessories Save 30% to 60% on all your MOVIE Purchases — Write for our latest BARGAIN List. SUNNY SCHICK Cinemachinery Brokers 403 W. Washington Blvd. FORT WAYNE, IND. "Since 1925" WHERE AND HOW TO SELL PHOTOGRAPHS This booklet by II. Rossiter Snyder is based on an entirely new research made by him into the magazines that have survived the business depression. Dead wood has been eliminated and every magazine in the first two important lists has gone through his bands within a month of printing the work. His comments on the kinds of photographs used by each, together with sample titles of illustrated material in each magazine, are something making for a market directory value far beyond anything of the kind brought out formerly. 40c Postpaid Fomo Publishing Co. Sippo Lake Canton, Ohio