Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1929)

\ The Amateur Movie Contest Prizes Curtain Falls on PHOTOPLAY'S Great Competition as Judges Award $2,000 in Prizes THE final awards in Photoplay's second amateur movie contest have been decided upon by the judges who selected winners of the S2,000 in prizes. Twe unusual amateur productions won the tirst prizes of SSOO each in the dramatic and non-dramatic divisions of the competition. The chief award in the non-dramatic section was voted to Ralph Steiner, of 350' 2 West 24th Street, New York Citv, for his remarkable 35 millimeter study in the abstract, "H'20." This film is a study of water in the new manner: A series of photographic shots of the reflections of boats, ferry houses, docks, etc., on water and the whole resulting in a chain of pure abstract patterns of shapes in water. Steiner achieves an astonishing tempo as his film advances. The picture is bound to attract wide attention and a great deal of discussion whereeverit isshown. Mr. Steiner is a maker of advertising photographs but is an amateur cinematographer in every sense of the word. "H20" is his first complete film. Mr. Steiner is a graduate of Dartmouth. "H20" was made with an Eyemo and a DeBrie. Mr. Steiner used six and twelve inch lenses on both cameras to pull the water reflection up large. THE Foto-Cine Productions, of 418 South Stanlislaus Street, Stockton, Calif., won the first prize of $500 in the dramatic division for its 16 millimeter picture, "Three Episodes." This film discloses, concisely and with cinematic dexterity, what passes in the mind of a dying soldier in a shell hole in Flanders. The three memories flashing back to the suiTering doughboy were well done and the film as a whole disclosed the best sense of cinematics revualed bv anv contender in this division. By Frederick James Smith "Three Episodes" is directly the work of Robert Burhans, who wrote the scenario, directed and contributed largely towards the production in a financial way; Robert W. Ward, who was the cameraman; Alice L. Buckle, who acted as title and script girl; and Edwin J. Fairall, who was production supervisor. The acting of the soldier was well done by Scott Hardester. It should be noted that both Mr. Burnhans and Mr. Ward have been experimenting actively with amateur cinematics for years. Mr. Burhans was a competitor in Photoplay's contest of last year. THE second award, of $250, in the dramatic division was made to Dr. H. A. Heise, of Uniontown, Pa. Dr. Heise also was a contestant in Photoplay's last contest. His winning 16 millimeter film this year, "Whither Flowing," depicts the nervous evils caused by parents in the thoughtless upbringing of children. The drama was compactly told, well acted and directed, and was marked by unusual photography. Second prize, of $250, in the non-dramatic section went to B. V. Covert, of 154 Genessee Street, Lockport, N. Y., who last year won a first division prize of $500. Mr. Covert submitted an interesting 16 millimeter study of fishing, ranging from deep sea thrills off the Florida coast to an expedition into the Canadian wilds. As in the first contest, Mr. Covert demonstrated a better sense of scenic photography than was revealed by any other contender. He builds his scenic upon an interesting story framework and the result is not just a series of hap-hazard shots. Third prize, of $150, in the dramatic division went to the Undergraduate Motion Pictures of Princeton University for "Incident," which was marked by some extraordinary cinematography. This was in 16 [ please turn to page 86 ] Photoplay Amateur Movie Contest Awards Dramatic First, $500 Foto-Cine Productions 418 So. Stanlislaus Street Stockton, Cal. Drama, "Three Efisodes" First, $500 Ralph Steiner 3 50 1/2 West 24th Street New York City Study, "H20" Second, $250 Dr. H. A. Heise 23 Delaware Avenue Uniontown, Pa. Drama, "Whither F/oii>ing" Third, $150 Undergraduate Motion Pictures Princeton University Princeton, N. J. Drama, "Incident" Nori'Dramatic Second, $250 B. V. Covert 1 54 Genessee Street Lockport, N. Y. Scenic, "Just Fishing" Third, $150 Hiram Percy Maxim 276 No. Whitley Street Hartford, Conn. Scenic, "The Sea" Fourth, $100 Jac Thall 957 77th Street Brooklyn, N. Y. Drama, "A Quickie" Fourth, $100 Edward E. Jacobson 9 East 41sf Street New York City Scenic,"Our Metropolis" Edward E. Jacobson 9 East 41st Street New York City Drama, "What Does It Matter?" Hiram Percy Maxim 276 No. Whitley St. Hartford, Conn. Scenic, "Summer" Honorable Mentions Leonard Clairmont 6247 Banner Place Hollywood, Calif. Drama, "Nemesis" Koji Tsukamoto 11 Sojuro — cho Kyobashi Tokio, Japan Scenic, "Inland Sea of Japan" Jack Nevin 1111 Yorkshire Rd. Grosse Pointe Port Detroit, Michigan Drama, "Sophistication" 07