Reel and Slide (Mar-Dec 1918)

REEL and SLIDE How to Use Motion Picture Camera By J. Frank Martin (Many large manufacturing concerns and educational institutions have installed laboratories and are producing moving pictures on the spot. There have been many requests for information on the subject of motion picture photography. Reel and Slide has arranged with Mr. J. Frank Martin of Pittsburgh, an authority on the subject, to print this series of articles. — Editor.) THE profession of cameraman is a new art, ranking far above professional "still" photography and approaching in technique the ability required in the older arts of painting and drawing. The art of motion picture manufacture, whether in the amusement or commercial field, largely depends upon the skill of the limits of space. This may be true of the telephoto lens but for "close-ups," particularly portraiture, the wide angle lens thrown slightly out of focus toward the film will give a more pleasing result than obtainable with any other lens. The result will approximate closely those of the best, "still portrait," lens. Motion picture camera construction has reached a degree of development that adjuncts to both the camera and lens for securing certain partly physiological effects known as "fading, circling or vignetting and dissolving," are a part of every professional equipment. The most that can be said of these are that they are used recklessly and are much abused. «0 cameraman. One of the greatest producers once confided that the best results are only secured, "When the director was a capable cameraman and the cameraman understood directing." The author believes that the artist of the future is the cameraman and, like the master painter and musician, he will receive the reward for the masterpiece. Every cameraman's equipment of lenses should include, in addition to the standard 2-inch E. F. lens, a 3-inch E. F., a wide angle 1, ?4-inch E. F. and a telephoto lens of between 5 and 7-inch E. F. A standard set of ray and sky filters are a necessity and the better grade of filters for hand camera work are suitable. Experience indicates that good lenses have "talent," that is, a dozen lenses of the same make when used on the same subject and an identical stop and illumination, will show individuality, different results, small but readily distinguished, and each lens will excel the others on some particular subject and illumination. Lenses That Are Needed Best results have been secured by making the following uses of lenses. Use 2-inch E. F. lens on standard scenes showing full figures and where clear definition of distant background is not desired. Use 3-inch E. F. lens on standard scenes where clear definition is desired in distant backgrounds. The general conception of the use of wide angle and telephoto lenses is that use is confined to a matter of convenience and The application of these effects should be largely confined to photoplay production and the use should be studied carefully v/ith close consideration of the scenario before application. The general tendency to entirely obliterate the image should be avoided. As an illustration, fading out just enough to give a suggestion is generally m.ore effective and avoids a harsh screen in reproduction. A Simple System It is claimed by some expert laboratory workers that these effects can be obtained best in the laboratory by chemical treatment and it is self-evident that the application can be made best after viewing a sample print. One recently developed effect is a combination of the duplicator and double exposure by which one scene is made to come on from the side crowding, as it were, the first image off. This is just a new way of securing the double exposure "vision." The writer recently developed a similar effect in much simpler form, as one exposure suffices. The arrangement is shown in figures 1 and is nothing more than a small mirror mounted on a hinge so that it may be swung around into the axis of the lens, thus diverting the field by reflection to a right angle with normal. The effect is a combination of the panorama and vision effects. Two separate scenes may be taken simultaneously or may be switched to alternately while the camera is running, simply by swinging the small mirror. (Copyright by J. Frank Martin) Red Cross Controls War Film of American Fighters THE first laurel-crowned United States fighters are shown in an exclusive film just brought to this country by the American Red Cross. This picture scores an important news "scoop" in that it presents for the first time a review of American veterans fresh from their triumph's on the Marne. After its premiere in New York at the Rivoli Theatre, the film will be distributed throughout the United States for the American Red Cross by General Film Company. The production is the work of the picture division of the American Red Cross. The principal scenes depicted in the Red Cross film are from the international Fourth of July celebration in Paris, in which battle-scarred U. S. troops parade in the dedication of the new Avenue du President Wilson (formerly the Avenue du Trocadero) to the Strassbourg monument in the Place de la Concorde, where impressive patriotic ceremonies took place. Vast crowds of enthusiastic Parisians cheered the Yankees in their march, special reviewing stands having been constructed. Dr. Newell Dwight Hillis Puts Atrocities on Slides DR. NEWELL DWIGHT HILLIS, pastor of Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, one of America's best known lecturers, not long ago returned from_ a visit to stricken Belgium, with many pictures offering actual proof of German atrocities. Dr. Hillis is lecturing throughout the country on the subject, illustrating his talks with lantern slides. Arrangements have been made with the Victor Animatograph Company of Davenport, Iowa, to furnish complete stereopticon outfits with the lecture and slides, or tl.e lecture and slides alone, to those who now have projecting lantern equipment. Hundreds of copies of these slide sets are now ready for distribution. The lecture manuscript and Dr. Hillis' book, "German Atrocities," are furnished without cost. This plan makes it possible for every community to hear the facts, in the words of Ainerica's foremost minister, and to have the statements proven by his authentic illustrations. Victor Announces Viopticon Lantern Slide Process ANEW style lantern slide which has attracted widespread attention is being oft'ered by the Victor Animatograph Company in what they have named their new Viopticon slide. This slide, which is illustrated herewith, offers many advantages. It may be shipped v;ith less precaution in packing; its weight is much less than the standard slide and it is easier to handle. The slide consists of a single piece of glass. Instead of the binder tape, this slide is framed in an especially prepared composition which is cushion enough to prevent breakage in shipment. The process, according to the Victor people, permits them to make a better slide at less cost. These slides can be used either in the Victor Viopticon slide projector or in any standard machine providing a special holder is secured.