Talking pictures : how they are made and how to appreciate them (1937)

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The Stage Is Set The head cinematographer has at least two assistants. The operative cameraman sits on a tiny folding seat which is fastened to the post of the rotumbulator. He seldom leaves this seat while the scene is being lighted or photographed. He checks the focus and makes lens adjustments at the order of the head cinematographer. The lesser assistant in importance keeps the camera clean, carefullv polishes the lenses, of which there are from five to nine in an outfit. He also sees that the "filters" used to intensify one special spectrum color value, and the "optical disks" and "gauzes" (to dim the outlines of a scene for a specific dramatic purpose) are in order. When a scene is completed he walks before the camera with a blackboard called a "slate." This bears the name of the picture, the cameraman, and the number of the scene as listed in the scenario, and the number of the "take." It serves as a guide wThen the film is developed in the laboratory and in the first processes of "cutting" or editing. The advance in photography has been very great in the last decade. Lenses and films are 50 per cent faster and scenes can be photographed with 50 per cent less artificial illumination. Several men in more or less clean overalls may be seen rushing around moving portions of sets and furniture; moving the rotumbulator when needed; performing a great deal of valuable semiskilled labor. These men are the "grips." A good grip is much esteemed by a director. He knows the physical side of work on a set so well [ 169]