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

Talking Pictures deserve special comment. The first is the development of sound on film in 1 6 mm. size pictures; and the development of apparatus that is light, portable, and practical for the school to use in projecting sound pictures in their auditoriums and classrooms. "It would be well to keep in mind one vital point. If a motion picture is to be produced for general distribution in the schools, it should be "shot" on 35 mm. standard equipment and reduced to 1 6 mm. in the print. This is quite necessary because it is not yet possible to get all the professional effects and results from original 16 mm. production, such as the addition of the sound track to the film and other laboratory effects which are only possible when working with a 3 5 mm. negative. Of course, since the vast majority of equipment now in the schools is 16 mm., it is necessary that the print be on the 16 mm. size. If, however, a film is being taken just as a record of the school activities, and no distribution is contemplated, a 1 6 mm. camera is recommended for the economy of this equipment and film. "The use of a new color process is another development worthy of emphasis in any article dealing with educational film production. The perspective of this 1 6 mm. color process opens up the film of documentary recording of subjects in which color is inherent, in an authentic and yet simple manner." The statement has been heard, "But the theatre movie and the educational film differ too greatly to have anything in common." They are different, but as we have said before, so are second cousins. They may not look alike but some of the same blood flows in their veins. [262]