Visual Education (Jan-Dec 1922)

October-November, 19 2 2 State Fire Marshals Fight Inflammable Film THAT Congress be. petitioned to enact a law making it illegal to transport inflammable film in interstate commerce after January 1, 1925, is the gist of a resolution adopted September 13 by the State Fire Marshals' Association, assembled at Portland, Maine, for their national convention. The text of the resolution follows : Whereas, The use of inflammable films in theaters and other public places is detrimental to public safety and largely increases the fire risk, and Whereas, The use of films in theaters, schools, churches and lodges is continually increasing, and Whereas, The use of inflammable films has been condemned by this Association, the National Board of Fire Un derwriters, and the National Fire Protection Association, and Whereas, The prohibition of the use of such films in some states and not in others does not remedy the evil, and Whereas, The prohibition of the transportation of inflammable films by the National Congress will accomplish the desired result and compel the manufacturers of films to manufacture films which are non-inflammable; Now Be It • Therefore Resolved, By the Fire Marshals' Association of North America, in convention assembled, that the National Congress be requested to enact a law prohibiting the transportation of inflammable films in interstate commerce effective January 1, 1925, and that a copy of this resolution be sent to the President and Vice-President of the United States and to each Senator and Representative in the National Congress. The Business of Movie-Making IF you want to know the details of how a movie is made, read the article by Helen Christine Bennett entitled "The Making of a Movie," published in the Woman's Home Companion. It is interestingly told, and is illustrated by a double page of pictures showing typical photographs as yet uncut by the editor, "trick sets," snow scenes made with pounds of salt, a wind machine, etc. The public does not realize the amount of work attached to producing one "feature." There may be from three to five hundred scenes that have to be photographed satisfactorily. Since almost ninety per cent of all picturemaking is done in the studios, sets have to be built, after designs suitable for the camera are complete. Actors work from eight-thirty in the morning until at least fourthirty in the afternon, and often until midnight, in long stretches of time while the production is being made. The critical editing, or "cutting," of the films is of vital importance. A five-reel feature may be cut to its 5,000 feet from an initial footage of as much as 25,000 feet. It is during this process that the titling is done. "Although few people realize it," says the author, "almost every foot of film that is thrown on the screen has been bathed in a tinted wash which softens the black and white, making it easier on the eyes. A mid-day scene where all is bright and cheerful receives a tint of warm amber ; a moonlight night has a bath in cool, bleak hues." The picture is given a try-out in a small-town theater, and if the criticism is favorable, copies of the film are made up for distribution, often as many as two hundred prints being made in the case of a picture with a popular star like Mary Pickford. The completed film is then released to the public. 361 Children's Bodk Week CHILDREN'S Book Week is to be nationally observed during the week of November 12—18. * The National ^Board of Review of Motion Pictures is energetically co-operafing with the Children's Book Week Committee in helping to popularize the movement through the injection of motion pictures into the program. Many of the greatest motion pictures are based upon the world's most popular books, and the filming has in most cases added greatly to the appreciation of the story. Therefore the National Board, gleaning the motion-picture field for the most suitable material, has " supplied motion-picture theaters ' throughout the country with lists of recommended "book films." Every one is urged to speak to the manager of his favorite theater and indicate his choice, as bookings for Book Week programs will be made largely upon such recommendations on the part of picture-goers. Here are some of the many listed, each of which will send a little thrill of pleasant memory to some reader: "Black Beauty," by Anne Sewell ; star, Jean Paige. "Dead Men Tell No Tales," by E. W. Hornung; Catherine Calvert and Percy Marmont. "The Island of Regeneration," by Cyrus Townsend Brady; Antonio Moreno. "The Little Minister," by James M. Barrie; Alice Calhoun. "The Prodigal Judge," by Vaughan Kester; all-star. "Restless Souls," by Richard Harding Davis (original title, "Playing Dead") ; Earle Williams. "The Silver Car," by Wyndham Martyn ; Earle Williams. "The Son of Wallingford," by George Randolph and Lillian Chester ; all-star. HHH