Evening star., 1934-04-15


and sound synchronization The
second command, given after the motors have
attained their normal speed, is the signal for
the players to start their action.
What happens after the director drawls, "All
right camera? Speaking frankly, anything
might happen and lots of things do. 1t all
depends upon the type of scene to be filmed
1t may be simple little scene Of girl put
ting on her stockings, or it may be one of those
"chase scenes of two automobiles speeding
through crowded streets. Whatever it is, the
cameramen ready. Their job is to record
film any idea which may have been con-
ceived by the director or writers.
Five years ago. when the talkies still were
in their kindergarten stage, only certain things
could be done with camera. Handicapped by
having their instruments in huge soundproof
booths, cameramen could do little besides shoot
the ordinary long shots, medium shots or
close-ups.
the players. The cameras of necessity remained
stationary. Hence all pictures were filmed
along set routine with very stilted action.
TODAY all Of that is different. Despite the
fact that sound also must be recorded and
the cameras must be covered with "blimps' to
prevent their noise from reaching the sensitive
microphones, they can be manipulated with all
of the freedom that was enjoyed during the
silent picture era. No angle is too difficult, no
action too great for our present-day camera
men. In fact, trick shots have become just as
common as they were before talking films came
into being.
One example of what can be done photo
graphically these days is the vision shot,"
scene in which the character sees transparent
vision. This is done in two ways.
One is the double-exposure method. This
calls for filming the entire scene once and then
with the camera focused on a black back
ground, the scene is shot once on the
same strip Of film with the person seen in the
vision being the only object in front of the
W black curtain. 1t is an exacting job and -,ery
movement must be perfectly timed and placed
Another and newer method was used recently
in the filming of Buster Keatons new film 1.-The
Gold Ghost" Buster, standing in the lobby of
an old hotel in a deserted mining town, sees
q vision Of what has tranSpired before.
To film this Buster went through his action
Just as he would in any ordinary scene. But
large, highly polished plate glass was placed
diagonally in front Of the camera. Behind the
camera AID at right angle to the plate glass
were the characters Buster sees in his vision
Standing before black curtain, their images
were reflected on the plate glass through which
the camera was shooting. Consequently they
appeared transparent on the film, as the camera
shot through their reflections and also picked
up all of the background in the set As there
was no reflection covering the portion of the
glass through which Buster was photographed.
he appeared as solid character.
DHOTOGRAPHING people in moving car is
! easy. Formerly such action was photo
praphed by having the moving object on
treadmill which kept it stationary while
circular background behind it was revolved at
any speed which the director desired.
That no longer can be done, however, as the
effect lacks the necessary realism. So now a
and
the camera mounted on this can photograph
the persons in the car or can be swung around
1 to photograph the road ahead forgive audiences
the feeling of actually, being in the car.
:. It is not at all uncommon to see q railroad
train or group of horses apparently thunder