Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 92.djvu/364

 Screen Thrills Are Cheaper Now

How the motion-picture man saves money

By Prescott Lecky

I, Part I) The Start of a Thrilling Accident In a recent film, the scenario called for the destruction of a high-powered automobile at a railroad crossing. it supposedly having stalled at this thrilling point just as a train arrived. An exact replica of the real machine was made of tin and wood, and brought to the location on a truck as shown above. The real machine is in the foreground. What happened next is shown on the page opposite. The details are harrowing. We shudder.

IN the early days of the motion picture industry, directors were thrifty to the point of parsimony — for money was scarce. Then came an era of wild ex- travagance — for money was plentiful. And now, having swung too far both ways, the financial pendulum has finally settled down to a business range. This is the day of sane economy — for money is money. And that is why some of the ingenuity that was formerly devoted to spending money is now occu- pied in sav- ing it. So long as the result re- mains con- vincing on the screen, the e f!i - ciency man is welcome. The great- est field for intelligent retrench- ment lies

How They Fool 'Em

The above photograph is an excellent illustration both of the effect of the "long shot" and the "camouflage." The "long shot" is a picture taken at a distance, and the obvious result is an obliteration of detail. In this case, as closer examination will show, the cars were not damaged at all. After the apparent collision, shown from a distance, the seats were thrown out, a wheel taken off and a cloud of dust thrown up during the making of the close-up. In other words, the director takes advantage of the well known fact that disorder looks like damage. He gets satisfactory screen effects.

in those scenes that call for wholesale calamities and destruction. Until very recently, the automobiles destroyed were the real thing; very old, as a rule, and cheap makes, but real automobiles never- theless. To-day, the directors of even the wealthiest companies try to avoid this useless expense. If the effect on the screen is just as good, the effect on the expense account is even better.

M u c h cheaper than the d u m m y model is a literal application of the well- k n o w n "c a m u - flage." A cloud of dust before the eye of the c a m - era works many con- V e n i e n t miracles. The pic- tures take up details.

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