Movies for TV - Early Television Foundation

342
THE PROGRAM ANGLE
covers the field through which the shot will be made an excellent
reproduction of an underwater scene is produced which is almost
impossible to tell from the real thing if proper care has been taken
with the props. It is extremely important to use plenty of light on
the set, for the success of this effect depends on good depth of field.
Therefore, the lens must be stopped well down to provide the
necessary depth and this requires more light than usual.
Another way of doing this, and one which is more satisfactory
since it follows standard practice, is to use two films and put them
both in the printer, thus making a super-imposition. For example,
one film has the scene which is supposed to be underwater, and
the other has the shot through the fish bowl. When the two are
the effect is of an underwater scene. If this were
printed together
being done live the fish scene would be on one camera and the
action scene on another. The two signals are then mixed electron-
ically and produce the desired underwater shots.
If an illusion of towering trees and dense jungle is required
small trees or shrubs can be arranged close to the camera lens and
shooting performed in such a way that the tree trunks almost obscure
the lens. This will produce the well-known amateur photo-
graphic effect in which objects such as feet or hands invariably
appear monstrous when photographed closer to the camera than
the rest of the body. Actors in the background are dwarfed by
the trees in the front and the desired effect can be obtained. Of
course, it is necessary to have the background flats suitably
dressed.
In the other direction, the use of miniatures offers unlimited
scope for production detail and special effects in scenery and
props. Unfortunately miniatures cost a lot of money to build,
although there are a lot of artists who like to work on them for
to find some made
sheer love of creation, and it may be possible
by these people or to get them to work for a station on a part-time
basis. Simple miniatures are not outside the scope of the average
station staff, although who will actually build it depends on how
many people are employed and the quality of the scenery painters.
In each case the conditions will vary. Sometimes the producer