Movies for TV - Early Television Foundation

552
THE PROGRAM ANGLE
stores which are almost in scale, and certainly close enough. Both
GE and RCA supply cut-out models, in book form, of their television
equipment for use by engineers in planning studios and
stations. The scale is about half an inch to a foot. The camera
models from this can be used with great effectiveness in this kind
of setup. Although blank or lettered pieces of wood and card can
be used for setting up, it is much easier and more impressive if
lifelike models are used. The dime stores today also carry sets of
plastic furniture which is built to an approximate scale. Since these
vary from store to store and time to time depending on whose make
of toys is in stock, it is pointless to attempt to state the scale here.
Generally, one foot by two feet is the approximate space oc-
cupied by a standing man or woman. Flats are often made in fourfoot
widths because the plywood and composition sheets used come
in that width. Dioramas and roll scenery can be built to scale as
desired.
Plastic scales are used to represent the field and angle widths
obtained from cameras and to plan early camera shots. These must,
of course, be cut to the same scale. Usually Plexiglass about one-
eighth of an inch thick will be satisfactory. Triangular in shape,
they show what will be included in the frame with different lenses
and distances. If the model cameras already mentioned are used, the
pointed end is placed at the lens of the camera. If they
are not used
it must be remembered to allow room for the camera operator be-
hind the apex of the triangles so that he has room to work as well as
get his camera in. In the artistic frenzy of planning a it is
production
quite easy to forget the little detail of allowing space for the camera
to be in position for a shot.
Having decided on the layout of the stage, the furniture style is
decided. It is most important to ensure that pictures on walls are
treated with great care. It is only too easy to produce an odd effect
by the unfortunate positioning of a frame round a player's head, or
by having an object appear to grow out of his head.
When changing scene from room to room it should be remem-
bered that the viewer has only limited areas to watch ;
therefore, it
must be apparent that the switch is from the kitchen to the dining