Growing Up with Manos: The Hands of Fate by Jackey Jones

Author:Jackey Jones [Jones, Jackey]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: BearManor Media
Published: 2016-11-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6: “We’ll fix it in the lab”

Hal had finished his movie in less than six and a half months, from the first rehearsal to a contract for national theatrical distribution and a big showy premiere.

One way he did it was to keep things moving at a breakneck speed and save on film by doing as few retakes as possible, while still getting enough material for a feature-length film. Add to that a liberal sprinkling of the two phrases most attributed to him: “Don’t worry about it!” and “We’ll fix it in the lab.” Considering there was neither time nor budget to get the best shot or to do multiple takes, those directions became some of the few options available to the stressed Manos production team.

The camera they had rented to shoot Manos was 16mm Bell and Howell Filmo 70DR, a true workhorse. The Bell and Howell was a rugged and dependable camera that had a model for every conceivable purpose, from a “G” model for filming golf to the 70, a favorite among combat and newsreel photographers in World War II and Korea, and that had captured some of the most dramatic footage of Vietnam.

By the late ’50s, the Filmo 70DR had become popular with local news programs, which began venturing out “into the field” for news stories. Bob Guidry, in his job as a newsman and news cameraman, was probably familiar with this particular model. It had a three-lens turret that could be rotated for instant lens change, and a separate turret for the viewfinder and focusing, which made focusing a challenge. The camera operated with a spring-driven motor that was wound using a crank attached to the side. A skilled cameraman would hold the camera with his hand stationary and twist the camera to wind it up. Fully wound, it only allowed for a maximum 32-second shot, but had the advantage of not needing an external power source.

The Ektachrome reversal film used in the camera could be processed locally at smaller labs that could afford the equipment. This saved time for Bob and Hal, who could get the film processed

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