New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung from New Braunfels, Texas • Page 54

Tele-Times Dec. 5,1982 Page 17 ON THE CABLE Shedding light on the silver screen By Debra Morgenstern Katz Know what a clapstick is? How about a leader? A sound stage? Playback? The kids who watch Lights! Camera! Action!" know. Anyone who loves movies will want to watch Nickelodeon's new kids' show that premiered last month. Host Leonard Nimoy takes viewers behind the scenes of the silver screen to explain what's really going on when Superman runs through flames or Hercules throws a sword through the body of a beautiful woman. More important than learning how stunts are done, though, viewers get a feel of the work that goes into a feature film.

What looks so smooth and easy from the comfort of our seats in the darkened movie theater represents months and months of painstakingly detailed work. As little, dimpled Aileen Quinn tells Nimoy, the biggest surprise she had in making her first movie was in how long it took to do anything: Sometimes, she says, they wouldn't even complete a single scene in a whole day. Lights! Camera! Action!" takes viewers on location to watch movies being filmed, to watch the interaction of directors and actors before a scene is shot and to interview the stars. The best thing about the program is that top-quality movies are used in the series. In one episode, Nimoy talked to Christopher Reeve on the set of "Superman III" and Lou Ferrigno on the set of "Hercules," as well as interviewing Miss Quinn from "Annie" and showing clips from "Star Wars" and "The Empire Strikes Back." Even if a child is not contemplating a career in Hollywood and especially if he is "Standby" is a show that will enrich the movie-going experience for kids of all ages.

Oh, yes a clapstick is the chalkboard on which the take and scene numbers are written; a leader is the extra strip of film attached to the beginning of each reel; a sound stage is the what the crew films on when the movie is not being made on location; and playback is the method by which songs are taped in musicals. For more detailed information, watch the show; but don't worry, as Nimoy says, "This isn't school and there won't be any tests." Don't look for the "English Channel" on the USA Cable Network anymore. The three times a week series of imported programming gets renamed this month, to "Ovation." When the series was conceived most of the programming originated from England; hence the former title. Now it comes to us from Canada, Australia and England. Some of the regular programs: "Whicker's World," profiles of international cities, and "The Fifth Estate," investigative reports from Canada; also, cultural reports like "Focus on Britain," and dramatic presentations.

Henry Fonda gets a tribute on HBO this week: "Henry Fonda: The Man and His Movies," premiering Tuesday, Dec. 7. Clips from his films as well as from newsreel footage and home movies combine for a glimpse at the star's life and work..