Movie Makers (Jan-May 1928)

Lions TV Everything! ORIENTAL banquets, tribal warfare and wild lions proved surmountable obstacles to the Zutto Players, of Philadelphia, whose latest release is now in the cutting room. This film, as yet untitled and un named, is based on a true tale told to the director, Harry Zutto, by a Moroccan effendi in the Orient. Elaborate props were required and assembled. Costumes were devised in spite of discouragements. From the photographs in this month's Amateur Clubs, one can see that this film, of professional magnitude, has been completed because of amateur ingenuity and persistence. Harry Zutto directs this club, Philip Moss is production manager and G. C. Zollers, secretary. This club carries a League membership, through its secretary. Visual Propaganda TPHE value of amateur films to in■*■ dustry is excellently illustrated in a New England cinema saga. The members of the Movie Club of Western Massachusetts were not slow to realize the unusual cinematic possibilities of the floods in the Connecticut River valley. A film more than 1500 feet long was assembled from the best shots of various club members and projected at the club's December 6 meeting. A film record, made by a club member, of the water pounding the Holyoke dam at a crucial moment in the flood season, proved so valuable that 18 duplicates were immediately requested by the directors of the company owning the dam, to illustrate graphically the severe test given the structure. THE DESERT'S COME TO BROAD STREET The Zutto Players of Philadelphia Are Filming a Tale of the Sheiks So successful was the first impromptu" cooperative film of the Movie Club of Western Massachusetts that its members have voted to establish a monthly newsreel covering the events of the western part of their state. Members in the different cities and towns in the club's territory will film news events of interest. These films will be assembled at club headquarters in Springfield for showing at club meetings and copies of these joint productions will be available to members. This active club is also assembling the cast for its first photoplay, a short comedy, "Home cooking." Robert White is dramatic director for this film, William H. Mitchell, technical director, William G. Edwards and Ray Winans, cameramen, Andrew Phillips, title writer and Arthur Payette, editing and cutting supervisor. A permanent dramatic division is in formation. Three comedies produced by the Motion Picture Club of New Haven were shown at the last meeting of the Massachusetts group. These club interchanges are on the increase. Those Active Anzacs HpHE antipodes are again to the ■* fore with the projected amateur movie club for Auckland, New Zealand. R. G. H. Manley, of that city, has laid extremely well thought out plans for this organization, the primary purpose of which will be amateur photoplay production. An extensive prospectus has been prepared, setting forth detailed purposes and noting future difficulties to be overcome. The organizers intend the Auckland Club to be the first of a chain of clubs in the Dominion that will produce amateur photoplays for international exchange. We have already recorded the live Mosman Cine (Continued on page 57) CAMERA AND CAVIARE Russell Ervin Is at the Camera; Alfred Fontana at the Plate. A Still from "And How, Production in the Oranges, (New Jersey) Thirty -three