American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1926)

August, 1926 AMERICAN CINEMATOGRA P HER Fifteen Editors Enter motion Pictures *$ A. S. C. Makes Official Film of Industry's Entertainment of Editors of United States By special arrangements conducted by the American Society of Cinematographers, an official motion picture was made of the Spanish luncheon given at the Writers Club, Hollywood, on July 6th, to delegates to the convention of the National Editorial Association by the Association of Motion Picture Producers, on behalf of the film industry as a while. Industry as Hosts The luncheon was a highlight in the picture profession's reception of the visiting editors who came to Los Angeles from every section of the United States. Scores of filmdom's celebrities acted as hosts to the editors and their families during the course of the occasion, which was especially marked by speeches delivered by Will H. Hays, Rupert Hughes and Donald Ogden Stewart. In Charge of Filming The American Society of Cinematographers sponsored the making of the film of all the official proceedings. King Gray, A. S. C, and Reginald Lyons, A. S. C, were the cinematographers in charge of photography. Lightning Speed By record-making work, supervised by the A. S. C, the editors were enabled to view themselves on the screen within six hours after they had been photographed. Lyons and Gray completed the actual photographing in the middle of the afternoon, and the negative was rushed to the Cinemagraph Laboratories where it was developed in despatch time. Claude C. Baldridge, superintendent of Cinemagraph, handled the developing and printing. Titles for the film were written and a form of continuity was devised by theAmer ican Cinematographers editorial staff, which likewise, in co-operation with Baldridge, executed the editing of the finished film. The positive titles were photographed by the Jacobsmeyer Company and were delivered simultaneously with the drying of the positive. The print was immediately taken to Grauman's Egyptian theatre where, following the overture, the assembled editors were given the surprise of viewing themselves on the screen as they appeared before the camera on the same afternoon. No Prior Arrangements The feat is especially outstanding in view of the fact that no pre-arrangements had been made for the rapid making of the print. The request for the film to show to the editors on the same night came after photographing of the affair had already begun, and arrangements were effected by the representatives of the American Society of Cinematographers before the exposures had been completed. Numerous Scenes Among the scenes, which were projected before the editors at the Egyptian, were those of Rod La Rocque and Donald Crisp congratulating Herman Roe, newly elected president of the National Editorial Association; Ramon Novarro, Lionel Barrymore and other stars in similar scenes with eminent editors; Will H. Hays, Governor Richardson of California, and Fred Beetson felicitating the newly elected officers of the editors; shots of Will Hays while making the principal speech of the day; a scene of Rupert Hughes delivering his address; Fred Beetson, secretary of the Association of Motion Picture Producers, introducing the scores of stars to the gathering of the editors; and various scenes of the editors and their families on the Writers Club grounds.