The Cine Technician (1943 - 1945)

72 THE CINE-TECHNICIAN May— June, 1043 If the position is not stated openly and honestly, and at the earliest possible moment, it may be found that Parnassus has not quitted Isolation, but that, to our mutual dismay, the Mountain has Laboured and brought forth a rat. — Yours faithfully, FRANK LAUNDER, Hon. Sec, The Screenwriters' Association. Psycho-Analysis On more than one occasion since the last issue of The Cine-Technician appeared I have found myself involved in discussions which have tended to become violent on the subject of the article by John Pratt entitled "Psychoanalytic Notes on the Screen as a Medium." To put it bluntly, certain technicians seem to think it "a lot of bunk," criticise the Editorial Committee for having accepted it and view with alarm the implication that any technician might be disposed to consider it relevant to his work. An attitude like this is symptomatic of a sort of wilful myopia which seems to be widely prevalent in our industry. I am bound to say that I find a sad lack of analytical interest amongst filmtechnicians generally in their medium. The scientific approach to problems of everyday environment is being more ami more widely accepted by thinking men and women everywhere. A rational and objective outlook upon all the problems that beset the average citizen is not only desirable, but essential if a new social order is to come out of the current world upheaval. The cinema plays a great part in the life of the average citizen. It is, to use a word from Mr. Pratt's psychoanalytic vocabulary, a projection of himself. As such it can and will do much to condition his mental processes — even more strongly than the Press and the radio; for it has an emotional impact which neither of the latter possess to the same degree. We , as film technicians, are given the guardianship of this medium, which wrongly used can become as dangerous as it is powerful. We. then, must apply that same rational and objective outlook, that scientific approach to OUT everyday problems — the problems of film-making. Psychology is a science the science of the human mind — and psycho-analysis is the process used by the psychologist for investigating the interaction between the conscious and subconscious mind. The motion-pictun especially the fictional motion picture — is designed to stimulate certain given emotional reactions in the mind of each member of iis audience. It must therefore he admitted thai psychology and ils handmaiden. psycho-analysis, have in facl a very direct beariipon our work. I will, however, join the critics of the Editorial Committee on one issue. The Committee's intentions were doubtless excellent, but to have flung a somewhat technical discourse on a comparatively unfamiliar aspect of film-making without preamble, without terms of reference, without even introducing the writer, into (what I hope I may be forgiven for calling) so prosaic a journal as The Cine-Technician was, I think, a little thoughtless. Such articles Should be of interest to film-technicians and Mr. Pratt's undoubtedly deserved publication. Since The Cine-TccJinician is the only technical journal available to us the Committee was probably justified in accepting it, but I should like to record a plea for editorial comment on occasions like this one, where a writer is unknown to most of our readers and whose relationship with film-making though indirect has some bearini? 'to his subject-matter. — Yours truly, R. K. NEILSON BAXTER ENGLISH SCIENTIFIC FILM ASSOCIATION The English Scientific Film Association was formed on Saturday, May 15th, 1943. at a meeting convened by the Scientific Films Committee of the Association of Scientific Workers. The acting Secretary is Mr. M. Michaelis, 51, Fitzjohn's Avenue, London, N.W.3. Aims are: — 1. — To promote the national and international use of the Scientific Film in order to achieve the widest possible understanding and appreciation of scientific methods and outlook, especially in relation to social progress. 2. — To collect, collate and distribute information on the Scientific Film. 3. — To publish comprehensive lists of Scientific Films graded according to scientific merit. 4. To establish relations with Government departments, Public bodies and other organisations which are in a position to make, use or circulate scientific films. 5. — To support and consult a representative panel of scientists to advise producers of films ot all types on scientific matters. ('). — To promote the production and distribution of scientific films. 7. — To encourage the setting up of Scientific Film Societies. 8. — On request, to select or book Scientific Film Shows. 9. — Generally to promote the appreciation of Science through other related media suitable for the mass-diffusion of knowledge. 10. — In order to carry out these aims, to raise funds by subscriptions, fees for service and in other ways deemed suitable.