The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

Jan.-Feb., 1953 THE CINE-TECHNICIAN be gained from the estimated cost of food for an average family for a month — 100,000 dollars. There is a location allowance, and travelling allowances (in addition of course to fares) based on a daily rate and varying with distances from home. If a technician falls ill, or a member of his family is ill, he receives a grant from the Trade Union in addition to wages. The week is 48 hours — 6 days of 8 hours. Overtime is paid double time, but no overtime may be worked without approval of the chairman of the studio trade union organisation. Documentary rates and dramatic feature rates are the same. Bonuses are obtainable for finishing on schedule; for rationalisation proposals leading to improved working methods, or for economising in materials. If an assignment is finished ahead of schedule the whole studio participates in a bonus according to contribution in each grade. A banner is also awarded. At the end of the year pictures produced are discussed and evaluated and a " top picture award " is made, in which participate all those who worked on it. Also, as in other industries and in villages, there is public discussion and election, within the union, of " model workers," who also receive bonuses. The Union assists the administration in running a clinic; a nursery for 70 children; a mess hall, where good food in variety can be obtained cheaper than in restaurants (10 to 20 thousand dollars a month); literacy classes — it should be remembered that very many workers in China have until recently had no education, and even been illiterate ; and week-end film parties and dances, which all members of employees' families are eligible to attend. A few words on the production achieved and on the audience will not be out of place: In the last three years the industry has produced 35 dramatic features, 72 educational and documentary, numerous shorts, 170 newsreels and has also dubbed 83 films from the Soviet Union and People's Democracies. (Special dubbing studios, with permanent specialised acting staff, dubb in many of the numerous languages of China — notably Mandarin, Cantonese, Mongol, Uighur and Tibetan.) Thirteen features, documentaries, educational, cartoons, are scheduled for next year; several are to be in colour. The most popular imported films have been the Soviet Fall of Berlin, Village Teacher, Lenin in 1918, Chapayev; Polish Border Street; Hungarian Soil. " In Soviet films," it was said, " we see our future; in the films of the People's Democracies, our past and present struggles." I was asked if there are any progressive British films that might be imported. Any suggestions? The most poplar Chinese films have been (dramatic) White-Haired Girl (now in this country), (documentary) Resist American Aggression and Aid Korea — each seen by ten million persons. The audience is almost boundless and steadily increasing. A recent " Gallup Poll " among 340 workers at a Tietsin factory showed 280 going to the cinema at least once a week. But it must be appreciated that, although the number of travelling 16mm. projection units has increased from 100 in 1949 to 1,500 in 1952, there are still vast tracts in the countryside where no one has ever yet seen a film. I made it clear to the film technicians I met that, whatever the various views on the origins of and responsibilities for the issues now separating our countries, the great majority of our people hope for a speedy end to conflict and a resumption of traditional friendships. I also made it clear that it is the policy of our Union, endorsed many times at general meetings, to offer friendly relations to brother trade unionists in our profession in every country, and that I should propose to our Association to send copies of our Rules, Agreements and Journal to China in the hope that these might be of service in the establishment of the national film workers' union.