The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

ember, 1953 THE CINE-TECHNICIAN 171 The General Council Decides '4EMBERS: General Council agreed to draw the in of all shop stewards to the notice at the top Hon forms which requests sponsors to give ..v they consider the applicant to be not only ....^r of the industry, but a fit member of A.C.T. "unsiantly receive forms sponsored with no comments In future, without these comments, forms are ... ,o be rejected. 3REST EXPEDITION: It was suggested that George he, the Everest climber responsible for the very high 'titude photographv on this expedition, in view of the ry high tribute that Tom Stobart has paid him, should ,n us so that if any future expeditions arise he could go an accredited cameraman. General Council decided to . je no objection to this providing Mr. Lowe was not ed to replace any other member, but was complemen ry to any such expedition. GOVERNMENT RENT PROPOSALS: Copies of the L.R.D. Pamphlet on this proposed Government Bill will be circulated to shop stewards. MARCEL HELLMAN PRODUCTIONS: This Company refused to pay £7,000 insurance to the widow of a member killed whilst* on location whilst in their employ. The company claimed that they were only due to pay £5,000 as the extra £2,000 for a child was, in their view, applicable only in the case of insurance for dangerous work. Action by the local shop took place whereby they informed the management they would not continue to work if the insurance monies were not paid. Satisfactory arrangements have now been made for these payments and General Council wish to congratulate our membership at the studio for their vigilance and action. Arising from this it was agreed that A.C.T. should raise with B.F.P.A. the desirability of making clear to all Producers the interpretation of the Agreement in order fo prevent similar difficulties in the future. A.S.F.P. : It was agreed that A.C.T. should try to arrange one further meeting with this body to try and resolve the position of deadlock. LONDON TRADES COUNCIL: General Council will consider at a subsequent meeting the question of affiliation to the new London Trades Council when it has before it the details and strength of the present new Council. It was also agreed to note with regret the passing of the old London Trades Council and to write to its former Secretary a letter of sympathy in view of the great work which this Council had done in bringing forward any resolutions for wide discussion regarding the position of the film industry. CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS: General Council endorse the Executive recommendation that immediate application be made to all Employers' Federations that Monday. 28th December be given as an extra day's holiday in view of the fact that Boxing Day falls on a normal rest day. "CINE TECHNICIAN": General Council approve the Executive idea that a 21st Birthday number should be published as the May 1954 issue. If this project is approved it is hoped that this being an historic occasion every member of A.C.T. will purchase a copy. F.I.E.C.: It was reported that replies had been received from the Executive Committees of all six unions agreeing in principle to a delegation to the Soviet Union and a return visit from Soviet technicians. In order to avoid difficulties which may be caused if there were an attempt to arrange this delegation through the J.I.C. or F.I.E.C. an ad hoc committee comprising the representatives of the six unions will be formed to discuss details. ENGINEERING DISPUTE: It was agreed to convey the good wishes of the A.C.T. to the Engineering Unions for a successful outcome to their dispute with their Employers, it was felt they were fighting the same problems that our own members are faced with. FOUNTAIN FILMS: The views of the Feature Directors' Section that there were no grounds for the continued employment of an American subject as Film Director on a series of films they were making for sponsored television were conveyed to the company. It was made clear .o the company that A.C.T. would not object to the association of an American subject with the films provided he remained solely in an advisory capacity. Eventually it was agreed that the American could direct four out of the thirteen films provided A.C.T. Directors were employed on the remainder of the production. PATHE PICTURES: This company are making a short colour film of the Royal Tour in New Zealand and proposed to take two Director Cameramen. This was unacceptable to A.C.T. Further meetings with the company resulted in an agreement in which the company agreed to engage two A.C.T. personnel in assistant grades as required in addition to the two Director Cameramen. PRODUCER/DIRECTORS' SECTION: This Section drew the attention of the General Council to the increasing number of Foreign senior technicians entering the British Film Production Industry. This has been discussed and the General Council recommend that — 1. If direct approach to the Ministry of Labour proves unsuccessful, opportunity should be taken to raise the question in Parliament. 2. Any permits granted should be restricted to first feature production. 3. That every possible form of pressure be exerted to have a statutory definition of a British film brought into line with the basic principles of the Act. Arising from this question. General Council has approached the Ministry of Labour suggesting that as a condition of the issue of a permit, a foreign technician should inform the Ministry of his date of arrival in the United Kingdom and no permit be issued for a period in excess of six months. The Ministry replied to the effect that in the ordinary way they are not interested in the actual date of a foreign technician's arrival here, but if the date of arrival becomes a relevant factor in subsequent developments they can obtain information from the Home Office. This item has been deferred from General Council for further report. PINEWOOD STUDIOS: Questions arose on a foreign location proceeding to New Zealand, whereby the company wished to employ A.C.T. grades recruited locally. This was strongly opposed and the company have agreed to take with them on location technicians from this country. 16mm. PRODUCTION: General Council endorsed the policy that the Shorts Producers should be notified that the Shorts and Documentary Agreement applies to both 35mm. and 16mm. production. COMMERCIAL TELEVISION: A policy statement has been issued by General Council on this question and has been widely quoted in the Press. It was also agreed that A.C.T. should attend the ad hoc meeting convened by interested unions to discuss the question of safeguards, should commercial Television be introduced in spite of opposition. A.C.T. NEWS—continued Within a few days they had a complete cast of eleven men, mostly employed at Woodger Road. Rehearsals are now well under way on Tuesday evenings — at least that is when my husband comes home late. (If it is not a rehearsal, then it must be a blonde.) The play is scheduled for presentation on 18th 19th and 20th February, at St. Andrew's Hall, in Barons Court. They hope to play before a crowded house each night. Since rehearsals have begun, several ladies have joined and new members will be welcomed. Plans are being made for future productions, including musicals, comedies and revues. Anyone who has been concerned even remotely — as in my case — with amateur dramatics, knows of the tremendous amount of hard work involved. Quite apart from the acting itself, there are so many people who can help behind the scenes. Even if you cannot — or think you cannot — act, you could share in the other part of it, the more people, the less work, and — this, of course, is the secret of the attraction of amateur acting — the more fun. On the 18th, 19th and 20th February I shall be there — will you? // there is no performance, no " Journey's End," Beware All Blondes.