The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

January, 1954 THE CINE-TECHNICIAN Recorder's Cine Profile TERENCE O'BRIEN Sound Recordist at British Movietonews HPERRY O'BRIEN, like his father Tom O'Brien, -* M.P., is always in the news; but Terry records rather than makes news, being on the staff of British Movietonews. He is usually teamed with cameraman Martin Gray, and it's Terry's job to record the sound. There is a different atmosphere on a newsreel to other parts of the film industry because, says Terry, " the news types are mixed up with the film types, and the main worry is to record the story, whatever the conditions." Because one is often associated with important events and personalities, there is a different sort of glamour on a newsreel. Important rugger, tennis and cricket matches always interest him, and although he takes great interest in covering controversial items, Terry finds some of the simple stories gratifying because of the way ordinary folk so often like to see them in the cinema. Terry finds that cinema-goers invariably tell him how they like the newsreel, and are disappointed if they miss it. Sometimes, however, on the road the older newsreel pioneers, who know the game backwards, are inclined to discourage the younger news men; to them he says: " Don't keep us down," and he points out how many active youngsters from newsreels there are doing a good job on A.C.T.'s Newsreel Negotiating Committee alongside veteran Ken Gordon: Len Green from Paramount, Stan Crocket from G-B, Reg Sutton from Movietone and Ron Gillingwater from Pathe — " a very live wire from the cutting rooms, he is " — and Terry himself, who at 31 is also Chairman of the Newsreel Section. Like the sons of so many film men, Terry always wanted to be in the industry — a feeling that was heightened by his study of the film classics and by reading ' Cine-Technician,' the A.C.T. Journal, which his father sent him when at school. And so, in 1947, Terry went to Kay Labs at Finsbury Park, where he worked for six months on general lab work, before going over to Movietone; the cutting rooms and the news room also helped to give him an all-round knowledge, before he joined the sound department. His interests don't end with his film work, as he is continuing as an external student of London University, studying for the B.A. degree that was interrupted by his war service in the R.A.F. Signals. As a married man with two children — Kevin, aged 5i, and Etain, aged 2 — he found the earlier stages hard going; but the preparation for the finals, which he hopes to take in July, are less difficult for the maturer mind to tackle. He has not much time left to devote to politics, and for this reason he left his local Labour Party; besides, he thinks that trades unionists need to worry about the problems of production as well as the political aspect. He insists that the employer should realise how valuable the co-operation of trade unionists can be; 13 a mutual understanding between Labour and Management, he says, is of more advantage to society generally than an unfair exploitation of the difficulties by one side or the other. Not everyone will be satisfied to leave it at that. But Terry, in his work on the newsreel, has the fascination of recording many of the challenging problems of to-day, and maybe he'll record history's ultimate answer to that one. SITUATION VACANT SUDAN GOVERNMENT The Public Relations Office of the Sudan Government at Khartoum requires a Film Producer for the Sudan Film Unit to work as adviser and manager, and to make available his knowledge and experience to his Sudanese colleagues. Applicants must have good practical experience of both the creative and technical aspects of documentary film production and of the administrative duties required thereby. Appointment will be on Short Term Contract (with or without bonus) for an indefinite period, determinable at any time by six months' notice, on either side, provided that on or after April 1st, 1955, the period of notice shall be three and not six months. Salary range for Short Term Contract (with bonus) from £E. 1,075 to £E. 1,675 and for Short Term Contract (without bonus) from fE. 1,146 to £E. 1,786 (annual increases). Starting rate of pay is fixed according to age, qualifications and experience. The second increase will be subject to passing an examination in Arabic. A cost of living allowance which is reviewed quarterly is payable. An outfit allowance of £E.50 is also payable. NO INCOME TAX is at present payable in the Sudan. Further information and application form will be sent on receipt of a postcard only addressed to The Sudan Agent in London, Sudan House, Cleveland Row, St. James's, London, S.W.I, quoting " FILMS PRODUCER 710 " and name and address in BLOCK LETTERS.