The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

October 1955 CINE TECHNICIAN 155 Organiser's Page A MONTH FULL OF INTEREST This has been a very interesting month from several points of view, particularly in the Television field. NEW STUDIOS. The Danziger Brothers have practically completed the building of their studio at Elstree. It seems that they have a five-year contract and are building three stages, dressing rooms, cutting rooms, etc. Johnny Draper has been appointed Production Manager by the Company, Eric Blakemore Art Director, and Ernie Morris has been given a chance to direct; Jimmy Wilson will be Lighting Cameraman for this series. THE TELEVISION THEATRE. British Actors' Equity had a dispute with Jack Hylton, who was using this theatre for filming extracts from the current London production Talk of the Town. A.C.T. gave active support to British Actors' Equity and instructed our members not to proceed with any work on this production until the dispute had been satisfactorily settled. This incident, of course, is an example of how the Unions within the industry can assist each other. British Actors' Equity are grateful to us for the support, and wish to express their thanks to our members who so loyally supported them. KAY'S, FINSBURY PARK. The football team met British Ships Carbons in the first round of the Film Industry Sports Cup and beat them by 5 — 2. ROTHERHITHE STUDIOS. This Studio has now entered into production on its own. Percy Brittain has been elected Shop Steward. NEW ENTRANTS COMMITTEE, The Committee has done an enormous amount of work, and has still a great deal to do, consequently it is circularising all fresh applicants to notify them that until the existing application list has been examined no further entries will be accepted for interview. COMMERCIAL TELEVISION. A very successful meeting of our members employed in this field, particularly on live transmission, was held at the Holborn Hall on Sunday, 2nd October. A draft Agreement (summarised by the General Secretary, see pages llf9 and 15lf) received from the Employers was unanimously rejected, and a Negotiating Committee was set up to meet the Programme Contractors with a mandate from the meeting to proceed along the lines of the current B.F.P.A. Agreement. -BY MIDDY B.B.C. The Outside Broadcasts Department of the Corporation were to go to Pinewood to make a live transmission show of a film unit actually working. The General Council instructed our Pinewood members not to proceed with any assistance to the B.B.C. until the B.B.C. gave an undertaking that only members of their appropriate Union would be sent to Pinewood to carry out this work. Discussions took place with the B.B.C. authorities, who went so far as to send representatives to the Studio. Arising from this dispute the B.B.C. have agreed to meet STEVE COX, of Film Workshops Ltd. (Whitehall 8396), has been appointed to receive and co-ordinate for the Cine Technician news of activities of members of the Shorts and Documentary Section. Will all members of this Section please do all they can to help him by passing on to him news of interest for publication. us before entering into any arrangements to carry out any such live transmissions where a fully organised unit is employed. An unusual tribute to A.C.T. FILMS' Room in the House appeared in PICTUREGOER for September 17. Three readers' letters were published in praise of the film. " The most delightfully enjoyable film I have seen in many ages," wrote one reader. " A really human story, superbly acted," said another. And, interesting to note, the Editor in a footnote said that many readers had written to him to single out " this unpretentious British picture." Room in the House is now on general release. I have news of two invalids wellknown in the industry. Tommy Tomlinson is now fully recovered and has been discharged from the sanatorium. Henry Halstead, who met with a very bad motor accident, is still in the King's College Hospital, Denmark Street, and would be glad to hear from any of his friends in the industry. JOBS ON OUR BOOKS At the moment of going to press the Employment Officer reports that he has a number of unfilled vacancies for jobs in the laboratories on his books. On the studio side there are vacancies for: Three Sound Camera Operators One Assistant Librarian Three Dubbing: Editors One Lighting Cameraman for an Eastmancolor production in Pakistan One Assistant Art Director. Will A.C.T. members who are interested in any of these vacancies please 'phone Bunny Garner at Head Office.