Documentary News Letter (1944-1945)

DOCUMENTARY NEWS LETTER CORRESPONDENCE SIR, May I comment on the letter in the 50th issue of D.N.L. under the heading "Cry from the Colonies"? The facts are these : British News is edited by each of the Newsreel Companies in turn from items selected from their own make-ups by a small Committee. If it is badly edited it is because the Newsreels themselves are badly edited. Since I have been with the Council, I have seen all the issues and selected the items with the Committee. In my view — and I have been closely connected with the film presentation of news for six years — the issues of the last three months have been interesting and well knit together, and have presented the news from a British viewpoint. Your correspondent is ill-informed when he complains of the "dreary slow nonsense" comparing it unfavourably with the ordinary British newsreel with a different title. In the matter of title he is right. The main title is 51 feet in length (not 100 as your correspondent writes) and is indeed slow and ponderous, being accompanied by a somewhat unsuitable piece of music (in my view) — although it was written by an eminent composer of film music. Almost the first thing I decided on arrival was to have a new and more suitable title made. But this waits until the future of British News, now rather uncertain, is decided. The Newsreel Companies are anxious for us to stop it, and we don't wish to continue a day longer than is necessary. But until the commercial reels can reach the Colonial Empire with the space of time now taken by British News to do so, the places concerned rely on this reel for their only source of British film news. Your correspondent does not feel that British News is wanted. I can show you many letters and reports warmly supporting British News and asking for its continued distribution. Director, Film Department, r. e. tritton The British Council. British News is circulated to the following countries: Bahamas, British Honduras, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gibraltar, Gold Coast, Leeward Islands, Mauritius, Nyasaland, Tanganyika, Tonga Islands, Uganda, Windward Islands, Zanzibar, U.S.S.R., Bermuda, Ceylon, Kenya, Nigeria, Aden, Barbados, British Guiana, Cyprus, Malta, Northern Rhodesia, Sierra Leone, Jamaica, St. Helena, Trinidad, Eire, Gambia, Panama, Seychelles, Southern Rliodesia, Spain, Palestine, South Africa, British Somaliland, East African Command (Kenya), Kenya Mobile Propaganda Unit, East African Forces in Ceylon, West African Forces in Middle East, East African Forces in Middle East. KAY'S KAY'S Laboratories Film Studios Technical Managers Studio Manager FINSRURY PARK, N.4 Eric Van Raars A. E. Newton 72a CARLTON HILL 22 S0H0 SQUARE, W.l ST. JOHN'S WOOD E. W. Stimson N.W.8 INDIA STREET, GLASGOW Tel. Maida Vale 1141 Tel. Glasgow Central 9377 A. J. Fnrness SIR, In your last issue you published a letter from Mr. Brian Smith in which he made several criticisms of the Graded List of Films issued by the Scientific Films Committee of the Association of Scientific Workers. In view of the fact that most of the criticisms made are based on misconceptions, we feel that some reply .is needed. We should like to deal with the points in the order in which they were raised. The Committee considered that withdrawn films should be included, since many of the withdrawals were temporary war-time measures on the part of some distributors. The gradings given to each film are certainly not "personal" opinions but are the recommendations of a panel consisting of qualified scientists, film technicians, and others. The appraisals have been carried out over a period of seven years starting in 1938, and during this period the composition of the Viewing Panel has inevitably changed, and at the same time their terms of reference have been modified in the light of experience gained. Obviously, under these conditions no absolute standard of criticism can be guaranteed and this may explain some gradings which Mr. Smith regards as "most extraordinary". The reference numbers in the list were issued chronologically and serve, therefore, to indicate the date of appraisal. Details of date of appraisal and the composition of the Viewing Panel for each film are filed at Head Office. Mr. Smith writes: "What is more serious, however, is the whole host of films which find no mention in the catalogue. We must assume that they have been relegated to Grade 3, 'not recommended for any audience type'." This, of course, is quite wrong. If he had read the preface he would have seen it stated that "we wish to emphasise that no films are included . . . until they have been viewed by the Committee and other qualified scientists. The list is .therefore not yet a complete record of all scientific films. . . ." There are indeed many films still to be viewed and supplements to the list are continually being issued. Many of the agricultural films mentioned by your correspondent have now been appraised and are included in a supplement which has just been issued. In a few months the list will be reprinted. The present list was recently made by amalgamating the original list and all subsequent supplements. Some inaccuracies have crept in, and in addition in our haste to issue the list to our branches in time for the winter season, many annoying typographical errors have passed uncorrected; for these we must apologise. It would be more helpful if users instead of rushing hastily into print, would inform the Committee of the inaccuracies they come across. For this we would be grateful. Hon. Secretary, derek stewart Scientific Films Committee. Film Societies (continued from previous page) the Society are, with some exceptions, people who know little or nothing about film-making. Their enthusiasm for the talks, the film show, and for the shooting (on 16 mm. stock), which will take place later in the season, is more than sufficient evidence for the necessity for such a society. Unfortunately membership has to be limited, as only a small society could efficiently and fairly divide the work, and pleasure, of filmmaking among its member-;.