Documentary News Letter (1941)

DOCUMENTARY NEWS LETTER JAM ARY 1941 Mary Field A coKKi si'uNDi M \srilCN: "ll would be a pity if. amid the vsell-jUNlilied eclebration of Bruce Woolfc's elTorls, Mary I leld's name were to be unmentioned. The directorial work, the seriptmi: and editing, of the Secrets uj Life films are almost entirely her work, and I would like at the least to pay a personal tribute to her skill and energies. I remember the first time I met her. I had been sent down to the VVelwyn Studios to hunt up some material lor a film on (I think) tea; and it was into her cutting room that I was ushered. I was the veriest tyro, and hardly knew how to work a rewindcr, and I was terrified of this august and famous figure who presented me with a pile of tins alleged to contain the scenes I was seeking. Her abruptness, however, was only the abruptness of an efficient and busy woman, and she was kindness itself when I became entangled and lost in a maze of cut-outs. Since then, I have seen much of her from time to time in projects in which we were both concerned, whether they were film production or chilly week-ends at provincial film schools. She has always impressed me as ha\ing that rarity — a mind both academic and imaginative (do you remember They Made the LaiuH), and she undoubtedly works harder (and with better results) than any other woman 1 have met in some years of film-making. I am sure I am speaking for many others in saluting her skill, tenacity and enthusiasm." George Pocknall MANY IN TUt: film industry will be grio\cd to hear of the death of George Pocknall. He, in company with two other wardens, was killed instantly by a bomb while on patrol duty in the district in which he lived. He leaves a widow, three daughters and a son. George Pocknall has been principal cameraman for G-B. Instructional since the formation of the Company, and was associated w iih Bruce Woolfe at Boreham Wood as far back as 1920. His loss will be badly felt, as in addition to being a firstclass cameraman, he was an extremely efiicient scientific instrument maker, and many were the improvements that were worked out by him to make the studio apparatus more cflicient. He served thrt)ughout the last war, which left his hciilth somewhat undermined, but he stuck to his job in spite of his disability. He brought to his wiirk a keenness and conscientiousness which, together with his loyalty, was a rare combination in these days. His loss will be keenly felt by his ct>llcagues whoapprcciatcd his man> qualities and whose iicartrdt sympathy will go out to his widow and family in their tragic loss. New Ministry Appointment AKim K M ION IS loining the Ministry oi Information aN Supervisor of Production and takes up his appointmenl on January IMh. Ihe oflicc is a new one and all sections of the film industry will be agreed on the desirability of ha\ing in an authoritatiNc position m the Ministry som.,)nc who knows not only how films can be used for informational purposes, but knows also how films are made. FIton. w... b»-f .n i,,v i.i.i career in the script department of Gainsborough Pictures in \ 1927, under Michael Balcon, later worked for the same company on English versions of German features in Berlin He was then trained in documentary production by John Gricrson at the Empire Marketing Board Film Unit and during the past twelve years he has directed or produced films for the Post Oflicc, the Ministry of Labour, the Gas Industry, the Oil Industry and a number of other interests. Since the formation of Film Centre which Elton helped to found, he has willingly borne the giant's share of the Centre's work, his best known contribution being his ad\isory services and production supervision to the Petroleum Films Bureau and the Shell Film Unit, which he has developed into the best technical film production organisation in the world. Elton has long been recognised in official and industrial circles as an expert formulator of film policies both in regard to production and distribution. He has lately been acting as associate producer for the Ministry o\' Information on a number of films for both theatrical and non-theatrical release. He represents shorts producers on the Films National Service Sub-committee which is advising the Ministry of Labour on deferment of military service, and lately has acted as Treasurer to the Association of Cine-Technicians. Elton has edited, or himself written, a number of successful books and pamphlets which present scientific and mechanical principles \n simply intelligible terms and has recently been clcxned a member of the Royal Institution. His appointment to the Ministry represents a \ery serious loss to Film Centre and to Documentary News Letter which he helped to found, for his official position will not only make it necessiiry for him to sever his connection with these two activities, but may prevent him from continuing his invaluable contributions in many other film fields. We believe, however, that his decision to accept the appointment is a right one and has the support of his colleagues. It is hardly necessary to add that we wish him every success. Training the Army THL organisation already mentioned in D.N.L. December, responsible for the production of technical and training films, announces, in a Press hand-out. that 30 films are now in production. Most are in the hands of civilian film pnxlucing companies "so that the army training films will be of high technical quality and of maximum instructional value". What the hand-out does not mention is that most of the pnxluction companies are working to technically inadequate scripts, and are hampered at every turn by lack of understanding, and by forests of red tape to an extent which makes proper film production .iliiiost impossible. I v>(» News I liters vv I vviKoMi to the r.iiiks of film news-letters the first numbers of ;V.Z. Film Letter and Documentary Fiht \cws. The former is published by the Wellington Film Unit in NewZealand, under editor F. S. Andrews, the latter by the Association of DiKumcntary Film Producxrs. Inc.. New York \ >M,,l,>r ,•.l>t.^^v R,Mi.-.« (;.ii»invui .«nH M.-^rv I <ivv