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March 1957
FILM & TV TECHNICIAN
37
Shorts & Documentary Section
Steve Cox Writes :
The latest of our ' Get-together" evenings on "The Films We Make" was held on Tuesday, February 19th at the Mezzanine Cinema, Shell Mex House. Once again it proved a successful and wellsupported venture. Three films were shown, all made for theatrical distribution.
The first film, Do You Remember, sponsored by the British Transport Commission, was introduced by Director Tony Thompson.
Designed for general audiences and employees of London Transport, it explained, in a very lighthearted manner, the workings of the Lost Property Dept. of the L.P.T.B..
The second film, Pit Incident, sponsored by the Coal Board and introduced by Alun Falconer, was a theatrical version of a longer training film, made by the Coal Board's Safety Branch, based on an actual pit fire.
The third film. Foothold in Antarctica, sponsored by the British Petroleum Company, was made by World Wide Pictures, and introduced by Director-Cameraman Derek Williams. This was a colour film, about 25rr of it " blowup " from Kodachrome, the rest in Eastmancolour, showing the first journey of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition led by Dr. Vivian Fuchs to set up its Base in the Weddell Sea.
Ideas on Technique
In the course of the discussion that followed the showing of the films some interesting ideas on technique came up. Tony Thompson explained that his film was intended to be of a humorous nature, and that the personnel of the Lost Property Office were very helpful and co-operative. Someone suggested that the film gave the impression that we could now lose things more confidently.
Alun Falconer explained how the " Incident " in the mining film was rigged and how the miners themselves thought that the "fire squad" took everything too calmly.
Derek Williams said he thought films came into two categories : " films that you control and films that control you." Foothold in Antarctica came in the second category, because one " shot " as one went and knocked it into shape
Lab Topics
■By
A If Cooper
The A.G.M. again gave many of our members an opportunity to chat with old friends who, owing to various changes of jobs, do not meet in the course of the year. This year I felt that apart from the hardy annuals many fresh faces appeared and those wearing a television hat certainly knew why they came and just what they require from their Union and their employers in the coming year. We in the Laboratories certainly wish them every success and support.
The problem worrying the labs — the growth of monopoly control in the industry — had a very good hearing at the meeting, and the emergency resolution instructing the new General Council to watch and combat this problem was adopted in full.
Kodak
The problem of Trade Union recognition by Kodak Limited again came in for some very hard words and the membership gave everybody to understand that it takes a very bad view of American firms trading in this country and giving the unions the brush-off, and most certainly expects the next Annual Report to show a marked improvement in this situation, in fact, complete recognition of A.C.T.T. by Kodak.
I have often wondered why firms that are up against trade unions are not automatically boycotted by all workers up and down the country. Most workers are members of trade unions and a little personal effort by each of us against these companies would have a very good effect.
George Plays Truant
To those members who did not attend the A.G.M. let me say that if they had the impression it would be dull owing to the absence of our General Secretary they were very wrong because, apart from the very able way Bert Craik filled the breach, George Elvin was able to play truant from hospital and spend a few hours with us during Sunday, and indeed was up on his feet on a couple of occasions leading forth as only George can. The fact that George was able to attend this meeting is a sign he is on the right road to good health, a fact that the whole membership is very thankful for.
To all Laboratory Shop Stewards: Will you please start right away sending in your reports for inclusion in the April issue of the Journal. Thanks.
afterwards. One of the draw-backs of this type of film was that the director did not see his rushes.
Must Persuade Sponsors
The general feeling at the end of the discussion was that sponsors must be persuaded into broader and better films and that producers with " guts " were needed to put the true points over.
It is clear from the interest shown at the meetings that there is a real demand for them, so please come along to the next one with your idea as to the type of show
you would like, and let the Committee know what it is.
I would like to thank Dennis Segaller for his assistance in compiling this report.
Now for some news, Norman Hemsley tells me that Cameraman Norman Johnson, and Dickie Lorrimore were leaving for New Guinea on March 13th on the Whispering Giant to shoot some material for the British Petroleum Company. They hoped to spend one night in Sydney on the way. I understand that Norman was taking a Newman and a spare spring. I wasn't told if he was taking any film!